I think it is fitting to note that today is the "anniversary" of Katrina who entered our lives on August 29, 2005 and left us to live a life that is filled with many obstacles. Some are so overwhelming that a quick solution is impossible. On April 17th homeowners that met all the eligibility requirements began filing their applications for the State Assistance Grant Program and now, what promises to be a long wait, begins.
My almost daily rides around Pascagoula searching for what I consider newsworthy can be time consuming and frustrating. Because Pascagoula is a small city (15 square miles), that means I see the same scenes on each outing but those incessant drives have given me the ability to note any minute improvement. Beach Boulevard has been cleared of destroyed homes as has Washington Avenue but the modest homes that are on the side streets look almost as they did after the hurricane. The debri piles nearly dwarf their houses. So many are living in homes that are uninhabitable but what are they to do?
People living in tiny Fema trailers once lived in areas that had "Neighborhood Watches" and now find themselves living under some very bad situations. There have been many disturbances in the "trailer parks". Break-ins, fighting and even gunshots. Sadly, just recently a man died from burns inflicted when the propane tank exploded in one of the trailers.
Yesterday President Bush made his 11th trip to the coast. On his visits he usually goes to New Orleans, Louisiana first and helicopters over to the Gulfport, Mississippi area. On this trip, his motorcade drove down Hwy. 49, enroute to Biloxi, Mississippi to extend his personal thanks to the thousands of volunteers that have been helping the people on the coast since immediately after the storm "Thank you for coming, Mr. President!"
Now just a little about me for those who have read some of my past posts. I had written a couple about the Lamp Post at the end of my drive being damaged and couldn't decide who was responsible. To refresh your memory I have provided links.
My First Post
My Second Post
I have called Red River Services twice and was told on the second call that they would send someone to the house. After waiting a few days, I called the City on April 13th and reported them. To date, I have heard from neither.
My neighbor capped off the wiring to prevent any further damage and I can now illuminate the yard in the evening ..... minus one fixture.
Other than living in an area that lacks any beauty and watching the mold growing in my daughter's home, everything in my world is normal. A different normalcy for sure but a normalcy that I and many others have adjusted to as we try to go on in spite of the grave hardships for thousands and petty annoyances for people like me.
Saturday, April 29, 2006
The two pics below were taken just before Martin Street turns onto Beach Boulevard. When you view these pics remember that it was much worse. There were boats washed into the marsh, clothes, appliances, personal papers, debri from the destroyed homes and the condo that was nearby. Signal is in the background.
Pascagoula's Signal International
The next pic is of the condo or what remains of it. Everything looks bad but devastation was so enormous that even when it is cleaned it still looks like the hurricane just happened. We have a long way to go!
Pascagoula's Signal International
The next pic is of the condo or what remains of it. Everything looks bad but devastation was so enormous that even when it is cleaned it still looks like the hurricane just happened. We have a long way to go!
Thursday, April 27, 2006
Beach Park
What to do with Pascagoula's Beach Boulevard? On east beach there are nine to ten homes under repair. West beach is devoid of homes, trailers dot the landscape. The seawall needs repair and the frontage road needs to be repaved. Sadly, the very pretty pier extending out into the water was destroyed but there are plans for reconstruction.
A circular foundation below is the only remains of a pretty fountain that graced the beachfront. Also gone is the plaque that stood in commemoration of President Zachary Taylor, the 12th president of the United States (1849-1850) " Zachary Taylor was an early developer of the city and laid out several of her streets still in use today"
The park grounds are in good condition although most all of the many "picnic" tables nestled under the beautiful oak trees were "washed" away. Fencing enclosing the park also needs repair.
For those of you who live in Pascagoula or once lived here and have been following the news since Katrina struck the coast, you are aware of the controversy with insurance on whether it was wind and water or water alone that caused the devastation. For instance, on Beach Boulevard, there were a number of pine trees that toppled but no oak trees.
In earlier posts I have spoken of the very little wind during the storm. I know because I was here and there were no hurricane force sustained winds. My question is what snapped the pine trees and favored the oaks?
WLOX-TV - The News for South Mississippi: Moss Point Resident Unhappy With City's New Garbage Collector
WLOX-TV - The News for South Mississippi: Moss Point Resident Unhappy With City's New Garbage Collector: "One Moss Point woman says she is fed up with the city's new trash collectors. After years with the company Disposal, Moss Point hired Red River to pick up garbage in the city. But some residents say since Red River's contract began in April, service has been lacking."
WLOX-TV - The News for South Mississippi: Katrina Sends Millions Down The Drain In Biloxi
WLOX-TV - The News for South Mississippi: Katrina Sends Millions Down The Drain In Biloxi: "Millions of dollars in Biloxi city improvements have gone down the drain. Mayor A.J. Holloway says in the last 12 years, Biloxi has spent $200 million upgrading streets, drainage, and sewage. Holloway says Hurricane Katrina wiped out most of that work and now potential road hazards are popping up on the streets of Biloxi."
Sunday, April 23, 2006
A Wistful Kind Of Sunday
I awoke to a beautiful morning and decided to work in the yards on different areas that could use some serious pruning. Sprinklers were placed in the front and back yard as Pascagoula received a very small amount of rain Friday. At 10AM I went inside for a cup of coffee and to watch an old "black and white" movie. I heard a noise, over the blare of the TV, coming from the glass doored fireplace. When I very carefully opened the door, with the intention to just peek in, a rather large bird flew out. Although I am no stranger to all kinds of situations, having a wild scared to death bird flying around the house fast became a predicament for me. How do I safely get him out before he breaks his neck running into the walls, windows and doors?
His first crash was into the pantry door. As he lay with his wings spread I thought maybe I could throw something over him and get him outside the house but "bird flu" came to my mind and I decided not to touch him.
