A team of us from Portland went down to the Gulf Coast last October. Organized by Hands On Portland, this week was one of the formative volunteer experiences I have had lately, and a large part of the inspiration for this adventure. Here are pictures.
This is a Hands On Portland newsletter article that went out about our trip...
15 Volunteers, 5 Days and 2 Hurricane Ravaged Cities:
Hands On Greater Portland Volunteers Help Rebuild Gulf Coast
On August 23, 2005, one of the five deadliest hurricanes in the history of the United States hit the Gulf Coast. The declared federal disaster area covered an area the size of Great Britain. The loss of lives and livelihoods was devastating; without accurate measure.
More than 2 years after the disaster, the region is still rebuilding. If standing in some communities, one might think the hurricane hit yesterday. In other communities, the buzz of tools and the banging of hammers quickly communicates the rebuilding is happening. It is estimated that rebuilding could be a twenty year effort. Two decades of sweat, buzzing, banging, and amazing dedication from people all over the world.
Hands On Greater Portland had been dreaming of sending a group of volunteers to the Gulf Coast since Hurricane Katrina hit the region. The call went out this past Summer and thanks to the giving nature of the Portland volunteer community, we had no trouble forming a group to go down to the Gulf to lend a hand in the rebuilding effort.
On Sunday, October 28th, 15 Portland area volunteers met at Louis Armstrong International Airport in New Orleans, Louisiana. This was the meeting place and launching point of the first Hands On Greater Portland Gulf Coast Rebuilding trip.
For the first 3 days, the group volunteered in Biloxi, Mississippi. In Biloxi, the hurricane hit and within eight hours, the water receded. Though the water was gone quickly, it is estimated that there are still over 17,000 FEMA trailers being utilized in the state of Mississippi.
Upon arrival, the group met volunteers who represented all parts of country. Many volunteers are AmeriCorps Members and it was not uncommon to hear them declare that they are staying “until the work gets done.” The Portlanders were incredibly inspired by the volunteers and the staff at Hands On Gulf Coast. There was also frustration at the large amount of work still to be done in the community.
“I felt that there was more to be done. Whatever task I was doing at that point was just a small piece to a bigger puzzle. How do you go about rebuilding the lives and homes of people…when can you say that your job is fully done? You can fix the house…help the kids on a test…but when will they be fully “rebuilt”?”
“I thought this work was representative of a great deal of work that is left because of the number of houses that have not yet been cleaned up or demolished since the storms. I really enjoyed this project - a lot of hard work, and I felt at the end like we had really helped both the homeowner, and the Hands On team in Biloxi. The work we did saved the two-person mold team several additional days worth of work.”
The Portland volunteer’s dedication was very apparent in the amount of work they accomplished. In three short days in Biloxi, Hands On Greater Portland volunteers:
- Rebuilt/redirected more than 1 mile of hiking trails and picked up trash throughout Cedar Lake Island Park
- Completed 85% of the mold remediation needed at Mr. Lawrence’s House; mold scraped from every interior surface of the house, mold spores vacuumed and every surface primed with special anti-mold paint. Mr. Lawrence can now finish his house and move out of his fourth FEMA trailer.
- More than 12 children were tutored at the local elementary school
- 6 donated bicycles were tuned-up for a brand new physical education program that will get students riding bikes.
For the final 2 days the group was in New Orleans. In New Orleans, the water stood in many communities for weeks. Faced with a different type of disaster than Biloxi, one of massive failure of the protective levees, volunteers rallied around the needs of the local community thanks to the great leadership of the Hands On New Orleans project development staff and another amazing crew of volunteers, this time reaching internationally.
“Volunteering is not just about what one can give. It is also about what one can learn in the process. This reciprocity is one of the greatest experiences.”
