BAY ST. LOUIS, Miss. -- “Katrina took a lot of things, but it can’t take Christmas.” That’s how Lance Rihner of Bay St. Louis explains why he insisted on decorating his house this year, despite the devastation that surrounds it.
Of the few homes left standing here and in neighboring Waveland, many are decked out with Christmas lights and decorations, even though the residents have many more-pressing concerns. Click here to see the decorated homes, tents and trailers and hear the residents talk about the holiday season.
“It’s important, especially for the children … even if it’s just a little styrofoam snowman in the front yard,” says Bob Welz of Waveland.
Brian and Suzanne Porter, Bay St. Louis residents who still have jobs, say they decorated to make the area more festive for those who lost everything.
"These you can see from Main Street, so I know they’re going to ride around and see," Suzanne says.
Many of the decorations are on FEMA trailers, and there’s even a trailer contest sponsored by the city of Bay St. Louis.
“You can’t put nails in a FEMA trailer, so we used duct tape,” Cowger says of the atypical arrangement.
Stacy Schutz of Waveland decided to combine Christmas with criticism for FEMA. After tiring of waiting for a FEMA trailer and then discovering she was pregnant, Schutz and her husband bought their own house on wheels. But they also pitched a mini-tent in front of a plywood sign with this greeting: “FEMA HOLIDAY HOUSING.”
Bay St. Louis resident Edward Jurkowski was still putting up his decorations: wreaths on two large oaks and a life-sized metal moose that he always dresses up for the season.
The Main Street house, oaks and moose, who has always been secured with trailer ties, all survived Katrina. The house got an inch of water, while the moose has one slightly droopy ear now and lost its straw hat. The sunglasses, on the other hand, made it.
As Jurkowski put the finishing touches on the moose on a gorgeous afternoon, he hesitated before plugging in spotlights to showcase his display.
“There’s no guarantee that they’re going to light up after a hurricane,” was his caveat.
But the next night, as we drove past Jurkowski's house, the lights of Christmas were shining bright.
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What a privelege I had to work a couple of days in Waveland . To see the lights on homes was fantastic.
The destruction is far more than pictures can show.
Government or man can't control weather. What an opportunity we have to serve our friends in MS,La .Christain Life Church is making a difference.They are meeting people were they are and making a difference in their lives.What a privelege
itis to be a small part of their ministry.They have had people from every state except HA. I met people
from Canada even.This is what the true church is about!Waveland will rebuild!
Gary Alexander Little Rock Ar (Sent Dec 19, 2005 5:18:30 PM)
God Bless you all. You all are the spirit of Christmas. And it's all about the children. Happy Holidays to you all.
Anna Benware, Apex, NC (Sent Dec 19, 2005 7:30:50 PM)
God bless us all! Always stay strong! The Angels will always guide your soul, but you have to believe!! No matter what this cruel world deals us. Great article!
AJ, San Diego, CA (Sent Dec 19, 2005 7:49:43 PM)
I am a Katrina evacuee and I have temporarily relocated to Birmingham, Al. The first thing I would like to say is that the people in Alabama have been absolutly wonderful; Thank you all. Second is that people from the Gulf coast region are strong,resilient, and determined to get our lives back on track. We refuse to let the destruction of everything we had and FEMA ruin our holiday spirits. Thanks to everyone that has donated and support our efforts to rebuild. Happt Holidays and God bless.
Sean Ferrara, St. Bernard Parish,La (Sent Dec 19, 2005 8:06:39 PM)
I wish you all the best and I can`t believe our government would allow your children to live in tents.you all should have already been taken care of,God bless all of you and I hope true help arrives to you very soon. It is great that you all can stay in the spirit as I am not sure I could. Merry Christmas to all.
Laurie Jones, Forest Grove, Oregon. (Sent Dec 19, 2005 8:28:45 PM)
GooD bLeSs u ALL...HAppY nEW yEaR...
..^MeRry ChRitHmAs..
andyz.. (Sent Dec 19, 2005 9:38:37 PM)
Wow, I am truely touched and amazed with all the love and blessings I've read here. With all you have lost you have gained the admiration of many for your faith in God. Your Christian spirit has touched thousands and has given others the strength to go on. May Gods love comfort you. Merry Christmas to you all! God Bless You.
Jenny Starbuck, Canton, Mi. (Sent Dec 20, 2005 9:07:02 AM)
With all the rushing around, we forget the true meaning of Christmas, family and friends and helping
one another. I hope all the best for katrina victims
and family!
Richard bedard (Sent Dec 20, 2005 9:11:04 AM)
I think that this article is one that made me remember our own devastation after the passage of Hurricane Ivan in September 2004 and how we now have to deal with stating all over again, The Hurricane Katrina victims will DEFINATELY RECOVER AND RECOVER BETTER THEY WILL. HAVE A MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A BRIGHT AND PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR.
Tamika, Grenada (Sent Dec 20, 2005 9:54:36 AM)
Our family was lucky that we only suffered minimal damage from Hurricane Rita. And like a lot of people, we received no help from FEMA. Whether you were a victim of Katrina or Rita the residents of the Gulf Coast and Texas will return, rebuild and bring our towns and cities back. Hope everyone has a very Merry "Blue Roof" Christmas!
J. Rose, Beaumont, Texas (Sent Dec 20, 2005 10:16:54 AM)
May Our GOD richly bless each one of you. Our prayers are with you each and every day.
James H. Lunsford Sr. (Sent Dec 20, 2005 10:58:33 AM)
May God Richly bless each one of the Katrina victums.
