Waveland and Bay St. Louis awoke Wednesday morning to a blanket of fog, creating a different perspective of the destruction for a new reporter in town.
Usually, the devastation is awesome in its sweep; John Brecher, our multimedia producer here this week, says you can go anywhere and it's flattened houses, gutted cars and snapped trees as far as the eye can see. Today, however, the eye can see only about 5 feet. It's curiously like being inside a video game -- details pop up in isolated tableaux as you pass by, one by one by one. John is forever stopping to take pictures of small details you likely wouldn't notice on a clear day.
You realize you're inching down Grosvenor Place in Waveland when a metal street sign materializes out of nowhere: "RO ENOR." Katrina erased the G and the S and the V.
To our left is a 4-foot-tall lamp, rising above the rubble of a house. In other times, it would be the height of kitsch -- it's an 18th-century fellow in a fur-edged buckskin outfit and a fancy hat carved in wood. Now, he's the tallest object on the lot, standing sentinel in his imperious hauteur.
Over there a flash of yellow jumps out of the murk. It's a short strip of metal siding twisted against a downed tree. It's folded in on itself in an almost perfect yellow ribbon like the ones worn by relatives of the soldiers in Iraq.
Down another small street, its sign wiped out, something else catches our eye. It's a plastic skeleton, decked out in a full tuxedo (with jaunty red bow tie), relaxing in a deck chair. There's no house left on the lot, and no one's around, so we don't yet know who put him there to comment on the passing scene.
If we find the Waveland Joker, we'll let you know.
Lori Gordon: Creating treasures from trash
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My children were surprised of the damage Wilma did to our neighborhood to the point that "they were happy" it was only a category one and not like Katrina.......
Carmen Matos-Raia, Miami Shores, Fl (Sent Nov 9, 2005 1:46:37 PM)
Some folks here in Burbank, California have been trying to help the Waveland Police Department get back on their feet. Can you let us know how they are doing, and that we are still praying for them?
Rosie LoBrutto, Burbank, California (Sent Nov 9, 2005 3:24:15 PM)
Please continue to take these kind of pictures. The artist in me wants to frame this one as it shows so clearly what this storm has done.
MB, Pass Christian, MS (Sent Nov 9, 2005 3:26:48 PM)
Just wanted to let ya'll know that we are thinking of you and collecting goods and appliances to send down----our kids soccer club is collecting for the Gulf Coast United Soccer Club in Gulfport ---Refrigerators,washers and dryers , microwave ovens ,dishwashers etc...God bless all of you ----
Joe Evans ,Birmingham Al (Sent Nov 9, 2005 5:09:38 PM)
Hello,
I am so glad to see that someone has finally addressed the Police issue in Waveland. I own a web publishing company in Bloomington Indiana and my wife went to Waveland to volunteer for 2 weeks. We both consider ourselves to be bohemian free thinkers that love life. Anyway I digress…. The truth is that the Waveland police department officers are required to buy their own equipment. Guns, batons, bulletproof vest/flack vest, etc. Everything was ruined. They have been told (I have learned) that due to county policy about individuals supplying their own equipment that they do not qualify for the federal assistance that has been set aside to compensate of help specifically Police departments. They are in true need of help there. Lets just say an atomic bomb would have been kinder to the area. They need everything from Xerox copy machine, radio equipment, to individual officer outfitting. If by any chance you know of a department that has revamped or upgraded their equipment please ask them to consider donating to Waveland Police. Old equipment is better than no equipment.
Both My wife and I are moving to Waveland to help with reconstruction. I will be offering network IT assistance as well as any other help needed. My wife will be helping with any other assistance she can (Food prep, distribution, helping families to live off the grid) As we both have experience actually living “off the Grid” for a extended 5 year period in a family environment. We are self-supporting and I am finishing up a project that will keep a steady income for 6 months without having to worry about receiving local or federal compensation.
