Daily Kos

Down and Out in Bay St. Louis

by lilorphant

Sat Sep 17, 2005 at 10:16:39 PM PDT

Well, it's been almost three weeks since I have been online, we took the Fema check and got a notebook,(and a lot of stuff at Target)because we would be well on our way to losing our livelihood, financial info, and any communication with the outside world.

We lost our home, our neighborhood, our town, every beautiful and ugly thing along the coast has been shredded to bits, and I have become breathless in a frenzy of surviving day to day.

The terror rose in the moments between waiting to hear about the storm, and waiting to hear of survivors, then the silence, when there was no news of the little town on the Peninsula. My husband was one of the first on the scene, making it in the next day.

My first few days were spent at a resort in upstate Mississippi. The playground for the wealthy slowly became a place of refuge, then soon a shelter was opened on the premises.  

My time at the hotel ran out, it was booked, and there were no other hotels to take my family, I have four kids, and my sick mother South of Jackson needed supplies.  For a week we lived in what I thought could be hell on earth, washing clothes in a bucket with whatever water I could get.  The ice we did get we had to drive miles for on scanty gas rations. Twenty dollars of gas if you sit in line for three hours.  Where I was wrong in those early days, was that hell was only beginning, I set for my hometown on the Coast, Bay Saint Louis, and the world crumbled into a kaliedescope of disturbing images, desperation, six hour lines for relief services, abundant MRE's, and the oppressive heat that challenges the stongest willed to keep on keeping on.

There is no excuse for the hell that people have had to suffer through these last 18 days.  If there are final days about us, it is the Gulf Coast that has seen the first of the last.

I have seen and heard enough these to fill reems of paper, for now, I just want you all to know I am alive, my family is okay, and we are now part of the Coastal Diaspora, removed to Pensacola for now.

Tags: Hurricane Katrina, Gulf Coast, Mississippi (all tags) :: Previous Tag Versions

Permalink | 48 comments

  •  Know that our thoughts (4.00 / 4)

    are with you.  We will not forget what you're suffering.  May things soon improve, despite the Bush administration.

    "'Normal' is a dryer setting. " -- Elizabeth Moon

    by revsue on Sat Sep 17, 2005 at 10:20:28 PM PDT

  •  Incredible. Recommended (none / 1)

    Although this is early Sunday morning, I hope this doesn't get lost in the shuffle.

    Please keep writing diaries.  We need to hear first hand what is going on.

    All the best to you and your family and let us know what we can do to help.

    by suzq on Sat Sep 17, 2005 at 10:21:17 PM PDT

  •  You're in our hearts (4.00 / 6)

    anything we can assist you with?

    I'm not going anywhere. I'm standing up, which is how one speaks in opposition in a civilized world. - Ainsley Hayes

    by jillian on Sat Sep 17, 2005 at 10:23:04 PM PDT

  •  Tell us more (none / 0)

    Are things better for you in Florida? Is your mom with you?

    (Bush) believes the same thing Wednesday that he believed on Monday, no matter what happened Tuesday. -- Colbert

    by makemefree on Sat Sep 17, 2005 at 10:24:45 PM PDT

  •  There is no excuse. (none / 0)

    There is absolutely no excuse for the hell people have had to suffer.  

    by k2winters on Sat Sep 17, 2005 at 10:29:21 PM PDT

  •  I'm glad you are all okay... (4.00 / 4)

    please please let us know if there's anything we can do to help...if there are things that you need that are short in supply there. We're all more than willing to do whatever we can.

    Obama, or McCain

    by Elise on Sat Sep 17, 2005 at 10:51:37 PM PDT

  •  It's good to hear from you. (4.00 / 3)

    What can we do?  We can send help your way with just a little more info.

    by hoolia on Sat Sep 17, 2005 at 11:03:30 PM PDT

  •  I am so, so sorry. Please let us (4.00 / 7)

    know what we can do (real life stuff).  I mean that.  Please do.  

    Let's recommend this.  

    Small varmints, if you will.

    by 2lucky on Sat Sep 17, 2005 at 11:11:03 PM PDT

  •  Oh my (4.00 / 2)

    Bless you - do you have a place to stay in Pensacola?

    What help do you need?

