Stories of Katrina

By Ken Smith

Posted: April 21, 2009

I made it to D'Iberville, Miss., but even before I arrived, I heard my first story of Katrina’s aftermath.

On the flight from Atlanta to D’Iberville, I sat next to this wonderful lady – Mrs. Peggy Jones. When she told me her name, I was reminded of that old television western when I was a kid, “Alias Smith & Jones”.

Here were two strangers sitting on a plane, my last name is Smith and hers is Jones. Well, my last name is Smith and hers is really Jones, but I digress.

Mrs. Jones just celebrated her 79th birthday and was heading to Mississippi to visit her daughter. She used to make her home there until Hurricane Katrina hit.

The battered brick house was still standing when Mrs. Jones and her husband returned, but the storm destroyed everything inside. The Jones’ eventually sold their property and moved to Indiana.

Mr. Jones passed away last December. As Mrs. Jones fondly recalled how much her husband loved this area, I could tell how much she cherished the life they had here prior to Katrina.

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Nukka, there's no reason to be nasty. Katrina may have happened almost 4 years ago, but the rebuilding is still going on. There is a shortage of skilled labor that has made it very difficult to get reconstruction work completed in a timely manner. The sheer volume of destruction isn't something you bounce back from in a year or two. Try a little compassion.

skaternum
April 27, 2009 3:45 p.m.

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I first went to help with the rebuilding in New Orleans the summer after the hurricane. I was in 7th grade. We went again the next summer. I heard so many amazing stories of people who where just trying to rebuild their lives. The city was just filled with so much hope. It was amazing, the whole experience was life changing. I will be praying for you.

enjoytheride2011
April 21, 2009 7:18 p.m.

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Katrina is in the past, get over it.

Nikka
April 21, 2009 4:11 p.m.

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Although a Triangle resident now I grew up in Biloxi, Ms where my Dad still lives. D'Iberville was known as North Biloxi when I was a kid and I know it well. Katrina devastated the whole area more than most folks know. I am proud of how Mississippians have come back from disaster and I must say that all of the churches in the area did a wonderful job in helping that happen. Thank you to all of the volunteers.