Myself and my husband are Hurricane Katrina evacuees
from a small Mississippi Gulf Coast town of Gautier.
After the hurricane many people from all over the USA
came to to lend a helping hand. It was a blessing to
know that there was caring people out there. Due to
no housing options and unhealthy conditions we were
forced to relocate to another state to start a new life. If it was'nt for the kindness of others we would'nt have had a second chance to start our lives
over again !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Its stunning to me that there are a couple of television shows on TV that will come and surprise you with a brand new home, for ratings of course, and yet, where are all of the deep pocket executives when they are really needed? In real life? Silly isn't it? Good luck folks, and god bless this man who desires no paycheck, or publicity, or ratings to rebuild this part of america!

Amen , or in simple works, I agree, K.A.

As a neighbor who also lived on Waveland Ave (north of the tracks) for my entire life I am so happy to see people rebuilding. I have faith that one day my town, my home will be back. I've had to transfer out of state for the time being but one day too I will be back. No matter what's happened it is still and always will be HOME.

I live in Portland, Oregon - my son (24) lives in Sumter, S.C. One week from today (Feb. 25) we will be flying into Atlanta from our respective states then boarding another flight that will take us into New Orleans. From there we will be spending the next 7-13 days in Waveland doing whatever it is we can do to help out.
Together my son and I have decided IT'S ABOUT TIME we go and help our neightbors in Waveland, MS. The term, neighbor is not exclusive to the individual's who occupy the apartment, home, trailer or tent next door, but rather having respect, compassion and above all love for everyone in this world who may be hurting due to circumstances beyond their control. Isn't IT ABOUT TIME each one of us takes action...stop waiting on those who we "thought" should take action, it's up to ALL of us - here and now to help our neighbors. I Praise Jesus that MSNBC is still covering this story and I pray for miracle after miracle to come to the people of Mississippi. Looking forward to lending a hand and thanking God I have a hand to lend.

Praise God!!!! May God bless your spirits!!!

Cindi, Good for you! I was praying one night for a wonderful and undeniable miracle to take place in the Bay/Waveland area, and then I realized that it already had, and that the miracle is an ongoing thing. Volunteers have opened up their hearts and come to help, right from the start, and they just keep coming. God knows what is needed and is calling and people are answering. The church is alive and responding, one car load at a time, one hammer hit at a time. That is reason for great hope and for great thanksgiving. The other thing I have seen is that the volunteers are very humble and deliberate, working hard to do all that they can in the time that they have...Why this story is not covered is amazing to me, but maybe that is the way the Lord wants it. People doing the right thing for no other reason than that they are called to do it and it gives them joy and lifts the load just a little bit for our brothers and sisters, who need us now. I don't mean to be naive. Along with the joy comes great sorrow, but together we can do so much more than any one of us can do alone. So, if you can help, please do. You won't regret it and you'll meet some wonderful people along the way. God bless Bay/Waveland as it struggles to heal and all those who are called to help in that process.

Lenora - you will be happy to know that there are 2 homes in the first block off the beach on Waveland Ave. nearing completion!!! unbelievable - it is my daily shot of inspiration to pass by on my way home from work - I lived south of the tracks in Waveland right off Waveland ave - don't worry, it's coming back - Very slowly, but surely. I'm not sure if you remember S&B's on Sears Ave - they are reopening this week!! they are the first business south of the tracks in Waveland to reopen in their original building - very exciting!!!

when people come to help you...man you just have to show them love and a smile...demomination don't matter...the GOODNESS in their hearts does

Chad, in Slidell! Shame on you, blaming these people for not having flood insurance! Do you really believe this area flooded? Can the Gulf of Mexico flood? No! water rolls in and it rolls out again. The wind from the storm caused the water to destroy everything.

This storm hit our coast on August 29th. I was on the coast just two weeks ago and continued to see devastation I had not seen with Hurricane Camille two days after she hit in 1969. Over Labor Day weekend after Katrina,I was seeing churches and private sectors helping in more ways than can be explained. Churches from as far away as SC, Ohio, NC and on and on. Thank God for this outpouring of love. It has been what has sustained us not FEMA. God Bless America.

