Katrina Issue of Inside Northside

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Hurricane Katrina: Special Edition

THE EYE OF THE STORM • TALES OF SURVIVAL • CAMP KEYSTONE • PEOPLE HELPING PEOPLE

HURRICANE KATRINA 2005 VOL. 20, NO. 7

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Hurricane Katrina Special Issue Vol. 20, No. 7 Publisher Lori Murphy Editor Jan LeBlanc Managing Editor Stacey Paretti Rase Senior Art Director Brad Growden Business Manager Jane Quillin Senior Account Executives Candice Chopin Courtney Hidalgo Advertising Account Executives Poki Hampton Barbara Roscoe Advertising Coordinator Angela Naden

Contributors Tim Burns Dana LaFonta Christine Carlton Jamey Landry Stephen Faure Dorothy Maloney Sandy Franco Abby Miller Karen B. Gibbs Kelly Rasmus Sophie Giberga Becky Schoen Taylor Harvey Elaine Simmons Sandra S. Juneau Darlene Tallo Webb Williams For Advertising Information phone: (985) 626-9684 fax: (985) 674-7721 email: sales@insidenorthside.com For Subscription Information 1 Year $12 2 Years $20 phone: (985) 626-9684 fax: (985) 674-7721 email: subscriptions@insidenorthside.com Correspondence PO Box 9148 Mandeville, LA 70470-9148 email: editor@insidenorthside.com Tangipahoa Office 1000 CM Fagan, Suite F Hammond, LA 70403 (985) 789-1036 Calendar submissions and Inside Peek photographs should be e-mailed to editor@ insidenorthside.com On the Cover Artist George Rodrigue

INSIDE NORTHSIDE MAGAZINE is published bi-monthly (February, April, June, August, October, December) by M and L Publishing, LLC, PO Box 9148, Mandeville, LA 70470-9148 as a means of communication and information for St. Tam­ many and Tangipahoa Parishes, Louisiana. Bulk Postage paid at Mandeville, LA. Copy­right ©2005 by M and L Publishing, LLC. No part of this magazine may be reproduced without written consent of publisher.

Publisher is not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts and artwork.

page 21

Features

table of

contents

18 Keeping Our Heads Above Water Cover artist George Rodrigue.

page 54

Departments

24 The Spirit of America Food for the body and spirit.

26 The Eye of the Storm Katrina hits the northshore.

page 23

13 From the Staff 14 Contributors

49 Lights in the Darkness Northshore hospitals rode out the storm.

54 Rebuilding, Replanting The good news about trees.

58 Tales of Survival

Everyone has a story.

17 Inside Input

Letters to the editor.

68 Population: 608 + 19 Northshore residents find community in Lovelady.

20 Inside Scoop The definitive guide to happenings on the northshore.

71 People Helping People Community helpers.

21 Katrina Cup Benefit for hurricane relief.

78 Camp Keystone Hammond’s tent city.

23 Worthy Causes Hope Floats project from artist Tami Ellis.

84 Katrina’s Economic Impact The effect on local businesses.

90 Tech Talk

High Text Communication.

92 Coping to Learn

Education rises to the challenge.

98 Keepers

Must-go must-haves.

102 Inside Peek 106 Bonne Bouchee

Comfort food.

108 Northshore Living Post-Katrina real estate.

Profiles

100

Franco’s Athletic Club

105 Your Northshore Connection

14 One on One 1 St. Tammany Parish President Kevin Davis.

For this special issue, some of our regular departments have been omitted so that we could tell more of the Katrina story. For your convenience, the Dining Guide can be found online at www.insidenorthside.com.

8

Inside Northside

page 106

The NORTH Institute Combining Orthopaedic and Neurologic Expertise The specialists at the NORTH Institute can treat the entire musculoskeletal system, including the muscles, bones, joints, ligaments, nerves and spine. With a board-certified orthopaedic surgeon, neurosurgeon and physical medicine and rehabilitation specialists on staff, the Institute is able to provide a comprehensive, multidisciplinary approach to total musculoskeletal health. A coordinated state-of-the-art facility, we offer the latest in diagnostic services, surgical and non-surgical treatments and physical therapy and rehabilitation. In all cases, our goal is to restore maximum health and function as quickly as possible ‌ with the least risk.

We give back life.

The NORTH Institute offers the most technically-advanced approach to spine care.

