Allegan County News - Allegan, Michigan. . . March 9, 2006 Page 1
A group of area volunteers helped dozens of Pass Christian, Mississippi residents
who were affected by hurricane destruction. Above sits Flora Ladrier, an 85 year old woman
in her FEMA trailer as she waits for her home to be rebuilt. (Photo by Nu Yang)
who were affected by hurricane destruction. Above sits Flora Ladrier, an 85 year old woman
in her FEMA trailer as she waits for her home to be rebuilt. (Photo by Nu Yang)
The face of the devastation
By Nu Yang
Staff Writer
Staff Writer
Six months after the destruction of Hurricane Katrina, the residents of Pass Christian, Mississippi are still struggling to pick up the pieces. But for a number of homeowners, picking up the pieces has become a little easier thanks to the countless number of volunteers who have come to the Gulf Coast.
For 85 year old Flora Ladrier, she couldn't even imagine leaving her home in DeLisle, a town about 10 miles from the coastal city of Pass Christian. She was 20 years old when she came to Pass Christian. For Ladrier, this was not only her home, but also her life.
When the water came inland, Ladrier was not inside her home. She had evacuated but a few of her family members had come to ride out the storm in her home. Despite the distance from the ocean, water as high as four feet flowed through the streets and into their living rooms. Ladrier said her family members had to seek shelter in her attic.
After the storm, she returned to a home she did not recognize. With none of her family harmed, Ladrier wanted to start rebuilding right away.
A group of Michigan residents led by State Representative Fulton Sheen started the drywall inside her home in January, and by their second visit during the week of February 19th, the task was complete.
During the same week, another group of church members from Michigan helped several homeowners in their mission to find home again.
Led by Pastor Don Hendrick of Allegan's First Church of God, many of the volunteers participated in various jobs. One of them was the construction of a new roof for Pass Christian resident Mae Craver, a 74 year old woman whose home sat near the beach. In addition to the roof, debris removal and electrical work was also done.
Craver called the volunteers "a bunch of angels God sent our way."
Like Ladrier, Craver has lived most of her life in Pass Christian and she does not want to leave her home.
After her roof was completed, she thanked the group with joyful tears in her eyes.
Craver's daughter, Renee, said it was just the first step for her mother, but it was also a step full of hope.
Back in DeLisle, the home of Clark and Veda Lizana was being restored thanks to Don Morehouse and Jerry Gorton. Morehouse and Gorton also came with the Allegan group.
Throughout the week, Morehouse and Gorton spent their time working on drywall inside the Lizana's home. They also had assistance from members of Sheen's group. Together they put drywall up in eight of the 10 rooms.
Veda said she and her family stayed in thier home during the storm, but once the water burst through their back door, they were forced to evacuate. Veda and Clark and their two sons walked through waist-length water to a two-story church across the street, where they stayed during the remainder of the storm. The water managed to reach as high as their roof, which according to Veda was nine feet.
Currently, Veda and Clark live in a Federal Emergency Management Agency trailer outside their home, but they are very eager to move back in again.
Veda said most of the work that has been done on her home has been through volunteers.
When asked about the the Michigan volunteers, Veda said they were doing a great job and that she and her husband were very pleased with it.
Many volunteers from all over the country have come to the region to offer their services. According to Pass Christian volunteer coordinator, Lou Rizzardi, they have all been appreciated.
"About 90 percent of the work done in Pass Christian are from faith-based volunteers", he said.
As a volunteer coordinator, Rizzardi seeks out volunteers and tries to match them up with the various work orders requested by citizens.
He said the current stage of Pass Christian was clean-up; after that, the city was going to rebuild. Many residents are already rebuilding. Without the volunteers, many homeowners would not be in that stage.
"The relationships between volunteers and residents creates such gratitude and a warm feeling," Rizzardi said.
He called the scenario a win-win situation because the volunteers area able to leave knowing they helped someone and residents have a new roof or a clean yard or electricity thanks to volunteers.
For 85 year old Flora Ladrier, she couldn't even imagine leaving her home in DeLisle, a town about 10 miles from the coastal city of Pass Christian. She was 20 years old when she came to Pass Christian. For Ladrier, this was not only her home, but also her life.
When the water came inland, Ladrier was not inside her home. She had evacuated but a few of her family members had come to ride out the storm in her home. Despite the distance from the ocean, water as high as four feet flowed through the streets and into their living rooms. Ladrier said her family members had to seek shelter in her attic.
After the storm, she returned to a home she did not recognize. With none of her family harmed, Ladrier wanted to start rebuilding right away.
A group of Michigan residents led by State Representative Fulton Sheen started the drywall inside her home in January, and by their second visit during the week of February 19th, the task was complete.
During the same week, another group of church members from Michigan helped several homeowners in their mission to find home again.
Led by Pastor Don Hendrick of Allegan's First Church of God, many of the volunteers participated in various jobs. One of them was the construction of a new roof for Pass Christian resident Mae Craver, a 74 year old woman whose home sat near the beach. In addition to the roof, debris removal and electrical work was also done.
Craver called the volunteers "a bunch of angels God sent our way."
Like Ladrier, Craver has lived most of her life in Pass Christian and she does not want to leave her home.
After her roof was completed, she thanked the group with joyful tears in her eyes.
Craver's daughter, Renee, said it was just the first step for her mother, but it was also a step full of hope.
Back in DeLisle, the home of Clark and Veda Lizana was being restored thanks to Don Morehouse and Jerry Gorton. Morehouse and Gorton also came with the Allegan group.
Throughout the week, Morehouse and Gorton spent their time working on drywall inside the Lizana's home. They also had assistance from members of Sheen's group. Together they put drywall up in eight of the 10 rooms.
Veda said she and her family stayed in thier home during the storm, but once the water burst through their back door, they were forced to evacuate. Veda and Clark and their two sons walked through waist-length water to a two-story church across the street, where they stayed during the remainder of the storm. The water managed to reach as high as their roof, which according to Veda was nine feet.
Currently, Veda and Clark live in a Federal Emergency Management Agency trailer outside their home, but they are very eager to move back in again.
Veda said most of the work that has been done on her home has been through volunteers.
When asked about the the Michigan volunteers, Veda said they were doing a great job and that she and her husband were very pleased with it.
Many volunteers from all over the country have come to the region to offer their services. According to Pass Christian volunteer coordinator, Lou Rizzardi, they have all been appreciated.
"About 90 percent of the work done in Pass Christian are from faith-based volunteers", he said.
As a volunteer coordinator, Rizzardi seeks out volunteers and tries to match them up with the various work orders requested by citizens.
He said the current stage of Pass Christian was clean-up; after that, the city was going to rebuild. Many residents are already rebuilding. Without the volunteers, many homeowners would not be in that stage.
"The relationships between volunteers and residents creates such gratitude and a warm feeling," Rizzardi said.
He called the scenario a win-win situation because the volunteers area able to leave knowing they helped someone and residents have a new roof or a clean yard or electricity thanks to volunteers.
Nu Yang can be reached at nuyang@allegannews.com or at (269) 673-5534.
Allegan First Church of God is located at 1313 Marshall St. in Allegan. You may contact the church at (269) 673-4302 or stop by the church's Ministry Center for information about future Mission Trips. Also, please visit the church's website www.pathtohim.org/Mississippi.htm to read stories by individual team members and view nearly 50 pictures from the trip.
Please click here to request information about future Missions Trips.
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Please click here to request information about future Missions Trips.
Click here to report an error on this page.