    "Proud to proclaim: I am a Bleeding Heart Liberal"

    by sara seattle on Sat Sep 17, 2005 at 11:12:29 PM PDT

  •  Glad to hear it (4.00 / 2)

    My daughter lived in Bay St. Louis until last Friday--she's with me now in Fort Lauderdale. My ex-wife is gutting her house which, thank goodness, is still standing, but FEMA isn't doing much of anything for her either. She's currently living in a  camper in Vancleave, Mississippi.

    I really hope you're able to get yourself fixed up, but rest assured, a lot of us know what you're going through.

    I want to die like my grandfather, peacefully in my sleep, not screaming in terror like his passengers.

    by incertus on Sat Sep 17, 2005 at 11:14:32 PM PDT

  •  Help everyone, tell us (none / 0)

    how to plan better for the next "event". . . .

    Meanwhile, have a little fun every day, even if it is only on the level of watching "The Simpsons". ..and stay in touch.

    I am so sorry you had to see and experience this terrible catastrophe, you and all the others.

    Best Diary of the Year? http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/2/23/03912/3990

    by LNK on Sat Sep 17, 2005 at 11:45:57 PM PDT

  •  For putting people through this hell (4.00 / 3)

    there needs to be a full investigation of what went wrong, who is responsible and what we can do to make sure this never happens again. Democrats better stand up for what is right and not allow Republicans to interfere with finding out the truth.

    Mike Caccioppoli
    http://MIKECFORCONGRESS.com

    by Mike C For Congress on Sun Sep 18, 2005 at 12:06:46 AM PDT

  •  welcome back lilorphant (4.00 / 3)

    I looked through some of your comments from before the storm, in this one you discuss your previous experiences of evacuation:
    http://www.dailykos.com/comments/2005/8/27/17546/6229/35#35

    in this one you were clearly aware there would be a tough situation in New Orleans with large numbers of people unable to leave, and made some interesting comments about how you thought people should be moved to shelters.
    http://www.dailykos.com/comments/2005/8/27/84222/7636/4#4

    by Elizabeth D on Sun Sep 18, 2005 at 12:24:15 AM PDT

  •  amazing story (none / 0)

    godspeed

    by bloomer 101 on Sun Sep 18, 2005 at 12:53:52 AM PDT

  •  I'm so glad you're OK (none / 0)

    You made it and you will keep on making it, but what can I do to help? please tell me.

    War is not an adventure. It is a disease. It is like typhus. - Antoine De Saint-Exupery

    by Margot on Sun Sep 18, 2005 at 02:06:25 AM PDT

  •  Coastal Diaspora (none / 0)

    How profound; how sad. Don't even know what to 'hope' or 'wish' for you; may the worst be behind you, at the least.

    GWOT - Global War on Terra(-firma) - Bush's War on the Planet.

    by grndrush on Sun Sep 18, 2005 at 04:04:02 AM PDT

  •  Our towns (PInehust, Southen Pines, Aberdeen, Pine (4.00 / 2)

    and others) in Moore County, NC have "adopted" Bay St Louis.  Several Groups have gone down to assess needs.  I believe we have already sent some medical and technical folks down.  You can get some of the details in our local paper.

    www.thepilot.com

    "Group Races To Aid Team For Game
    BY MATTHEW MORIARTY: Staff Writer

    "Moore Friends for Mississippi is frantically working to help provide equipment for the high school football team in Bay St. Louis, Miss.

    The effort is part of Moore Friends' continuing work to focus Hurricane Katrina relief in this area on one adopted town: Bay St. Louis.

    The group met at The Pilot office Friday and discussed its progress.

    The Moore Friends executive committee toured the severely damaged town Saturday, Sept. 10. Bay St. Louis' leaders said that helping Bay High School hold its season-opening football game would be an excellent symbolic effort that would help cement the relationship between the two communities.

    Bay St. Louis Councilman Jeff Reed faxed a list of school needs to Dr. Susan Purser, superintendent of the Moore County school system.

    It also included the surprising revelation that the game was a week earlier than Moore Friends had thought.

    The game is scheduled for Friday, Sept. 23. Moore Friends had been trying, through various connections, to contact Nike and other equipment providers. Those seemed to be dead ends as of Friday.