Next he tried the french doors off the backporch
This bird was determined to set himself free as the next pic shows. I also see I need to screw an outlet plate back in the wall.
I thought about putting a broom handle between him and me so I could knock him from the receptacle before he was electrocuted. Poor dumb little bird!
Finally he was on the backporch where I had the outside door open for his exit but it would take me 45 minutes to get him out that door. He ran into the screens not once but over and over. By my estimation he was "out cold" at least six times.
I was starting to get worried that after my putting so much time into trying to save this little bird that he wasn't going to make it. He would hide in the plants on the porch and at times he would gently fly to a screen and look out almost wistfully before he continued to forcefully slam himself against the same screens.
When he was in a stunned state, I gently pushed him out the door. I was saddened because after the battle he put up to survive, he was dead.
Finally I gave him a nudge and he soared to the sky. He seemed to look back at me as if saying, "I don't know why I fell down your chimney and landed in your fireplace but I do know that although my battle was hard, without your help I would have died in the fireplace."
Since I dont believe in coincidence, there is a lesson to be learned from this determined little bird. No matter the obstacles in his way his persistence set him free. I have been guilty of looking back and longing for the happy times that were in my life. I know that retreating to the past and happier times was only wistful thinking but I wanted those same happy times to follow me into the post Katrina future that promises to be difficult and uncertain.
Our Creator says he even notices the little sparrow that falls to the ground and I would like to think He permitted this little bird to fall into my fireplace to remind me that I am worth far more than the sparrow and under His guidance I will step into the future.
His first crash was into the pantry door. As he lay with his wings spread I thought maybe I could throw something over him and get him outside the house but "bird flu" came to my mind and I decided not to touch him.
Next he tried the french doors off the backporch
This bird was determined to set himself free as the next pic shows. I also see I need to screw an outlet plate back in the wall.
I thought about putting a broom handle between him and me so I could knock him from the receptacle before he was electrocuted. Poor dumb little bird!
Finally he was on the backporch where I had the outside door open for his exit but it would take me 45 minutes to get him out that door. He ran into the screens not once but over and over. By my estimation he was "out cold" at least six times.
I was starting to get worried that after my putting so much time into trying to save this little bird that he wasn't going to make it. He would hide in the plants on the porch and at times he would gently fly to a screen and look out almost wistfully before he continued to forcefully slam himself against the same screens.
When he was in a stunned state, I gently pushed him out the door. I was saddened because after the battle he put up to survive, he was dead.
Finally I gave him a nudge and he soared to the sky. He seemed to look back at me as if saying, "I don't know why I fell down your chimney and landed in your fireplace but I do know that although my battle was hard, without your help I would have died in the fireplace."
Since I dont believe in coincidence, there is a lesson to be learned from this determined little bird. No matter the obstacles in his way his persistence set him free. I have been guilty of looking back and longing for the happy times that were in my life. I know that retreating to the past and happier times was only wistful thinking but I wanted those same happy times to follow me into the post Katrina future that promises to be difficult and uncertain.
Our Creator says he even notices the little sparrow that falls to the ground and I would like to think He permitted this little bird to fall into my fireplace to remind me that I am worth far more than the sparrow and under His guidance I will step into the future.
Friday, April 21, 2006
WLOX-TV - The News for South Mississippi: Weather
WLOX-TV - The News for South Mississippi: Weather: " The first round of showers and thunderstorms moved through the coast this afternoon. We may see a few more after midnight as the cool front moves through. Overnight low 64. Saturday's high 83.
Sunrise 6:23 AM Sunset 7:29 PM"
I have always loved a rainy day but since Katrina that changed for me as I am sure it did for many people on the coast. Now I become very uneasy expecting nothing less than a catastrophe where the weather is concerned. Although rain was forecast I watered my parched lawn and watched as blue jays played in the water from the sprinkler. A rustling at my feet startled me as my first thought was a Snake!!! It was a .........
I turned off the water and decided that I would wait for the much needed rain. Later that afternoon Gulfport began getting a lot of rainfall. Mike Reader, a WLOX meteorologist, said the storm had moved and was over Pascagoula. The picture of the ominous sky was taken from my garage.
Less than 10 minutes after taking the picture it started sprinkling and within 3 minutes the sky cleared, rained stopped and the sun was out again. The rainfall totals for the month are listed below.
Bay St. Louis 0.39
Gulfport 0.83
Pascagoula 0.02
Perkinston 0.52
Sunrise 6:23 AM Sunset 7:29 PM"
I have always loved a rainy day but since Katrina that changed for me as I am sure it did for many people on the coast. Now I become very uneasy expecting nothing less than a catastrophe where the weather is concerned. Although rain was forecast I watered my parched lawn and watched as blue jays played in the water from the sprinkler. A rustling at my feet startled me as my first thought was a Snake!!! It was a .........
I turned off the water and decided that I would wait for the much needed rain. Later that afternoon Gulfport began getting a lot of rainfall. Mike Reader, a WLOX meteorologist, said the storm had moved and was over Pascagoula. The picture of the ominous sky was taken from my garage.
Less than 10 minutes after taking the picture it started sprinkling and within 3 minutes the sky cleared, rained stopped and the sun was out again. The rainfall totals for the month are listed below.
Bay St. Louis 0.39
Gulfport 0.83
Pascagoula 0.02
Perkinston 0.52
Thursday, April 20, 2006
The Sun Herald | 04/20/2006 | It's official: South Mississippi is in a DROUGHT
The Sun Herald | 04/20/2006 | It's official: South Mississippi is in a DROUGHT: "GULFPORT - For all those with sod, or tomatoes, or petunias, or anything else they're trying to grow in parched soil, it's official - South Mississippi's coastal counties are in a severe drought."
