Katrina Relief - Our Trip to Mississippi

While volunteering on the Gulf Coast, we kept this blog so that we could share the stories from our trip.

From: Dan Platt and Bill Hassall
Posted 11/16/06, 9:38 p.m.

Title: Rebuilding: "Can I Cut In?"

Today was our last day of work in Mississippi. After a week of spackling, applying popcorn ceilings, and cutting in, we were ready to put a final coat of paint on Mildred's house. A week of hard work left us a bit exhausted, but we were still anxious to get the job done. When we finished, it was clear that there was still a lot more work to be done; however, the place was looking more like a home already. To complement the new coat of paint, we left Mildred a pot of flowers as a housewarming gift.

Some of us wondered why people stay along the Gulf with the threat of natural disasters ever-looming. After interacting with Gulf Coast residents, we realized that people here have an abiding and almost unexplainable attachment to what they call "home." For them, the love of their communities is stronger than their fear of another Katrina. Their dedication to rebuilding is an inspiration to us as we prepare to return to our own communities in New Jersey.

Throughout the week, we've each been reminded of our responsibilities at home. Even though we are away from our campus workplaces, we have kept their concerns in mind. Several times a day, each of us would spend a few minutes away from rebuilding Mildred's house to speak with students about upcoming river cleanups, stream monitoring events, or our water quality lessons in local schools. Just as residents of the Gulf are involved in a continual process of rebuilding and improving their lives, Water Watch will continue to improve the quality of life in our homes in New Jersey. We think we speak for the entire group when we say that this experience has solidified our commitment to serving the community.

From: Ninya Loeppky
Posted 11/16/06, 9:38 p.m.

This morning as the spunky Lutheran women sleeping on the lower bunks sprung out of bed at 6am to get their day started, I stared over the seven bunks of Water Watch women, motionless in our sleeping bags. Luckily our malaise was short-lived, and within a half hour we were eating grits for breakfast and finding out what grits are (corn!).

In the distribution center we have encountered some strange food items, including an energy drink called "Sqwencher: The Drink of Industry." We may as well have been downing Sqwencher today at the construction site, as we completed not one but two coats of paint on the entire house, in record time. Most of the house is beige, but the master bedroom is a cozy green. We were feeling a bit woozy by the end of it, as well as perhaps hallucinating, but were proud of a job well done. And went to feast on some sushi.

At this moment I must make a foray back into the past, to the dark and stormy night that was Tuesday, because I've been informed that neither Kristin nor Rosemary mentioned the freezer truck incident. So, imagine: at about 8pm the water watchers are finished with dinner and pondering relaxation when we hear that one of the two freezer trucks has broken, and all of its contents needs to be moved to the other freezer truck. Without skipping a beat, we piled outside and began manhandling frozen goods like nobody's business. I cannot describe adequately the thrill of having your sandal bottoms freeze to a metal floor as you carry a large honey ham to safety. Elyse even lost a sandal to condensation but did not drop her food item.

Rosemary was smart enough to go inside and recruit more volunteers, and at our heyday there were over 20 people in assembly line formation passing boxes along and singing "There's a Hole in the Bucket," "Michael Row Your Boat Ashore," and other favorites. We were also yelling back comments about each food item as we passed it along, and the older men in the back of the freezer truck had some strong opinions about their favorites. As "Rock Lobster" ricocheted off the metallic interior of the truck, I laughed so hard that I almost dropped the box of chicken I had in my hands and my eyes filled with happy tears, which no doubt would have frozen the second they touched the floor.

Anyway, what Tuesday night taught me was how fun an arduous task can become when a large group of good-natured people use their creativity to accomplish it. At one point I took a break from the assembly line and after five minutes outside I heard such boisterousness that I couldn't wait to get back in line. It took us an hour and twenty minutes to move that whole trailer of boxes, but it was an hour and twenty minutes I'll never forget.

Tomorrow's the last day of our construction, and I'm already sad because this week has brought so many unforgettable moments and memories. Stay tuned for Dan Platt and Bill Hassall tomorrow for more from the Gulf!