    Southern Pines Mayor Frank Quis, chairman of Moore Friends, asked everyone who has contacts with athletic equipment manufacturers to pull all the strings possible. From the faxed list and from talking with the superintendent of the School System in Mississippi, Purser said it was clear that they expect Moore Friends to come through on this.

    "I talked to the superintendent," she said. "She was really pumped."

    Nevertheless, time is of the essence. Pinehurst Assistant Manager Jeff Batton pointed out that about the only option would be to work directly with a distributor.

    Moore Friends would like to be able to provide the school with uniforms with names and the correct color scheme, but the shortness of time might prevent that from happening.

    From talking with her counterpart in Mississippi, Purser said that only about 25 members of the team would be playing in the game.

    Batton said that if Moore Friends could manage to get 25 outfits complete with all the padding necessary, that might do the trick.

    "All they need is 25 to work with," he said.

    Purser moved to Moore County from a school system in northern Mississippi. She said football on Friday nights is a way of life there, and whatever can be done to help make it happen would be greatly appreciated.

    "These schools have had good athletic teams," she said. "That's why something such as this could have even higher value."

    Quis agreed and asked the group to do what it can.

    "It's symbolic as much as anything," he said. "This is the first expression of what we hope we can do. But it's going to be an uphill battle."

    Moore Friends is attempting to be a clearing house for Moore County efforts not connected to the American Red Cross or the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

    In other efforts, the group is trying to collect $43,000 to purchase a truckload of personal protective equipment (PPE) from one of FirstHealth's medical suppliers. PPE includes gloves, surgical masks and gowns. "It's contingent on the money," said Moore Friends Vice Chairman Bob Boone, a vice president at FirstHealth. "If we can't raise $40,000 in two weeks, we might want to pursue other options."

    Quis also asked the group to start thinking of two or three people who would be willing to spend some time in Bay St. Louis and help coordinate Moore Friends' efforts.

    "If I have to go," said Quis, "I'll go."

    Boone also indicated that he would go if it were only for a few days.

    "If you know someone who would love to go and is a good organizer, by all means..." Quis said."

    Matthew Moriarty can be reached at 693-2479 or by e-mail at moriarty@thepilot.com.

    "That's hard to explain without using the phrase 'you gullible toad.'" Dilbert

    by gbussey on Sun Sep 18, 2005 at 04:47:29 AM PDT

  •  You sound very strong and resilient. (none / 1)

    It is good to hear your family is okay.  

    by rolet on Sun Sep 18, 2005 at 05:13:50 AM PDT

  •  A happy thought for you... (none / 0)

    My MS librarian sister tells me that the Bay St. Louis Library survived in pretty good shape (except for roof damage), but the EMT/Firefighters building next door was destroyed.  They relocated next door for operations.  Miss Weezie, the library cat, survived in good shape and is growing fat from MREs fed to her by the National Guard.

    Read a good book- take a journey away from your present circumstances.  Reading is like exercise for increasing those endorphins and combating depression.  I recommend "The Milagro Beanfield War" by John Nichols.  Join the local library and look for it.  

    Remember, Libraries will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no libraries.

    Keep your journal and share it with us here- someday you will read it again and wonder how you made it through.  And someday it may findits place in the library for all to share.

    You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you mad. Aldous Huxley

    by murrayewv on Sun Sep 18, 2005 at 05:14:56 AM PDT

  •  grab a local PO box in Pensacola (4.00 / 9)

    and let us know what we can send you...

    the family of Kos helps it's own...

    I am quite sure now that often, very often, in matters concerning religion and politics a man's reasoning powers are not above the monkey's. - Mark Twain

    by route66 on Sun Sep 18, 2005 at 05:39:04 AM PDT

  •  Where are you staying in Pensacola? (4.00 / 8)

    I'm in Pensacola.  Please let me know what you need.  Seriously, I'm a good scavenger.  We just went through Ivan last year.  I now consider myself an expert in post-hurricane issues.

    by indie on Sun Sep 18, 2005 at 06:01:00 AM PDT

  •  How Old (none / 0)

    are your kids?  If you get a PO box, please tell us their ages and genders.  I know my older daughter would write and send a toy or school supplies.

    by mcinma on Sun Sep 18, 2005 at 06:05:59 AM PDT

  •  Our fair weather friends (none / 0)

    the democrats, need to have stories like this sent to them.   We need to inundate them with these stories.  The rebugs don't give a rats ass and will only capitilize on the people from the Gulf's suffering.  I suggest we send these stories to the GOOD demcrats like John Conyers, Jr.  He is a man who doesn't mince words and is a man of action.  

