NEWSLETTER 3-20-06

WAVELAND VISIT

"Do you remember the picture of Hiroshima after the atomic bomb explosion?" These are Mark's words in describing the utter devastation we saw on our visit to Waveland. Hurricane Camille of 1969 had been the "Gold Standard" of destructive hurricanes in the Gulf area---until Katrina. Although not as powerful at landfall as Camille, Katrina was much larger and had an enormous storm surge that lead to widespread destruction far exceeding Camille's. People who experienced Hurricane Camille said to us that Katrina was worse. Houses and great old trees, that had survived Camille, were destroyed by Katrina. Twisted, broken trees, debris in the limbs of those still standing including a sofa 30 feet in the air, stories of dead babies found in the trees by rescue workers immediately after the storm, houses new and old pushed far from their foundations or completely swept away---all this, and yet the people of Waveland persevere. The destruction was nearly total south of the slightly elevated railroad tracks where once beautiful structures (homes and churches) and great old trees are no more except for an occasional "steps to nowhere".*

Mark, Bruce, Karyl and I visited Waveland on March 17 and 18. We met with our on-site liaisons, city and county officials, civic leaders, and just plain citizens. To a man, woman, and child, they displayed a determination to get through this disaster. Many were still in a state of shock and in desperate need of help, but the pervasive theme repeated over and over again was "help us HELP OURSELVES". There is an enormous systemic dilemma in this whole region of geography, weather, personal and public resources, and future planning, that are far beyond individual groups such as ours to address. Much has been done by various government agencies, but far more is still needed. The people we spoke to see themselves as the prime instruments in their survival although their resources are very limited. A sixty year-old man, reportedly with 10% cardiac function, is repairing his own house so that he will not leave a large debt for his family. Community leaders and private citizens are all banding together to help each other either physically, with professional advice, or with equally needed emotional support.

There is so much to do that if you look at the totality of it, you are overwhelmed. Our philosophy at The Giving Circle is to match needs with resources. With our resources, we must move one step at a time. Our group has been working with Stacey Cato, our Waveland on-site coordinator, and Renee Jeffreys, her assistant. We met them and had a tour of Waveland. A noon meeting on the first day included a variety of officials: the Hancock County Supervisor, a representative from the Department of Parks and Leisure, the Waveland City Building Inspector, the Waveland Elementary School Principal, representatives from Public Works, I-Care Morrell Foundation, and the Volunteer Office, and Renee and Stacey. We discussed the projects that are underway, planned, or being evaluated. We acknowledged that these and other plans involve both (limited) strategic, infrastructural concerns as well as "quality of life" issues. We discussed the Write-A-Thon to raise funds to help re-supply schools, sponsorship of local youth sports league activities, Spring Clean-up of a specified segment of Waveland Beach, a Festival and Easter Egg Hunt for the children, storage facilities for material being sent for home rebuilding, and the rebuilding process itself. Also attending was the President of KARING, a Katrina Relief organization from Illinois, to assure the coordination of our efforts.

We experienced a welter of true Southern Hospitality. Although they live in cramped FEMA trailers, Stacey and her Mom, Diane, were wonderful hosts feeding us all too well with gumbo, crawfish, pecan pies, etc., etc., etc. Diane even gave up her FEMA trailer for us.

As sobering as this visit to Waveland was, the cooperation with the people and officials there will prove an enormous asset as we start to fulfill the promises of our projects. More exciting news to come.

We and the people of Waveland are doing what we can to help. Many of their comments were "for the children, for their future". I came across this vintage "Mark Bertrand" quote on the airplane on the way home on Sunday: "A hundred years from now it will not matter what my bank account was, the sort of house I lived in, or the kind of car I drove---but the world may be different because I was important in the life of a child."

Peace,
Ronald M. Maenza, M.D.
President, The Giving Circle, Inc.
ron@thegivingcircle.org

* Sharon has posted some pictures on our web-site that may give a hint at what is to be experienced in Waveland, but they only begin to tell the story. Please visit at http://www.thegivingcircle.org