From: Rosemary Topar
Posted 11/16/06, 7:58 p.m.

Welcome to Wednesday! Today was interesting indeed. You may have heard about the crazy storm system that ripped through the South this morning, and yes, we were right in the middle of it! The morning greeted us with howling winds, pouring rain and mighty thunder and lightning. There was so much of it, in fact, that the power went out very early on. We proceeded to have breakfast by candlelight as the fearless leaders of Camp Victor rushed to fix the power situation. The lights came back on after a little while, but everyone was still becoming more and more unsure of whether we would be heading out to our work sites on schedule. News of widespread flooding and tornadoes started to make its way through the camp as everyone waited for further instructions. Every so often, the power would go off and on again, and it was soon determined that we would not be able to get to Mildred's house today due to the extensive flooding. So for what is usually known as "hump day," Wednesday quickly turned into a day of light housework and respite as we waited out the storm.

Movies were watched, board games were played, and books were caught up on while others took naps. However, in the spirit of productivity and helpfulness that drove all of us to Mississippi in the first place, we also helped out in the distribution center, unloading boxes of food and sorting them. Later on when the storm moved on, a few of us ventured out to a thrift store on the highway, hoping to "score some finds" in our free time. And we did: a few of us found some cool teeshirts, and a bunch of us found some irresistibly music. I personally found something worth much more than my 59 cents: an LP of Leonard Bernstein's NY Philharmonic performing Holst's "The Planets." I can't wait to listen to it when I come home!

The definite highlight of the day, however, was the nighttime activity we had planned. I happen to have two cousins who live together in Biloxi whom, before tonight, I had never met. Their names are Gary ("Mac") and Tommy. My mother is very close to Mac, and talks with him on the phone all the time, so I had long been planning to meet up with him and Tommy when I got down to Mississippi. A few days before we left, Tommy, who works as a chef in a Thai restaurant, made an offer that I couldn't refuse: dinner at his restaurant for all ten of us, on them! I was so excited - not only was I going to meet my two cousins, but we were all going to have dinner together at Shady's in Biloxi. We all arrived at the restaurant at 7:30 and Mac was waiting for us outside, thrilled to see me and his other nine "new cousins." When we settled at our table, he stood up and announced our presence to the entire restaurant, and we immediately got thunderous applause!

Everyone had a great time, loved my cousins and enjoyed the food, which was delicious. (I reserve the right to blame the yummyness on Tommy.) Mac and I talked about our lives and about the post-hurricane situation in Biloxi. When we finished eating, we all took a group photo with my cousins before we said our goodbyes. Everyone thought Mac and Tommy were really cool, and I definitely agree! A good time was had by all, and after a solid day's R&R, we were ready to go back to work for Mildred in the morning. That's all the news for Wednesday, y'all!

From: Kristin Elia
Posted 11/14/06, 7:19 p.m.

Day 5: Popcorn Ceilings Aren't Edible

Our second day at Mildred's house brought with it new tools, new skills, new laughs, and new songs. Yes, songs. There is nothing better than singing songs while painting. So that's what today contained. We arrived back at the house and finished up sanding the drywall. We then prepared for the popcorn ceiling machine. This machine was amazing and messy. Bill and Ninya mixed the popcorn goop in buckets and Matt took on the machine. Filling it with goop we hit the ceilings, spraying the textured mess all over the place and following in Matt's wake as we scraped remains off the wall. It's a really fun machine, but popcorn ceilings aren't easy to apply. Matt was covered in paint and the rest of us in powder and dust from sanding off the walls.

To liven things up (as if our group really needed any more of that) we sang Rock Lobster by the B52s, because it's an amazing song. (Download it now, I swear). This kept us relatively entertained and annoyed some of us, but produced laughs nonetheless. The remainder of the day was spent painting on the first coat of primer. It wasn't until we were done late this afternoon that the house started to feel like it was coming together again.

