Bay St. Louis Mayor Eddie Favre says his biggest regret is that his city can’t adequately express its gratitude to the volunteers who traveled to Mississippi to help.
BAY ST. LOUIS, Miss. -- "The calm at the center of the storm" is usually used to describe the eye of a hurricane, but it could just as well be applied to Eddie Favre, the quietly effective mayor of battered Bay St. Louis.
From the moment that Hurricane Katrina pounded his historic town on Aug. 29, the 51-year-old Favre (pronounced Farv) –- or just plain "Bubba" to many of his constituents -- has been wrestling with the myriad difficulties that come with the loss of virtually the entire city infrastructure: urging on the depleted city work force to restore basic services, pleading for state and federal assistance and coordinating relief and rebuilding efforts with the county and neighboring Waveland.
But despite the long days of difficult decisions, the five-term mayor has remained positive in his typical low-key fashion, and accessible, holding weekly "town hall meetings" outside temporary city offices at the old train depot to update residents on the latest news on the recovery efforts and urge them to keep taking "small steps forward."
"It’s just been easy to stay upbeat about it," he said. "I see the attitude of our people and it’s easy enough to follow their lead."
A divorced father of two grown sons and a distant cousin of Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre, the mayor also has no trouble empathizing with what the townspeople are going through: Like most of the 8,209 residents, he lost his home to the storm.
But despite the fact that virtually all his possessions and memories were washed away along with the house that had been in his family for generations, he is able to joke about his loss.
"Where my house was … I can go out and sit on my slab and there’s nothing blocking my view," he said.
Favre, who says his roots in the area run all the way back to its discovery by French explorers in 1699, also took a self-deprecating swipe at his wardrobe – an untucked golf shirt and khaki cut-offs.
"This is sort of what they call Eddie Favre casual," he said. "It used to be out of choice, now it’s out of necessity."
Kidding aside, Favre said he considers himself "blessed" because his lot was scoured clean by the surge’s tremendous power, sparing him from having to come home to a house filled with ruined possessions and tarnished memories.
"It’s not … here’s my life piled here in front of my house," he said. "… And I know how hard it is. They have to look at it every day until the debris is picked up and they have to think about it every day."
Favre also has won fans by insisting that he will fight to preserve the character of the core of Bay St. Louis – the old Main Street corridor that was home to most of the city’s historic buildings and its thriving art community – and by holding the line against coastal development, i.e. condominiums.
"An extra development right now is not going to make or break our city budget. It’s already broke," he said. "So a high-rise hotel that may come in and destroy what once was, the values of what we once had … we’d just as soon not have it."
If there’s one thing that knocks Favre off stride it’s talking about the police officers, firefighters and public works crews who worked non-stop for days after the storm even though many of them also were homeless, and the townspeople who have rallied around him and them.
"I thought we had a good crew before, but it really brought out the best of them," he said, his voice growing thick with emotion.
"… And our people here in town, too. Like I said, we had people that lost everything, and all they were interested in doing was helping their neighbors.
…"We talk about heroes and there will be a lot of stories told about a lot of heroes once this is settled down somewhat."
Brian Mollere: Coping with mother's loss
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Mr. Mayor,
It was perfect timing to come across your story and the messages that followed. I stayed put during Rita (yes, I'm crazy) and have worked so hard since. We in Lake Charles, LA have experienced much the same heartache as you. Most everyone has a can do attitude and are trying to rebuild as quickly as possible. After reading your story, I was struck by the similarities in people...must be a Gulf coast thing. If my spirits ever start to wane I'll just read your story again and be lifted up. I'll have Bay St. Louis in my prayers, please keep Southwest Louisiana in yours.
Robin S. Semple, Lake Charles, LA (Sent Dec 7, 2005 2:12:42 PM)
Mayor Farve, God bless you and the work you do each day, to move forward. My sister has met the president and many a politician. She says you are the finest leader, she has ever met. We all need heroes. I know that the Bay if full of them. Thanks for leading the pack!
Laurie (Koch) McLean (Sent Dec 12, 2005 1:22:51 AM)
Eddie, You probably don't remember me but I am Ronnie Miller's son-in-law Eddie. I am glad to see you are fine physically and seem to have pulled through OK. If you need anything, Ronnie has my number and you can call me anytime.If you need anything we are here for you, I don't know you as well as Ronnie, but a friend of his is a friend of mine...period. You need a bed and roof to escape for awhile, we got it.We went down to "the Bay" two months before the storm, glad we saw it one last time the way it was before now. Take Care and God Bless!