I ran a relief site at Schaeffer's Store in Bayside Park from September until November 2005.The people who ran the store when the Hurricane hit allowed a relief site to be ran on their property. I ran the site from daylight until dark and came in contact with many people. The stories I heard from the residents who lost everything and had nothing made my heart ache when I went home to my tent at night. I knew I didn't have to be there and they were there because that was home, wherever part or all of it blew to. The devastation is still unbelievable. But through it all the people had Hope and I think that is why I will always feel connected to the people in the Gulf Coast area. I stayed to volunteer as long as I could and then came home to my family. Life will have a different meaning for me in the future. I want to thank everyone that helped and is still helping in the lower Hancock County area especially, but also great thanks to every volunteer that took the time to go make a difference. I hope to work a while and get the money to come back and hopefully when I do I can return the compassion that was shown to me when my husband was hospitalized during my stay in the great state of Mississippi. My greatest thanks to the staff at Gulfport Memorial Hospital in Gulfport, MS., International Aid, Angela Whittenberg, Ablaze Communications Tye Nelson and Maureen Canterberry, World Shelters Randy Dalby and Allegra LaBel, Lakeshore Baptist Church for taking my relief site and incorporating it into thier own when I had to give it up, Hancock County EOC, FEMA, The Red Cross, Salvation Army, The U.S. National Guard all the various churches that donated and last but not least the firefighters and forestry people from Stennis Space center. The Schaeffer's, Lawrence and Judy will always have the most special place in my heart for giving me a place to put my efforts out to the people, without them I could never have had the opportunity. They have since re-opened their business and I hope to see them in September. Stop in and see them, they are good people.

we must always remember the lord is at work all the time and for those who cant pick up a hammer, please always pray, pray, pray, no matter what church we all share the same love of the same lord. the power of prayer holds us togeather and hopefully we can all have a better day ahead with the lord at our side. God bless the prayer warriors in the world give us all hope for a brighter day. God Bless

It is so good to know that there are still people willing to lend a helping hand to their fellow man regardless of race or religion this is just awesome! This proves that God is still in charge and there is no a man or organization bigger than him!

This hurricane has changed me. It makes me appreciate the little things in life more. You never know what life is going to bring. During and after the storm people have reacted in different ways. It's sad that some have turned down the wrong road during and after the tradgedy. But on a brighter note there have been some wonderful people out here doing some great things. People have been GREAT!!!! Just makes you want to cry how heplful they've been. GOD BLESS YOU ALL! Gotta stay positive!! Happy to be alive, talk to my boys again, see my mom, talk to my sister, see friends, see a blue sky, people, smiles, laughter. the good stuff as that one country music singer says. Thank you.

Thank you, Mary Pennington of Fairfax, VA, you are right the water did roll in and then out again. Many of us were not required to carry flood insurance because our homes were " not in floodzones" according to the insurance companies flood maps. Had we thought about what would happen if our home flooded living south of the railroad tracks sure, you have a realization of the infamous what-if. When it actually hits then you realize just how under insured you are. You can purchase as much insurance as the law allows but it will not give you back what you initially loose when Mother Nature strikes. You do what you can and move on from thier like we have. Although our home was fully covered for all other events ( especially wind) and our home did flood out during the storm we have since began rebuilding our two-stroy home on Grosvenor Place.
And Chad just so you know, insurance companies on the Gulf Coast used flood zone maps to initiate which home were required to carry flood insurance. If your home was not in that zone then carrying the extra insurance was not a requirement for the homeowner. We have never blamed anyone but Mother Nature for the fury of Katrina, no President , insurance agency or FEMA representative could of ever perdicted or forseen the massive loss and destruction of Katrina, this an item not covered by insurance was truly an "Act of God". Try getting a policy of insurance for that.

Thank God :)

There are times when you feel small. Watching that hurricane map and knowing where it was coming and praying was one of those times for me. There's been no natural disaster of this magnatude and scope in the history of our country. It was apocalyptic. How do you insure for that? The only way I know how is by trying to be prudent, and having a heart and life that is as right as it can be with God, with your neighbor and family and with yourself. These are hard times. God give us the strength to find our way through them with grace and courage.

I think it is great that church groups and other indivduals help out where our own government (be it Federal, State or Local) can not. Helping others in need is not just the Christian thing to do, it's the right thing to do period! My heart goes out to everyone. I lived on the Gulf Coast for two years during the early to mid 90's, lived in Slidell, La and worked at Stennis Space Center, Ms. My wife and I grew to love the region and made many lifetime friends. I have noticed like most everyone else how New Orleans gets the press but your part of the coast as well as the areas west of New Orleans (remember Hurricane Rita?) does not even get a spit in the wind. They are just focusing on Mardi Gras and the partying thinking that is normalicy setting up once again. That region may be Mardi Gras to the college spring break punks/drunks who have taken over but they never did get any further into the other side of Orleans Parish and the other Parishes to see the true flavor of the region. After Mardi Gras is over, the locals will once again sweep up the trash and the drunks and go back to living while the "tourists" will go away with hangovers, some beads and some really dirty shoes. The Mississippi Gulf Coast will always hold a special place in my heart and Waveland in particular (I helped judge a science fair at Waveland Elementary in 1995). Don't let Mardi Gras muck it up! You can do better than that. You are not forgotten! Thank you.

