Report Card - 2005
It is impossible to comprehend, in the comfort of our own homes, what it must be like to lose everything in a single day.
On Monday, August 29th, just after 10:00 a.m. local time, Hurricane Katrina made landfall, with the eastern eye wall directly over Pearlington, MS - sparing New Orleans the direct hit. Every home, building and vehicle in this town of 1700 was destroyed. If that wasn’t enough, a storm surge travelled 4.5 miles inland and drowned what little was left under 12 feet of the most toxic stew imaginable.
This site is dedicated to the First Responders and to all others who, in the remaining four months of the year, adopted Pearlington and made an enormous difference in the relief, recovery and now, the rebuilding, of this bayou town. Together, they stand as a model of cooperation, fellowship, courage and foresight and deserve to be recognized as a unique coalition of sovereign disaster relief agencies pulling together for the common good.
The First Outside Responders were: Paula Buhr, R.N., the Texas nurse who cajoled and helicoptered her way into Pearlington first, just a day or two after the storm; the Walton County, Fla. Public Works Dept., under the direction of Jeff McVay, who first took leadership in setting up the Recovery Center under unimaginable circumstances; George Bates and the Presbytery of Mississippi, Presbyterian Church, who were the first faith-based volunteers to reach Pearlington less than a week after Katrina. I, myself, reached Pearlington from Ontario, Canada on Sept. 12 and worked for two weeks, returning to manage the Recovery and Resource Center for the month of November. There were many others and as their stories reach me, I will post them here.
For many of us, our hope is to create an informal Coalition of Disaster Relief Agencies (CODRA) that will continue to work cooperatively in Pearlington and elsewhere; supporting, inspiring and assisting each other, regardless of our individual missions. In this unique manner and with the common good always as our focus, the non-governmental organizations (NGO’s) listed below will accomplish all our goals and establish a model that stands in counterpoint to the official, governmental response. Whether or not each group is a religious organization we are all, clearly, faith-based groups: that is, with faith in ourselves, each other and in The One who called us all to serve.
This, then, is what can be accomplished when ordinary citizens of the world choose to make a difference. As George Bates has said: “WORKING TOGETHER WORKS” and there is a great deal more to be done:
ORGANIZATIONS:
● Water Missions International - George Greene IV, Co-founder: Pump Project:
Through individual and corporate donations organized by WMI, 400 pumps from Sta-Rite and Myers Pump companies, divisions of Pentair Corp., were received and installed in Pearlington between October 24th and first week of December. Of these, 394 were installed, six were defective.
Approximately 50 pump installation volunteers donated their time, energy and compassion to the residents of Pearlington, Waveland and Bay St. Louis and points in between. Charleston, SC Public Works and Mt. Pleasant, SC Public Works Depts. provided many professional pump installation people from their respective organizations for up to two week periods as well as pipe and pipe fittings to accomplish the task. Other volunteers were Bev and Ed Wentz who were the advance team that organized and executed the unprecedented pump program on October 18, 2005 and Michael Boyce (WMI employee) and Dick Johnson, a volunteer who took over from us when we left on November 13, 2005.
Without the vision of Water Missions International and early input from such individuals as Jake Earl, P.E. and Conrad Velasco, this program would not have gotten off the ground. These 394 pump systems had a total value of approx. $157,600. plus all of the many hundreds of hours of labour and other costs involved;
● Carbondale, Co. Fire Department/Katrina Relief Fund:
▸ has cleared more than 400 lots of downed trees, deadfall and rubbish to allow for the placement of FEMA trailers;
▸ provided an ambulance, filled with valuable medications, to the free Clinic located at the Recovery & Resource Center;
▸ provided, through their “Red Ball Express” program, thousands of dollars in goods and material for the Pearl*Mart distribution Center;
▸ provided an outstanding Christmas party for the children of Pearlington;
▸ raised more than $86,000. in their efforts to assist the school, the town and the people of Pearlington.
● Loving Neighbors - Moe Grzelakowski, Chair: a network of 13 church congregations in Hinsdale, Oak Brook and Clarendon Hills. IL has shipped to Pearlington alone:
▸ 260 Home Starter (Trailer) Kits (@ 500. ea. = $130,000.)
▸ 10 generators (@ $700 ea. = $7,000.)
▸ 1 washer dryer ($650.)
▸ 25 TV's ($100 ea. = $2,500.)
● Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of Mississippi - Greg Wolfe, Disaster Recovery Director:
Since we first came to Pearlington in October, 130 volunteers have come in 12 Mission teams from at least seven states to help in our ministry. These groups, from churches, campus ministry groups and families, have contributed over 2500 labor hours in Pearlington and surrounding areas.
These volunteers have worked on over 40 houses, including:
▸ emptied 4 houses of ruined belongings;
▸ emptied and gutted 17 houses;
▸ built 3 storage sheds;
▸ salvaged lumber from 3 houses;
▸ cleared downed trees from 3 yards;
▸ provided at least 39 Home Starter Kits for families moving into FEMA trailers;
▸ helped "Sheds for Jesus" group build several small storage/laundry sheds;
▸ helped the Pearl*Mart Distribution Center with stocking, organizing tasks;
▸ helped assemble and install well pumps for dozens of families;
▸ cleaned up the shelter, camping, and eating areas at the Pearlington Recovery Center;
▸ helped staff the free clinic;
▸ brought several truckloads of food, medical supplies, winter coats, blankets, Christmas toys, and other goods for the Pearl*Mart;
▸ done many other tasks as needed.
● Presbytery of Mississippi, Presbyterian Church (USA) - George Bates, Disaster Recovery Coordinator:
We helped set up the shelter, the distribution center now affectionately known as Pearl-Mart, put in a water purification system, and delivered dozens of generators and chain saws. “We hope to have a volunteer camp located in the community up and running by January 1. We have access to heavy equipment.”
● Sheds for Jesus and Conrad Katrina Aid - Conrad Velasco, Founder:
▸ constructed 122 sheds to provide storage (and in some cases, sleeping space) for the people of Pearlington;
▸ provided and installed 72 water pumps;
▸ provided and built “Holly’s Library.”
● Dog Soldiers of Atlanta, GA (Men’s Division International) - Tim Goodnow:
▸ participated in the building of approx 35-36 sheds;
▸ removed trees and debris from approximately 15 homes;
▸ assisted homeowners in cleaning out 5 homes;
▸ delivered car-less residents to their homes, picked up medicine and delivered it to residents, picked up residents and brought them to the showers/medical clinic; delivered ice, food, clothing, set up tents in residents yards, gassed and oiled up generators and chain saws and delivered them to residents;
▸ handed out toys and stuffed animals to countless children;
▸ unloaded several trucks of supplies, food, clothing and toys at Pearl-Mart;
▸ set up the Distribution Center on September 11th;
▸ collected and delivered 350 school book bags for elementary age children;
▸ arranged for 19 misplaced geese to be moved from Gin Rd to Colonel Barnes Lake;
▸ delivered a man in need of surgery to Gulfport Memorial Hospital;
▸ mowed yards in preparation for FEMA trailers;
▸ hung the bulletin Boards on fence outside Pearl*Mart;
▸ assisted with the securing of many water pumps, and some installation of them;
▸ raised $14,750. With $5,000. spent on pumps and $4,800. spent on shed materials;
▸ with the Parkway Presbyterian Church, delivered 2 large U-haul trucks full of clothes, food, water, etc., along with a 40' bus full of items and willing spirits;
▸ the number of Dog Soldiers and associates that travelled to Mississippi is 50 strong with several hundred hours of volunteer time.
● Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis - Char Ransom, Tom Eickhoff and others:
I was a part of the 20 volunteers in Pearlington. Ten of our number stayed and worked in shelters in Baton Rouge, but did join us for two days before we had to leave. The other ten spent the greater share of 2 weeks in Pearlington. The majority of our time was spent organizing and serving in the Distribution Center. Our guys bought lumber and made shelves so that organization would be more efficient. They also made racks for the clothing. We were well under way to getting things organized, when Hurricane Rita forced us to leave. Some of the guys went into the neighborhood and helped remove trees from yards and junk from homes.
● Doug & Donna Case and Andrea & Terry Parrish and other Juneau Co. WI businesses have donated goods and materials in excess of $5,000.
“As a result of our fundraising efforts in Juneau County Wisconsin we were able to fill the pickup truck with can goods and other supplies and with money left over. After delivering to Pearl*Mart mid-November we drove to Hattiesburg and purchased more items from your most wanted list and delivered the next day. After seeing first hand the conditions in Pearlington we vowed to raise more money. When we returned to Wisconsin with photos to show people, we gathered another $250. within a few days. We have family that live in Hattiesburg and we sent them the money. They purchased fresh fruit, milk and meat and delivered it just before Thanksgiving.”
