Brian Mollere describes the eerie scene in Waveland immediately after the hurricane, when he was apparently the only person alive in the vast pile of rubble.
WAVELAND, Miss. -- Brian Mollere is tired of being a hurricane celebrity, so much so that he’s considering what would have been unthinkable just a few weeks ago: Getting out of town and away from the vast debris field that surrounds him in what was downtown Waveland.
The 50-year-old Mollere owes his fame to national media reports on his harrowing survival when he was caught up in the 30-plus-foot storm surge that smashed his town into kindling. In addition to saving his own life with a desperate swim to safety, he managed to keep his mother’s Chihuahua, Rocky, tucked in the crook of his arm the whole time.
"I was picked up by a 40-foot wave and pushed 800, 900 feet," he recalled, gently rocking on an old wooden chair salvaged from the towering debris piles nearby. "It just wasn’t my time to go. It was a ride I’ll never forget though. It’s like some of these surfers look for the perfect wave, well I had one, in a sense. But it wasn’t the type I was looking for." (Click here to hear Mollere describe his ordeal.)
Mollere, who before the storm worked in real estate and marine construction, recounts his brush with death with the dazed delivery of a shell-shocked combat veteran, and his tone doesn’t change when he describes the death of his 80-year-old mother, Jane.
He recalls sending her to stay with family members in a Bay St. Louis house that was five feet higher than her home in Waveland and presumably safer.
"I put her in the car, and I said ‘Mom, I’ll probably never see you again,’ because I used to joke around with her all the time," he said.
After his narrow escape, Mollere hiked three miles to Bay St. Louis only to learn that his mother had drowned when she was unable to escape as the house was demolished by the same wave that nearly took his life.
He then hiked back to the site where her home had stood, atop the family-run hardware store across from the flattened Waveland City Hall, gathered a few items from the wreckage and set up his camp. For the first three days, he saw no one.
"I would wake up and look around and it was like your whole world was gone," he recalled. "It was like being on a bombed-out planet or something. There was no noise – you could hear no bugs, no birds – it was just an eerie silence for three days."
In the weeks since the storm, Mollere’s camp, which he shares with life-long friend "Wild Bill" Laprime, has evolved into a one-stop aid station and information clearinghouse.
"Eventually people started to come over the rubble and bring help, bring food, ask questions if Ive seen loved ones or anything," he said. "So I started gathering up more tables and just got more stuff to make the place more comfortable, livable. And I started taking in information … and we were like a little way station here for people, because we were the only ones on this side of the railroad tracks."
But the constant stream of visitors from morning to night has begun to wear on Mollere. He said he’d like to take a vacation once he is able to bury his mother, whose body was found in the debris five days after Katrina only to be whisked to a temporary morgue set up by the county, where the family has been unable to reclaim it.
"We still haven’t buried my mother," he said. "I’m trying to get this done at this point. I’m hoping to get all my affairs straightened out so I can get away from here for a little while. Because I’m getting to that state of mind where I’m really depressed. And some psychiatrist told me about three weeks ago that it would hit me and it’s beginning to right now. … It’s just depressing, too overwhelming at this point."
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I just want to say I am so sorry for Brian Mollere for loosing his mother, but god saved him for other reason. God bless Sue & Doug Loggins
Sue & Doug Loggins, Wimauma, Florida (Sent Oct 19, 2005 12:24:03 PM)
I WOULD LIKE TO TELL MR.MOLLERE TO KEEP HIS HEAD UP AND I WILL PRAY FOR HIM. HES DOING A WONDERFUL JOB!!
TRACY OWENS (Sent Oct 19, 2005 12:24:50 PM)
My prayers are with Mr. Mollere. I went with the Red Cross to help out when the storm hit. After 3 weeks working in Alabama, I was depressed and I had a place to go home to. Mr. Mollere really needs to get away and get himself some down time. Thanks to people like him and the many other strong people of the Gulf coast, information that might have taken forever to be passed on, was available. The people of his hometown are blessed to have him.
Anna Warrick, Autryville, NC (Sent Oct 19, 2005 12:28:47 PM)
That was another Castaway experience,may god bless you
D'shah, Plano ,Texas (Sent Oct 19, 2005 12:39:53 PM)
Mr. Mollere, I am sorry for your loss. Maybe you will get to take that vacation, soon. You will be blessed for you unselfish acts.
R. Alati Valley of the Sun (Sent Oct 19, 2005 12:43:12 PM)
Mr. Mollere I'm very sorry about the loss of your mother. You were not saved by luck or chance, but by God's Grace. Look to God for guidance and He surely will direct your path. I know it looks bad right now, but all of this shall pass. Look to God! God bless and keep you.
Jacqi, Fort Lauderdale, FL (Sent Oct 19, 2005 12:43:21 PM)
Your mother was with you that day in the storme surge Brian, she did see you again and she will see you every day for the rest of your time here. I am in South Florida facing what could be a catastrophic hurricane Wilma. I am frightened, but people like you give me hope. God bless and keep your head high, you are here for a reason, even if that reason is to show that even in the face of devastation, life does and will go on. You are brave and my heart goes out to you.
Amy, Wellington, FLorida (Sent Oct 19, 2005 12:43:30 PM)
I AM SO SORRY FOR YOUR LOSE. IT TAKES A STRONG MAN TO PUT HIS OWN SORROW ASIDE TO HELP OTHERS. YOU ARE IN MY THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS AND I HOPE YOU CAN PUT YOUR MOM TO REST SOON.
