This is the house that we are revamping.
It actually doesn't look too bad compared to the photos I have been sending. That's because immediately after the storm a group of Seabees was dropped in here to help this town. All city offices, library, fire, police were totally destroyed and so saving other things of use to the community became a priority and this shelter for abused children moved way up on the list. The Seabees dragged out every piece of mud soaked furniture, appliances and fixtures. The storm had flooded to the roof lines of this house. Three weeks before Katrina they had finished and opened an addition to this house that normally houses about a dozen children at any given time. The Seabees also ripped out all of the tile floors, wiring, plumbing, drywall until the house was a shell. They then rewired, plumbed, drywalled and repaired the exterior. They also cut up and moved all of the large trees that were destroyed and in the yard and hauled away all of the garbage. So then we volunteered to come do whatever they needed help doing and the center was happy to have us. Before we arrived some things changed because the social services department of this county had also been totally demolished. The board of this center decided that SS had the greater need at this time and is allowing them to use the building for the day. So we work in the center after 5 at night and do the painting and trim work. During the day we have been working anywhere they need us. The last two days Terry and I opened and sorted through at least 100 boxes of toys donated. We have been handing out toys and quilts to people and they are so grateful for anything. Thanks to the ladies of Winter, WI for the 63 quilts you sent. Many of the toys came from a drive in the Washington, Missouri area. The ladies from one of the churches sent a case of cookbooks to be sold as a money maker but no one here has money to buy them. Terry and I offered to take them back home and sell them. We'll then send the money to the center.
We are learning that there are better ways to send donations for things like this. We saw a parking lot that had clothing just dumped on the ground and people could dig through it. Yes, it gets dirty and rained on and will probably be bull dozed eventually. Wasted effort and donations.
We are amazed at the upbeat attitude of people. They are discouraged and unhappy about the way insurance companies and the government has responded to this but are so pleased for any help that comes their way. We also hear many stories of people coming in to take advantage of the situation. They say we'll repair your roof for X$ but need 50% cash up front because banks are not open. Then they disappear with the money. Same thing with tree cutting, gutting, and so on. Tomorrow I'll try to get a picture that shows the trailers that are everywhere. We had a lady that has foster children and they are nine total living in a 2 bedroom FEMA trailer. Trust me these FEMA trailers are bare bones basic and have no dishes, pots, pans, sheets, towels, supplies... and of course the people living in them don't have them either. Katrina took it all. The interstate 10 was under several feet of water and you see refrigerators, beds, furniture, clothing all along the sides where they bull dozed it to the side so help could get in. All in all it has been a tiring day but very rewarding. We'll close today with 2 more pictures from this city. The first is a house blown off of its lot and the second is the American Legion. By the way, many homes have their addresses spray painted on the front because they were moved to other lots by the Katrina waves. Please let us know if you do not want these updates. Oh and if any of you want to help, get in your campers or borrow a tent and come on down. There's room for you right next to us on this lot and plenty of ways to make a difference. The area is amazingly safe and we have a county sheriff living in a trailer next door because hazmat teams are now gutting his house. We really need a plumber and an electrician here so if you can please come on down!
Terry, Dennis, Tom and Christine
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