Ike Isn’t Katrina: More on the hurricane aftermath
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The following report is from Mike McCord:
Ike wasn’t Katrina, Galveston isn’t New Orleans, and the
Bolivar Peninsula isn’t the Mississippi gulf coast. Perhaps Ike wasn’t the same magnitude of
storm; it certainly didn’t leave Galveston flooded for three weeks or longer as
in post Katrina New Orleans. One thing,
however, is exactly the same: losing everything in a hurricane. Whether it is Katrina or Ike, Louisiana or
Texas, there are always plenty of hurting people left in the wake of any
hurricane.
Bolivar Peninsula isn’t the Mississippi gulf coast. Perhaps Ike wasn’t the same magnitude of
storm; it certainly didn’t leave Galveston flooded for three weeks or longer as
in post Katrina New Orleans. One thing,
however, is exactly the same: losing everything in a hurricane. Whether it is Katrina or Ike, Louisiana or
Texas, there are always plenty of hurting people left in the wake of any
hurricane.
I heard recently from our partner Jerry Davis that 75% of Galveston is
uninhabitable. That statistic is
surprising because it doesn’t look like the damage is that bad. Houses are standing and the city seems to
have been very prompt with debris removal. Looks, as the cliché goes, can be deceiving.
uninhabitable. That statistic is
surprising because it doesn’t look like the damage is that bad. Houses are standing and the city seems to
have been very prompt with debris removal. Looks, as the cliché goes, can be deceiving.
What is not seen is the inside of many of the
homes below the Galveston seawall where the water came up at least three feet. Perhaps that doesn’t sound like much water,
but it is enough to soak nearly everything of value below the kitchen
counter. People are returning to find
that just a shell of their home will be usable as everything four feet and
down must be removed to the studs. That’s Galveston.
homes below the Galveston seawall where the water came up at least three feet. Perhaps that doesn’t sound like much water,
but it is enough to soak nearly everything of value below the kitchen
counter. People are returning to find
that just a shell of their home will be usable as everything four feet and
down must be removed to the studs. That’s Galveston.
Conditions on the Bolivar peninsula go
from bad to worse. In the town of Port
Bolivar, the sea gutted some buildings such as the volunteer fire department,
and deposited mud and grass in others. It stinks, literally; the smell of the mud, the mold, and the rubbish
can be very strong.
from bad to worse. In the town of Port
Bolivar, the sea gutted some buildings such as the volunteer fire department,
and deposited mud and grass in others. It stinks, literally; the smell of the mud, the mold, and the rubbish
can be very strong.
Last week, I met a
young couple who was only able to salvage a few things from their home. Due to the mud, most things were a total loss
and the fate of the home itself is in question. Around the corner, I toured the wife’s grandparent’s house. What was an immaculate house before the storm
is now filled with grass and mud, the front door destroyed by a sea carried
piling. A lifetime worth of work and
memories is gone.
young couple who was only able to salvage a few things from their home. Due to the mud, most things were a total loss
and the fate of the home itself is in question. Around the corner, I toured the wife’s grandparent’s house. What was an immaculate house before the storm
is now filled with grass and mud, the front door destroyed by a sea carried
piling. A lifetime worth of work and
memories is gone.
Further up the Bolivar peninsula the destruction
continues. Buildings are destroyed and
cars are flipped over or buried in the sand. In some places nothing is left. The town of Gilchrist has been virtually wiped from the face of the
earth. People are left with the
distressing thought of what would be
better – to have everything completely gone or to have something left but find it
covered in mud and mold.
People are overwhelmed and hurting. They do not know where to begin this process
and will need much emotional, physical, and spiritual support. Please do not equate a lack of media coverage
with a lack of need.