    In the meantime, what can we do to help?  Don't send funds to the American Red Cross.  I am hearing really bad things about their mismanagement of funds.

    Here is another diddy about the MSM.  It is an interesting read and one we should all keep in mind when trying to communicate with them.

    http://www.commondreams.org/views05/0917-29.htm

    by pmob5977 on Sun Sep 18, 2005 at 06:46:12 AM PDT

  •  lilorphant (none / 1)

    God speed to you and your family.

    I've added your story to the dKosopedia.

    Yes We Did.

    by RenaRF on Sun Sep 18, 2005 at 07:52:06 AM PDT

  •  Another Mississippian in Florida (none / 0)

    I generally don't tell people about my ties to the Magnolia state. Because of the racism and Jim Crow practices I left it behind, except for visits to my family in the Jackson and Hattiesburg areas who refuse to leave.

    But I know there are some honest, right-thinking people of integrity who remain in Mississippi. My soul tells me you are one of them. I know what it's like to lose everything in a hurricane, and the hellacious recovery period.

    If you need anything -- even if it's just to vent about crazy contractors and insurance adjusters --please email me. We can commiserate together. I've been there. I survived Hurricane Andrew 13 years ago, and so will you and your family.

    -7.38, -5.23 "Though the storm may be raging, and the billows tossing high, Lord I feel like going on."

    by CocoaLove on Sun Sep 18, 2005 at 08:41:15 AM PDT

  •  Lilorphant's (none / 0)

    back! I was worried man.

    Read UTI, your free thought forum

    by DarkSyde on Sun Sep 18, 2005 at 09:34:46 AM PDT

    •  Ditto (none / 0)

      Sorry, I have been worried about you too.  I am the one in Memphis, I kept waiting for you to contact me.  I should have sent you my phone number.  I really wish there was a way I could help.

      Please let us all know what we can do to help.

      Jill

      by jeeugena on Sun Sep 18, 2005 at 12:12:11 PM PDT

      [ Parent ]

  •  I'm from Pensacola (none / 0)

    With a lot of contacts or information, if you'd like to ask me anything. I'm in NYC, but I lived in P'cola my whole life. The folks there understand what it's like to be demolished by hurricanes, and I think most of them have good hearts. (I won't vouch for their ideas, especially political ideas, though.) Try to go to the Marina Oyster Barn (if it's opened back up--it got flooded in Katrina) and Jerry's Drive-in on Cervantes.

    Take Care!!!

    Ecrasez l'infame!

    by jeff in nyc on Sun Sep 18, 2005 at 09:43:48 AM PDT

  •  I live in Gulf Breeze (none / 0)

    just over the bridge from Pensacola and work for a dentist. If you find you or your children need any dentistry please email me, he is a good guy and will help you out.  I would also like to help you with any travel around town, I only work part time so am available.  Also have some clothes and some furniture I can donate if you decide to take up a permanent residence here.  Please do keep us posted and get the PO Box so we can help you in any way you need us to.

    Good feet giving up good boots. http://www.bringthemhomenow.org/

    by panicbean on Sun Sep 18, 2005 at 10:42:18 AM PDT

  •  I'm so sorry (none / 0)

    Just yesterday, I was wondering whatever happened to you.  Now I know.  I'm glad to hear that you all made it out fine.  

    Outta here, I don't deal well with sites that condone racism.

    by fabooj on Sun Sep 18, 2005 at 12:10:54 PM PDT

  •  This is my first post since leaving NOLA (3.66 / 3)

    I'm so sorry to hear how difficult this has been for you.  I love Bay St. Louis.  Last summer my husband and I went every weekend.  I have been wondering what became of a friend of ours.  Her name is Ellis Anderson.  I am wondering if you know.  I had a few emails from her and planned on emailing her but I can't get Outlook from here so have to go the regular email route which doesn't have her emails.

    We're in Austin, Tx.  We know a tree fell into the back of our house and have some pictures taken by a friend who volunteered to bring in relief supplies and then snuck a peak at our neighborhood.  

