Relief

Relief

From Page A8

residents painting large plywood signs to thank volunteers. Service people from alTover the United States were present, including police and fire personnel from Kansas, Florida and North Carolina, Game Wardens from Virginia and electricians from Oklahoma. Landscapers, plumbers, construction workers, medical workers and regular citizens have and continue to make their way to this devastated area to help in any way they can.

On the downside

Worse than expected was the state of much of the housing and infrastructure in the area. Many homes along the coast were built on pilings 10-14 feet off the ground, and yet the water still reached 8 feet up into the homes. Many built on pilings did not appear to have been actually attached to the pilings, and simply floated off when the water rose, later falling to the ground Many houses appeared to be in good shape from the exterior, but their interiors had been completely ruined by the high water. Most, if they are still structurally sound, still need to be completely gutted and reconstructed. Many homes were simply gone, leaving empty concrete slabs and strewn debris where they once stood.

Camping trailers are slowly being delivered to families for temporary housing, as roads and former home sites are cleared.

Worse than expected also was the fact that there are still many areas and neighborhoods that remain completely closed subsequent to the first, cursory search and rescue efforts occurred after the hurricane. Many major roads are still completely impassable and closed, which makes relief efforts to rural areas extremely difficult at best. Highway 90 remains closed from Bay St. Louis to east of Biloxi, and Interstate 10 remains closed into New Orleans. While progress made every day, there is a long way to go to rebuild these devastated coastal areas. It will take time and the continued assistance of all United States citizens to rebuild this area of our Country.