Eddie Hewitt, Anacoco, LA (Sent Dec 14, 2005 4:25:12 PM)
Dear Eddie, if I buy the stuff, will you make red beans? Miss you, Pam West
Pam West, Bay St. Louis, MS (Sent Dec 21, 2005 6:24:23 PM)
Mr. Mayor, yesterday I returned from BSL. My college daughter and I went down to help Father Tracey and all the great people at Our Lady of the Gulf. The sight of BSL is so shocking that words could not express what I saw. Tears are running down my face now as I read the other letters on this site. All expressing exactly how I felt about the town that I immediately fell in love with. I have never met such wonderful people in my life. As my daughter and I drove around the different areas of town, we thought our hearts would break by what we saw. After 5 life altering days,we reluctantly left to come home, knowing and promising to come back when we can. To Father Tracey, Jo and Kathleen in the office, Miss Ethel, Mrs. Scafidi, Mr. Tommy, Dan Quinn, Theresa Ryan, Jennifer, the entire gang of high school kids from ED White in La. and to the Scott Bridge crew, who put up the 30 foot Christmas Tree on the beach in front of OLG, we love you all. You have changed our life. God Bless you. Mr. Mayor, hang in there, your town is worth rebuilding....Merry Christmas to all.
Peggy and Molly Dugan, Naples, Fla. (Sent Dec 22, 2005 9:48:04 AM)
Hi, Mayor Eddie,
Your Texas Murphys miss you! The day we heard you made it through the storm, we cried. We had been so worried. I have no doubt Bay St. Louis will triumph over this disaster. The people who live there are awesome! I've never felt so welcome in any other place I've ever visited. My family will continue to pray for you as well as the citizens of Bay St. louis
Debbie Murphy, Lufkin Texas (Sent Jan 1, 2006 1:55:40 AM)
My paternal great-grandparents, who came through the Port of Mobile from Cette, France, and eventually settled in New Orleans, had the surname Favre. They pronounced it "Fahve." I am named for my grandmother, their daughter, Marie Anais. As a child, I spent summer vacations in an old home on the coast between Waveland and Bay St. Louis. The house was named Mistletoe and at the time was owned by my cousins. It blew away in Camille. Good luck with the recovery efforts!
Anais H. Graf, Baton Rouge, La.
Anais H. Graf, Baton Rouge, La. (Sent Feb 1, 2006 1:01:37 PM)
Mayor Farve,
I would like to Thank You and the Residents of Bay St. Louis for your strength and determination to recover from this disaster. It was a pleasure working in the community knowing that our efforts where truly appreciated and not taken for granted. When a community that suffered as much as lower Hancock County can rebound and work together like you have, recovery will succeed. I applaud you and all of the residents in you efforts and wish you the best of luck. I look forward to returning to the area and see once again a thriving community rather than all of the FEMA trailers we have landscaped the streets with during our time there. Good Luck and my God Bless.
F R Bagley & Sons, Fitzgerald, Ga. (Sent Feb 11, 2006 9:15:20 AM)
No Bankruptcy Relief for Katrina Victims
Rep. Sensenbrenner, Who Voted Against Hurricane Relief, Refuses to Hold Hearings
By Martin H. Bosworth
ConsumerAffairs.Com
September 15, 2005
Survivors of Hurricane Katrina who were hoping to avoid the weight of the new bankruptcy law may be out of luck. Representative F. James Sensenbrenner (R-WI), chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, has indicated he will not hold a hearing on waiving the law for purposes of disaster relief.
"If someone in Katrina is down and out, and has no possibility of being able to repay 40 percent or more of their debts, then the new bankruptcy law doesn't apply," Sensenbrenner said.
The new bankruptcy laws take effect Oct.17.
Thirty one Congressional Democrats had voiced support for waiving the more onerous provisions of the new law for Katrina victims "to insure that we do not compound a natural disaster with a man made financial disaster," according to a joint statement.
Sensenbrenner was one of 11 Republicans who voted against a massive relief package for Katrina victims.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Representative Sensenbrenner,
I just ran across this article on the internet. I know it is several months old but I am amazed that an American with any compassion for his fellow U.S. Citizens could take the stand you took regarding bankruptcy for Hurricane Katrina victims following this disaster. What were you thinking? Did you not see the mass devastation along the Mississippi Gulf Coast?