Richard P. Texada, Jr., MD, Orthopaedic Surgeon, Susan Bryant-Snure, MD, Physical Medicine Specialist, John B. Logan, MD, Orthopaedic Spine Surgeon, Arris Brunet, F.N.P., Donald D. Dietze, Jr., MD, Neurosurgeon, and Lenzy Fisher, F.N.P.

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(985) 871-4114 Visit our website for more information www.northinstitute.com

Team Effort The circumstances of our post-Katrina work environment were not unlike most other businesses on the northshore. We were fortunate to not suffer major damage to our building, but with no electricity, phone service or Internet access, it wasn’t sensible for our staff to return immediately following the storm. When services resumed in midSeptember, we began to come back from the cities to which we had evacuated: Destin, Houston, Jackson, Miami, Hot Springs. We were thankful to be back at work again, especially considering that so many of our friends and relatives found no job waiting for them when they came home. So we set out to do what we know best— produce a magazine for our readers.

This was not an easy task. Our office phones were working, but most others were not.

Electricity was erratic and unreliable. We sent e-mails out to our clients, writers and photographers, but continued to find our inboxes dreadfully empty, day after day. We soon came to realize that some of them had lost everything.

Of course, we all had our own issues to deal with at home. There were the trees to take down from our roofs, the endless debris to rake from our yards and our out-of-school kids to entertain—a few joined our staff for a few weeks! In the end, it was sheer determination that saw this issue make it to our printer, combined with the support of so many in the community who sought us out and offered their assistance. To our contributors who made Inside Northside a priority in such troubled times, and to our advertisers who made this keepsake issue possible—we send our thanks.

In the pages of this special issue, we bring to you the northshore narratives of the incredible disaster that was Hurricane Katrina, as well as the photos of our tattered landscape that has

Inside Northside staff

been forever altered. In gathering these stories, we came to better understand the full impact

(back row): Jane Quillin,

that the storm had on our beloved northshore, as well as the strength of our community’s spirit to overcome the challenge that lies ahead.

Brad Growden, Poki Hampton, Barbara Roscoe,AngieNadenand Stacey Paretti Rase. (front

Lori Murphy and the Inside Northside Staff

row): Courtney Hidalgo, Jan LeBlanc, Publisher Lori Murphy and Candice

p.s. Remember … when you get lemons, make lemon-aid!

Chopin.

H u r r i c a n e K a t r i n a 2 005

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Sophie Giberga Thirteen-year-old Sophie Giberga watched through her home’s window as Hurricane Katrina devastated her neighborhood.

Following the storm, her family relocated to Lovelady, Texas, where they were welcomed with open arms. She relives her experience in this issue. Sophie is a 7th grader at Christ Episcopal School in Covington and enjoys reading, tennis, volleyball and listening to music.

Our thoughts and prayers continue for all hurricane victims and a special thank you to all who have patronized our business during this difficult period.

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He is the author of two books, “Break the Curve-The Entrepreneur’s Blueprint for Small Business Success” and “entrepreneurship.com.” His third book, “Mid Life Tune Up,” is scheduled to be published in 2006.

14

Inside Northside

Healthy - Beautiful - Comfortable - LongLasting

In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, we are open and looking forward to a strong future in St. Tammany Parish. We welcome new friends and neighbors to our community and to our five-star, full-service general dentistry practice, where we continue our tradition of creating picture-perfect smiles.

JAMES A. MOREAU JR., D.D.S.

(985) 809-7645 (SMILE)

Dr. Moreau has provided cosmetic dentistry for TV makeovers on “Changing Faces”, WWL-TV, Channel 4, New Orleans.

OFFICIAL DENTIST

GENERAL DENTISTRY

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reader lett Dear Lori, I am a recent transplant to the northshore with my family. As we work to recover from Katrina’s devastation, I wanted to thank all of the people we have met, from here to Houston, who have helped us maintain some certainty in this very changed world.

My son and I were at a fishing camp in Myrtle Grove when we got the news of the approaching storm and the mandatory evacuation. The next thing I knew I was in Clinton, La. watching Baton Rouge’s Channel 2 televise Southern Yacht Club burning. The TV, powered by a generator, was a window into the surreal.

From Clinton to Pineville to Houston, and now Covington, our evacuation has been exhausting and rewarding. We have met wonderful people and spent time with family. The damage to our home will be repaired—though the weeks away are adding up quickly.

Thank you, northshore, for the help we’ve received; you can be proud—you have done well. Keep those still looking for home in your hearts and prayers.