Oh gee folks! All we wanted was just a little bit of "pretty" back in our lives but looks like that isn't meant to be.... The weather forecasters are predicting severe thunderstorms Friday. You know, like we wouldn't suspect that they might be severe if it does rain. The weather is quite similar to last year with the lack of rain. Only difference is although our temperature may reach a daytime high of 85 degrees the low humidity keeps us from sweating. Don't know if that is a good thing or not because on a trip to Mexico City years ago the sun was so hot that it would burn your skin but you didn't perspire. The price to be paid, in my case anyway, was I couldn't breathe.
I have areas in my yard that I am trying to preserve as I have several "papyrus" plants. They are tall aquatic plants of the sedge family, formerly common in Egypt. They are not completely dead but they need water to survive. The pic below is of an obviously stressed papyrus.
My favorite annual is the dainty looking but surprisingly rugged "impatiens" . The container grown ones are hanging in there but the ones planted directly in the ground are beyond stressed. They won't survive.
The "monkey grass" in the yard was planted not only to frame the flower beds it discourages weeds from invading. It too looks as if it will succumb.
Spots, spots, spots all over the once green lawn.
I wonder how much my water bill will be. Couldn't be anymore than $3.00 a gallon. Huh? Like gasoline. Oh! That brings another question to mind. How much will our trip cost when we evacuate a few states away? It was suggested we bring extra cans of gasoline with us as we may run out of gas. When I drive with my 5 gallon can to get gas for my lawnmower I have all the windows rolled down to prevent the gas from igniting. Are we not to use common sense and just get out of "Dodge"?
Well that's about it from my little corner of the world. Oh! Don't take my concern over a plant or two as all that I am concerned about. Attempting to beautify one's surroundings is natural. Bringing a little color to our bleak landscape is a sign of hope. If only the weather would cooperate.
Whenever a crisis arises in our lives who hasn't at one time said, "I feel like I have been to hell and back?" The problem here is we have yet to come back.
Oh gee folks! All we wanted was just a little bit of "pretty" back in our lives but looks like that isn't meant to be.... The weather forecasters are predicting severe thunderstorms Friday. You know, like we wouldn't suspect that they might be severe if it does rain. The weather is quite similar to last year with the lack of rain. Only difference is although our temperature may reach a daytime high of 85 degrees the low humidity keeps us from sweating. Don't know if that is a good thing or not because on a trip to Mexico City years ago the sun was so hot that it would burn your skin but you didn't perspire. The price to be paid, in my case anyway, was I couldn't breathe.
I have areas in my yard that I am trying to preserve as I have several "papyrus" plants. They are tall aquatic plants of the sedge family, formerly common in Egypt. They are not completely dead but they need water to survive. The pic below is of an obviously stressed papyrus.
My favorite annual is the dainty looking but surprisingly rugged "impatiens" . The container grown ones are hanging in there but the ones planted directly in the ground are beyond stressed. They won't survive.
The "monkey grass" in the yard was planted not only to frame the flower beds it discourages weeds from invading. It too looks as if it will succumb.
Spots, spots, spots all over the once green lawn.
I wonder how much my water bill will be. Couldn't be anymore than $3.00 a gallon. Huh? Like gasoline. Oh! That brings another question to mind. How much will our trip cost when we evacuate a few states away? It was suggested we bring extra cans of gasoline with us as we may run out of gas. When I drive with my 5 gallon can to get gas for my lawnmower I have all the windows rolled down to prevent the gas from igniting. Are we not to use common sense and just get out of "Dodge"?
Well that's about it from my little corner of the world. Oh! Don't take my concern over a plant or two as all that I am concerned about. Attempting to beautify one's surroundings is natural. Bringing a little color to our bleak landscape is a sign of hope. If only the weather would cooperate.
Whenever a crisis arises in our lives who hasn't at one time said, "I feel like I have been to hell and back?" The problem here is we have yet to come back.
Wednesday, April 19, 2006
WLOX-TV - The News for South Mississippi: Pascagoula's Renaissance Committee Presents Plan To City Leaders
WLOX-TV - The News for South Mississippi: Pascagoula's Renaissance Committee Presents Plan To City Leaders: "They include a possible access road for drivers to enter Pascagoula from the interstate, developing a new senior center and utilizing the river front.
'Along the river front, changing the zoning from industrial to commercial to encourage marinas, restaurants, condos on the river front.'
There is also a proposal to turn the beach into a promenade so residents can walk their dogs or go for a jog."
'Along the river front, changing the zoning from industrial to commercial to encourage marinas, restaurants, condos on the river front.'
There is also a proposal to turn the beach into a promenade so residents can walk their dogs or go for a jog."
WLOX-TV - The News for South Mississippi: Unmanned Aviation Aircraft Plant Opens In Moss Point
WLOX-TV - The News for South Mississippi: Unmanned Aviation Aircraft Plant Opens In Moss Point: "'This is symbolic of what's happening in Mississippi. Leland Speed can tell you we are hearing from blue chip companies all over America that are asking about Mississippi,' Lott adds."
Tuesday, April 18, 2006
There is one coastal city that I haven't mentioned too frequently and that is Long Beach. On our Saturday picture taking trip we had a destination in mind and that was to get a few pics of a former workplace before it is demolished so there wasn't time to take as many pics as I would have liked.
I spent many hours in Long Beach's Kmart and had many lunches at "The Lookout" formerly "Fish and Bones".
The pic below is an earlier copied picture east of Jefferson Avenue in Long Beach.
The next pic is one I took. No explanation on the damage is necessary as the sign and the desolated background speaks loudly.
I spent many hours in Long Beach's Kmart and had many lunches at "The Lookout" formerly "Fish and Bones".