Ron Parsons
Firelight Productions
postmaster@wwweb-publishing.com
Ron Parsons (Sent Nov 9, 2005 6:08:09 PM)
To assist the Waveland Police dept. send to:
Police Station
790 US Rt. 90
Waveland, MS 39576
Ship Via Federal Express and mention it is for Hurricane Relief and receive 50% off shipping items.
Ron Parsons (Sent Nov 9, 2005 6:12:17 PM)
Did ya'll ever stop to think that while you are running around trying to find fabulous photos to send out to the world...so they can sit in their computer chairs and ay nasty things about how enough of the freebies...get back to work..that maybe you are deeply offending the citizens of Waveland..and I am one of them. There was a reporter with a camera taking pictures of our possessions piled up across the street as if it was something really newsworthy??? My 21 year old autistic daughter's beloved things were sitting in that pile you were photographing. She sits in our camper each day and screams and bites herself because everything she has ever known and loved is GONE. That includes her job. She worked at a sheltered workshop for handicapped adults...every day shredding documents that the local hospital contracted them to do. She used to work 5 days a week, and when they got their little paychecks, they would take them to the bank to cash them, and then it was to Wally World or Dollar Tree to spend their 15 or so dollars. Now her home is destroyed, the only thing we were able to salvage from her "stuff" was her Simpson's rubber figurines, and a backpack with some cassette tapes of stories read by family members and teachers that she has listened to for upwards of 15 years.
She had a lovely and purposeful life...and it has been blown to hell. Last night I wrapped her in her blankie to keep her from biting herself, and I rocked her for 7 hours.
I am at wit's end, and the absolute LAST thing I need is some camera crew trolling down my street looking for interesting pictures....this is our LIFE. Please, go away. It seems to me, given all of the nasty (why don't these people get off their butts and go back to work) comments, that once again, America (the country with the attention span of a flea) has gotten bored with this "story". If you can't say something humane, why are you bothering to read these stories and look at these pictures??
Geralyn, Waveland, MS (Sent Nov 9, 2005 6:30:40 PM)
One more thing..PLEASE...Waveland is part of Hancock County...and there is also a Hancock County Sheriff''s Dept. The Deputies were out patrolling immediately after the storm...protecting the entire county..including Waveland...for days after the storm when the regular PD wasn't able to. The Deputies all (except for 2) lost their homes and possessions. They lost their uniforms, and bulletproof vests as well. They are now down to a few police cars..and have to call around to find out whose cruiser they can use for their shift. My son is a Deputy..and he is riding around in a wrecked car that he has been sharinig with 3 other deputies. After the storm, we had to go to Mobile in order to buy t-shirts that said POLICE, and BDU's and boots, and other stuff. I used a large portion of our FEMA check in order to have him in some semblance of a uniform...because it was not safe for any officers to be out without id. When are people going to worry about these deputies? They are the ones who took up the slack when no one else was out. Waveland PD have received cars, uniforms, personal items...and I am truly glad for them, because it was needed. So, now could someone address the needs of the Hancock County Sheriff's Department, because their administrators don't seem to be doing a credible job of taking care of their men.
G Bleau (Sent Nov 9, 2005 7:01:31 PM)
G Bleau, the Cumberland County Sheriff's Department in Southern Maine sent 4 deputies down to....Washington Parish - I don't know what county that is, so pardon me if I mention this and its not in Hancock County - back in September to allow the Washington Parish officers time to collect themselves. While there, a local TV news crew joined them to report on what Mainers were doing to help one particular town. When they returned, they set up a funraising event for the citizens (and officers) of Washington Parish. The event raised several thousand dollars that will be sent from Cumberland County's Sheriff Department to the Washington Parish Department. It is my understanding that my Sheriff's Department will continue to support Washington Parish through the long haul. Why Washington? It's deputy sheriff met Cumberland County's deputy sheriff about a year ago at some law enforcement seminar and became friends. Now an entire town...er, parish...will benefit from this partnership. I hope someone will be as inspired to assist Hancock County.