Let me tell you, I took the 6 1/2 hour drive from my home near Birmingham, Alabama down to Bay St. Louis, Mississippi in October 2005 to assist the City in getting their natural gas system back in operation and again in January 2006 to work at Camp Coast Care in Long Beach, MS. The things I saw, the people I met, and the stories they told have changed my life forever.
Bay St. Louis was hit with 34 feet of water and 150 mph sustained winds. Most people within 7 blocks of the bay had nothing left but a slab where their home once stood. Not only was their paperwork necessary for filing bankruptcy gone, everything they owned was gone. Can you imagine going to your home in Wisconsin and finding nothing but a foundation or a slab where you home once stood? Can you imagine looking in all directions for miles and miles and seeing the same thing?
From the article below, the answer is NO! You are obviously an intelligent, well-educated person but have you ever lived in the real world? A world where lobbyist aren't pampering to your every need. A world where people work from pay check to pay check just to make ends meet and pay bills. I would guess the answer to these questions is NO as well.
You have the audacity to sit in Washington D.C. and deny bankruptcy relief for people who now own land that looks like a war zone. You should be ashamed of yourself! I hope the banking industry lobbyist you obviously represent (instead of U.S. citizens) have taken care of you to the extent that you never have to go through what these honorable, hardworking people are now going through.
Look at yourself in the mirror. Can you look yourself in the eyes and feel good about yourself? I think your answer will be "yes" because, after all, you are also an Attorney.
Wayne Cleghorn
94 Southbend Dr.
Talladega, AL 35160
wayne.cleghorn@energen.com
Wayne Cleghorn, Talladega, AL (Sent Feb 21, 2006 2:37:02 PM)
We have not forgoten. You are all still in our thoughts & prayers.
You are all SURVIVORS, not victims.
I have seen Strength when most would give up, Hope that can only come from faith & Love that most of us will never know.
So. California (Sent Mar 5, 2006 5:09:38 AM)
I used to live in South Hancock County until Hurricane Katrina; then my girl-friend and I moved to Talladega, AL. I would like to say good job Mayor Farve, thank-you to all our friends in Talladega for your help, and thank you Mr. Wayne Cleghorn for that information.
Sincerley,
Charles and Jessica
cjgufus15@yahoo.com
Charles and Jessica, Talladega, AL. (Sent Mar 7, 2006 6:13:55 PM)
hello eddie,
i am coming to BSL tomorrow, and i would really like to say that you're doing a great job and i'm looking forward to helping out down there.
it'd be great if i could meet you as well
jess ryan, loveland, colorado (Sent Mar 16, 2006 10:36:13 AM)
And Eddie you know you are so loved, and truly Bay St Louis and it's people are " A Place Apart" I will be sooooo glad to move home the end of March. Yipee..
jeanie
jeanie "Spanish Acres" (Sent Mar 20, 2006 2:24:50 PM)
TO THE PEOPLE OF THE BAY AND THE MAYOR,
I HAD THE PRIVELEDGE OF STAYING IN YOUR TOWN DURING THE DIXIE SOFTBALL TOURNAMENT. I HAVE NEVER BEEN AROUND A MORE GRACIOUS AND CARING TOWN. YOU GUYS HAVE OUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS AS YOU REBUILD YOUR LIVES. ANYTHING WE CAN DO PLEASE DO NOT HESITATE TO ASK. I DO NOT KNOW WHAT I COULD DO AS A SINGLE PERSON, BUT MAYOR FAVRE, KNOW THAT I WILL BE THERE AT YOUR REQUEST. GOD BLESS YOU ALL.
DALE HILL WAYNESBORO MS (Sent Mar 24, 2006 12:05:43 PM)
Mr Mayor Fevre, you have tugged the hearts of everyone. Those of us who cant travel right now have sent and continue to send all we can to help. When we can be up and ready to travel, we will be down to help wherever we are needed, doing anything! Tell the beautiful folks at Bay St Louis we are with you, and have not forgotten you! We love you. Fight for what is yours and dont let the morons at FEMA walk on anybody. They are all mini-minded minions but work right around them! with love from the north.
J.F.K. Frost (Sent Mar 28, 2006 6:46:20 PM)
I just returned last night from BSL. I am a senior in high school, I'm 18, and I traveled to BSL with my youth group from Naperville, IL. This is the best spring break I have ever had. Better than any trip I could've taken to Cancun, Florida, California...anywhere. I have come back a new person. It's hard to be home knowing there's so much left to do. I truly fell in love with this small town, the people, and the work. I could have lived out of my suitcase and on MRE's for two more months if I'd needed to. It was very hard to come home. No matter how much work and progress I gave to Bay St Louis, I have come back with so much more. I can't say thanks enough to Father Tracey, Dan Quinn, Jo, Kathleen, and Mary for their hospitality, leadership, openness, help, guidance and stories. They have truly changed my lives and I can't wait to come back.