The pic below is an earlier copied picture east of Jefferson Avenue in Long Beach.
The next pic is one I took. No explanation on the damage is necessary as the sign and the desolated background speaks loudly.
Go Long Beach!
Monday, April 17, 2006
On Easter Saturday, the daughter and son in law asked if I would like to go sightseeing with them and their four children. I readily agreed as I wanted to take a few pics of the office building in Gulfport which we worked out of for many years. I knew it was heavily damaged as I had made a trip to see it months ago but this time I had a camera. Whoever said a minivan seats seven comfortably should not be allowed to get away with that falsehood. The only two people that looked comfortable was the driver and his upfront passenger.
We decided to drive around Biloxi first. It was heartwrenching to see the damage done to such a scenic city. I have fond memories from not only my younger years but when I was newly married. My husband and I lived there for two years on Pass Road near Keesler's Gate 7.
Throughout my blog I have mentioned my ineptness as a photographer. I took many pics not realizing that at some point the settings had been moved and so they aren't perfect but still clear enough to show the damage.
My pics give only a glimpse of the damage that Biloxi has suffered. One would have to drive into every neighborhood and down each city street to grasp the widespread devastation. There is so much heartache for all of us who love our coastal cities. So many of the places we patronized no longer exist and yet we must go on. Somehow ... we will.
Our next destination was Gulfport's west side where I snapped a few pics of a now destroyed building that was a significant part of my life. I was present for its formal dedication in February 1969 and it was important to me to say a final goodbye. A part of a scipture verse comes to mind, "You can't put "new" wine into "old" wine skins.
We decided to drive around Biloxi first. It was heartwrenching to see the damage done to such a scenic city. I have fond memories from not only my younger years but when I was newly married. My husband and I lived there for two years on Pass Road near Keesler's Gate 7.
Throughout my blog I have mentioned my ineptness as a photographer. I took many pics not realizing that at some point the settings had been moved and so they aren't perfect but still clear enough to show the damage.
Treasure Bay Casino - Biloxi
Treasure Bay
Beauvoir - Home of President Jefferson Davis
Biloxi Home
International House Of Pancakes
Asbestos Warning
Red Lobster
Ryans Steak House
My pics give only a glimpse of the damage that Biloxi has suffered. One would have to drive into every neighborhood and down each city street to grasp the widespread devastation. There is so much heartache for all of us who love our coastal cities. So many of the places we patronized no longer exist and yet we must go on. Somehow ... we will.
Our next destination was Gulfport's west side where I snapped a few pics of a now destroyed building that was a significant part of my life. I was present for its formal dedication in February 1969 and it was important to me to say a final goodbye. A part of a scipture verse comes to mind, "You can't put "new" wine into "old" wine skins.
FAREWELL MCS!
Sunday, April 16, 2006
Saturday, April 15, 2006
Yesterday when visiting my daughter and son in law I wasn't my usual self. I began by asking a question. "Do you remember when I said that you will probably be the age I am now before you see recovery?" They nodded. I couldn't stop myself from saying, "There will never be a complete recovery from this."
Could I have spoken words that were less then encouraging because it brought back memories of my own personal hardships living in the aftermath of Camille as a young wife and mother? No! It's because Katrina caused monumental damage and the federal government is in control. Before and after Camille most businesses on our coastline were small structures and suffered the most destruction. The majority of inland homeowners reshingled their roofs and cleared up the fallen trees. The point I am trying to make is it was the PEOPLE who worked on their recovery and rebuilt the communities. The red tape of government control is hindering our progress to rebuild as we did after Camille. Private property is not private any longer.
There are still a great number of us still living that experiened Camille. I remember a weather plane "seeded" the storm with what they called ice crystals in an attempt to slow the wind speeds, instead they increased to over 200MPH.
Post Katrina houses have been bulldozed but not all. Debris has been picked up but not all. The roads are not in good shape and none have been paved. Walmart is open, Lowe's is open, McDonald's is open but the small locally owned businesses such as bakery shops, beauty shops, scrapbooking shops, hardware stores and gas stations are closed. The big Chains are thriving off the misfortune of people. For instance, Walmart's stock can now be considered "garbage" that we buy. Lowe's building supplies are not of good quality. Oh! McDonald's fast food is terrible. I don't eat cold french fries. Wouldn't you think that they would provide the same pre Katrina service to the people that have helped THEM be a success in the community?
Mortgage companies are complaining about the thousands and thousands of people who are behind on their payments. Can't you see the hopelessness in all of this? They are to continue paying a mortgage on destroyed homes. Before the storm when payments were reneged on there was foreclosure by the banks and said property sold. Now there is nothing to sell.
Schools were destroyed in the coastal counties and students merged with other schools thus making it necessary to not renew the contracts of many teachers.
There will be a mass Exodus each time a hurricane enters the Gulf. I liken it to Moses leading the Israelites out of Egypt to the promised land but when he gave them the LAW (Ten Commandments) and they didn't obey they wandered for forty years in the desert. A big difference with this analogy is that Moses was guided by God not the government. So what happens if we do not obey such an impossible disruption of our lives?
The State Grant Assistance Program began taking calls for appointments on April 10th. They had "one" 800 number to call. The very first day the phone went down because of 40,000 people calling. Luckily, the daughter and son in law have an appointment Monday the 17th. I have my fingers crossed for them that the schedule isn't changed before they arrive as there seems to be a Waiting Game!
Could I have spoken words that were less then encouraging because it brought back memories of my own personal hardships living in the aftermath of Camille as a young wife and mother? No! It's because Katrina caused monumental damage and the federal government is in control. Before and after Camille most businesses on our coastline were small structures and suffered the most destruction. The majority of inland homeowners reshingled their roofs and cleared up the fallen trees. The point I am trying to make is it was the PEOPLE who worked on their recovery and rebuilt the communities. The red tape of government control is hindering our progress to rebuild as we did after Camille. Private property is not private any longer.
