Black Elk Energy is the Calm After the Storm

Houston, TX – 12 April 2025 – June 1^st is just around the corner and along with the skyrocketing temperatures, the sweltering summer months herald in the pending danger of hurricane season.  States like Texas and Louisiana have a watchful eye out on the Gulf of Mexico for the 2011 hurricane season and are hoping that this year will again bring calm waters.  The hurricane seasons of 2005 and 2008 were devastating for many individuals and businesses in Louisiana and Texas.  Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, Ike and Gustav caused billions in property damages, left many families stranded, homeless, and took the lives of many in their path of destruction. Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, Ike and Gustav have come and gone and many people have forgotten those in need. Understanding the magnitude of damage resulting from hurricanes first hand, one company in Houston is reaching out to help when it is needed most. 

Black Elk Energy, an independent oil and gas company headquartered in Houston, is holding an Empowering the Community benefit for the Louisiana Association of Community Action Partnerships (LACAP), an organization that assists over 750,000 residents of Louisiana annually. LACAP provides weatherization services for families in and around the Louisiana area, providing them both energy efficiency on a daily basis and better protecting these families from pending hurricane damage.

Black Elk and LACAP recently teamed up to help two families from New Orleans displaced since Katrina to rebuild their homes and rebuild their lives.  The Home for the Holidays Event helped two Louisiana families that have been struggling since 2005. Along with New Orleans Saints Roman Harper and Darren Sharper, the Phoenix of New Orleans and the United Way, Black Elk and LACAP were able to help reconstruct homes that were annihilated in the aftermath of Katrina giving these families a fresh start.   LACAP provided appliances for the homes and offered an energy-efficiency and weatherization study to ensure that the families could be safe and sound for years to come.

“People always ask me why I continue to give to Louisiana since we are Houston-based.  First, Louisiana gave Black Elk its first start in Terrebonne Parish. We took our first steps as an operator and I have the people of the great State of Louisiana to thank for giving us a chance.” says President and CEO of Black Elk Energy, John Hoffman.

“Second, I wanted to give back to a community that was still reeling after one of the most devastating natural disasters of our time.  Right after Katrina roared through Louisiana, many people stood up to help and offer support.  As time passed, people forgot about the destruction, the chaos, the sheer magnitude of the loss and moved on to other things. People in Louisiana are still trying to rebuild their lives and still need our help.  My company understands firsthand what a hurricane can do in just a few short hours.  When Ike and Gustav hit the Gulf of Mexico in 2008, Black Elk lost its only operating field.  We thought that all we had built, all we had worked so hard to accomplish, was shattered. Through the help of many people, many of whom lived and worked in Louisiana, Black Elk was able to rebuild its field, restart production and regain our footing in the Gulf.  Since Ike and Gustav, we have continued to grow and succeed.  The least we can do is give back to communities facing a similar foe.”

For the third year in a row, Black Elk will be holding its Empowering the Community charity event with all proceeds benefitting LACAP.  The two-day event will take place on June 12^th and 13^th at Willow Fork Country Club in Katy, TX and include a 4-man scramble and barbecue, chili and gumbo cook-off.  The goal of the event is to raise as much money as possible while sharing the story of LACAP and its beneficiaries with people in the Houston area.  LACAP will be bringing their mobile weatherization training station to the event to showcase the benefits and share the available resources.  LACAP will ensure that all the funds raised will go to families in need.  As a result of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, Louisiana was tasked with the goal to weatherize an additional 5,000 low-income homes by March 2012.  LACAP will use some of the proceeds from the Black Elk event to meet that milestone.  With the help of charitable contributions and personal efforts made by so many people in the energy industry, Black Elk Energy anticipates increasing the monetary donation from last year’s $116,000, focused on doubling the donation. 

 “We are pleased to raise funds for LACAP and look forward to continuing our relationship for many years to come”, says John Hoffman, President and CEO of Black Elk Energy.  “It takes the efforts of many to pull off our annual event and the support of our industry to make it a success.  At Black Elk, we realize that every effort counts, every dollar makes a difference in the lives of those in need.  We are making a difference today so that we can have a different tomorrow.” 

“We could not be more pleased and grateful for the proceeds raised by Black Elk in 2008, 2009 and 2010”, says Gervis LaFleur, President of LACAP.  “The funds generously given by Black Elk and the event sponsors have made a lasting impact on the lives of individuals and communities in Louisiana.  I want to express our heartfelt gratitude to John Hoffman and the entire Black Elk Energy team for their continued support.  It has been a great three-year partnership with Black Elk and we look forward to many more to come.”   

For more information on Black Elk Energy or the Empowering the Community event contact Kari Schoeffler, Director of Special Projects, on 281.598.8660 or visit www.blackelkenergy.com or the event website at www.empoweringthecommunity.com.  Black Elk also has video footage and photography available for the previous Empowering the Community events, as well as the Home for the Holidays event in New Orleans. 

About Black Elk Energy

Black Elk Energy, LLC is an independent oil and gas company headquartered in Houston, Texas.  Founded by seasoned industry executives, the company is dedicated to creating exceptional returns in oil and gas through acquisition and exploitation. Black Elk Energy has a distinctly different structure & culture with a commodity bias toward North American clean burning natural gas.  Black Elk pursues properties in areas that meet certain investment criteria, while providing a significant upside, without unnecessary environmental impact.  Black Elk Energy leverages technological advances made in our industry while attentively learning from the successes and growth of those industry leaders from the past. 

About LACAP

Louisiana Association of Community Action Partnerships (LACAP) is a private, non-profit agency organized to promote programs engaged in raising the economic and social standards of low-income residents in the State of Louisiana. LACAP manages the energy programs included with the multitude of community action programs in effect in all 64 parishes of the state of Louisiana. Each year, LACAP’s community action agencies assist over 750,000 Louisiana residents.