Arthur Joseph Kenner Arthur, we really appreciate your letter— not only your kind words, but also the fact that you took time to write when you have so many other concerns. We are glad that the northshore can be your “home away from home” until you and your family can return to Kenner. We will continue to hold you and all of those who are still displaced in our hearts.

- Lori H u r r i c a n e K a t r i n a 2 005

17

powerful image of the famous pooch was created to raise money for Hurricane Katrina victims through donations to the Southeast Louisiana Chapter of the Red Cross. Prints of the painting are being sold for $500, and Rodrigue will sign all prints purchased in the calendar year following the storm.

The effort is not the first of its kind for the artist.

Following the 9/11 terror attacks, Rodrigue created a special print that raised over a half million dollars in internet orders in two weeks. Proceeds from the Katrina relief effort are poised to surmount even that number. Rodrigue’s collectors and fans showed interest in purchasing a similar piece of artwork immediately after the storm passed through; more than 700 prints were sold within the first three days of the poster’s release.

“Just after the storm passed through New Orleans, people started e-mailing me, wondering if I was going to paint something,” says Rodrigue.

“The hardest thing was that it hit so close to home.

Keeping Our Heads Above Water

Artist George Rodrigue

by Stacey Paretti Rase

Artist George Rodrigue with Chef Paul Prudhomme, who set up a kitchen in a large warehouse on the riverfront to feed relief workers.

18

IN OCTOBER 2002, cover artist George Rodrigue spent seven hours anxiously riding out a hurricane in his Louisiana home. Filled with fear, he witnessed firsthand the awesome power of hurricane force winds that brought a 100-year-old oak tree to the ground in his front yard. The storm was the catalyst for his “Hurricane Series,” which features paintings in vibrant, swirling colors of yellow, orange, blue and red that bear titles such as “Betsy,” “Camille,” and “Inez.” Noticeably absent from that series was the pop-culture icon for which Rodrigue has become so famous: the Blue Dog. But, never fear. The winds of Hurricane Katrina have brought him back.

The Blue Dog, created by the artist in 1984 as an impression of a mythical Cajun werewolf known as the “Loup-Garou,” sits front and center in Rodrigue’s latest painting, “We Will Rise Again.” The

Inside Northside

I didn’t know where to start. My immediate thought was for the safety of the people I know, followed by the shock of seeing helicopters and boats alongside familiar street signs as rescuers assisted people from rooftops and attics. I sat at my easel weighted by personal sorrow and my desire to help.”

After a week and a half of watching the harrowing

news accounts of the devastation in his beloved city, he found inspiration.

“I decided to use Blue Dog, because he truly represents New Orleans. Blue Dog was born on Royal Street,” he says, referring to the French Quarter street that is also home to Rodrigue’s New Orleans gallery and studio. “‘We Will Rise Again’ shows the American flag covered with water. The Blue Dog is partly submerged, and its eyes, normally yellow, are red with a broken heart. Like a ship’s SOS, the red cross on the dog’s chest calls out for help,” Rodrigue explains. He felt it was important to not convey a gloomy image, pointing out that Blue Dog’s head rises above the water line and that the blue color chosen from the palette is a clear blue. “That’s where we want to be—in the clear,” he says.

Rodrigue’s other main concern has been to keep his employees in the clear following the storm. In late September, he transferred his entire New Orleans gallery collection to a warehouse in Lafayette. All ten of his New Orleans employees have relocated there as well, some living with the artist’s mother in nearby New Iberia. Lafayette will serve as the base for Rodrigue’s operations for the time being, as many of the employees lost their homes and every possession in the disaster.

“We all intend to go back, even though we don’t know when,” he says.

“All these other problems, we can’t handle because they are beyond our control and will be for a long time. Tears and rising water have threatened to drown us. But don’t be deceived,” he stresses. “The land may be under water, but the spirit of New Orleans and the culture of Louisiana hold their heads high.”

To purchase a signed print of “We Will Rise Again,” go to www.georgerodrigue.com.

H u r r i c a n e K a t r i n a 2 005

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fall’s Legg Mason Funds-Robert Mondavi Tennis Tournament at Beau Chêne Country Club

November

Get your racket restrung and ready for this

November 3-6. The format consists of mixed

3 thru 6

doubles, levels 5.0 to 9.0, based on NTRP ratings. Proceeds benefit Boys Hope/Girls Hope and the Walter Links Foundation, which works to inspire and enable disadvantaged northshore youth to

scoop

reach their full potential. $75 per person; call 845-3504 to register.

inside

The definitive guide to northshore events and entertainment.

