Day 3 started out well
I had to pick up the Douglas at the airport - yeah he flys we drive - I know
what you are thinking - I thought the same thing on the way to the
airport. Thats ok though, as he was quickly assigned to the kitchen crew
upon arrival to camp Katrina. Seriously - it was interesting to see his
reaction to the devestation on the way in.. knowing he would get the other tour
of the coast later inthe day.
Today was spent with Paul and I working in the store most of the day - and
although we very muched missed our slinging trash gig, we wanted to have more
direct contact with the people affected from the storm.
Smiling Faces…. its amazing what can brighten someones day when they
have nothing but hope and wishes… John (a visitor) came to me and had a
simple request for what some may consider routine - it was root beer. It
was for his father who was confined to a wheel chair and just had a craving for
root beer. simple enough - only no one knew where any was.. Luckily I
found some packed away in the corner - and off he went - very happy his quest
was complete. …… Kids - way to go faygo.. some how soft drink still
excite the kids - even when the parents tell the children not to ask.. "here you
go kid, enjoy"…. The two guys who came here and just wanted to distribute
400 cards his class (he was a teacher) made for the children of Katrina.. Paul
and I went and helped him unload .. too bad we did not get his email address -
Im sure he would have enjoyes some pictures of the children here. …. to Silvia
and her husband who just wanted some drinking water and ice to get through the
night, Paul and I set them up but had to raid the kitchen supply of ice - not
sure if it was within the rules - but he needed it now….
Paul and I also had dinner with a local couple - Larry and Karen.. they had
stories.. they were actually doing mission work in California when Katrina
hit. Their house actually did not crumble like so many - the inside is a
complete loss. They live a few blocks from where I sit now and they had
estimated 27 feet of water.. they will repair and someday sell it - it will cost
$30,000 to do the job.. but with no jobs, no people coming back right away -
they will wait to do it and spend the winter in the great state of
Florida. We asked a lot of questions - felt more like a journalist than a
relief worker, but it was good to hear their story.. i think they felt good to
tell people as well.
I wish everyone at Cypress and those reading this can experience this.. not
necesarrily working Katrina relief but doing something in this magnitude for
people you dont know. It feels good to help those looking for help and it
feels good to discuss someones hopes after so much destruction.
this was something to experience.. and the thing is - its not over tomorrow -
they will need help here for a long long time..
submitted by Tim
Paul
sent in these photos. You can click on any photo to view in a larger format.
(Left) Don and Joseph got up at 5 AM and started making breakfast at
5:30. Here’s Don making sausage and biscuits.
(Right) This is the store.
People from the community can get food, toiletry items, baby items, and
more. All for free.
(Left) The clothing tent is being
operated by Heartland Church and Willow Creek. Their churches collect the
clothing, sort it, box it, and then have it shipped down to their teams in
Waveland.
(Right) While Tim and Paul were looking around the clothing tent, they met
Rudy Ramos. He said he loved chilli peppers and wanted to know where he
could get one of our "Red Hot Volunteers" shirts. So he traded Paul his
yellow "Willow Creek Response Team."
(Left) This church was about a mile or so from the Gulf.
(Right) This church was about a
block from the Gulf. The only things left were the foundation and the
steps. To the right of the picture was a tent with chairs where they have
been holding services since Katrina.
(Left) George Rountree has been
inspecting houses in Waveland for an insurance claims company. He gave us
the tour of Waveland and showed us this property. The house is gone.
All that’s left is this SUV which ended up
in the swimming pool.
- Contributed by Paul Steinbrueck
We completed a 2 hour tour of the beach and coastal areas today.
Everyone told us to expect the worse and they were not wrong. The area in
which we are in here ( a couple miles form the beach) is bad.. however, since
its a major throughway, it has been cleaned up well enough and traffic is
normal. As you get closer to the beach, DEVASTATED is the only word that
comes close to describing the scene. Cars were mangled, and tossed into
tress, swimming pools, and on top of each other. While that all shows the
power of a storm surge, its nothing compared to what it did to the boats and
homes.
Next to the cars being displaced - the boats are everywhere.. sails and tarps
are in the trees, shrimping boats (or the remains of which) are now
toothpicks. I recall stories just prior to the storm hitting where
shrimpers were going to ride the storm out in their boats. I am not sure
what became of that group, but I pray they were not in Waveland.
Homes are literally junk piles. Its as if a bomb went off, obliterated the
home and the remains were then scooped up and just dumped across the
street. We saw the remains of homes sitting in the road. Beach homes
that were on stilts were gone - there is no visable sign of coastal homes with
the exception of the slab and possibly some of the concrete stilts left angling
on the driveway.
The bridge between Waveland and Gulfport is completely out. It has
washed away. As did a large stretch of railroad. Trees are down
everywhere and even with crews working now to clear, its obvious the process
will take a number of months if not a year or more.
When we arrived we wondered where all the visitors to Camp Katrina were
staying. We did see a number of people who have pitched tents on what is
left of their property - even if it was only a slab.
The fear of looting is present - or was present- as there are signs in the
yards to serve as a very strong warning to stay out.
We did get pictures of a lot of this damage, but it is important to say that
we were very sensitive to the people affected. only empty buildings and
remains - but that just cant tell you the grief we saw in some faces.
Positive Signs: we happened on a few churches - or really what was
churches. The first one - you only knew it was a church as some people got
together, fond the steeple from the roof, set it up - and have created a mini
relief center. Other churches were completely destroyed, with only the
steps to the front door as a reminded of what had been - and yet a brand new
printed sign - that says the name of the church and that services are continuing
- they meet in a tent next to the remains - to stand and worship - Sundays
9AM. Something that can not be said about the strength and power of faith.
Keep them in your prayers
Tim