    We've been very, very fortunate but our heart breaks.  I've been down at the shelter here in Austin and it seemed to be better functioning than alot of the ones we've heard about.

    We have had periodic crying spells.  The radio stations around the country have been playing New Orleans music and it has helped us mourn and, at the same time, remind us of how much we love our life in New Orleans.  Our friends are scattered to the four winds and we miss them so.

    Hope all continues to go well with you now and that you are able to find some peace.

    White woman over 50 for OBAMA!! (Endorsed 6/07)

    by nolalily on Sun Sep 18, 2005 at 12:23:17 PM PDT

    •  I'm (none / 0)

      glad you got out of that hotel Nolalily! I forget who all it was that helped you decide to leave in comments that day, Teece or jeebs maybe? In any case you made a wise decision and I commend you. Austin isn't your home, but it's not a bad place to shake out. Good luck my dear.

      Read UTI, your free thought forum

      by DarkSyde on Sun Sep 18, 2005 at 02:46:46 PM PDT

      [ Parent ]

      •  Actually, Darksyde (none / 0)

        You had alot to do with our decision.  I owe ya.

        My husband's company is centered in Austin and the owners have given us their house to live in as they also have a ranch.  They've been perfectly lovely.

        We will definately return to New Orleans but my husband plays a mean guitar and is at home with funk, R&B and country so Austin is a great place for us to chill.

        Thanks again.  That was one inspirational diary.

        White woman over 50 for OBAMA!! (Endorsed 6/07)

        by nolalily on Wed Sep 21, 2005 at 12:28:06 PM PDT

        [ Parent ]

        •  Glad you got out (none / 0)

          I had been wondering how it all worked out; I remembered you changing your mind about evacuating. When things didn't look so bad at first -- on Monday afternoon -- I was thinking, "I bet Nolalily thinks the DKos gang were all just a bunch of hysterical doom-sayers and she should've stayed." Then by the next day I was hoping you did in fact get out.

          by Noisy Democrat on Sat Sep 24, 2005 at 10:27:30 AM PDT

          [ Parent ]

    •  My heart breaks for all of you (none / 0)

      Please get the word out about what you and others need.  I've been donating to the Red Cross and  Camp Casey III, but it's so frustrating not knowing if that's real help for anyone.

      by duncanidaho on Sun Sep 18, 2005 at 02:47:41 PM PDT

      [ Parent ]

  •  I was in Pass Christian, Mississippi yesterday. (4.00 / 2)

    We delivered two truckloads of food, water, medical and building supplies to a distribution point just a few miles east of Bay St Louis in Pass Christian. All of it was donated by friends and neighbors of our subdivision in Marietta, Georgia.

    The distribution center is being run by volunteers. It's been there for a few weeks, the Red Cross showed up 4 days ago with a mobile van that is supporting the volunteers with hot meals, but not the community. FEMA is not anywhere to be seen yet.

    The center is at the corner of Menge Ave. and East 2nd street. If you can get there you could get what you need to sustain yourself and get some other needed supplies. I would love to post pics if I knew how, but pretty much everything is a complete loss for miles.

    Three MP's were stationed on Menge Ave. about 4 miles leading into Pass Christian. They were keeping people out who did not belong in the area.

    Other than that there was no other military visible.

    My perception is that 75% of everything south of I-10 in the state of Mississippi in uninhabitable. Maybe 300 square miles?) and 90% of everything within a mile from the beach is either gone or damaged beyond repair.

    I heard at least a dozen times from locals that people didn't understand what they were facing, that 3 weeks after the storm FEMA still is nowhere to be seen. They're afraid that they're being forgotten.

    It's hard to argue the fact, it sure seemed that way.

    by xopher on Sun Sep 18, 2005 at 12:29:36 PM PDT

  •  Recommended, and added to (none / 0)

    dkosopedia.

    Hang in there, lilorphant, and please, please, let us know if there is anything we can do to help.

    by GN1927 on Sun Sep 18, 2005 at 01:01:17 PM PDT

  •  tears a'rollin (none / 0)

    at the stone GOODNESS of kossaks

    and the losses yet uncounted.

    so glad you made it....

    please keep posting

    why? just kos..... *just cause*

    by melo on Mon Sep 19, 2005 at 12:06:32 AM PDT

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