Calling all ghouls and goblins! You won’t want to miss the 17th Annual Monster Mash Fun Fall Family Festival on Saturday, October 29. Held at Bogue Falaya Park in Covington from 10am to 4pm, the event will feature

Stroll the streets of downtown Covington and enjoy the Three Rivers

inflatables, crafts and games, a petting zoo, and even trick-

Art Festival, a juried show of original works by 150 artisans and fine

or-treating! Live entertainment on two stages will showcase

craftsmen from over 22 states. The free festival offers music, food

The Blue Meanies, Live Bait and the St. Paul’s Band. Proceeds

and children’s entertainment. November 12-13, 10am-5pm. For more information, call 871-4141, or visit www.threeriversartfestival.com.

10 November

support The Parenting Center of St. Tammany Parish Hospital.

12

For more information, call 898-4435.

November

Enjoy a sumptuous visual feast of rich, refined colors

and exquisite designs at L’objet, a trunk show hosted

by Arabella Fine Gifts & Home Décor in Mandeville on November 10, 5-8pm. The show incorporates

Are you eager for more fall football? Then head

over to Strawberry Stadium in Hammond to catch the SLU Lions in action against Nicholls

unexpected elements and textures in luxurious tableware and elegant home

State on November 12. Kickoff at 6pm. For ticket

décor, and includes a cocktail reception. For more information, call 727-9787.

information, call 1-866-LIONTIX.

20

Inside Northside

The Katrina Cup While the Harvest Cup Polo Classic has been postponed until next year, the idea of gathering together for a beautiful afternoon while contributing to our community has taken on a new life. In its place, and with the help of the polo community, the Junior League of Greater Covington, Parish National Bank and Inside Northside will host The Katrina Cup. On Sunday, October 30 from noon to 5 p.m., we will gather at the Folsom Equestrian Center, 16191 Hwy. 40, Folsom in celebration of our safety and in hope of helping the many in our community devastated by Katrina.

Please join in this afternoon of polo watching and fun. Meet the many renowned area artists who have donated pieces to a silent auction for the cause. Music and drinks will be provided, and food will be available for purchase, but feel free to bring your picnic basket!

The suggested contribution for advance tickets is $40 per person—$50 at gate. Checks can be made payable to any of the following local causes: American Red Cross, Habitat for Humanity-St. Tammany, Northshore Pelican Foundation, Junior League of Greater Covington or St. Tammany Hospital Foundation.

Tickets are available at all Parish National

Memorable Music

by Jessica Meltz, Harpist

Weddings • Receptions • Dinner Parties Holiday Parties • Social Functions

Bank branches; in Baton Rouge at Paretti Jaguar and Land Rover; in Covington at Honda of Covington; in Mandeville at 1…2…Buckle My Shoe, Boudreaux’s Jewelers, Lowe’s Jewelers and Primary Colors; and in Slidell at Primary Colors.

For information, call 985-626-9684.

985-285-7497

email: jmeltz1@lsu.edu H u r r i c a n e K a t r i n a 2 005

21

You, and people like you, are remarkable.

Thank you.

Everyday, in your own way you are committed to building a better future for yourself and for your family.

churches and humane societies are all pulling together for one reason. Because they care.

Our region has been hit with some tough times, and we are

At Parish National Bank, we thank you from the bottom of

amazed at your strength and everything you are doing to rebuild

our hearts for your continued outstanding efforts. You have our

our community. Thank you to our outstanding Parish National

sincere and profound respect.

Bank employees who, even in the midst of personal tragedies, went above and beyond to restore our bank to normal operations.

Whether you know it or not, you’re making a real

All Parish National Bank offices are open during regular business hours.

Loan payments for Parish National Bank customers have

difference. At Parish National Bank we are lucky to be

been deferred for 60 days. Normal payment schedule will

surrounded by so many local people and countless volunteers

resume in November.

from other areas devoted to helping others.

The United States military, rescue workers, relief agencies,

Visit www.parishnational.com or call (800) 240-3271 or (985) 898-5400 for more information.

Tickets available at all PNB B ogalusa • C ovington • F ranklinton • H ammond • K enner • M andeville • M etairie • P onchatoula • S lidell • N ew O rleans

worthy causes

by Stacey Paretti Rase

Hope Floats

…We are Unsinkable

FOLLOWING HURRICANE KATRINA, Covington artist Tami Curtis-Ellis created this painting to show the hope and determination of the New Orleans area.

