-HURRICANE KATRINA- AUGUST 2005-
Below is our personal account, photos and record of Katrina concerning the MS gulf coast and surrounding areas.
It was reported as it happened, as we felt it. We are all still trying to recover.
Today is 9/15/05
it has now been 16 days since I have been able to update
this website. My last post was 8/30/04 was my text uploaded by another
person at my request.
Since 8/30/05, I have seen things I pray no other person on earth will ever
have to see again. Yet even with this, I know I did not see the worst, I did
not experience the worst. I couldn't' have because the stories I have heard
from friends, family and relatives relate horror stories beyond your
imagination. You can see all the national coverage you want. Just go to CNN,
MSNBC, FOX. They have it covered maybe even too much.
Some of our local radio stations have even started playing music today, this
day 16. Imagine for 16 days all you hear is talking about a storm, you open
your eyes you see the destruction, you can see all the pictures you want,
they are everywhere, our local paper and local TV station have done a
wonderful job and you can see hundreds at
www.sunherald.com and www.wlox.com you
can even watch video.
Yet I received many emails asking - "where are your photos of your area".
My simple answer, you can't stand anywhere and spin around without seeing
things that are picture worthy, devastating, and gut wrenching, there's no
way I can figure out what to photograph. So with this in mind I decided to
personalize Katrina a bit, in hopes of pacifying people wanting stories and
pictures, and also with the idea that maybe it would be my emotional release
and some how a bit healing for me. So on this page every picture you see
will mean something to me personally and I will tell the story with
it.
The first 2 days I tried to get back to the MS gulf coast. The next 8 days I spent hunting gas for our generator, food and water, distributing supplies to neighbors and friends needing them and looking for my missing loved ones. Basically running on auto pilot.
I spent many of the last 10 days going thru the blogs, and
guest book on this site, answering each email, or calling if they left a
number.
My goal was to attempt to locate every missing person listed in my
surrounding cities that were on posted on this site. I have no press
credentials, but I am very familiar with these areas having lived here
most of my life, and since I am already on the coast it's easier for me to
commute thru, knock on a neighbors door and ask around the town that it is
for out of town family members. Luckily I was able to confirm each person
found, or a report on the property with the exception of 1 gentleman I am
still looking for in Waveland MS, which is 2 counties away and still a
restricted area, meaning I can't get in. My husband having been an
Amateur radio person for 30 years but inactive for the last 15, purchased a
HAM radio so we could try to assist anyone thru that route and also send out
reports and gather info.
Prior to that, the first 4 days of the storm, I spent 1.5 days trying to get back in, and snuck thru a back route. Thanks to my cousin Lori and friend and my darling nephew ODIE we had received text messages saying our house was standing with "minimal damage". When we got home we found our home still standing, damaged but standing. And considering the total devastation of everything and everyone around us we felt lucky. In fact our standard response to everyone is, well we are all alive and accounted for and as far as damage, we're pretty lucky compared to others.
Below are the personal view points and memories of how Katrina has affected my life and the people I love
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My mother- Santa Maria Del Mar Condo's
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Once I got back I started looking for my mother, who lived in the Santa Maria Del Mar, a senior retirement condo located on the beach ( hwy 90) in Biloxi MS. In fact if you looked out my mom's window, she was right across the street from the Now famous Hard Rock Casino Guitar sign that has been shown as "still standing" on every national news broadcast and paper. I knew she had been evacuated to d'Iberville high school ( just north of the back bay of biloxi) We went to that shelter, the police officer standing in front of the damaged roof told me he couldn't' help find my mom but gave me several jars of peanut butter, inside a lady with a list found she had been moved to another shelter after the storm, a special needs shelter at Biloxi High School. Just getting there was a journey. Landmarks were gone on this road I had traveled 1000's of times. When I got there, a military man with a high powered rifle stopped me as I walked up the side walk, I told him I was looking for my mom, he told me to walk around the campus and go in another door. At the same time a man in his 20's came running from the parking lot, alerting the soldier that his father was having a stroke or heart attack in their car, Volunteer medical people from other states where every where and got a stretcher to help that man. I walked thru the halls of the putrid smelling shelter that is the newest school on the coast, HUGE and totally high tech, now smelt of a porta potty at a rock concert. People sleeping uncovered on the bare floors, old and and young, babies crawling around. Everyone looked homeless, and in my heart I knew that just 48 hours before they were just normal people, some poor, some middle class some with high paying careers and beautiful houses. Now everyone looked the same, haggard, sweaty, and like a zombie. I finally found a check in desk and asked about my mom, they told me they didn't' have an updated list, to go in every single room and look around, but that special needs ( medical concerns) would be in a certain wing. Finding that wing was easy, the halls littered with wheel chairs, and scooters, curled up little old people laying on pallets made on the floor, IV poles hanging, coughing everywhere. I searched every room and couldn't find my mom, nto giving up we started to back track but this time just opened the door and called out her name. The first room we came to, a handicapped man in a wheel chair answered me, "she's right here". My mother, was asleep on a cot with a paper blanket pulled over her face. I woke her up, and she cried and repeated , my baby , my baby. I found a nurse and asked if she had been sedated and they said no. It took about 5 minutes for her to come around enough to talk. When she did she told me she did not want to come to my damaged house because at the shelter there was medicine, nurses, and food and water. I talked with a nurse she said it was best to leave my mother there because they were trying to get a generator to run air conditioners for that wing and she would have medical care, something the rest of us were completely without for days.