I appreciate the attention that MS and NO are getting, but living in SW Louisiana and seeing the devestation caused by Rita in Cameron Parish, I can't help but wonder why there is no news media here? Does anybody remember that there were two other hurricanes in 2006 that were every bit as destructive as Katrina?

What a touching and beautiful story. I agree with Howser, if MSNBC you are my favorite but guys if you are going to cover one shouldn't you cover all of the disasters, or none of them? I know you have the resources! We are all of equal importance! From the person without a home to those who live in mansions! Thank you to Kenny and other members of the German Babtist Church for caring enough about others to give so much of you time and efforts to the families of Mississippi! Praise to you that you are doing it in the name of God! But I also totally agree with the comment made that it doesn't matter if we are Christian or not, we should reach out to those who need our help, large or small! We are Amercian's afterall and that's just what we do, no questions asked and wanting nothing in return!

I was born and raised in Bay St. Louis Ms.Waveland area.I know what type of people lives here. The most caring and loving people that would share anything that they have.This is people that are country and proud of it.
I want to mention just some of those people by name.Eddie Farve mayor of Bay St. Louis, Tommy Kidd, mayor of Waveland Tommy Longo,Police chief of police Waveland Jimmy Varnell. Waveland police department I commend all of you on that department. I watched a special report on you on msnbc. I began to cry knowing the dedication you all showed during the storm.This really touched home with me.My son was a police officer on that department for approximately 10 years.Thank God for Jimmy not cutting down that tree.Your families living there after. What a blessing for Waveland having all of you.Bay ST. Louis and Waveland you make the world proud of you.God knows you all are there.Keep pushing for success.

Thank you Mike, for this story that you have written so well on Jeff and I and thank you for keeping Waveland and Bay St. Louis in the public eye. Thanks go to GOD for answering our prayers in bringing this wonderful group of people to our single doorstep that October day. Our home is coming along so well that we should be ready to move into it within the next couple of weeks, so come back and visit us when you're in the srea. Kenny, Wade, Marvin, Jerry and other volunteers from the Ohio Disaster Response team {over 200 have rotated in and out so far} have done a wonderful thing for me and my neighbors and for the city of Waveland as a whole. I'll say so long for now but will close with this scipture from this mornings' devotions which states " Love God first, then love your fellow man." This group surely practice what the good book preaches.

My name is James Casey and I am from Kissimmee, Florida. I arrived in Waveland Mississippi approximately two weeks after Katrina struck, to help a friend of my family that I will refer to as "Tim". Tim lived at 144 Waveland Ave. and his house is one of the four houses being rebuilt by the wonderful and great folks of O.D.R. (Ohio Disaster Response). When I arrived where Tim's house once stood, it was reduced to debris from many other houses that previously stood between his house and the Gulf of Mexico. Only debris and a slab remained. Tim was optimistic but still somewhat dazed by what was left of his home. Or should I say what wansn't left of his home. Just like most others, he too is battling with his insurance companies as to whether it was wind or flood. At the point that we met with Mr. Ken Stahl of O.D.R., our focus was cleaning the property without knowing what would come and and how long it would take to rebuild. Well that answer came quickly, soon after speaking with Mr Ken and other representatives of O.D.R.. We had felt elation far greater than what we could have imagined. A clear uncertainty, had become cystal clear. We were told in the very beginning, that this process would be very swift. One cannot fathom the speed and quality in which these folks are building these 4 houses. Every week a new group of volunteers come in to pick up, where the group prior left off. At first it was the excitement of having Tim's house rebuilt. Now into the fouth week, our excitement has become meeting the new volunteers the following week. Every weekend becomes lonely, because we become accustomed to being around a great group of folks. Just when you think you have met the greatest group of folks and there cannot be any as good, the following week a group just as wonderful arrives. The folks of O.D.R. have truly become our "Angels" in the darkness after the storm. Our heart felt thanks goes not only to the volunteers who have come to help us rebuild, it also goes to the family members that stay at home and handles their affairs while they are here doing so much good. God bless them all. Also thanks to my many friends back home in Kissimmee who are helping keep my affairs in order.
P.S. Many people around the world often would like to make donations to causes or organizations but do not because they feel their donations will not reach the people it is intended for. I can speak from experience, O.D.R. reached out and touched many lives in Waveland Mississippi and other victim's of devastation throughout the United States. It is my understanding that they will be here in the fall to build more houses for those most affected by the devastation known as "Katrina".

I just returned from Bay St. Louis/Waveland after a week there volunteering with the clean-up and rebuilding efforts with other members of our church. I was struck by positive attitudes of the families we worked with. It was such a blessing to see how these people, despite such destruction, have kept their faith. God certainly is with these people!