It depicts rescue scenes that blend into cultural life scenes of the region. Ellis says that while she was visualizing the image, the words “Hope floats” and “We are unsinkable” came to her mind—she then chose Jeremiah 29:11 about God’s plans for our hope and our future for the border.

Ellis is offering 18” x 24” quality posters of the painting in exchange for donations to benefit Habitat for Humanity and the Craft Emergency Relief Fund, an organization that helps artists stricken by serious illness or disaster.

“So many artist friends of mine from the Gulf

Coast have been displaced, some losing everything.

We cannot afford to lose the visual interpretation that they bring to the life of the coast,” says Ellis, adding that she wants to find ways to bring these artists home.

Sponsors for this project include Life Church in Mandeville, Pastor Paul Smith; photographer Tim Dunford; and Steve Ralston, owner of “Hail Yes,” a Dallas roofing company, and the Margarita Shack.

The requested donation of $150 for an unsigned poster, or $300 if signed and numbered, is completely tax deductible, with 75 percent of all contributions going to Habitat and 25 percent to CREF. Orders may be sent to tamicurtisellis@hotmail. com. For more information, call 985-789-2214.

H u r r i c a n e K a t r i n a 2 005

23

Spirit

The

by Kelly Rasmus

of America

Above: A modified trailer is the kitchen used to prepare 45,000 meals each day.

Right: Ken Wolfe of Pensylvania and scores of volunteers responded to the request for help from the American Red Cross.

24

ON AUGUST 31, the Spirit of America kitchen arrived on the northshore. Its mission: to feed as many of Katrina’s victims and government and relief workers as possible.

“As many as possible” became up to 45,000 hot meals a day distributed from the kitchen, which was located on Koop Drive in Mandeville. The workers packed meals inside insulated cambros containers, sending enough food out on each Emergency

Inside Northside

Response Vehicle to feed 600 to 1,000 people at a shelter.

The trailer which houses the kitchen is a converted 18-wheeler that was donated to the Spirit of America after the 9/11 tragedy in New York. The organization works in disaster relief efforts around the world. More than 100 Spirit of America volunteers came to Mandeville to work with the Red Cross in the massive feeding effort—some from other countries.

The Northshore’s Jeweler

At this time in our lives we could use a little harmony

Top: Hot food is

We are open and ready to serve you.

delivered to the heart of the affected area.

Above: Donated supplies fill a staging area outside the

Jewelry Evaluation & Restoration­

kitchen on Koop Dr. Right: Custom heating units make it possible to prepare a large quantity of food in a confined space.

5150 Hwy. 22 West • Mandeville (985) 845-Gold (4653)

lowesjewelers.com

Eyestorm

The

by Stephen Faure

of the

Katrina hits the northshore

The beginning What became the greatest natural disaster in United States history began as a rather innocent gathering of clouds over the Bahamas and the eastern coast of Florida. Thunderstorms converged and began to circulate in and around a broad area of low pressure over the warm Atlantic waters, forming the 12th tropical depression of the year on Tuesday, August 23, 2005.

Tropical Storm Katrina was born the next morning, as Wednesday saw the depression quickly strengthening and its sustained winds reaching speeds greater than 38 miles an hour. Forecasters that morning predicted the system would move over the Bahamas, cut across southern Florida and re-enter the Gulf of Mexico by the weekend.

A busy season In one of the busiest Atlantic hurricane seasons ever, Katrina’s development at the tail end of August should not have been a surprise. Seven named storms formed between the beginning of the season on June 26

Inside Northside

1 and the end of July. July 2005 was a record month, with five named storms developing, the most in that month since records have been kept.

In May the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Climate Prediction Center had predicted a 70 percent likelihood of an above-normal season for 2005: 12-15 tropical storms, with 7-9 of those becoming hurricanes, including 3-5 major hurricanes. A major hurricane is defined as one with wind speeds of at least 111 miles per hour.

Following July’s record-setting activity, on August 2 NOAA released an update to its 2005 Atlantic hurricane outlook, calling for a 100 percent chance of an above-normal season, expecting a seasonal total of 18-21 tropical storms, with 9-11 becoming hurricanes, and 5-7 of these becoming major hurricanes.

According to NOAA, an average Atlantic hurricane season, which runs from June 1 through November 30, produces 10 named storms, in which six become hurricanes, including two major hurricanes.