Allie Griffin, Naperville, IL (Sent Apr 1, 2006 12:23:55 PM)
Dear Mr. Favre,
I need your help. My mom lives in Bay St. Louis and was plugging along on the reconstruction of her home. Last Thursday April 6th an inspector showed up and halted all work. He said that they were not allowed to rebuild w/out the proper permits. He claimed the house had been knocked down and they had no right to start rebuilding it. My dad tried to explain to him that it was not knocked down and the inspector started screaming at my dad and calling him a liar. My mom followed him to city hall to try show him the pictures of her house still standing and he started to scream at her and slammed his office door in her face. Now she is worried that the volunteers working on her house will not come back. She is devastated. They told her to be at City Hall Monday morning but she does not know why. This man has treated her terrible.Please, Please tell me what I should do for her . She has been in tears. Her name is Marion Brokmeier and she used to own the soon to be reopened KG's cajun seafood.
Michelle Pierce Denver, Colorado (Sent Apr 9, 2006 7:13:33 PM)
Eddie, how did St. Stanislaus fare with hurricane damage? Was the school repairable and students were able to come back? I remember the school campus was so beautiful. I have many wonderful and warm memories of Bay St. Louis-lived there in 1985-86.
Becky Hewitt-Walraven, Ben Wheeler, TX (Sent Apr 24, 2006 1:48:51 PM)
Mr. Mayor,
I had the privelege of being in Bay St. Louis at the end of March this year. A group of 10 of us from the First United Methodist Church in Richmond,Ky. stayed at the Main St. Methodist Church, which along with several others, is doing a GREAT job helping the people of the area. The trip has impacted my life tremendously! We are planning many more trips in the future. This coming Monday, 5/22/06, we will be having our first meeting to begin planning another trip sometime in the fall. What kind of things can we bring? We are thinking of school books for the kids, as I remember seeing a video from one of the school principles saying that all of the books are gone. Any feedback and guidance you can give us is appreciated.
Looking forward to hearing from you. God Bless.
Dave Purvis
FUMC Richmond, Ky.
Dave Purvis, Richmond, Kentucky (Sent May 20, 2006 9:54:13 AM)
hey man, you still got dem damn short britches on?....GOOD FOR YOU!!!!....at least some politions have their people in mind
andy,ms (Sent Jun 19, 2006 8:00:42 PM)
Michelle,
Unfortunately, your parents are not the only loyal and respectful Bay St. Louis residents being treated like crimnals by the building inspector. And, this treatment did not just begin since Katrina. It is a long-standing tradition here by this particular inspector, and one that the mayor will not do anything to change - at least not for the scores of residents who have met to discuss their situation with the same experiences.
I know it is of no consolation, but many families are going through the same legally enforced nightmare as your parents. And, yes, your fears are warranted. Many volunteer groups that have brought master plumbers, master electricians, and master mechanics at their own expense to Bay St. Louis have been treated just as as badly. They found out after getting here that their free rebuilding assistance to the residents of Bay St. Louis are not welcomed and will not be tolerated by the city.
You will notice that the mayor has not taken the time to even give you the courtesy of an excuse here, just like he has ignored many others who question these4 gestapo type strong-arm tactics of getting people to "do business" as the inspector wishes. I guess we have to use our imaginations, or something more tangable, as to the motives.
This blockade of skilled, licensed trades from other areas of the country has resulted in many volunteer groups relocating to Waveland and Hancock county where they are experiencing a welcome with open arms. The citizens of Bay St. Louis are being denied these free services.
What is really rich is an article I read about Mayor Favre lamenting the fact that Bay St. Louis is just not getting the monies from non-profits that Waveland and other jurisdictions are gettingby the truckloads. Duuuuhhhhh?????
People need to let the powers that be on a National level what is going on here. You cannot change it here; it is the status quo.
Penelope DeMorney (Sent Jun 25, 2006 11:38:49 AM)
Dear Mr. Favre,
I'm from The Lowcountry of South Carolina and am sad to say that your plight was lost on me at the time of it's occurence due to an auto accident that I was in the week before Katrina wiped out your town. I was in ICU at the Medical University in Charleston as it hit and vaguely remember the news stories and shaking my head and thinking I had it bad, but even with two broken legs, broken jaw and broken shoulder I still had a home and family to go to when I recovered.
