'How much work could be left to do'

It's been two years since Katrina devastated the Gulf Coast, and still the process of rebuilding is a long way from being complete. In fact, it will never be the way it was.

The media has not presented enough of the facts relating to one of America's deadliest hurricanes. Aside from the initial coverage of the event, it's been largely forgotten.

Unfortunately, people in the towns along the Gulf will never forget it.

Several months ago I received a letter from College of DuPage inviting me to join a group of volunteers that were going down to help rebuild houses damaged by Hurricane Katrina. At first I thought: How much work could be left to do? After all, two years is a long time.

However, the letter explained that there was a need for volunteers to help because many people were still homeless. God must have touched my shoulder, because I felt a need to go to help. I signed up for the trip.

One week before the trip, we met for an orientation at the college to find out what we would do down there and see what supplies we needed to bring with us. Our leader was Peter Klassen of Naperville. We knew him as "PK."

Other volunteers included Laura Gomez of Hinsdale, Keelin Lord of Naperville and Dave Nesheim of River Grove.

On Aug. 11 at 7 p.m., we started toward the town of D'Iberville. Miss. The three men on the group alternated driving shifts and we got down to D'Iberville in 15 hours, at 10 a.m. Sunday.

After a well-earned breakfast, PK took us on a drive along the Gulf Coast. I was overcome by shock and disbelief at what I saw. What once was a casino now was a skeleton of bent steel, crumbled brick and blown out walls.

I saw a sign for Olive Garden, but there was only a foundation next to it. The boardwalk area, which was one of the places residents and tourists came to walk along the beach with all its natural beauty, looked like a war zone.

Only a handful of businesses have been able to rebuild --mostly the large companies like Wal-Mart. I saw many empty lots with for sale signs where buildings used to be. Sometimes there was just the shell of a building.

When we drove inland the number of many empty lots and foundations where houses used to be was frightening.

Some houses that were not completely destroyed were abandoned for lack of funds to rebuild. I found out later that most of the insurance companies were not paying claims, excluding damage by wind and water. Many residents lost everything they had.

When we got to camp, we met Ed and Irene. They were the ones who put together the Hurricane Volunteer Disaster Assistance Center. It was set up on a baseball field. The concession stand was the place food was laid out for the volunteers, the press booth served as offices and kitchen.

Tents were set up in Army style and could accommodate around 200 people. I found out that the time of year we arrived was not popular due to temperatures of 100-plus degrees.

In addition to our small group, there was a church group from North Carolina. People and companies from all over the world donated food, supplies and tools so volunteers could perform the work. After getting to know Irene, I classified her as a living saint. She organized the camp and arranged to get supplies in to help the residents in need.

In a time of crisis and chaos, she turned a disaster into a relief effort.

Our work started the next day. Our team went to a house that was completely under water after Katrina hit. We met the homeowner, Mrs. Brown, and she was appreciative of the fact we came 950 miles to donate our time to help her rebuild.

We hung doors, windows and drywall, did tile and wood work and a host of other jobs in the week we spent there. It was difficult working in the heat, but when we were done at the end of the day, the feeling of accomplishment was gratifying.

One day, Mrs. Brown made a lunch of southern fried chicken, traditional brown gravy, beans, potatoes and rice. It was delightful!

Every evening after dinner we had a meeting. Irene talked to us about the events before, during and after Katrina. It was a heartfelt message. I will try to convey some of what she said.

D'Iberville, like most towns along the Gulf Coast, is used to hurricanes. The people know the procedure. Days prior to the storm, they board up windows, get a host of supplies, bring everything in from the yard and get their generators ready. What these people didn't know was Katrina was going to be the worst hurricane that ever touched American soil.

Some people decided to heed the order to evacuate, others decided to stay and wait it out. Several days before it hit, everyone was watching the storm and, at one point, they thought it might miss the coast. Unfortunately, its route changed and it was on track.

On Aug. 28 at 5 a.m., the wind and rain started to bombard the coast. People huddled in their homes and heard the eerie sounds of 150 mph winds ripping through their homes.

Roofs, siding and windows were blasted away like paper confetti. A 75-foot tidal wave hit the coast bringing a water surge like nothing ever before experienced. Homes as far as 7 miles inland were getting up to 8 feet of water. The surge destroyed everything in its path. Hotels, condos, luxury beach homes and businesses were leveled by the wind and the water. Many houses had water up to the roof or higher. Lives were lost, and those who survived were changed forever.

Some people got into boats and helped rescue desperate, stranded people. Panic set in, people went into their attics to get away from the water, and many drowned.

When the water receded, the town was in ruins. Appliances, toys, furniture, clothes, pictures, computers, and other personal things were all over the place, torn apart and covered in mud. The water system was contaminated, oil tanks underground spilled over into the ground, street signs were gone, neighborhoods disappeared and just a mound of debris and rubble remained.

People needed supplies. Irene managed to get medical supplies, food and water quickly into the town. Most of the major rescue effort was concentrated in bigger cities like New Orleans. When people returned to their homes three days after the storm, most found a pile of waste.

Irene said most of the help came from regular people in other states. She recalled a van that came from Pennsylvania with a load of food. After they dropped it off, they said they would be back with more. The government was slower to respond, and when FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Assistance) came to help, it was weeks later.

This experience changed my life forever.

On a positive note, the people of D'Iberville have rallied together to rebuild as best as they can. They appreciate anything that anyone does for them. They are resilient and committed to their town. They have inspired me to realize what is important in life: love, family, food and shelter. Material things take a back seat when you lose it all.