There are still a great number of us still living that experiened Camille. I remember a weather plane "seeded" the storm with what they called ice crystals in an attempt to slow the wind speeds, instead they increased to over 200MPH.
Post Katrina houses have been bulldozed but not all. Debris has been picked up but not all. The roads are not in good shape and none have been paved. Walmart is open, Lowe's is open, McDonald's is open but the small locally owned businesses such as bakery shops, beauty shops, scrapbooking shops, hardware stores and gas stations are closed. The big Chains are thriving off the misfortune of people. For instance, Walmart's stock can now be considered "garbage" that we buy. Lowe's building supplies are not of good quality. Oh! McDonald's fast food is terrible. I don't eat cold french fries. Wouldn't you think that they would provide the same pre Katrina service to the people that have helped THEM be a success in the community?
Mortgage companies are complaining about the thousands and thousands of people who are behind on their payments. Can't you see the hopelessness in all of this? They are to continue paying a mortgage on destroyed homes. Before the storm when payments were reneged on there was foreclosure by the banks and said property sold. Now there is nothing to sell.
Schools were destroyed in the coastal counties and students merged with other schools thus making it necessary to not renew the contracts of many teachers.
There will be a mass Exodus each time a hurricane enters the Gulf. I liken it to Moses leading the Israelites out of Egypt to the promised land but when he gave them the LAW (Ten Commandments) and they didn't obey they wandered for forty years in the desert. A big difference with this analogy is that Moses was guided by God not the government. So what happens if we do not obey such an impossible disruption of our lives?
The State Grant Assistance Program began taking calls for appointments on April 10th. They had "one" 800 number to call. The very first day the phone went down because of 40,000 people calling. Luckily, the daughter and son in law have an appointment Monday the 17th. I have my fingers crossed for them that the schedule isn't changed before they arrive as there seems to be a Waiting Game!
Friday, April 14, 2006
Thursday, April 13, 2006
The Sun Herald | 04/13/2006 | Katrina moved dioxin-tainted soil near base
The Sun Herald | 04/13/2006 | Katrina moved dioxin-tainted soil near base: "GULFPORT - Hurricane Katrina pushed a small amount of dioxin-contaminated soil into areas around Gulfport's Seabee base, a company representative monitoring the site said at a base advisory board meeting this week.
'We will work to move the sediment back to a containment area,' said Bob Fisher, a hydrologist with Tetra Tech, the company contracted by the U.S. Navy to analyze environmental contamination of the cancer-causing chemical. 'We have already taken action on the base and we are getting ready to do it off-base. The good news is that while it did move in some locations, it did not move more than 100 feet.'"
UPDATE!!!
I didn't expect this when I read the local news tonight as I had just posted an archived WLOX news article commenting on the meeting they had on 8-24-05 discussing the remaining clean up of Dioxin contamination at the Gulfport SeeBee Base and surrounding neighborhoods.
'We will work to move the sediment back to a containment area,' said Bob Fisher, a hydrologist with Tetra Tech, the company contracted by the U.S. Navy to analyze environmental contamination of the cancer-causing chemical. 'We have already taken action on the base and we are getting ready to do it off-base. The good news is that while it did move in some locations, it did not move more than 100 feet.'"
UPDATE!!!
I didn't expect this when I read the local news tonight as I had just posted an archived WLOX news article commenting on the meeting they had on 8-24-05 discussing the remaining clean up of Dioxin contamination at the Gulfport SeeBee Base and surrounding neighborhoods.
Wednesday, April 12, 2006
WLOX-TV - The News for South Mississippi: West Gulfport Residents Get Update on Dioxin Clean UP
WLOX-TV - The News for South Mississippi: West Gulfport Residents Get Update on Dioxin Clean UP: "'We're not so much concerned about the clean up, as we are past exposure of what was actually in the air here for all the years the barrels were sitting here leaking from 1968 to 1977,' Hansen said."
The above article is an archive dated 8-24-05, five days before Hurricane Katrina made landfall. As you know Agent Orange was used prolifically during the Vietnam War. Perhaps you didn't know that 15,480 drums were stockpiled at the SeeBee Base in Gulfport, Mississippi from 1968 to 1977. In that period of time the drums were leaking and dioxin was contaminating the soil not only at the base but also surrounding neighborhoods.
If you didn't know that's okay because you were further away but, you see, we didn't know and we were only one block away. The office where my husband worked was built in late 1968, he became owner in 1974. I worked there as did all of our children at one time or the other. He became seriously ill in late 1990 and diagnosed with Non Hodgkins Lymphoma. In 1995, MDA in Texas pronounced a probable cure as he was in complete remission.
In 1996, I established a website at GeoCities and maintained a page on his particular illness. Many lymphoma patients would get in touch with me telling me about themselves. Most were Vietnam veterans and they had the same illness. They were in search of hope that they may possibly survive the disease.
I suppose that sometimes ignorance can be bliss. If we had known what was happening we wouldn't have lived the life we did. The drums were transferred to the Dutch owned ship, Vulcanus, and destroyed between 15-24 of July 1977. The soil in the area is still contaminated as the above article verifies and I wonder, since the terrible disaster befell us, is the clean up continuing.
The above article is an archive dated 8-24-05, five days before Hurricane Katrina made landfall. As you know Agent Orange was used prolifically during the Vietnam War. Perhaps you didn't know that 15,480 drums were stockpiled at the SeeBee Base in Gulfport, Mississippi from 1968 to 1977. In that period of time the drums were leaking and dioxin was contaminating the soil not only at the base but also surrounding neighborhoods.