Stephanie Umbro, Standish, ME (Sent Nov 9, 2005 9:42:59 PM)
Mr. Parsons - thanks for you post. Also I have myself been down to city hall. They need lots of help as far as clerical support and etc. Also someone to update a web page would be wonderful if you can do that for them since you are an IT guy.
Anything anyone can do we need the help. The city is having a hard time getting info out there because no one has the time to do it. We need help with the city stuff also. Any help!!!!
BettySue, Waveland (Sent Nov 10, 2005 10:08:47 AM)
Hello Geralyn, I am in Mobile and feel the pain of your writings; would you please send me a list of the things your daughter lost and the most urgently needed things that the Sheriff's dept lost. I will work with some friends here and see what we can come up with. Things can be more frustrating when it feels as though everyone has forgotten. We haven't forgotten and want to help. Please mail to Jennifer Jones at 7671 Cameron Ct Mobile AL 36695. or respond to email
Jennifer Jones, Mobile AL (Sent Nov 10, 2005 10:51:51 AM)
The way you get people not to forget is to send these stories and pictures out to the world. Be very glad that these reporters are here doing this and keeping us in the prayers and minds of others! I have sent pictures to relatives in Calif. and now they are talking to their church and will be adopting families for the holidays. They also have told their veternarians and they are getting in touch with doctors here to see what they need. Don't be upset when someone takes pictures of your pain, it might just be what will help save you.
mindy, pass christian, ms (Sent Nov 10, 2005 7:53:08 PM)
Thank you so very much America for all the help. It brings tears to my eyes and softens my heart when I see all the people who have come to help us. I have seen depictions of the destruction on TV and in the papers and felt that no one could know how it truly looks - you need peripheral vision to take in the scope of it. Everywhere you go there are people from somewhere else trying to help. I feel truly cared for by this wonderful wave of generousity.
Elizabeth, Gulf Coast, MS (Sent Nov 11, 2005 8:53:56 AM)
I was born and raised in Biloxi (woolmarket), and untill last year I worked in Bay St. Louis. I am currently in Raleigh N.C., and have not been home since Katrina. My Family lost homes, and I lost a family friend to the storm surge. I agree with Mindy
that the only way we get to keep up with what is going on, is by news reports like these. My company has sent a team down to help out with the clean up.
There are a lot of folks in this country who love the Ms. gulf coast. We need these reporters to keep
this tragedy their #1 priority.
David Smith, Raleigh,N.C. (Sent Nov 11, 2005 9:17:56 AM)
Dear Betty Sue,
I am busy in preparation to move my family to Waveland. As I can imagine most people with my knowledge and skill ran for higher ground and greener pastures. A lot of money can be made in the field of network systems and web publishing, etc…. As I stated in my post I am finishing up a project that will keep the family and myself from becoming a drain on resources. All my services offered to the city are free of charge and my wife and I are in for a long-term commitment. I have several websites optimized for different aspects of my work. But http://www.wwwebpublishing.com would give a short accurate profile of the company and myself. I own Firelight Productions. Education is listed as well as some experience. I would be happy to work on website, local network, clerical support, and so on. Give this email to the proper authorities that I will need to have contact with. Contact me by email reply at: postmaster@wwwebpublishing.com. I am eager to begin helping to make Waveland once again a wonderful place for families to be.
My projected time of arrival is just before or after Christmas. I am looking into acquiring a bus or camper so to keep my immediate family off the ground, and not in a tent for an undisclosed amount of time.
Thank You,
Ron Parsons
Firelight Productions
http://www.web-publishing.org
http://www.wwwebpublishing.com
Ron Parsons Bloomington, Indiana (Sent Nov 11, 2005 4:51:10 PM)
Here it is almost a year later and still have tarps on my roof and denied help from Fema and the red cross. my insurance only paid 1800 dollars for over 5000 in damage, still have tarps on my roof and cant afford to get the roof on a fixed income I live on disability and live alone. Me and my dog Buster. Its just not fare. makes you wonder what this country has done with all the money that was collected and donated.
Jerri Cooper. Chunchula, Alabama (Sent May 23, 2006 4:10:39 AM)
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