After a month in the hospital and alot of prayers from friends, family, and members of Christ St. Pauls Episcopal church of Younges Isl., SC I went home and started my recovery. I regret to say that I lost sight of your plight.
This past spring our youth pastor and another from Tulsa, OK got together with the pastor of The First Presbytarian church on Ulman St. and worked out a mission trip for our youth groups. I have been in construction most of my life but not very involved with the youth even though I have four grown daughters, a son and daughter in HS and another daughter in middle school and three grandchildren. I just never seemed to have time for them and I now regret that. I was asked to go on this mission trip because of my knowledge and the fact that I still don't walk well and am not working.
I went and will never regret it. I was broken hearted by the destruction that I now visited and had near forgotten. Our five groups of teens under the watch of some very capable adult volunteers did some awesome work on six different sights for some of your very appreciative residents of your once fair, and soon to be again, city.
I want y'all to know that our thought and prayers are with you and that I will never forget or make little of others problems.
Sincerely,
Pete
Pete Lessard Cottageville, SC (Sent Jun 28, 2006 7:29:07 PM)
Michelle,
I just found the article, to which I referred that quotes Mayour Farve lamenting the lack of rebuilding support to Bay St. Louis as compared to our neighbors:
http://www.sunherald.com/mld/thesunherald/news/14744772.htm
Many here in Bay St. Louis are wondering if the mayor is really not connecting the dots betweeen the city's power hungry and abusive building inspector, who has beeen known to rip out wiring installed by "outsiders" and good samaratians, and the fleeing of skilled mechanics - and other trades, builders and much needed funds that head straight to Waveland and the County, our surrounding neighbors.
A quote from Mayor Favre in the article:
"...but the neighboring town of Waveland seems to have just about cornered the local market on national media coverage and recovery contributions.
“All of us are in the same situation, but when the national media talks about Katrina in Mississippi, most of the focus has been on Waveland,” Favre said.
End of quote.
I also found some faith-based volunteer group websites that are claiming to be "rebuilding houses in Bay St. Louis. One such site even specified that they doing so with in-training student mechanicss/electricians. I called them up to asked specifically where these houses are, just so I could verify that our building inspector is indeed letting the citizens of Bay St. Louis take advantage of volunteer mechanics. They told me they did not know where these houses, for which they are soliciting monies, are located, or even if they are in Bay St. Louis proper.
What is most apparent though is the fact that volunteer groups have gutted and cleaned up untold numbers of properties for the citizens of Bay St. Louis and elsewhere. For the past several months they have been very visible everywhere you look along the Gulf Coast. And, this has been a true God-send for without them and there labors of love, the Gulf Coast would not have progrees a small fraction of what it has to date.
To my knowledge, all of the demolition and clean-up crews have been welcomed by the city as a whole. It appears that the Bay St. Louis building inspector draws the line at "outsider" electrical, plumbing, and hvac mechanics.
Penelope DeMorney (Sent Jun 29, 2006 9:44:00 AM)
Dear Mayor Favre, I was recently given the privelege to spend a week in your city helping build a Habitat for Humanity home. At first my heart was broken when I saw all the devastation...10 months after the fact. Then, I met a local man on your beach who was reading a book while his dogs played in the water. He told me that after he lost his home, he took his dogs to the beach. He told them, "Go ahead and play, the water is the same, just don't look behind you." What a wonderful attitude! I believe your quiet gentle spirit has kept your community moving forward, not looking back. I hope to return on a regular basis over the next several years. I know my efforts are just a drop in the ocean, but, many drops make a difference. May God continue to bless your recovery. I look forward to being a guest in your city again very soon.
Brenda Rust , Donovan, IL (Sent Jun 30, 2006 7:49:35 AM)
Mayor Favre and Bay St. Louis citizens. I had the priviledge of visiting your area in the three to six months before Katrina. We seriously considered relocating to that area but my Husband could not find a comparable pay scale at that time. I have coffee cups and t-shirts from shops in town and many wonderful pictures of the homes by the Gulf. I was so in awe of your wonderful town and my heart goes out to each and everyone of you. I would love to share my pictures with the owners of those homes if anyone would be interested. Good luck and God speed in the recovery, or, I should say the rebuilding of your wonderful quaint little town.
Linda S. Sandlin Waynesville, NC (Sent Jul 18, 2006 3:43:34 PM)
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