The most active Atlantic hurricane season was in 1933, with 21 storms, followed by 1995, with 19 storms. The most hurricanes occurring in a season was 12 in 1969, and the highest number of major hurricanes was eight in 1950.

Katrina hits Florida As predicted, Katrina strengthened into a Category 1 hurricane and made landfall in the heavily populated Fort Lauderdale/Miami area of South Florida. Arriving Thursday evening with maximum sustained winds of 80 mph, the storm moved inland causing more damage than anyone preparing for a “minimal hurricane” could imagine. weekend of high school football in Miami-Dade County was postponed by a storm.

Hundreds of thousands of people remained without electricity for days after the storm, and the final death toll reached seven.

Katrina moved slowly over Florida, averaging

photos © 2005 Thomas B. Growden

• Four people died in Broward County: three killed by falling trees and the fourth when his car struck a tree.

• 1.37 million customers had lost power by 11 p.m.

• An overpass under construction in Miami-Dade County collapsed.

• For the second year in a row, the opening

H u r r i c a n e K a t r i n a 2 005

27

about six miles per hour and dumping 12-15 inches of rain in its path.

National Hurricane Center Director Max Mayfield stated: “We’re becoming very concerned that, as it moves in the Gulf, even [after weakening] over the peninsula, it will have a very good chance to re-strengthen into a hurricane over the Gulf of Mexico.”

Spinning up in the Gulf At 8 p.m. (Eastern Time) on Friday, Katrina was a Category 2 hurricane with sustained winds near 100 mph. In a news conference that day, Mayfield had said “I just don’t see any reason why this will not become a very, very powerful hurricane before it’s all over.”

How did he know that?

Hurricanes are the strongest category of tropical cyclonic systems, the scientific term for storms which form 28

Inside Northside

in and are fueled by warm waters (81 degrees or warmer) and circulate around a center of low atmospheric pressure.

Warm water spawns thunderstorms; if other conditions are perfect, the thunderstorms begin circulating around each other due to the earth’s rotation. If conditions remain perfect for a long enough time, the system becomes selfsustaining and grows and strengthens as long as it remains over warm water.

Once circulation begins, the system is known as a tropical depression. When the system’s sustained winds reach 38 mph or more, it becomes a tropical storm and is given a name. When sustained winds reach 74 mph or more, the tropical storm is classified as a hurricane.

Mayfield’s prediction was a good bet, because when Katrina entered the Gulf of Mexico early on August 26, it came into a very warm and very calm environment. It was not so much a matter of whether

it would get stronger, but where it would go. Initial forecasts predicted Katrina would head to the north and east into the Florida Panhandle after it entered the Gulf.

Because of the erratic nature of hurricane movement, however, long-range forecasts often change.

St. Tammany takes note The beginning of what would become a longterm and comprehensive response to the hurricane by the St. Tammany Parish Government was issued on Friday, August 26, as Katrina appeared to be heading towards Louisiana. Parish President Kevin Davis took note of Katrina’s predicted strengthening and its unpredictable course.

“Because the path of Hurricane Katrina is unclear, we are making storm preparations,” said Davis. “The parish is prepared to fully activate emergency operations over the weekend, if necessary.” “Residents are urged to monitor the course of Hurricane Katrina very closely...”

That evening, in anticipation of a possible landfall, Governors Kathleen Blanco of Louisiana and Haley Barbour of Mississippi declared states of emergency.

On Saturday the 27th at 5 a.m., Katrina was upgraded to a Category 3, or major hurricane, as its sustained winds surpassed 111 mph.

St. Tammany’s Emergency Operations Center had been on full activation as of 7 a.m., and, although

no shelters had been opened, five sandbag stations were in operation throughout the parish.

Anticipating the possible extreme consequences,

Davis issued the following statement: “The path of Hurricane Katrina is uncertain, and as of this afternoon, the probabilities of a strike in our area are increasing. Therefore, I urge citizens to make storm preparations today. I also ask that you check with your neighbors, especially senior citizens, to see if they need help preparing for the storm. This is a time to pull together as a community.”

Evacuation routes President George W. Bush declared a state of emergency in Louisiana, and during the day, residents of Louisiana’s low-lying areas were told to evacuate.

Residents in other areas were urgently advised to do so.

Over a million people in the New Orleans metropolitan area south of St. Tammany were being advised to evacuate. Lessons learned in past attempts

to evacuate so many people were being put into place.