couple days later I was heading back to check on her
again. When a call came thru that she had been moved to a Hospital in Mobile
Alabama with a group of other people form the shelter. She had been checked
out and spent the night and was going to be sent to a Red Cross Shelter in
Alabama and I could find her there once our curfew and travel restrictions
were lifted. I know knew she had all the comforts, air conditioning,
food, water, medical care and more. But the next night I got a call
she had not been sent to a shelter but would be having brain surgery the
next morning in Alabama due to a medical condition and it couldn't' wait.
The next day my husband and I fought thru the back roads and found the
hospital, we sat and waited she did fine in surgery and should be released
in about a week. My heart says released to what?
We weren't even allowed to that area of Biloxi until today 9-15-05, had to
pass 3 check points and then check in at what was left of her building.
Below are the photos of what we found.
click on the pictures below for a larger view.
| My Mom's apartment Condo the debris in the front is what's left of a Mc Donald's
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The first floor of my mother Apartment Complexe completed gone, a concrete and steel building, newly renovated. | From my Mom's 2nd story window, you can see the Hard Rock Casino, Beau Rivage Casino and Biloxi's Town Green and Visitors Center along with a pile of debris that was "her McDonalds" the morning coffee break for the Sr's in her condo. | From my mom's 2nd story window looking north west. City Hall, Biloxi Regional Medical Center, the court house and more. |
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| The beach front view from my moms apartment complex | 2nd floor looking north east, | There beautiful patio area where the Sr's would sit and enjoy the beach breeze and watch the boats in the shade of these old trees. |
9-15-05 |
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Today she was transferred to another hospital in Alabama for rehabilitation, she will probably be there a couple weeks, hopefully giving us time to find her a new SR apartment complex and furniture. |
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| My Dad & Step Mom, age 72 Reynior St in Biloxi just a few houses south of The Imperial Palace Casino on Biloxi's Back Bay |
Their house stood high and dry with no need for
flood insurance not even water from Camille in 1969. This time over waist deep water filled their home, they lost it all, and now it has succumb to mold. |
I had traveled to TN already, they evacuated to TN and
stayed in the same hotel they of course had brought along their 2 little
dogs.
My dads house was there for Hurricane Camille, which you will hear everyone
compare to Katrina. You see Camille was the standard. Hitting this area in
1969 and destroying it. Everyone had it in their minds Camille was the worst
thing that could ever happen, so if your house survived Camille you were
fine. In Hindsight, I have personally spoken with many friends, family
members, and neighbors who "rode out Camille" they all agree this storm was
so much worse, so much more devastating, and is the new bar for destruction
and mental horror. Luckily my dad and step mom of 30 yrs knew to
evacuate. My dad has COPD a lung disease and other medical issues. He
knows from Hurricane Elena that he can not breath when the barometric
pressure drops so he leaves now. Thank god. Because his house which stood
high and dry for the famous Hurricane Camille did not for Katrina. Water was
at least waist deep throughout his house. In short, they lost absolutely
everything except for their lives, their puppies, and the clothes on their
backs. The house is filled with mold, who knows about the structural
integrity. My nephew and sister spent days helping them drag everything
outside and pile it neatly for pick up. They have not and will not go to a
shelter for several reasons one of which is separating from their puppies,
they spent a week sleeping in their mini van, so they could turn on the air
should my fathers breathing worsen. They have been told by their insurance
company they weren't covered for flood, unfortunately they had been told by
that same insurance company they didn't' need it, because they weren't in a
flood zone. As I said, they were on the north side of the Biloxi Peninsula,
far far from the beach. 9-15-05 They are now staying with my sister since
electricity has been restored to our area until they can get temporary
housing from Fema which was filed 14 days ago, from there we shall see
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| My Good friend D and her daughter house in d'Iberville/St. Martin just north of Biloxi's Back Bay " I spent 30 minutes looking for it, I couldnt' recognize the house, it's turned sideways, crumpled, the carport is gone, the fence was how I found it." |
Finding her street was hard all the beautiful houses were gone. Yes houses were here a couple days ago. |
The very first contact we received from
anyone on the coast was a text message that read, " me and D... are alive,
the house and car are gone, don't come back"
I knew this was from my good friend of 14 years,
regarding her and her beautiful 4 year old daughter. My friend had worked so
hard and bought an adorable little house. Safely located north of the Biloxi
Peninsulas Back Bay. In fact she had just finished redecorating it, week by
week a little here a little there until it was done. Working long hours and
coaching her little girls T-ball team kept her busy. When this message came
thru, my heart was elated, they had survived, and then it sunk, they lost
everything, everything but their lives.