If you didn't know that's okay because you were further away but, you see, we didn't know and we were only one block away. The office where my husband worked was built in late 1968, he became owner in 1974. I worked there as did all of our children at one time or the other. He became seriously ill in late 1990 and diagnosed with Non Hodgkins Lymphoma. In 1995, MDA in Texas pronounced a probable cure as he was in complete remission.
In 1996, I established a website at GeoCities and maintained a page on his particular illness. Many lymphoma patients would get in touch with me telling me about themselves. Most were Vietnam veterans and they had the same illness. They were in search of hope that they may possibly survive the disease.
I suppose that sometimes ignorance can be bliss. If we had known what was happening we wouldn't have lived the life we did. The drums were transferred to the Dutch owned ship, Vulcanus, and destroyed between 15-24 of July 1977. The soil in the area is still contaminated as the above article verifies and I wonder, since the terrible disaster befell us, is the clean up continuing.
Pascagoula Post Office
The above pics are of the Post Office in Pascagoula, Mississippi. It is a disgrace to the United States Postal Service that after seven months it still isn't usable. The pic below will show you what we have been reduced to.
Present Post Office
Shouldn't this tell you how bad things are down south for all of us. Even the Post Office that's federal has not been repaired.
If there weren't so many restrictions on the rebuilding of homes, there would be a " boom" going on in all the coastal cities. Homes that were repairable on the beaches can stay but those that were reduced to slabs can not. Does that make sense?
Northrop Grumman Shipyard allowed Fema to put trailers on their property on Ingalls Avenue with the stipulation that 25% would be for Northrop Grumman's employees and retirees.
I couldn't get pics showing the large number of trailers that are there because gone are the days when you could pull over to the curb. I took this from a moving car.
An attorney that I know, my first cousin, walked out of the post office and I said how is it going for you. He said, "Okay!" I lost everything I own but we are coming back." That's a typical response from people in Mississippi as in our history we have known disasters and want but still we persevere. Out of all the setbacks, a strong determination to survive was instilled.
The Sun Herald | 04/12/2006 | GREAT BALLS OF FIRE
The Sun Herald | 04/12/2006 | GREAT BALLS OF FIRE: "HARRISON COUNTY - At least 50 wildfires in four days have scorched well over 2,300 acres and kept firefighters and foresters running past exhaustion in South Mississippi, said a spokeswoman for the southeastern district of the Mississippi Forestry Commission."
This is yet another serious issue we are contending with. No rain is expected anytime soon. It is very dry. I tried watering flowers yesterday and they actually floated out of the ground. The year started with a deficit of approximately 10 to 12 inches. Personally, I hear the sirens of firetrucks almost every day responding to fire.
It's ironic you know. We had so much water from the storm surge that gutted our homes and deposited salt and pesticides into our soil and now we are deprived of what would be a beneficial, cleansing rain.
This is yet another serious issue we are contending with. No rain is expected anytime soon. It is very dry. I tried watering flowers yesterday and they actually floated out of the ground. The year started with a deficit of approximately 10 to 12 inches. Personally, I hear the sirens of firetrucks almost every day responding to fire.
It's ironic you know. We had so much water from the storm surge that gutted our homes and deposited salt and pesticides into our soil and now we are deprived of what would be a beneficial, cleansing rain.
Monday, April 10, 2006
Today is Tuesday, April 11th, garbage pickup day and on another Tuesday not so long ago, March 28th, I found my post light at the end of my driveway lying in the street. Have you enough clues to solve "Who Dun It?"
Just in case you are reading my ramblings for the very first time I refer you to my related blog post
Camille and Katrina Were Not Ladies
We are in a drought at this time so this morning I was out watering the front lawn when my next door neighbor came over to say hello. I began lamenting about vandals causing me more of a problem than it appears. He said, "Ruth vandals didn't do that." "What'? He proceeded to tell me that each Tuesday he takes his wife to therapy and the light was not broken when they left at 930AM that morning but when they returned over and hour later the fixture was smashed in the street. Garbage had been picked up. He said to call Red River Services again and he would "vouch" for me. So I called and they said they would send someone to the house.
It isn't just a single lamp involved. There are four more around the yard that operate on the same circuit. I can't use the lights as the damaged one will probably cause all of them to short out and cause a major electrical problem.
This can't be a very interesting post but a blog is a diary and occasionally things like this will from time to time find its way into my writings. Keep your fingers crossed that they take responsibility for helping me fix the problem.
Just in case you are reading my ramblings for the very first time I refer you to my related blog post
Camille and Katrina Were Not Ladies
We are in a drought at this time so this morning I was out watering the front lawn when my next door neighbor came over to say hello. I began lamenting about vandals causing me more of a problem than it appears. He said, "Ruth vandals didn't do that." "What'? He proceeded to tell me that each Tuesday he takes his wife to therapy and the light was not broken when they left at 930AM that morning but when they returned over and hour later the fixture was smashed in the street. Garbage had been picked up. He said to call Red River Services again and he would "vouch" for me. So I called and they said they would send someone to the house.
It isn't just a single lamp involved. There are four more around the yard that operate on the same circuit. I can't use the lights as the damaged one will probably cause all of them to short out and cause a major electrical problem.
This can't be a very interesting post but a blog is a diary and occasionally things like this will from time to time find its way into my writings. Keep your fingers crossed that they take responsibility for helping me fix the problem.
WLOX-TV - The News for South Mississippi: Storm-Weary Coast Braces For Next Hurricane Season
WLOX-TV - The News for South Mississippi: Storm-Weary Coast Braces For Next Hurricane Season: "Joe Spraggins knows it will take stockpiles of food, water and fuel and better evacuation routes to survive if the Gulf Coast gets hit by another monster storm this coming hurricane season. What the Harrison County emergency management director cannot fully plan for is the psychological toll another hurricane could exact on residents struggling to rebuild their lives after Katrina.