As all routes out of Orleans and Jefferson parishes lead north, an evacuation of the southshore could not take place without consequences for the northshore.

A major part of the southshore evacuation plan involved converting all the lanes of area interstate highways to one-way travel—the contra-flow plan.

Contra-flow was put into effect at 4 p.m. on Saturday.

Both lanes of traffic from New Orleans East on I-10 were routed north on I-59, likewise both sides of I-10 west out of the Metairie/Kenner were routed west, and split to I-55 north to Hammond and I-10 west to Baton Rouge. Traffic on the Causeway going H u r r i c a n e K a t r i n a 2 005

29

photo © 2005 Sandy Franco

Over the fire

north out of New Orleans was routed on I-12 to Hammond, and then to I-55 north. Traffic on I-12 west (from Lacombe/Slidell) was diverted to U.S. 190 at Covington, routed through town, and then west on 190 to I-55 at Hammond.

30

Inside Northside

Katrina continued on a northward course Saturday afternoon and evening, bringing it over the warmest, deepest mass of water in the Gulf known as the Loop Current. The effect was as if the fire under a pot of boiling water was on full blast. As shown on a NASA website detailing the Loop Current and its interaction with Katrina, as the storm passed over the Loop Current and a large warm core ocean ring, it evolved quickly. NASA stated: “The warm waters of the Loop Current appear to have rapidly fueled the storm as it targeted the coastlines of Louisiana and Mississippi, while the warm waters of the ring seemed to have helped to sustain the hurricane intensity.” (See http://www.nasa.gov/vision/earth/lookingatearth/ katrina_seaheight.html.)

In response to the quickly worsening storm, President Davis issued the following statement: “I am ordering an evacuation of all areas below I-12 by noon Sunday. Please be out of your homes by noon.

Please leave the area. This evacuation also includes all low-lying river areas in St. Tammany Parish,

including the Old Landing, Three Rivers and Tchefuncte River areas.”

Davis also announced that for persons who could not leave the area, the Red Cross would open shelters of last resort at noon on Sunday at William Pitcher Jr. High in Covington and Creekside Elementary in Pearl River.

On Saturday at 11 p.m., the National Hurricane Center issued a hurricane warning for the coast from Morgan City, Louisiana, to the Alabama-Florida border.

The warning meant that hurricane conditions were expected in the warning area within the next 24 hours.

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Category 5 Katrina strengthened rapidly as it entered the warm waters of the Loop Current. At 2 a.m. Sunday, Katrina escalated to Category 4 strength, with winds exceeding 131 mph. By 7 a.m., the hurricane intensified to Category 5, the worst and highest category on the Saffir-Simpson scale. Category 5 means that sustained winds exceed 155 mph. A storm surge of 18 feet above normal tide level could be expected in a Category 5 hurricane.

Hurricanes of Category 5 strength are rare, and for a Category 5 to make landfall is extraordinary. The National Hurricane Center reports that only three Category Five hurricanes have made landfall in the United States since records began: the Labor Day Hurricane of 1935, Hurricane Camille in 1969 and Hurricane Andrew in August 1992.

The 1935 Labor Day Hurricane struck the Florida Keys with a minimum pressure of 892 mb—the lowest pressure ever observed in the United States. Camille struck the Mississippi Gulf Coast, causing a 25-foot storm surge that inundated Pass Christian. Andrew made landfall over southern Miami-Dade County, Florida

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causing 26.5 billion dollars in losses—the costliest hurricane on record.

Katrina’s winds reached their peak intensity of 175 mph, and the pressure fell to 902 mb—the fourth lowest pressure on record. “[Katrina] is a very, very dangerous hurricane,” said National Hurricane Center director Max Mayfield.

Sunday On Sunday, President Bush declared a state of emergency in Mississippi and ordered federal

assistance. The National Hurricane Center said low-lying areas along the Gulf Coast could expect storm surges of up to 25 feet as the storm, with top sustained winds of 160 mph, hit early the next day.

The news that Katrina had hit Category 5 caused the most urgent message yet issued by St. Tammany Parish: “This is Parish President Kevin Davis. Evacuate all areas of St. Tammany Parish south of Interstate 12, and low-lying river areas, by noon today. Hurricane Katrina has winds in excess of 160 miles per hour.

According to the National Weather Service, the eye of Hurricane Katrina will pass over St. Tammany.