And for me that's always the weirdest part. This is my third trip to the Gulf Coast to do hurricane relief in the last year. I was fortunate enough to be a part of Water Watch's experience last November, only 3 short months after Katrina had hit, and also had the chance to take 65 Rutgers University students to New Orleans on Alternative Spring Break in March. Each time that I have come down here it is hard not to get wrapped up in the task at hand, the physical mucking out of homes or the painting of a wall. Sometimes it isn't until I stop and look around that I remember what really took place on the Gulf Coast 14 months ago.

Last night we saw a video put together by the local news station that took the viewer through the events that southern Mississippi encountered starting with the weather forecasts, the preparations, the intensity of the storm, and the aftermath. Interviews with survivors, reports by newscasters, and images of what was once here and what is now left behind were intense. After watching something like that you can't help but remember what is really at the heart of all these efforts. The Gulf Coast is on the road to recovery.

From New Orleans, to Biloxi, and out to parts of Alabama, people stay strong in hope and faith because this is their home. It will always be their home no matter how many times a hurricane comes ashore and no matter how many times the memories of what used to be come back to them. It is so incredible to be a part of this, to learn from these survivors and to help be a part of history essentially. This hurricane is going to be remembered forever as one of the most devastating natural disasters. This hurricane is going to be in the minds of the people who live here and in the hearts of the volunteers who have joined them in rebuilding. I know that those of us in Water Watch are really grateful for all that we've already learned and will continue to learn this week from this experience.

From: Lexi Gelperin
Posted 11/13/06, 7:21 p.m.

Before we went to sleep last night we already knew what we'd be doing today: unloading the Uhaul of donations that we drove here from NJ and then going with Bob, our crew leader, to prep the inside of a woman named Mildred's house for painting. Bob saved this job for us because he worked with us last year and he knows that the NJ Water Watchers like to work hard and get things done. In fact, we were the first group of volunteers to work at "Camp Victor," which is the warehouse that has now been transformed into half volunteer housing and half distribution center. When we were here a year ago, this was a huge, dirty warehouse. Now, the building contains dorms full of bunk beds with nice new mattresses, plenty of clean showers, a dining hall, and beautiful murals on the inner and outer walls painted by volunteers. Bob remembers us as the group that got this all started and he keeps telling us that he's very excited we're back.

Unloading our Uhaul was a huge release. We worked hard on our college campuses and in our communities to collect donations, and this morning we physically transferred those gifts into the distribution center so they can go to people who need them. I would especially like to thank Mayor David Fried of Washington Township, NJ who donated $1000 the day before we left to help us fill the truck! These donations, in addition to fulfilling the physical needs of people here, also go to show that New Jerseyans have not forgotten that people in Mississippi are still recovering from hurricane Katrina and we're glad to help!

Last night, Bob Montgomery (a different Bob than our crew leader) told all the new volunteers a story about a little boy who was walking on a beach rescuing star fish who had been left behind during the low tide. The boy was walking along picking up the star fish one by one and throwing them back in the water, when a man came along and told him he might as well not even bother because it wouldn't make a difference. The little boy defiantly picked up another star fish, threw it back in the water and said, "it made a difference to that one!" When you think of all the people who lost their homes in the hurricanes over a year ago, it may seem like coming for just a week and working on just one house barely makes a dent in the problem, but Bob's point is obvious: we're here helping individuals who have felt like FEMA case numbers for too long. Today we sanded the walls in Mildred's house and touched up some spots with more spackle. When we left, the house looked much the same as when we arrived but Mildred stopped by at one point and expressed her gratitude. We're one step closer to getting the walls painted. Then she can get her new floors put in and move home!

Last year we "mucked out" homes and this year we're learning construction skills. Rebuilding is a slow and often painful process because there's still such an overwhelming feeling of loss, but at least Mildred knows that we're here to help her in any way we can.

From: Katie Feeney and Liz Glynn
Posted 11/12/06, 11:01 p.m.

On Friday morning we gathered in New Brunswick to begin our trek to the Gulf Coast with a U-Haul full of food, which we filled to the brim; a feat beyond even our own expectations. Rowena livened our spirits and bid us farewell as we embarked on what would be 2 days of driving, sleeping on floors and eating what the highways had to offer, in the ultimate bonding experience - and a life altering one at that.