● Dream School International - Jon S. White, Founder:
▸ created, and Nancy Semple delivered, 36 “Hope Chests” to children and their families in Pearlington;
▸ provided counselling, support and resources for many people in the community suffering from the manifestations of Post Traumatic Stress;
▸ provided management of the Pearl*Mart (Sept.) and of the Recovery & Resource Center (Nov.)
▸ created a web log (blog) for Pearlington and consistently posted a current Needs List;
▸ advocated on behalf of the citizens of Pearlington.
INDIVIDUALS:
● Nancy Semple, Ontario, Canada:
▸ created and delivered Hope Chests to 36 families
▸ raised $3,500. through Rotary and $2,000. through DSI
▸ assisted in Pearl*Mart and in the field
● Eileen Powers, Ontario, Canada:
▸ shed building - 17 hours
▸ Resource Survey - 20 hours
▸ water tank assembly - 60 hours
▸ mucking out houses - 7 hours
▸ participated in the building of “Holly’s Library”
● Leslie H. - Binghamton, NY:
▸ got the Bay St. Louis PO to deliver relief boxes to Pearlington's Elementary school on a weekly basis;
▸ have found about a half dozen teams to make the trip down to Pearlington to help with the building of the transitional homes; one team is bringing approx $40,000. in donations (so far) with $3,000. in tools (coming in March);
▸ have spoken to +/- a dozen schools and convinced them to send their fund raising efforts to Habitat International earmarked for Hancock County - totals in the range of $20,000.
▸ helped locate grants for New Hope Construction, Walton County Habitat, Center for Prevention of Child Abuse and the Humane Society of South MS.;
▸ established a blog to help those who can't/won't go to assist directly - to assist indirectly with very simple and relatively low cost, painless ways to make a huge difference;
▸ my sister and I have made and sent 2 dozen t-shirts for the Hancock County School's cooking staff - who lost everything;
▸ located possible housing for the Center For The Prevention of Child Abuse.
● Dr. Ellyn Shander, MD, Psychiatrist:
I worked the Thanksgiving holiday weekend at the clinic. I brought about $500. dollars worth of medicines on that trip.
On Monday, August 29th, just after 10:00 a.m. local time, Hurricane Katrina made landfall, with the eastern eye wall directly over Pearlington, MS - sparing New Orleans the direct hit. Every home, building and vehicle in this town of 1700 was destroyed. If that wasn’t enough, a storm surge travelled 4.5 miles inland and drowned what little was left under 12 feet of the most toxic stew imaginable.
This site is dedicated to the First Responders and to all others who, in the remaining four months of the year, adopted Pearlington and made an enormous difference in the relief, recovery and now, the rebuilding, of this bayou town. Together, they stand as a model of cooperation, fellowship, courage and foresight and deserve to be recognized as a unique coalition of sovereign disaster relief agencies pulling together for the common good.
The First Outside Responders were: Paula Buhr, R.N., the Texas nurse who cajoled and helicoptered her way into Pearlington first, just a day or two after the storm; the Walton County, Fla. Public Works Dept., under the direction of Jeff McVay, who first took leadership in setting up the Recovery Center under unimaginable circumstances; George Bates and the Presbytery of Mississippi, Presbyterian Church, who were the first faith-based volunteers to reach Pearlington less than a week after Katrina. I, myself, reached Pearlington from Ontario, Canada on Sept. 12 and worked for two weeks, returning to manage the Recovery and Resource Center for the month of November. There were many others and as their stories reach me, I will post them here.
For many of us, our hope is to create an informal Coalition of Disaster Relief Agencies (CODRA) that will continue to work cooperatively in Pearlington and elsewhere; supporting, inspiring and assisting each other, regardless of our individual missions. In this unique manner and with the common good always as our focus, the non-governmental organizations (NGO’s) listed below will accomplish all our goals and establish a model that stands in counterpoint to the official, governmental response. Whether or not each group is a religious organization we are all, clearly, faith-based groups: that is, with faith in ourselves, each other and in The One who called us all to serve.
This, then, is what can be accomplished when ordinary citizens of the world choose to make a difference. As George Bates has said: “WORKING TOGETHER WORKS” and there is a great deal more to be done:
ORGANIZATIONS:
● Water Missions International - George Greene IV, Co-founder: Pump Project:
Through individual and corporate donations organized by WMI, 400 pumps from Sta-Rite and Myers Pump companies, divisions of Pentair Corp., were received and installed in Pearlington between October 24th and first week of December. Of these, 394 were installed, six were defective.
