Special Report: Gulf Relief Update

On August 29, 2005, Hurricane Katrina roared ashore along the U.S. Gulf Coast, flattening the Mississippi shoreline and doing moderate damage in New Orleans, which was expecting the worst.

The worst came to pass two days later, when several levees in New Orleans breached, flooding 80 percent of the city with up to 10 feet of water.

Eighteen months later, much of the Gulf Coast is still devastated. Particularly in New Orleans, rebuilding is painfully slow and less than half the city’s population has returned.

In more well-to-do neighborhoods of New Orleans, damaged houses are able to be restored. In poorer districts, such as the Lower Ninth Ward, the destruction was so total that everything must be rebuilt from the ground up.

View the Lower Ninth Ward photo album

Teams of reporters and photographers from the Presbyterian News Service and Media Services of the PC(USA)’s Office of Communication traveled to the region recently. This is their report on the efforts of Presbyterians and their partners, congregations and communities to rebuild. Please let us know what you think of this special report.

Special thanks to Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, the Presbyterian Health, Education and Welfare Association, Lakeview Presbyterian Church in New Orleans, Handsboro and Westminster Presbyterian churches in Gulfport, MS, and the presbyteries of Mississippi and South Louisiana.

Gutting it out: PDA-led work groups rebuild New Orleans one house at a time
Seeing firsthand the devastation of this city at hands of Hurricane Katrina and the resultant breached levees, says the Rev. Bonnie Orth of Mayfield, NY, “you almost feel like you are in a science fiction movie. It’s so surreal it’s hard to wrap your head around.” [Full story includes video and photo album]

Lost at sea: Shrimpers, farmers, justice advocates team to rebuild New Orleans food system
When the eye of Hurricane Katrina roared through Bayou Sauvage, between the Gulf of Mexico and New Orleans, it wiped out Pete and Clara Gerica’s house and four of their five fishing boats. It took Pete 12 frantic hours of paddling around the bayou to find his mother, her dog, his daughter, and then, finally, Clara. [Full story includes video]

Katrina’s kids: Overcoming children’s trauma is a long-term task in New Orleans
Sarah Craig felt pretty much adrift after she and her family fled Hurricane Katrina and temporarily settled in Clinton, MS. Then Sarah — a high school student and new elder in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) — ran into another kid from New Orleans who was also in exile in Clinton. [Full story with photos]

After the deluge: New Orleans church fights overwhelming odds to rebuild
It’s 9:30 on a warm Sunday morning in January and Lakeview Presbyterian Church is coming to life. In the cavernous sanctuary, old-timers quietly get caught up on the week’s news, congregational leaders check signals on upcoming events and a few kids giggle rambunctiously. [Full story includes video and photo albums]

Interfaith reconstruction: PC(USA) helps Jews, AME bring relief to Katrina Zone
When Rabbi Joshua Hoffman talks about traveling to the Mississippi Gulf Coast to help Hurricane Katrina survivors rebuild their lives he talks about taking responsibility. [Full story with photos]

Faithful healing: Presbyterians from all over reach out to get Mississippi Gulf Coast rolling again
Amid bare wooden beams and the echo of hammer against nail, Sandra Bradford, wearing gray work gloves and a blue T-shirt, resembled a construction worker more than a homemaker as she tugged on electrical wire. [Full story includes video and photo album]

Written by Jerry Van Marter and Evan Silverstein, Presbyterian News Service
Edited by Jerry Van Marter, Presbyterian News Service
Photography and videography by Joe Williams, PC(USA) Media Services
Additional photographs furnished by the Mission Yearbook for Prayer and Study
Video encoding by Mark Crowner, PC(USA) Media Services
Web design and layout by Thommy Browne and Dianna Ott, PC(USA) Internet Services