Biloxi, Mississippi: Interfaith Gulf Relief Team Reports

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Created on Monday, 09 January 2006 13:50

On January 7th 2006 an Interfaith Team from Concord traveled to Biloxi, Mississippi to learn more about the community, the damage sustained by Hurricane Katrina, and how we in Concord can partner with Biloxi to provide help.  They completed their trip on January 11th, with plans to report back to the First Parish congregation during the worship service on Sunday, January 22nd.  We are fortunate that First Parish traveler Suzanne Lowe was able to send email messages.  Rich Pasley  a professional photographer and fellow traveler from Tri Con posted photographs which are at:  http://www.richardpasley.com/BiloxiDay2

Biloxi Note: Day Four, Final Day

From: Suzanne Lowe, First Parish

Posted January 11, 2006. This was our last full day in the Gulfport/Biloxi area. It was bittersweet to watch the HandsOn USA teams forming and filing out to their various programs. I found myself going to the white board to see the long list of names for the many initiatives that were being coordinated today. I have to say how impressed I amat the structure and yet flexibility of this group. Security seems quite lax, and Trust is everywhere -- computers and cell phones are left hooked up along a bank of plugs, all being charged during the day while workers are out at their jobs. I watched a homeless man wander into the headquarters. (Yikes, I thought, could this guy steal this stuff?) Despite what appeared like chaos, he was immediately greeted and assuredly assisted with his problems. All while the phones are ringing nonstop with offers of help from around the country.

I've seen a few frayed tempers -- some almost comically so -- and yet an air of assurance among so many (and so young!). It’s clear that people grow up here. We had two formally scheduled meetings. One was with the small Jewish congregation, Beth Israel, whose leaders outlined as clear a vision of the future of the southern Mississippi coast as we heard during our entire visit. The other meeting was with the director and assistant director of the Catholic dioceses local long-term recovery program. These folks shared with us a compellingly practical list of nearly a dozen ways that our interfaith groups could plug in.

It would be hard to quickly describe the varied and confusing challenges that face local residents. Even in the short time we have been here, we’ve been made aware of the tremendous complexity that exists in recovering from a disaster of this magnitude. Over and above the incredible physical and mental trauma that has touched everyone, they must also deal with the varying interest groups that all recognize huge opportunities to recast the area in a new and economically viable direction. These are no small matters. There is a significant amount of jockeying under way all in the name of improving lives. For example, the casinos in Biloxi hold an enormous amount of sway, because they serve as the largest tax and revenue generator for the region. There are also political interests, and a dizzying array of social service and interfaith efforts. There are the interests of the insurance companies, and the real estate development arena. Last but not least, there is the delicate interplay between the various immigrant populations: most notably the Vietnamese community, whose fishermen and enterprising local businesses have begun to change the economic balance in a palpable way. Sheeesh!

Nevertheless, in just four days time, our group feels that we have been able to get a good sense of the many ways that our interfaith communities can provide valuable assistance, in the short- and long-term, as well as remotely from Concord/Carlisle or directly in the Gulfport/Biloxi area.

We will begin our local Concord meetings again next week to coalesce our ideas, tocommunicate to our respective faith communities, and to begin an important and we hope long-lasting -- relationship with the people of the Mississippi Gulf Coast.

Suzanne Lowe

Day Three: Biloxi Notes

From Suzanne Lowe, First Parish, Concord

 

January 10, 2006.  I walked the streets today, after receiving training on how to deal with trauma victims. Our job was to interact with the poorest (black) neighborhoods -- asking how they are, listening and empathizing. We took notes on their requests and needs. Some simply wanted to talk and to tell their stories. And, oh, what stories. I was stunned to see how inadequate these people’s houses were to begin with. No wonder the neighborhoods were unbelievably devastated. The houses were twisted, crushed, shifted off their inadequate cinder block-foundations. Pieces of people’s lives were everywhere on the streets, yards, and in the maimed trees that were somehow left standing and some trees were left leaning on crushed rooftops.

The very first person we met was a 76-year old wheelchair-bound woman, no legs below the knees, no teeth, nearly blind-- She was very strong nevertheless. She said the Lord has blessed her and that she was glad to be alive. I left with a lump in my throat. We also ran into a family whose uncle had drowned in his attic while the water rose and rose and rose; son-in-law Lester saved his 69-year-old mother-in-law Bonnie. The water had risen just below her chin as she hid from the storm in her attic. We met Victoria, whose house was gutted by a group she can’t remember, and she has no idea who they were or when they are to return to help her again. FEMA came and wrapped exactly half of her water pipes in insulation. They said they would be back but that was two weeks ago and she fears her water pipes will burst in her trailer.