Approximately 50 pump installation volunteers donated their time, energy and compassion to the residents of Pearlington, Waveland and Bay St. Louis and points in between. Charleston, SC Public Works and Mt. Pleasant, SC Public Works Depts. provided many professional pump installation people from their respective organizations for up to two week periods as well as pipe and pipe fittings to accomplish the task. Other volunteers were Bev and Ed Wentz who were the advance team that organized and executed the unprecedented pump program on October 18, 2005 and Michael Boyce (WMI employee) and Dick Johnson, a volunteer who took over from us when we left on November 13, 2005.
Without the vision of Water Missions International and early input from such individuals as Jake Earl, P.E. and Conrad Velasco, this program would not have gotten off the ground. These 394 pump systems had a total value of approx. $157,600. plus all of the many hundreds of hours of labour and other costs involved;
● Carbondale, Co. Fire Department/Katrina Relief Fund:
▸ has cleared more than 400 lots of downed trees, deadfall and rubbish to allow for the placement of FEMA trailers;
▸ provided an ambulance, filled with valuable medications, to the free Clinic located at the Recovery & Resource Center;
▸ provided, through their “Red Ball Express” program, thousands of dollars in goods and material for the Pearl*Mart distribution Center;
▸ provided an outstanding Christmas party for the children of Pearlington;
▸ raised more than $86,000. in their efforts to assist the school, the town and the people of Pearlington.
● Loving Neighbors - Moe Grzelakowski, Chair: a network of 13 church congregations in Hinsdale, Oak Brook and Clarendon Hills. IL has shipped to Pearlington alone:
▸ 260 Home Starter (Trailer) Kits (@ 500. ea. = $130,000.)
▸ 10 generators (@ $700 ea. = $7,000.)
▸ 1 washer dryer ($650.)
▸ 25 TV's ($100 ea. = $2,500.)
● Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of Mississippi - Greg Wolfe, Disaster Recovery Director:
Since we first came to Pearlington in October, 130 volunteers have come in 12 Mission teams from at least seven states to help in our ministry. These groups, from churches, campus ministry groups and families, have contributed over 2500 labor hours in Pearlington and surrounding areas.
These volunteers have worked on over 40 houses, including:
▸ emptied 4 houses of ruined belongings;
▸ emptied and gutted 17 houses;
▸ built 3 storage sheds;
▸ salvaged lumber from 3 houses;
▸ cleared downed trees from 3 yards;
▸ provided at least 39 Home Starter Kits for families moving into FEMA trailers;
▸ helped "Sheds for Jesus" group build several small storage/laundry sheds;
▸ helped the Pearl*Mart Distribution Center with stocking, organizing tasks;
▸ helped assemble and install well pumps for dozens of families;
▸ cleaned up the shelter, camping, and eating areas at the Pearlington Recovery Center;
▸ helped staff the free clinic;
▸ brought several truckloads of food, medical supplies, winter coats, blankets, Christmas toys, and other goods for the Pearl*Mart;
▸ done many other tasks as needed.
● Presbytery of Mississippi, Presbyterian Church (USA) - George Bates, Disaster Recovery Coordinator:
We helped set up the shelter, the distribution center now affectionately known as Pearl-Mart, put in a water purification system, and delivered dozens of generators and chain saws. “We hope to have a volunteer camp located in the community up and running by January 1. We have access to heavy equipment.”
● Sheds for Jesus and Conrad Katrina Aid - Conrad Velasco, Founder:
▸ constructed 122 sheds to provide storage (and in some cases, sleeping space) for the people of Pearlington;
▸ provided and installed 72 water pumps;
▸ provided and built “Holly’s Library.”