My prayers are with you each and every one.
Jim Lunsford (Sent Dec 20, 2005 11:03:06 AM)
It should make every grinch in America thank God for what they have even if they don't have alot. To go through a crisis as Katrina and loose everything and still have the Christmas spirit is in itself a testimony to the human spirit and the need to go on.
Lynn Kaiser, Philadelphia, Pa. (Sent Dec 20, 2005 11:07:27 AM)
god bless the people..you are in my prayers.remember the true meaning of christmas...
blairs mills pa. (Sent Dec 20, 2005 11:22:01 AM)
Just remember that if God brings you to it, He will bring you through it. May all on the gulf coast and elsewhere in the United States have a Merry, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! God bless you all!
Melissa, Thomasville, GA (Sent Dec 20, 2005 11:23:42 AM)
I love it. The south shall rise. Looking forward to the gumbo and crawfish again. Merry Christmas!!! You are the best.
Mike Brown, Cheektowaga, NY (Sent Dec 20, 2005 12:27:55 PM)
I think of all the sadness that was left by Kartina and Rita, but then I see this!! Have A Very Very Merry Christmas, and I hope a better New Year in 2006! All my love to all of you !!
Tricia Graham, Manteca, CA (Sent Dec 20, 2005 1:10:01 PM)
The human spirit that has abound after the Katrina disaster reminds us what Christmas should mean to all of us
Peter, Riverside, CA (Sent Dec 20, 2005 1:32:28 PM)
God Bless all of you,yes I did say God and Merry Christmas. And if I was a wealthy person I would send each and every one of you a CHRISTMAS TREE not a holiday tree. Christmas is for the children and it is a time to rejoice
cwc (Sent Dec 20, 2005 1:32:49 PM)
God Bless All of the Katrina Survivors. God give you joy and strength to make it through to better times.
MERRY CHRISTMAS & HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Nancy Olney, Monrovia, California (Sent Dec 20, 2005 2:05:26 PM)
This is not the time for politics and finger pointing. It is the time to remember WHO we are celebrating this season. Kudos to all of you in the Gulf area. I pray that God will touch your heart and encourage your spirits. I also pray that 2006 will be a new beginning to all of you. God Bless You!
Pam Spaur, Muncie, IN (Sent Dec 20, 2005 2:12:21 PM)
Please receive a warm jug and solidarity from the puertorrican people. We know what you are passing through. May you all have a very Merry Christmas.
Victor Santos, Caguas, Puerto Rico (Sent Dec 20, 2005 2:59:50 PM)
I HAVE READ MANY ARTICLES AND EVERYONE HAS PRETTY MUCH SPOKEN BUT GOD WILL COME AND RESCUE U FROM ABUNDANCE NO WORDS CAN TAKE AWAY UR PAIN BUT UR LORD AND SAVIOR WILL SEE U THROUGH NO CHILD SHOULD BE SLEEPING OUTDOORS BUT A MOTHER AND FATHERS LOVE WILL GET THEM THROUGH AND ALSO SHOW U NOTHING IS FREE IN THIS LIFE ALL THE TAXES WE PAY AND THIS IS WHAT U GET FROM THAT REDNECK IN THE WHITE HOUSE WHO NEEDS 2 SLEEP IN A TENT NO HOT WATER NO DECENT TOILET BUT IF I MUST BE KIND TIME IS SHORT AND THE DAY IS NEAR KEEP UR FAITH AND SAY UR PRAYERS BECAUSE THE ONLY WAY THROUGH THE FATHER IS THROUGH THE SON AND STAY STRONG BECAUSE HE WOULDNT PUT NO MORE THAN U CAN BARE SO HOLD ON THE DAY WILL COME HAPPY HOLIDAYS
YOLANDA TIMES (Sent Dec 20, 2005 3:09:19 PM)
KEEP CHRISTMAS ALIVE. WAY TO GO NEW ORLEANS, REST OF
COUNTRY NEEDS TO TAKE A LOOK AT THEMSELVES THIS TIME OF YEAR.ITS THE MTA TRANSIT WHO IS THE GRICH WHO STOLE CHRISTMAS. THEY ARE JUST GREEDY AND UNCARING
PEOPLE.
ANNE DAVIS (Sent Dec 20, 2005 4:14:20 PM)
I LIVE IN WEST PALM BEACH,FL. WE HAVE BEEN THROUGH 6 HURRICAINES IN THE PAST 2 YRS. MY DAUGHTER LIVED IN WIGGINS MS. SHE LOST HER JOB AND THE KIDS SCHOOL WAS DAMAGED, THEY CAME TO FLA ON LABOR DAY.FRIENDS LET THEM STAY WITH THEM.THE FAMILY HERE IN FL HELPED THEM . WITHIN 3DAYS SHE HAD A GREAT JOB THE KIDS WERE IN SCHOOL. THEN WILMA HIT AND MY GRANDCHILDREN HIDE IN A CLOSET AND CRIED. BUT GOD TOOK CARE OF ALL OF US. I AM VERY GRATEFUL THAT MY FAMILY IS ALIVE AND WELL THIS YEAR. WE STILL HAVE FAMILY AND FRIENDS IN MS THAT STILL HAVE NO HOMES AND DO NOT KNOW WHEN THEY WILL BE OUT OF THE TENT CITIES, BUT GOD WILL TAKE CARE OF THOSE WHO HELP OTHERS.
PHYLIS NEWMAN, WEST PALM BEACH, FL (Sent Dec 20, 2005 4:32:59 PM)
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