We ofcourse ignored her message to NOT COME BACK. we simply had to. Too many
family and friends we couldn't' reach, plus what were we supposed to do,
live in TN ??? I first saw them 6 days later, she had borrowed a car
from some friend who was over seas serving in Irag, she was spending her
days, collecting supplies for her elderly friends and family, taking them
MRE's, water, clothes and more that she would spend her days in lines
collecting just to distribute to others. I went to take this picture
yesterday 9-14, a house I have been to many times. I had a really hard
time finding it, it was complete spun around, and dumped. I know just 6 days
after the storm she was looking for a new job and transportation, they are
staying with friends and family until they hear something from FEMA.
 Larry at my son's birthday party a couple months ago, they have the same birthday so he never misses the party ! |
My Friend Larry J. 47 yrs old Small Business Owner lived and worked 31st Ave a couple blocks from the beach in Gulfport MS |
As I said before we were in TN on other personal business the day before Katrina hit, they had turned all the roads north bound only so we couldn't' get back even if we wanted to. We called back the night before it hit, to check on all our friends and family and find out where everyone was, and let them know where we were. Larry was in his house, which is also his business just north of the railroad tracks around 31st ave in Gulfport MS. For all you non locals, that about 3 blocks directly north of the Grand Casino in Gulfport MS. I told him to get the hell out. He told me he didn't' know where to go and it was really too late to evacuate, but he was sure he would be fine, he wasn't sure if his neighborhood was under mandatory evacuation or not, but cops kept driving by, his place was there in Camille and did ok. I screamed at him to get to my house, 3 towns east of his location and north of I-10 in a rural area, a newly constructed brick home in the country. Our windows were still boarded from Dennis and with the active season like many others we had decided to leave them up, he would be safe. He told me in his nonchalant way that he would probably head over there in the morning. I told him that would be too late, by then the roads would be closed or flooded and he had to cross a couple bridges to get to my house. He needed to leave tonight, NOW ! He begrudgingly agreed. About 2 hours later we received a call from Larry asking directions the back way, as several roads were closed.
About 1.5 hours later we received a call from Larry he had made it to our house. That was the last we heard, the next morning around 8am we tried to call but the phones were already gone. When we returned home 2 days later, there was no Larry and no note. We prayed he had stayed in the house as we knew even though it had damage anyone inside would have survived. Cell phones, home phones, and of course power were gone. With no way to find him, we txt messaged a friend in California who placed Larry on the missing persons list on CNN. 1 week later we heard from Larry, he was in Atlanta, and headed to NC where he had family, he had staying at our house and described it as, "scared the s**t out of us, when your chimney came off and the tree broke out your window, but I'm glad we didn't' stay at my place, I saw it, it's gone, even my car." Today 9-15, Larry emailed me digital pictures of what's left of his house and business which were in the same building that he had just spent every penny he had remodeling. He also told me he is looking at RV's in NC, and had found 2, knowing I had several family members and friends who were homeless in addition to him, he wanted to let them know he had found decent used RV's for people to live in but the price range was too high for my parents incomes, but I believe Larry will be coming back to the coast with his RV soon.
Here's what's left of Larry's belonging
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| Larry's house and business 31st Ave Gulfport MS 2 blocks north of Grand Casino Gulfport |
Larry's car |
d'Iberville MS
The entire neighborhood is obliterated.
I grew up across the street from these houses this was my childhood
nieghborhood.
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| This was my Aunt Cathy's house her husband my Uncle Jack died of Cancer 1 week before Katrina hit. She was released from the hospital from double pneumonia 3 days before Katrina Hit. Her son who lived in Gulfport evacuated her to his house before the storm. His house had damage. But not like hers, everything is gone. |
My Aunt Jane and Uncle Joe raised their kids in this sprawling house. They retired and moved to the country and this house was rented to a family who did not evacuate, the sign, spray painted on plywood that stood in front of the house 6 days after the storm read, " Bob, Jamie and family are alive, we are in a hotel and need help ! " I found out from my Aunt that the renters, had stood on the washer and dryer to breath when the water came in. This house did not get any water from Camille. See the people sitting under what looks like a carport? That was actually part of the house, there are just no walls or furniture left. | A block north of my Aunts houses was my childhood friend Lisa's parents house. From the outside it looks ok, they had a vehicle buried under that carport roof that is down. Unfortunately what you can't see, is the mini blinds in that big picture window have leaves and debris hanging in them on the inside of the house, it flooded. Lisa recently divorced and moved back to MS, was building a home in a new community, she was 2 weeks to close, the house has to be deconstructed and rebuilt. Lisa sent her son to stay with her ex husband until schools reopen and she can find out about her house. |
I have about 5 more stories to tell of my loved ones all in similar situations, some more horrifying than others.
