Hurricane Katrina Affects My Coworker's Family
Posted: Wed Sep 14, 2005 6:01 am
One of my coworkers, a fellow named Richmond, is from Mississippi. He was on PTO when Katrina hit, and I was unsuccessful in reaching him during his time off to get a sense of how his loved ones may or may not have been impacted.
He came into the office today, so I asked him. I found out today just how hard Katrina hit his family.
His father, stepmother, one of his brothers, and a couple of stepaunts lived on the coast of Mississippi. They found safety before the hurricane hit, and it's a good thing they did, because their homes were totally destroyed, as was nearly all of their town.
In fact, his brother was a deputy sheriff for the city of Bay St. Louis -- since "relieved from duty" due to the tragedy. During the aftermath he rescued eight children from an attic in rising water who surely would have been killed were it not for his selflessness and strength.
Although I could not find any news stories about the rescue, I did find this column about the devastation in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi.
My wife and I gave to The American Red Cross a couple of days after the scope of the disaster started to be realized. At the time it was just an empathetic gesture to "those poor people down there who lost everything." They didn't have names and we had no connection to them at all. Well, I can honestly say now that I feel differently -- I'd like to think that our donation has indirectly helped my coworker's family, or at least people close to them. Quoting from the column: "Some of the most pressing immediate needs are gradually being taken care of. Food and potable water are in decent supply -- thanks, he said, more to the private sector and the Red Cross than the federal government."
(I highlight that not to draw attention to shortcomings of our government, but rather, to illustrate that the Red Cross is really making a difference down there.)
Even family members four hundred miles to the north were impacted by 100+ MPH winds. His mom's house was attacked by a tree that left a six foot hole and considerable water damage. She just got power restored in the last 24 hours. At least she has a home, albeit with a big hole in the roof. It really puts things into perspective and sheds light on the massive scope of this disaster that we as a nation will be feeling for years to come.
If you haven't already, please give to the American Red Cross. More than ever they can really use our help. No amount is too small or too big, and think of the warm fuzzy you'll feel knowing that you've done something more than just watch the horrible pictures on TV.
He came into the office today, so I asked him. I found out today just how hard Katrina hit his family.
His father, stepmother, one of his brothers, and a couple of stepaunts lived on the coast of Mississippi. They found safety before the hurricane hit, and it's a good thing they did, because their homes were totally destroyed, as was nearly all of their town.
In fact, his brother was a deputy sheriff for the city of Bay St. Louis -- since "relieved from duty" due to the tragedy. During the aftermath he rescued eight children from an attic in rising water who surely would have been killed were it not for his selflessness and strength.
Although I could not find any news stories about the rescue, I did find this column about the devastation in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi.
My wife and I gave to The American Red Cross a couple of days after the scope of the disaster started to be realized. At the time it was just an empathetic gesture to "those poor people down there who lost everything." They didn't have names and we had no connection to them at all. Well, I can honestly say now that I feel differently -- I'd like to think that our donation has indirectly helped my coworker's family, or at least people close to them. Quoting from the column: "Some of the most pressing immediate needs are gradually being taken care of. Food and potable water are in decent supply -- thanks, he said, more to the private sector and the Red Cross than the federal government."
(I highlight that not to draw attention to shortcomings of our government, but rather, to illustrate that the Red Cross is really making a difference down there.)
Even family members four hundred miles to the north were impacted by 100+ MPH winds. His mom's house was attacked by a tree that left a six foot hole and considerable water damage. She just got power restored in the last 24 hours. At least she has a home, albeit with a big hole in the roof. It really puts things into perspective and sheds light on the massive scope of this disaster that we as a nation will be feeling for years to come.
If you haven't already, please give to the American Red Cross. More than ever they can really use our help. No amount is too small or too big, and think of the warm fuzzy you'll feel knowing that you've done something more than just watch the horrible pictures on TV.
