Gulfport's Bayou Oaks subdivision (my neighborhood) after Hurricane Katrina
The bulk of my memoir, Nathan: A Heart, A Storm, A Prayer, deals with the figurative storm we faced while seeking a solution to our child’s health crisis. But smack-dab in the middle of our ordeal, a literal storm dropped on our city like an atomic bomb.
I never imagined Hurricane Katrina, the same storm that shook a few trees in Florida, would transform into a monster and eclipse the infamous Hurricane Camille. The degree of destruction caused by Katrina astounded South Mississippians and shattered the local wisdom that wind speed is king. Afterall, the great storm of 1969 was 50 mph stronger!
We learned overnight that size does matter. Neighborhoods previously unscathed by Camille were pummeled by Katrina.
We also learned that people are incredibly generous with their time and resources and labor when tragedy strikes. The outpouring of support from people all over the country (and all over the world) was a sight to behold. Not only did we see governments and major charities step up, but church vans ran up and down our streets for months and beyond, brimming with construction supplies and eager workers.
This August will mark the four year anniversary of Katrina. We’ve come a long way, but many families have still not recovered from their horrendous losses. And there are permanent historical losses that can only be resolved with the creation of new history, new traditions.
Tags: Bayou Oaks, Gulfport Mississippi, Hurricane Camille, Hurricane Katrina