A church in Knoxville was expecting us by nightfall but of course the road to Mississippi is paved with 'uh ohs.' While stopping for gas in who-knows-where in Virginia, the Princeton organizer, who shall remain nameless, ran the U-Haul over a large spike, puncturing the tire and leaving us at the mercy of the mechanic. Unfortunately we had to leave our fearless leader Matt Elliot and said Princeton organizer behind to wait for repairs, but we all eventually made it to the church in Knoxville who lent us their floors for the night.

We awoke the next morning not refreshed but ready nonetheless with the help of Dippin' Donuts. Car to car updates courtesy of Bill Hassall kept us entertained until we finally arrived at the footsteps of Camp Victor in Ocean Springs, Mississippi.

We received a tour of the facilities and met the staff, including "Fema," the adorable one-eyed cat. We headed out to some local venues to unwind a little from two days on the road and have a little fun before a week of hard work.

Day one was Sunday and as such there were no official work assignments, but Team Water Watch stepped up and started the day sweeping and mopping the dining hall floors and helping to unload another semi-truck of donations. After lunch we decided to take a drive along the coast. For the returning organizers this was a chance to see the progress, or lack thereof, that had been made along the Gulf Coast since they had been here last November; for the first timers it was an eye-opening drive that reinforced the need for our time and effort down here.

Empty barren lots bore signs of homes and buildings that once canvassed the coast. It was hard to imagine Biloxi and Gulfport before the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. There were streets full of driveways with no homes, weeds had taken over parking lots and storm battered shells of buildings stood with no signs of rebuilding in sight. The concrete blocks that once formed Route 90 still sat like fallen dominos across the water. According to the returning organizers, some progress had been made but not as much as would be expected in a year.

The day concluded with a hearty meal, some good conversations, and a few inspirational words from Bob Montgomery, the Distribution Center coordinator, about his personal post-Katrina experience and the quick response and selfless service of so many volunteers to the surrounding communities.

We're ready for our first hard day of work to get out into the community and start rebuilding. Gotta go, lights out at 10 p.m., and breakfast at 6 a.m.

From: Elyse Conde
Posted 11/09/06, 10:57 p.m.

It's 11 p.m. in New Jersey. Only 8 hours until we leave New Brunswick and start our journey to Ocean Springs, Mississippi. We've been preparing for this trip since September, and the anticipation is high.

We and our students have been working hard on our nine campuses to fundraise, hold food collection drives, and even go door-to-door to collect canned goods to bring with us to Christus Victor Lutheran Church down in Mississippi. I know the experience of trick-or-treating, not for candy but for non-perishable food items, on Halloween alongside costumed children will stick with me for awhile. Matt and Kristin toured the state today in our 17-foot-long U-Haul to pick up our boxes. They are now happy to report that we have over 400 boxes with an estimated worth of $25,000 in food and household products! I know we are all incredibly grateful to every single person who donated food, money, and time to this effort. We could not have done it alone.

Our first trip to Ocean Springs was one year ago, and I was fortunate enough to be one of the participants. I remember the shock of arriving in Mississippi three months after Katrina and finding that seemingly little progress had been made. Entire neighborhoods were abandoned and in disarray, hundreds of families streamed through Christus Victor's distribution center everyday, and every person we met had a survival story to tell. Then, in March, my students and I were part of our statewide alternative Spring Break that traveled to New Orleans. It was then close to seven months since Katrina and what we witnessed was the same devastation I had seen in Ocean Springs.

I feel anxious wondering what to expect on this third trip to the Gulf. I have been happy to hear that most of the work on the houses has moved beyond the gutting stage and into rebuilding. Christus Victor is still providing food and supplies to 150 families everyday. This is a crucial reminder that it may be one year later, but the need is still there.

Check back for daily updates as our trip gets underway. We have a two-day drive ahead of us with a scheduled stop in Knoxville where Messiah Lutheran Church is allowing us to spend the night. We'll be in Ocean Springs on Saturday night, and who knows what will be in store for us.

Pictures of our food and supply pick-up

Here are a couple of photos taken as we were packing the U-Haul. It took 10 hours to travel the state and pick up over 400 boxes of food!