Storm Surge
Revisiting Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana, where New Mexico National
Guardsmen were the first to respond after Hurricane Katrina.
In our November 2005 issue ("After
the Storm"),
Sergeant First Class Jim Lee, a Grant County National Guardsman, and
author Victoria Tester related Lee's experiences as part of the first
guard unit outside Louisiana to respond to the devastation of Hurricane
Katrina. Lee, a fifth-generation New Mexican who lives near old Santa
Rita, and his unit were sent to Plaquemines Parish, where the damage
far exceeded the better-publicized destruction in New Orleans.
"The hurricane didn't wipe out downtown New Orleans," Lee
explained. "That needs to be put in perspective because where we
were—Plaquemines Parish—and St. Bernard's Parish and Jefferson Parish—were
all wiped out. We're talking, certainly in Plaquemines, over 50,000 left,
not homeless, like we would say, 'they're homeless and they're going
to go back,' but homeless forever. Their homes are destroyed. Or they
are not on the same property they started, and only frames are there,
a rooftop here or there.
|
A classroom at Belle Chasse Middle School in
Plaquemines Parish
after Hurricane Katrina. |
"People who lived in homes that were built
by their great-grandfather were going back to nothing. Nothing."
The article ended with a plea for help for the
hurricane victims of Plaquemines Parish and information on how to donate.
Among the Desert
Exposure readers who responded was Matt Shaw of Silver City.
But Shaw's donation came with a string of sorts attached: In return,
he wanted the people coordinating aid to the parish to write and update Desert
Exposure readers on the progress (or in some cases, lack
thereof) of rebuilding the region we'd learned about through the eyes
of Sergeant Jim Lee.
Janice Buras, executive assistant to the Plaquemines Parish president,
responded:
"Thank you for the donation to our Project
Rebuild Plaquemines. This 501-C-3 fund has been established to help
us restore buildings in Plaquemines Parish that were destroyed due
to Hurricane Katrina. As you know, every community in our parish (county)
has been washed away, except the town of Belle Chasse, where our office
is located. In other areas of our parish there are no houses or homes
left. There are a few structures that remain standing. The few that
are left standing have the entire sides and insides of the building
missing, leaving only a shell. There are still trucks and cars in tree
tops and coffins from local cemeteries scattered around the area. Over
150 coffins have been retrieved. Many have been placed in their original
burial sites. Others are not identified and may have to be placed in
a large community tomb. We lost everything and our Project Rebuild
Plaquemines will have to be stretched to start any sort of recovery.
"The funds collected will be used to reestablish
libraries, Senior Citizen centers and community centers. We are also
discussing purchasing mobile Laundromats with some of the funds. The
majority of our residents will be living in camper trailers provided
by FEMA until they can rebuild their homes. These small trailers have
no room for washers and dryers. We feel that a community site for a
Laundromat in each community will enable our citizens to return home
sooner by providing them with a much needed necessity.
"Work progresses and we were pleased to announce
[in late December] that electricity, water and sewer services have
been established in the town of Port Sulphur. This will open up a return
of citizens to that township. Those that return will be limited to
many necessities including groceries and gasoline. Some businesses
are working to reestablish, but the clean up and rebuilding will take
time. These areas sat underwater for months.
"Again, thank you for your donation. Every
dollar will be accounted for by a committee of business leaders, local
residents and government officials. Every cent is appreciated."
Shaw also heard from Debra D. Lee, donation coordinator for the Plaquemines
Parish Schools:
"We are completely amazed at the sincere concern and generosity
we have witnessed from across this great nation. The three remaining
schools in our district are jam-packed with over 3,000 of our original
5,200 students. We have managed to create classrooms and maintain employees
to facilitate continued learning. Over half of these families are living
with relatives, in hotels, or FEMA trailers. A few south-end families
have been able to return to their property or move into "FEMA Villas" with
travel trailers. With that said, please understand that conditions
are still a long way from normal for the people and the school system!
"The Plaquemines Parish School Board plans
to reopen three of the six devastated schools for the 2006-2007 school
year. FEMA and the Corps of Engineers are helping us to erect modular
school buildings in the Port Sulphur area and on the east bank of the
Mississippi River in the Phoenix community. Our school buildings in
those communities are heavily damaged but repairable. It just takes
time and money. The money that is being donated will be used to refurbish
and restock classrooms, libraries, cafeterias, computer labs and playgrounds.
We will also need to purchase new band instruments, band uniforms,
athletic equipment and athletic uniforms. We even need to consider
re-landscaping these areas because the salt water from the Gulf killed
all vegetation. You may view a slide show of the destruction of these
schools on our website at www.ppsb.org.
"As you can see our needs are great, but
with help from very kind people like you we will recover."
Donations may be made to Project Rebuild Plaquemines,
attention Janice Buras, 106 Ave. G, Belle Chasse, LA 70037, or to Plaquemines
Parish School Relief c/o James C. Hoyle, Superintendent, 557 F. Edward
Hebert, Belle Chasse, LA 70037.
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March 2006 