TERRY BARR, FAIRMONT, WEST VIRGINIA (Sent Oct 19, 2005 12:44:04 PM)
We've been spared so far this year - Thank God! Prays are continually lifted in Tha Bahamas for Katrina victims. It could just as easily have been us. Keep hope alive.
Anya Symonette, Nassau, Bahamas (Sent Oct 19, 2005 12:46:17 PM)
Mr. Mollere,
God Bless You. I'm very sorry for the loss of your Mother. I pray that she will watch over you and protect. I also pray that you will get your much needed vacation, pick up the pieces and move on with your life.
Lisa L Irvin, Montevallo, Alabama (Sent Oct 19, 2005 12:53:11 PM)
May God Bless you Mr. Mollere and know your Mother is safe with God now Stay strong!
Leola Griffith (Sent Oct 19, 2005 12:55:51 PM)
I WOULD LIKE TO SAY TO MR. MOLLERE TO TRY TO HANG IN THERE. GOD'S GOTTA BLESSING FOR YOU. BEHIND EVERY STORM THE SUN WILL SHINE. WE WILL BE PRAYING FOR YOU!
ANN SERVANT GEORGIA (Sent Oct 19, 2005 12:59:39 PM)
Mr. Mollere, you go and take that vacation. Be sure to take the doggie with you. I think you deserve the vacationa and more.
Jaime Jackson, Mississippi (Sent Oct 19, 2005 1:01:09 PM)
Hey Brian! I am not an American and I am not religious but I am a citizen of the world and I am really sorry for what happen to you. But, please understand that because of people like you and what you do for others in htese times other people live! What you do is more than you have to but you still do it! In some ways your mother lives on with the people you save by helping them! Even in the darkest times there is light if you know where to look. And, right now you are that light to other people.
Sincerely yours,
Robert (swedish in Japan)
Robert Jansson, Okazai, Aichi Japan (Sent Oct 19, 2005 1:08:52 PM)
It could possibly help others by you continuing to tell your story. Please keep telling it. I will continue to pray for you.
Stephanie Taylor Rowlett Texas (Sent Oct 19, 2005 1:11:06 PM)
These stories are heart warming. You have to read about real people before you can understand the human drama still unfolding on the Gulf Coast.
Alan Jackman, Louisville, Kentucky (Sent Oct 19, 2005 1:11:16 PM)
Mr. Mollere, may Allah bless you with patience & acceptance of His Decrees. May He grant you comfort during your time of loss.
Sakinah (Sent Oct 19, 2005 1:16:11 PM)
I read his story and shed tears for his sorrow, loss and bravery. Disaster could happen to any of us at anytime. You cannot prepare for that. Brian set up camp and tried helping others by being an information center. God Bless you Brian! My prayers go with you. Jon & Susanne Suttich
Jon Suttich (Sent Oct 19, 2005 1:29:35 PM)
MR. MOLLERE;
GOD DOES HAVE A PURPOSE FOR YOUR BEING ALIVE. IN YOUR TIMES OF STRESS AND WHEN YOU FEEL THAT YOUR SANITY IS FAILING, PLEASE CALL ON GOD AND HIS STRENGTH WILL KEEP YOU SANE AND AT PEACE. JUST REMEMBER, GOD IS LOOKING OUT FOR YOU.
AUDINE WYNN (Sent Oct 19, 2005 1:30:04 PM)
To Brian Mollere,
We send you our prayers for the loss of your Mother, we send you our love for your bravery to save all you could. We send you our deep thanks for saving your little dog. We send you hope and faith so you will never run out of either.
We wish you a speedy recovery.
God bless you!
Ron & Ronda
Ron & Ronda (Sent Oct 19, 2005 1:38:32 PM)
Keep up your courageous spirit--our people need you.
I think your mother knows and is very proud of you.
Joan Traylor, Oceanside, California (Sent Oct 19, 2005 1:46:25 PM)
Mr. Mollere....I read your story today. May God be with you in this terrible time in your life...I was so sorry to hear of your loss. Please know that we are praying for you.
Jane Steill (Sent Oct 19, 2005 1:51:58 PM)
Keep up your courageous spirit--our people need you.
I think your mother knows and is very proud of you.
Joan Traylor, Oceanside, CA (Sent Oct 19, 2005 1:52:08 PM)
Brian, it is people like you who makes life better even when things are not what they should be. I am here in Florida, Palm Beach County. My mother is in Miami (79 yrs old, not in good health). I have to work (I am 61) and the thought of not being able to get my mom out of Miami whenever my boss lets me is really upseting. She spent hurricane Andrews alone. I do not wish that on anyone. You are a great human and a survivor. God has a plan for you. May He Bless you greatly and keep you. You will see your mom again. With respect and admiration to you!
Yolanda Hamby (Sent Oct 19, 2005 2:00:23 PM)
I AM SO GLAD THAT YOU ARE OK! JUST REMEMBER WHERE THERE IS A WILL THERE IS A WAY!!! GOD HAS A PLAN FOR ALL OF US. I AM ALSO SO SORRY TO HERE ABOUT YOUR MOTHER BUT IT WAS HER TIME JUST LIKE ONE DAY OUR TIME WILL COME FOR US.
HEATHER,TIFTON,GA (Sent Oct 19, 2005 2:11:14 PM)
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