It was with great sadness that I read today that Pearlington was once again hit hard by a hurricane, this time Gustav. And now folks are wondering if they should just pack up and leave. The New York Times featured an article on this tiny place. As the article notes:
"Now, Pearlington once again finds itself facing a painful question: Is it worth
it to rebuild?
Flooding from the latest hurricane covered roads and stranded several residents who could not bear the thought of leaving what they had only just renovated. The damage meant more construction bills, more calls to the insurance agent, more tearing out waterlogged walls and more neighbors who just disappear."
Read the whole piece here.
Disasters always affect people, as well as buildings and such. Life is sometimes too hard. Think about the people in Pearlington this week. And hope that the two new hurricanes forming in the Atlantic spare other small places such as Pearlington. And, if you are so moved, you can give time or money to help.
8 comments:
I just am sick seeing these places in stormy paths.You have to be tough and resilient to love and rebuild.
I don't know how people can keep re-building, but they do. I've moved so much in life that I don't feel that commitment to any place but I am in awe of those that do. Will you go back with your church group and work in the same location?
Beth--our church had volunteer villages set up at various locations in the Gulf, including at Pearlington. The "villages" are made of collapsible plastic huts which can be torn down and moved out of harm's way. It is my understanding that all villages were closed, volunteers and workers evacuated. But, yes, they will all be back.
The Pearlington story is so heartbreaking because we had done a lot of work there, and there isn't even a Presbyterian church in town!
If I go back, it would be to survey the damage. Since I now chair the national committee, my role has changed. Our denomination has sponsored 1,000s of workers; however, to be clear, I was not one of the workers originally.
That is so very sad to read. I get regular updates from Haiti, which has been hit so hard by Fay, Gustav, and now Hanna. And then Ike and Josephine are waiting in the wings. Sad.
It is sad indeed when people are displaced. And in this case it's not so much by Nature as it is by humans who have destroyed the barriers that previously protected them from such storms, or lessened the impact.
Donna, I sat on the edge of my seat watching the once again ruin and listened to the stories of those who refused to leave. One family had just completed their beautiful renovation after Katrina hit. Very sad. But the monster storms on not on their side.
I commend you for active, on their side.
Honestly? If I lived in that region and had the means to do it, I'd move on.
It just doesn't seem fair. It seems that all parts of our world are rife with destruction of one sort of another.
I feel rather far removed from the disasters in the US right now...but thanks for the update. I hope the people of Pearlington find some encouragement in the next weeks and months.
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