We're Okay, But They Need Your Help

By the time Hurricane Katrina reached 300 miles inland (read: Starkville, MS), it was still classified as a category 1 storm. Living in a 30-year-old trailer is good for saving money, but not so good in severe weather, so Richard and I "battened down the hatches" at home then went to our friend's apartment. It's not anything great, but it has solid walls, a foundation, and other buildings around it. Campus closed down at noon on Monday and Richard was let go from work around 1. He came home and said "let's pack up to leave." He wanted to go somewhere else. We decided on TR's because it was safe enough and we'd still have stuff to do (instead of being bored all evening). By 2 we were safe and sound in the apartment watching the news and weather channel on satellite TV. The power went out around 3, and Richard and I were expecting to eat Twinkies all night, but nope, TR had a better idea: pork chops, mac'n cheese, and baked beans. So they decided to run up the road to get our camping stove. About 5 minutes after they left, I was standing in the doorway watching the crazy big winds blow the trees around when I heard a loud CRACK! Uh-oh! I closed the door just in time. Crack, Swoosh, Bang...the big pecan tree out front had split and a 1-foot (diameter) limb broke off, slid down the side of the house, and almost blocked the front door (all the attached branches were enough to fill up the 20ft x20ft front yard! Then another CRACK! The big oak tree (2ft diameter) out by the driveway was splitting (it broke just above the base 5 minutes later). I called the guys and told them what was going on and to BE CAREFUL! They made it home safely and we cooked up chops on the charcoal grill, the power came back on, we checked out the weather and news, and ate dinner. By 10 the weather had mostly calmed down, so we decided to check out our house to see if we could go home. It was fine (really, no damage at all!) so we stayed.
Mom-in-law, sister-in-law, and the boyfriend had left for Florida (stay with uncle and gramma) on Sunday, so they were okay. They went back to Gulfport Monday and said mom's apartment (about 20miles north of the beach) was okay. We haven't heard much else from them.
By now I really can't watch too much of the news--it's absolutely heartbreaking. I've lived a lot of places, but now I realize that Gulfport really is home. I know that I won't stay in Mississippi, but I always had the idea that one day I'd bring my kids here and show them all the places I used to hang out. I'd say "kids, this is where your dad and I had our first date" and "This is where we first kissed." You know, things like that. But now, all those places are gone. Completely wiped out. And nevermind that, I know what the coast used to look like. And when I see the pictures...I know what should be there....houses, apartments, roads, hotels, casinos, gas stations...Fun Time (where we always play goofy golf), Pirates Cove (the best roast beef po'boys)...The Hard Rock Cafe (brand new hotel/restaurant/casino--that never had the chance to open)...and hundreds of beautiful century-old antebellum homes surrounded by majestic oak trees. We'd drive down Highway 90 "ooh-ing" and "aahh-ing" at all the plantation-style homes or stop at the casinos to drop $10 in the slots. Now that's all gone.
But worst of all are all the people who are now homeless. So many people have lost their belongings, their homes, their lives. Imagine, wherever you live, that half of your town was completely wiped out. Imagine that a massive blizzard buries half the town--collapsing buildings, destroying roads, then flooding everything when it all melts. Imagine that a string of tornados rips through, throwing cars and houses all helter-skelter, then it rains, drowning out all the damaged buildings. Imagine an earthquake, ripping the earth open, so that half of a city falls into the depths and entire city blocks dissapear. Imagine a volcano erupting, flowing hot lava burns the city down, while slowly descending ash lays a suffocating blanket over everything. There is no electricity, no fresh water (or hot water), no clean clothes. Non-perishable foods and a borrowed roof keep you functioning. How long could you last without a car, a phone, internet, air conditioning, TV, a hot shower, shoes, warm food, a soft bed, clean underwear? It could happen anywhere. Don't ignore these people in need. Do something. One day it could be you. Go to your local Red Cross. Give an old blanket, some clothes, a few dollars, whatever you can. Every little bit counts.