363 Days Ago
MS: 363 days ago, a region of quaint hamlets were overcome by powerful waters, tearing at the delicate web of humanity.
363 days ago, a chain of events put in motion by the spontaneity of nature and perpetuated by the inefficiencies of man broke the hearts of a nation.
363 days later, we have witnessed the worst and the best of the human spirit, as people have come together to rebuild lives and communities that were traumatized to their cores.
On August 28, 2005, the world watched in horror as Katrina wreaked havoc in America's Gulf Coast region. Few towns were impacted more than those in coastal Mississippi. And while the rebuilding is underway, there is still much to be done.
Pass Christian, Mississippi, a community of 6,700, has long been home to oystermen and shrimpers and a waterfront haven for the state's residents. Katrina leveled or damaged most of the buildings or homes in the town.
"Help our little community any way you can," local librarian Sally James said recently. "We still need so much."
James, a fifth-generation Pass Christian resident, explained that the library was only one of two municipal buildings that remained standing after the hurricane. The library was also the place where 13 members of the local police force sought refuge and were then trapped, escaping only after releasing the waters (which had surged to five feet) through the recently renovated building's back doors. Water damage resulted in the entire collection of books being lost. Currently housed in a double-wide trailer in the park with a small collection of loaned books, the library will reopen sometime in 2007, James said.
The Pass Christian community as a whole continues to have a need for skilled volunteers to assist in their rebuilding efforts.
Back Roads, Charming Towns' Rural Renewal Project will be collecting books and donations to assist in the Pass Christian library's rebuilding efforts. For further information or to make a donation, contact us at ruralrenewal@backroadscharmingtowns.com.
The neighboring communities of Waveland (described as Katrina's "Ground Zero") and Bay St. Louis have similar ongoing needs.
Just The Facts
To learn more about Pass Christian, Mississippi and the community's additional needs, visit www.katrina.passchristian.net or http://www.topix.net/forum/city/pass-christian-ms.