Almost every person we encountered was elderly, with houses that were totally gutted. Not one possession to their names. Everything was washed away, crushed, and now covered with toxic mold. And yet hope was everywhere. We were welcomed with hugs and smiles. We were thanked more times than I can say. We were humbled by their strength and hope. One of the group I am with is Richard Pasley, a Tri-Con member, who is shooting photos of this horror. The pictures simply don’t do justice to this scene. But do look nevertheless. Here are pictures from yesterday’s work and views. If you would like to see pictures of this devastation, please go to

http://www.richardpasley.com/BiloxiDay1/
http://www.richardpasley.com/BiloxiDay2/.

Richard’s pictures from today will be available tomorrow. The only thing I can say is that we must find a way to help here. We are continuing to meet with groups (today’s meeting was with Back Bay Mission) to gather ideas on how we can help. There is so much to do.

Suzanne Lowe
 

Day One:  Biloxi Notes

From Suzanne Lowe, First Parish, Concord

Sent: Saturday, January 07, 2006 10:23 PM
Subject: Biloxi dispatch
We arrived without incident today and this had a meeting with David Campbell, executive director of Hands On USA.  He gave us the history of the organization and its evolution.  Then we attended a meeting to plan for the next day's work.  There are almost 200 people here -- 95% are college kids.  The energy is palpable, and the group reminds me of the days when I was a political activist.  Everywhere there are transformations underway -- young people who are making a difference and creating a uniquely strong community at the same moment. 
The group re-invents itself each day. to suit the work needs of the community.  We will sleep en masse in a community hall on air mats and in sleeping bags.  I hope I can catch a few winks!  Tomorrow we will volunteer in a variety of ways and then begin our round of meetings with various organizations.  Suzanne Lowe

Day Two:  Biloxi Notes

From Suzanne Lowe, First Parish, Concord:
A day full of contrasts:  love and hope and energy, all standing alongside scenes of desolation and destruction on a scale I could not have imagined.
 
The facts:
 
  • We arose early today (with varying reports of sleeplessness) and prepared to volunteer for diverse tasks.  At breakfast I met a young man who has begun a proposal to help re-build (financially and structurally) the Coast Family Health Centers, which serves the poor.  He’s put his New York life on hold to come here – as have so many others I’ve met.  The level of passion and “connectedness” is clearly intoxicating to many of these longer-term volunteers. They act as a family together.    
  • A few of our group went to help demolish a house (filled with mold and rot).  I went to help clear debris along the railroad tracks of a poor neighborhood.  I worked with a group of college kids from University of Maryland.  We spent the morning removing pieces of people’s lives: TVs, stoves, jewelry, pieces of insulation, medical equipment, many many sodden books, diskettes, and literally tons of broken glass.  We had MRE’s (Meals Ready to Eat) prepared by the Army that heat up with a chemical reaction when water is used (amazing). 
  • At noon, I returned to join our group meet with the newly appointed director of the Interfaith Disaster Task Force.  Within an hour, we got a tremendous history of the interfaith work that has been underway here, and is continuing, as well as several fantastic ideas for help we could offer them.
  • A group of us spent the afternoon driving the coast through towns called Pass Christian, Long Beach, Gulfport, and Biloxi.  The devastation is breathtaking – but in the worst way.  We saw innumerable partial houses, tilted and twisted, some mostly gutted but somehow still standing.  There were Columns with no house to support.  There was a house lying across railroad tracks (clearly ripped from its foundation several yards away).  We saw two HUGE barges that had been lifted out of the water and flung onto the land. We saw a several-mile stretch of an overpass that had been crumpled like an accordion, with each section dipped like fallen dominos in the water. 
 
The feelings:
  • The morning felt hopeful.  We could see the results of our efforts, and people were friendly and energetic. I was impressed with the organization yet flexibility of the HandsOn USA leaders.  We had all the tools and supplies we needed in order to be effective.  The young guys I was with were great to work with – we teased each other and cooperated very well together.  They will remember me and I will remember them.  We were part of important moments in each others’ lives.  
  • The meeting with the Interfaith Disaster Task Force left me both overwhelmed with the magnitude of the work to be done.  It will take years to get people’s lives back to anything close to normal, and yet I was heartened that our Concord Interfaith Task Force CAN help these people.  It didn’t take long to glean several ways we could make a real difference, both from Concord as a base, as well as with groups that we coordinate to come down here.  
  • The afternoon drive left me numb with sadness and horror.  It’s incredible to see the fragility of people’s lives.  We were stunned by the awesome force that had to have been applied to break such huge and strong structures.  But there were no people around!  They have left their homes; there are very few restaurants and gas stations open.  In many ways, this is a ghost town – and seeing it left us feeling empty and hopeless.   We drove back – mostly in silence. 
 
We all wait in lines at the HandsOn USA “base” for a huge meal that many volunteers have prepared.  We will try to find a way to sleep more soundly tonight.