First off, I want to clarify that I did not write this. My friends Jesse Weber did. We are both from Minnesota and despite the fact that he went to Wisconsin for school I don't hold that against him. I want to share this entry that he entered on his facebook account because it's the kind of genuine compassion that I encounter all the time down here and felt that I didn't want to try to express after reading this excellent piece of work. Please enjoy and know that on this terrible anniversary that there are great guys like Jesse still down here working their asses off... Happy Anniversary, Babe...
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Photo courtesy of Bill McIntosh/Purple Banana Photography
The intent of this serves two purposes: one, to update and inform some of my friends and acquaintances on what is going on in Biloxi, with the area and myself, and secondly, to organize and sort my thoughts on this matter as well. I promise, if you have patience and do care about my thoughts (which is optional), it will be worthwhile.
To be clear, this is the day of the anniversary of Katrina, that woman who can ruin a man and his world.
To preface, I am a foreigner to the area, not only that, but I am new to the area as well. I have been here 1 month, 1 week since my Greyhound dropped me here. I do not know the community well, I do not pretend to "know" the community. I am attempting to inform myself and learn what I am allowed, but if anyone has had experience as a foreigner, you realize that specific aspects of a community are never privy to those individuals. My plans are to find a way to stay through the entire "school year" and reassess then...
Second, I am not an "official" volunteer as Americorps pays me a very liveable stipend. I am housed on base, comfortable, but ideal for no one; think, stayaway camp, high school and alcohol influence to the mix. I clarify this, because it is necessary to realize I work with an organization that grants me tremendous credibility within the community. The community trusts Hands On Gulf Coast (formerly, Hands On USA) a great deal because they have been here since the storm in some facet or another. With a shirt on, I welcome nearly a story a day about an individual who helped fix something, find a grant, plant a garden, clear debris, hand out water or build a house. I personally work at a school where two brothers' new house was built by Hands On and Guiding Light (religious soap that paid the money and had a show about it). Therefore, to reiterate, I have a bit of credibility that I did not earn but can still use. It is a privilege not to be taken lightly.
So, the purpose of this is to reflect upon what I know and have experienced. First, I would reccomend anyone interested read sunherald.com from Sunday, August 26, 2 year report. In short, federal aid granted should equal to nearly $70,000 per MAN, WOMAN, & CHILD. However, that has not been distributed, distributed improperly, "misplaced" and fraudulently claimed. In the first 3 months, about 1 out of ever $6 was fraudulently spent, etc. Please, stop before you blame the people. Most of this has happened from contractors doing poor work, claiming work they did not do, or purely taking money and running. We recently had our construction manager testify against a contractor in court. The difficulty is, who to trust? I was told recently at a wedding about flood damage in northern Minnesota earlier this summer and how they did not "ask for help" and did it themselves. That level of self-sufficiency is alive here; however, it is not a comparison. To come home to a fence with no house, is different than a flooded basement. To not know which person to trust to help you, where to look for help, and most essentially, where do I live?
Even more, people such as myself, who are staying for a numbered set of days, are hit and miss. Can a family, who has had a life here, who lost the things that showed that, trust some good intentioned young person to see them through? It is a discrepancy that can, and has been overcome, but often serves to be another level of trust to be earned, who will see them through?
Who will see them through? That is the question of the Gulf Coast and Katrina. Sure, there has been outpouring, there has been press, there have been volunteers; however, rebuilding a life wiped away, a community disbanded, a population dispersed, is not a "2-5 year commitment." It is an answer that will come from the community. I have spoken with a number of residents who flatly say, this community is depressed. A lot of that early hope and vigor is fading as resistance remains strong.
The Governor's Grant is confusing, grants and aid require loads of paperwork. I do not know the details of their job, but case managers have the most emotionally trying job here. They have to tell people, "No, your life cannot be rebuilt, we have exhausted the resources."
What do volunteers do? Often, they bring fresh hope. They, sometimes with naive energy, show people, this just might happen. It is a supply of energy and hope. It is manpower to some elderly woman who cannot fix her own problem, or take care of here mold.
Ok, off of the rant. I want to say, happy anniversary was said to me, and after some thought, it makes sense. A lot has been done, Mississippi is better than New Orleans and Louisiana. Houses have been built, schools rebuilt, parks rebuilt, etc. However, there is a lot left to be done. As Old Man Steve said, "until it's done." Long term commitment to redevelopment needs the community put first with people to help provide the hands and knowledge. I am angered when I hear blanket statements by large political figures, don't worry, if you haven't heard them yet, you will this week. They will say, a lot has been done, they are happy, and a lot of work is left. That is true, but it is not the half of it. It isn't how much work is done by volunteer case workers who advocated for people who still live in formaldhyde FEMA trailers. Teachers I work with still live in trailers. Let that sink in. Not some bum you want to imagine, hard working educators who have been jerked around by State Farm (who has pulled out of Mississippi in general and is being sued, look it up) or some other insurance company, red tape, and money.
Happy Anniversary, Babe. I went at 4:45 a.m. this morning to do traffic control for a non-denominational Sunrise Service in Waveland, which was completed wiped out... It was beautiful and good. Happy Anniversary, people are still here. I will upload photos of signs of resilience. The Hurricane Camille memorial (from 1969) has a bent flagpole, but still stands. The Historic Lighthouse, still stands as a symbol of Biloxi. The Camille ship, still stands. I have heard enough stories. One of 17 people in an attic that is full, a baby being dropped and found while they are holding heads above water inside a roof. These are some of the stories, they all aren't that way, but they are all important. I have learned how to respect the faith of these people. No matter your religious views, their faith in humanity, themselves, and their G-d, kept them calm and wise during the time. They saved so many lives. They cared so deeply and immensely. They shared themselves. I was not, and will not pretend to know, I can only listen and respect their faith.
I am not concerted as I am sick currently; however, my last thought for the moment is that I am not a member of the community here. I am at the behest of the community and a tool for them to be used. They are the determiners of their future and I am consistently rebuked, taught and shown where I can and should work here. This is a resilient place, and it is a difficult place, it is a strong place.
I am unsure if this is actually worth your read, but I work in a school and love the kids. I am working in the community and am proud of working here, despite the opinions of those around the United States, it is a strong place. Get informed, read sunherald.com or something local to inform yourselves.
This wasn't much. Happy Anniversary, Babe.