'They're already at the point of breaking,'' he said. 'If we have another storm of any size this summer, mental health is going to be a huge issue.''"
Gulfport To MDOT: Find Another Connector Route
Students Start Petition To Change Name of Jeff Davis campus
The above entitled "Storm Weary Coast" are inadequate words to describe the feelings here. We are bone tired and psyched out. The world for most of us is not turning on its axle any longer. We are frozen in a time warp of waiting. Nothing has been done here. Lots of talking but not much action. Two major bridges are out but more interest is put on connectors for evacuations. Mayor Warr of Gulfport is correct in what it will do to the city. The proposed plan will come through the heart of Gulfport and it will become a "ghost town".
The Jefferson Davis controversy is nothing new to us, it is our history. To wipe out that history would be lending credence to George Orwell's fictitious book "1984". The two students in the above article stated they were ashamed to say the name of the junior college they attended. Then go to another. Katrina has also been a source for some to further their agendas. All smoking in public places, restaurants and businesses will be banned. The next step will be coming into the privacy of your home. There is no ban on alcoholic beverages. Most DUI'S are punished by doing community service for a couple of weeks.
I wish for my sake and yours that I had more uplifting things to talk about but I don't. We had a less than desirable Labor Day and Thanksgiving. Christmas was observed because of the birth of our Lord and Santa for the children. Easter will be for the resurrection of our Lord and the baskets for the children. Spiritually we are okay as we are clinging to the words of the Savior that we will be refined as if by fire and be made worthy of His promises.
'They're already at the point of breaking,'' he said. 'If we have another storm of any size this summer, mental health is going to be a huge issue.''"
Gulfport To MDOT: Find Another Connector Route
Students Start Petition To Change Name of Jeff Davis campus
The above entitled "Storm Weary Coast" are inadequate words to describe the feelings here. We are bone tired and psyched out. The world for most of us is not turning on its axle any longer. We are frozen in a time warp of waiting. Nothing has been done here. Lots of talking but not much action. Two major bridges are out but more interest is put on connectors for evacuations. Mayor Warr of Gulfport is correct in what it will do to the city. The proposed plan will come through the heart of Gulfport and it will become a "ghost town".
The Jefferson Davis controversy is nothing new to us, it is our history. To wipe out that history would be lending credence to George Orwell's fictitious book "1984". The two students in the above article stated they were ashamed to say the name of the junior college they attended. Then go to another. Katrina has also been a source for some to further their agendas. All smoking in public places, restaurants and businesses will be banned. The next step will be coming into the privacy of your home. There is no ban on alcoholic beverages. Most DUI'S are punished by doing community service for a couple of weeks.
I wish for my sake and yours that I had more uplifting things to talk about but I don't. We had a less than desirable Labor Day and Thanksgiving. Christmas was observed because of the birth of our Lord and Santa for the children. Easter will be for the resurrection of our Lord and the baskets for the children. Spiritually we are okay as we are clinging to the words of the Savior that we will be refined as if by fire and be made worthy of His promises.
Saturday, April 08, 2006
WLOX-TV - The News for South Mississippi: Sonic Boom Heard Across Jackson County
WLOX-TV - The News for South Mississippi: Sonic Boom Heard Across Jackson County: "A loud 'boom' heard across Jackson County Friday morning turned out to be harmless.
Pascagoula Police say F-15 fighter pilots from Keesler Air Force Base were going through some exercises. It's believed one of them broke the sound barrier, creating the sonic boom."
Yesterday when this occurred, it was the third time that I have experienced this since Katrina. I can't recall if I noted it in my blog but just in case here goes.......
On all the occasions I was in my home when something very heavy hit my roof and ROLLED. So heavy that when it rolls it sounds like it is crushing the roof. On inspection there has been nothing on the roof or ground. I am always very shaken. Obviously many people have experienced this and it was reported. Fighter jets huh?
Pascagoula Police say F-15 fighter pilots from Keesler Air Force Base were going through some exercises. It's believed one of them broke the sound barrier, creating the sonic boom."
Yesterday when this occurred, it was the third time that I have experienced this since Katrina. I can't recall if I noted it in my blog but just in case here goes.......
On all the occasions I was in my home when something very heavy hit my roof and ROLLED. So heavy that when it rolls it sounds like it is crushing the roof. On inspection there has been nothing on the roof or ground. I am always very shaken. Obviously many people have experienced this and it was reported. Fighter jets huh?
Friday, April 07, 2006
I have always been an upbeat sort of personality but the problems we have been experiencing in the storm's aftermath have become very depressing. I am quite sure most of us took our day to day living before Katrina for granted and at times were bored with the routine. Oh! But to have that life back would be heaven on earth.
It is as though a thick fog lingers over us even on the brightest days. It is eerily quiet! Traffic on Hwy 90 that passes through Pascagoula is usually very heavy and I always wonder where they could possibly be going. Have I missed something? There is no Ocean Springs bridge that once connected us to Biloxi and Gulfport. There is interstate 10 which is a "murderous" route to travel and occasionally when I have had to be in Gulfport for business purposes I vowed to keep my speed at 70MPH but found myself being pushed to 85MPH. In dry weather you are "flying", in wet weather you "hydroplane".
Today I was riding around town hoping to see something positive that would lift my spirits but instead I found a place off Ingalls Ave. where probably a hundred trailers were that I hadn't seen before. I wanted a pic so badly but a feeling of foreboding told me not to go in. The only words that I have to describe what it looked like was a concentration camp lacking the barbed wire.