In New Orleans, the Hands On Greater Portland volunteers again accomplished a great deal. In short volunteers:
- Prepared dinner for both the entire Hands On Gulf Coast and Hands On New Orleans short and long term volunteer residents
- Sorted and packed more than 11,000 pounds of food at the New Orleans Food Bank
- Weeded and tested soil in public spaces throughout New Orleans
- Tiled, painted and performed general carpentry work at 3 residential homes in both Biloxi and New Orleans
- More than 50 kennels and cages cleaned out, 40+ food bowls cleaned, sample pet food repacked, carpets shampooed and numerous dogs walked at the only no kill animal shelter in New Orleans
- Tutored students and reorganized a charter school library
- Assisted HIV positive residents at the Lazarus Project house by assisting with general maintenance, clean-up and errands
“I felt plenty of emotions on this trip. I was disappointed and perplexed that the Gulf Coast was still at the state they are in. 2 years and things are slowly recovering. I also felt alive…as I was doing/working on something that would make a direct impact on someone’s life.”
There is still work to be done. The rebuilding is just beginning. An estimated two decades of sweat, buzzing, and banging. The call is still there. Will you answer?
Here are some reflections and comments from the volunteers:
“I was very impressed and inspired by the volunteers and relief workers that were still there. We met several volunteers who were on their 2nd or 3rd stint. I noticed that for the most part, the Hands On efforts were also run by fairly young adults. They seem to care and that was their mission.”
“When Hurricane Katrina hit in 2005, I felt that I needed to go to the Gulf Coast and help. But I was afraid and was not sure how except for donating money. 2 years later and an email from Hands On Greater Portland, I decided to follow through on that urge. I also thought that this would be an interesting way to get to know an area I’ve never been to.”
“Please continue doing this! I think that are group has built lifelong friendships and that we are more energized to do work in Portland because of the trip. Though the mission of HOGP is to work in Greater Portland, this trip addressed a critical need in another community and makes us much stronger HOGP volunteers.
“I would have liked more time. I think that a two week trip, with that group, would have been amazing. I don't know if all groups would be as cohesive, but this group was amazing. I was very sad to leave.”
Project Reflections
“Helping to make homes livable was rewarding - It was frustrating because there is still so much left to do –“
“In New Orleans I worked at the Food Bank, helping repack over 11,000 lbs of food to redistribute. Rewarding because we were told how few volunteers are available to them now, and how the food can't go out without volunteer labor.”
“Mrs Severs---Leadership was exceptional!!!! Total refurbishing of her home.. Tiled, Painted, general carpentry. I felt competent in my abilities here and felt I was utilized in the best possible way. Most meaningful in that she was the reason I was here to begin with.”
“Mold remediation: Day 1, 2, 3- Scraped, treated, and painted a house to eradicate mold that had returned to the structure. Completed about 85% of project. Personally, I thought this was a great project, although somewhat tedious. We worked hard but had fun doing it.
“Another establishment where volunteers make up almost the entire staff. We cleaned cages, dishes, dogs, driveways, carpets. We also fed the animals and walked the dogs to give them some exercise. Sometimes the pets of Katrina were forgotten and many of them are still roaming the streets with no where to go. The emotion and dedication the woman who ran the rescue (Robin) showed was amazing. She also voiced frustration with the government but a love for all the volunteers who help everyday. At one point she did get a little choked up when talking about the situation down in New Orleans which points out how real this situation is for those who are still living there and how much help they need even two years later.”
“My first project was working on de-molding a home in Biloxi, MS. The owner of the house was present every day that we worked, and our team leader - Emily - was enthusiastic, direct and positive through the entire 2-1/2 days we were there. I thought this work was representative of a great deal of work that is left because of the number of houses that have not yet been cleaned up or demolished since the storms. I really enjoyed this project - a lot of hard work, and I felt at the end like we had really helped both the homeowner, and the Hands On team in Biloxi. The work we did saved the two-person mold team several additional days worth of work. Seeing Lawrence, the homeowner, so happy was also very nice.”
“My favorite project was visiting the Lazarus Project because it was the most difficult for me and because I will always remember the stories that the residents shared.”
“The schools. Even though the results/accomplishments of this task will not be seen until a latter stage, I felt that this could be one of the most impactful as you help a community member.”
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