● Dog Soldiers of Atlanta, GA (Men’s Division International) - Tim Goodnow:
▸ participated in the building of approx 35-36 sheds;
▸ removed trees and debris from approximately 15 homes;
▸ assisted homeowners in cleaning out 5 homes;
▸ delivered car-less residents to their homes, picked up medicine and delivered it to residents, picked up residents and brought them to the showers/medical clinic; delivered ice, food, clothing, set up tents in residents yards, gassed and oiled up generators and chain saws and delivered them to residents;
▸ handed out toys and stuffed animals to countless children;
▸ unloaded several trucks of supplies, food, clothing and toys at Pearl-Mart;
▸ set up the Distribution Center on September 11th;
▸ collected and delivered 350 school book bags for elementary age children;
▸ arranged for 19 misplaced geese to be moved from Gin Rd to Colonel Barnes Lake;
▸ delivered a man in need of surgery to Gulfport Memorial Hospital;
▸ mowed yards in preparation for FEMA trailers;
▸ hung the bulletin Boards on fence outside Pearl*Mart;
▸ assisted with the securing of many water pumps, and some installation of them;
▸ raised $14,750. With $5,000. spent on pumps and $4,800. spent on shed materials;
▸ with the Parkway Presbyterian Church, delivered 2 large U-haul trucks full of clothes, food, water, etc., along with a 40' bus full of items and willing spirits;
▸ the number of Dog Soldiers and associates that travelled to Mississippi is 50 strong with several hundred hours of volunteer time.
● Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis - Char Ransom, Tom Eickhoff and others:
I was a part of the 20 volunteers in Pearlington. Ten of our number stayed and worked in shelters in Baton Rouge, but did join us for two days before we had to leave. The other ten spent the greater share of 2 weeks in Pearlington. The majority of our time was spent organizing and serving in the Distribution Center. Our guys bought lumber and made shelves so that organization would be more efficient. They also made racks for the clothing. We were well under way to getting things organized, when Hurricane Rita forced us to leave. Some of the guys went into the neighborhood and helped remove trees from yards and junk from homes.
● Doug & Donna Case and Andrea & Terry Parrish and other Juneau Co. WI businesses have donated goods and materials in excess of $5,000.
“As a result of our fundraising efforts in Juneau County Wisconsin we were able to fill the pickup truck with can goods and other supplies and with money left over. After delivering to Pearl*Mart mid-November we drove to Hattiesburg and purchased more items from your most wanted list and delivered the next day. After seeing first hand the conditions in Pearlington we vowed to raise more money. When we returned to Wisconsin with photos to show people, we gathered another $250. within a few days. We have family that live in Hattiesburg and we sent them the money. They purchased fresh fruit, milk and meat and delivered it just before Thanksgiving.”
● Dream School International - Jon S. White, Founder:
▸ created, and Nancy Semple delivered, 36 “Hope Chests” to children and their families in Pearlington;
▸ provided counselling, support and resources for many people in the community suffering from the manifestations of Post Traumatic Stress;
▸ provided management of the Pearl*Mart (Sept.) and of the Recovery & Resource Center (Nov.)
▸ created a web log (blog) for Pearlington and consistently posted a current Needs List;
▸ advocated on behalf of the citizens of Pearlington.
INDIVIDUALS:
● Nancy Semple, Ontario, Canada:
▸ created and delivered Hope Chests to 36 families
▸ raised $3,500. through Rotary and $2,000. through DSI
▸ assisted in Pearl*Mart and in the field
● Eileen Powers, Ontario, Canada:
▸ shed building - 17 hours
▸ Resource Survey - 20 hours
▸ water tank assembly - 60 hours
▸ mucking out houses - 7 hours
▸ participated in the building of “Holly’s Library”
● Leslie H. - Binghamton, NY:
▸ got the Bay St. Louis PO to deliver relief boxes to Pearlington's Elementary school on a weekly basis;
▸ have found about a half dozen teams to make the trip down to Pearlington to help with the building of the transitional homes; one team is bringing approx $40,000. in donations (so far) with $3,000. in tools (coming in March);
▸ have spoken to +/- a dozen schools and convinced them to send their fund raising efforts to Habitat International earmarked for Hancock County - totals in the range of $20,000.
▸ helped locate grants for New Hope Construction, Walton County Habitat, Center for Prevention of Child Abuse and the Humane Society of South MS.;
▸ established a blog to help those who can't/won't go to assist directly - to assist indirectly with very simple and relatively low cost, painless ways to make a huge difference;
▸ my sister and I have made and sent 2 dozen t-shirts for the Hancock County School's cooking staff - who lost everything;
▸ located possible housing for the Center For The Prevention of Child Abuse.
● Dr. Ellyn Shander, MD, Psychiatrist:
I worked the Thanksgiving holiday weekend at the clinic. I brought about $500. dollars worth of medicines on that trip.
posted by Jon White @ 8:35 AM
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