Never in my wildest dreams would I have imagined I would be living in times like these. The weather has literally gone wild. God or Man?
It is as though a thick fog lingers over us even on the brightest days. It is eerily quiet! Traffic on Hwy 90 that passes through Pascagoula is usually very heavy and I always wonder where they could possibly be going. Have I missed something? There is no Ocean Springs bridge that once connected us to Biloxi and Gulfport. There is interstate 10 which is a "murderous" route to travel and occasionally when I have had to be in Gulfport for business purposes I vowed to keep my speed at 70MPH but found myself being pushed to 85MPH. In dry weather you are "flying", in wet weather you "hydroplane".
Today I was riding around town hoping to see something positive that would lift my spirits but instead I found a place off Ingalls Ave. where probably a hundred trailers were that I hadn't seen before. I wanted a pic so badly but a feeling of foreboding told me not to go in. The only words that I have to describe what it looked like was a concentration camp lacking the barbed wire.
Never in my wildest dreams would I have imagined I would be living in times like these. The weather has literally gone wild. God or Man?
Thursday, April 06, 2006
Dreaming versus Reality
So often in the past seven months and 8 days, yes I am counting, the news has been focused on rebuilding the infrastructure of the cities on the Mississippi Coast. They report on the millions or billions of dollars that it will take to accomplish this and the many years that it will take to come to fruition. The officials of each city are dreaming big that now is the time for the Coast to take advantage of all the things they have never had. Lets bring in more casinos to generate revenue for the cities and jobs for the people. We can build interconnector overpasses to make evacuations flow smoothly. The city of Gulfport is opposed to this as the overpass would be directly over the downtown area and potential tourists would most likely "cross over" and continue on to one of the other cities. The charm of Gulfport would be lost under tons of concrete.
The people who settled on the coast didn't do so because of all the grand things mentioned above. It has always been a small area filled with quaint shops, small business owners, antebellum homes, modern homes, seafood industries and shipbuilding. There are "well-to-do" people, middleclass and the poor. Many Louisiana citizens either moved into the Waveland-Bay St.Louis area or had a second home there to get away from the "hubbub" of city life. Snowbirds came for the warmth and often remained. They sensed the serenity and easy living in our area and wanted the same for themselves. In my opinion, most of our citizens just want a home resembling what they had and for the cities to rebuild many of the structures that were previously there so as not to make it foreign to the inhabitants.
Does higher elevation required on homes assure that there will be no damage? Does it mean that those homes that were not completly destroyed and couldn't be elevated will be destroyed by another storm? My daughter and I were talking today about her home that was at a 14 ft elevation. She felt that if it had been elevated any higher that it would have collapsed from the force of the surge. I agree!
I have learned a few things in my life and one of them is quite simple. Whoever "picks up the tab" has the upper hand in what will be done. In our case, it is the federal government.
As an example, of what the people want, there is a small elementary school K-5 on Market St. in Pascagoula, Mississippi that was severely flooded by the storm surge. Enrollment is a little over one hundred children. The parents are spending countless hours trying to save the school. They have signs on their cars asking for help in this endeavor. They already thought their school was grand so nothing elaborate has to be built..... just repair what is there.
The people who settled on the coast didn't do so because of all the grand things mentioned above. It has always been a small area filled with quaint shops, small business owners, antebellum homes, modern homes, seafood industries and shipbuilding. There are "well-to-do" people, middleclass and the poor. Many Louisiana citizens either moved into the Waveland-Bay St.Louis area or had a second home there to get away from the "hubbub" of city life. Snowbirds came for the warmth and often remained. They sensed the serenity and easy living in our area and wanted the same for themselves. In my opinion, most of our citizens just want a home resembling what they had and for the cities to rebuild many of the structures that were previously there so as not to make it foreign to the inhabitants.
Does higher elevation required on homes assure that there will be no damage? Does it mean that those homes that were not completly destroyed and couldn't be elevated will be destroyed by another storm? My daughter and I were talking today about her home that was at a 14 ft elevation. She felt that if it had been elevated any higher that it would have collapsed from the force of the surge. I agree!
I have learned a few things in my life and one of them is quite simple. Whoever "picks up the tab" has the upper hand in what will be done. In our case, it is the federal government.
As an example, of what the people want, there is a small elementary school K-5 on Market St. in Pascagoula, Mississippi that was severely flooded by the storm surge. Enrollment is a little over one hundred children. The parents are spending countless hours trying to save the school. They have signs on their cars asking for help in this endeavor. They already thought their school was grand so nothing elaborate has to be built..... just repair what is there.
Wednesday, April 05, 2006
Later in the morning after viewing a video of young workers on Pascagoula's beach who have come to help, I decided to take a ride to the beach and see if they were still there. If I was lucky I might get a pic to show you. The last section of road that had been closed off due to damage was now open so I could drive further down. What I didn't know was a part of the road had collapsed. That's right! It gave me quite a jolt but after repeated checks of my car I am finally convinced that no damage was inflicted.
I didn't see the young people so I made a right turn beside what is left of the park and stopped to take a pic of huge equipment working to remove a piece of concrete that had blocked another section since the storm struck. It had either "washed" there or purposedly been put there to keep people like me out of harm's way.
Looking at this scene for a minute or two, I saw beauty in the sky, sand, water and trees. What was manmade is gone but one who is greater than us shines brightly through his creation of the remaining elements.
I didn't see the young people so I made a right turn beside what is left of the park and stopped to take a pic of huge equipment working to remove a piece of concrete that had blocked another section since the storm struck. It had either "washed" there or purposedly been put there to keep people like me out of harm's way.
Looking at this scene for a minute or two, I saw beauty in the sky, sand, water and trees. What was manmade is gone but one who is greater than us shines brightly through his creation of the remaining elements.
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