9-15-05
Now gas stations are opening, key roads are still demolished, but you can
buy groceries, the power companies are reporting any house that is capable
of having power do have power as of today. We only have a phone
because of some special wiring and duct tape, many people are being told end
of October. Many people have left the area, and I guess probably 45% of them
wont come back, they have no jobs, no homes, no cars, what's the point.
There are HELP WANTED signs on cars, trees, and standing buildings, it seems
you can get a job if your able bodied right now. Thousands upon thousands of
red cross people, churches, and independent groups and families from other
states have literally poured donated used clothes and MRE's on our
communities, so if you have a car you can get food and water and clothing.
The problem is, many people don't have a place to put that clothing at this
time. But thankfully we are returning to " the New Normal here"
meaning, we aren't so focused on water and food, there are stores
starting to open back up, like Wal Mart and such. Gas stations are open on
every corner, you can buy a cold soda and a candy bar. You might not find a
steak, or bread depending on the time of day you get to that store. All the
counties are still under curfew, and we are completely used to seeing armed
military men at every corner. Driving down the road and seeing a family
living on a porch, under a tarp, or if they are lucky in a camper in
their front yard is common place. Every once in a while I will see something
that reminds me all this is not normal, like a huge boat on top of a house
that's so far away from the water you can't imagine where the water
came from to put that boat there. Driving by cemeteries and wondering
if graves have washed out of people you know. 4 lane roads down to 1
lane because of all the debris piled on the sides. The smells are bad, in
some areas, you wonder if your lungs can handle it, and pray your stomach
does. But the shock mode of survival is passing, and people are now
wondering, whats next, where do we start.... As far as my neighborhood I
live in. Thank goodness we all turned to each other, checking on each other,
sharing supplies and gas, because we haven't seen law enforcement, FEMA, or
anyone else, we live in rural community. But my neighborhood is ok, we all
have cars, and our houses are standing, damaged but standing and livable.
With most of the bridges out, what used to be a 15 minute drive can easily
become a 2.5 hour drive. We had pizza the first time on day 13,
dominos people were standing in lines of traffic on a highway selling it
from there cars, $10 bucks a piece, cheese or pepperoni only. Didn't' matter
I would have taken anchovies, hot pizza are you kidding? I picked up
as many as I had cash for and delievered them to the fire departments we had
picked water and medical supplies up from just a couple days earlier. What a
change a couple of days makes. My teenager
had 3 friends stay the night last night, since we have a working phone their
parents felt ok with that. They don't' know when school will start back,
many kids have relocated. The point is, everyone would like it to be
like before the storm, not everyone has the power for a new mortgage, or is
young enough to rebuild, insurance is like roulette, and there are so many
thousands of people needing everything from silverware and toilet paper to
houses to put things in.
My heart goes out, the mental stress on
everyone, the rescue workers, the waitresses, the nurses, housewives,
lawyers, young and old, no one will ever be completely the same. Breaking
down isn't' hard, for some they can't stop, others can't break down yet,
eventually we all will. Everyone says such positive things in the
press, " we're lucky we're alive" or "we lost it all but we are
together" or like us
"compared to others we are blessed" The truth of it is, it wasn't just the
storm and the damage and the loss, it's the last 16 days, and the mental
state of survival you go thru, rationing water, trying to help others,
making decisions that could affect your families lives constantly.
When you go from that adrenaline rush panic mode to ok now what, your brain
turns to mush and you start realizing, wow, some people will never recover
from this. A friend from out of state told me that everyone on the news
looks like a poverty stricken homeless person. While driving to photo
for you yesterday and today I realized her point. I saw people I knew 16
days ago that had manicures, pedicures, spa days, and housecleaning
services, waiting in a line for a red cross voucher wearing used clothes. We
do all look a bit haggard, it's hard pressed to find a spa, so please excuse
our appearance, and if we do cry or say it sucks to go thru this, don't
think us weak or selfish, think of yourself as blessed or lucky. 17 days ago
these people didn't know today would be like this.
I want to point out that the red cross was
magnificent in setting up food and water stations in so many areas and not
refusing anyone.
Along with churches from elsewhere coming to ours or their parking lots and
flooding everyone with their needs no questions asked.
The police, fire, power companies from other states, they are everywhere and
thank you thank you thank you.
The military, you guys have been awesome.
Sandi
GCIS
Click here if you want to see pictures of my house and why I am so lucky compared to others.