Tropical storm force winds growing to hurricane force winds will begin tonight. Hurricane force winds will reach us early tomorrow morning, possibly exceeding 130 miles per hour, and stay with us for six or more hours. Over eight inches of rain and a 15-foot storm surge are possible. Evacuate now.”

The shelters of last resort in Covington and Pearl River filled up quickly. At 3:30 p.m., the parish said that additional shelters would be opened at Abita Middle School, Riverside Elementary in Pearl River, Pineview Middle School in Covington, Fifth Ward Junior High in Bush and Sixth Ward Elementary School in Pearl River.

It was also announced on Sunday that parish schools would be closed on Monday and Tuesday.

On the southshore, New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin declared the mandatory evacuation of Orleans H u r r i c a n e K a t r i n a 2 005

33

the storm made landfall in Plaquemines Parish just south of Buras, after weakening slightly to a Category 4 storm with 140 mph winds. Katrina continued northward, making a second landfall near the Louisiana-Mississippi border at 10 a.m. as a Category 3 hurricane with maximum winds of about 125 mph.

Although weakening as it moved inland, it still had hurricane force winds 100 miles inland.

Above: Power companies from across the country sent workers and equipment to help restore power to the northshore.

Right:

Catastrophe

Olde Towne Slidell.

Parish. “Ladies and gentlemen, this is not a test.

This is the real deal.” He urged people to remain calm, “board up your homes, make sure you have medicine, make sure your car has enough gas in it,” and prepare to leave.

Landfall Late Sunday, Katrina turned to the northwest and then north. At 6:10 a.m. on Monday, August 29, 34

Inside Northside

As it journeyed north, winds on the east side of the eye pushed huge amounts of water into Lake Pontchartrain, causing massive flooding all along the northshore. From the Rigolets to Lacombe to Mandeville, Madisonville and Manchac, every community on the northshore experienced devastating flood and wind damage.

Katrina’s western eyewall passed directly over Slidell, with winds gusting over 150 mph for long periods of time. Lakeshore Estates, Oak Harbor, Eden Isles and the homes, camps, marinas, lounges and restaurants along Highway 11, Lakeview Drive and Carr Drive were, for the most part, ruined by the storm surge. Before the water drained from the city, the shoreline of Lake Pontchartrain was not found at

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Lakeview Drive but more than a mile away at Old Spanish Trail. The twin spans of I-10 between Slidell and New Orleans East were virtually destroyed, and much of I-10 in New Orleans East was under water.

Similar scenes could be found all along the lake, where wind-pushed waters flooded Mandeville’s lakefront.

Mandeville Yacht Club, Rips on the Lake, Don’s, and often-storm-battered Java Grotto suffered severe damage.

Inland, the wind ravaged the entire northshore. Trees and telephone poles were toppled parish-wide, opening new vistas into many a home which had never had a skylight before, and blocking rural dirt roads and interstate highways alike.

Parish closed On Tuesday, August 30, St. Tammany Parish announced that the parish was closed, and asked residents who had evacuated not to return until further notice.

On September 1, Parish President Davis summed up the destruction in St. Tammany Parish, and let residents know that local government was working full speed ahead to make the parish livable: “St. Tammany Parish has been heavily impacted by Hurricane Katrina. There is no electricity or water service anywhere in the parish. Gas leaks have been reported parish-wide.

Hospitals are running on generators and are at capacity. Ambulance services are only responding to life-threatening emergencies. Many of our residents evacuated. They need to stay where they are. DO NOT RETURN TO ST. TAMMANY PARISH. “There is no fuel available in St. Tammany. Returning evacuees and those attempting to pass through St. Tammany are running out of gas and finding themselves in need of shelter, further straining parish government and aid organizations. It is important to public safety that our population remains at a minimum. I have asked

those in the parish who have the means to please evacuate now to the west or north, going beyond Baton Rouge or Jackson, Mississippi.

“Public schools will be closed until at least October 1.

“The Causeway is open only to emergency traffic, and the I-10 Twin Spans are heavily damaged and closed for the foreseeable future. There is no access to Orleans, Jefferson, St. Bernard or Plaquemines—or any other southshore parish—through St. Tammany.

“We are coordinating our efforts with all municipal, law enforcement and relief agencies from the Emergency Operations Center in Covington. Sheriff Jack Strain and the entire Sheriff’s Office are working rescue operations around the clock.

“Our first task is to clear major roads to allow personnel to respond to emergencies. All fire departments are operational. Ambulance services are present. At this time, medical response is available only in life-threatening situations. We are clearing roads to allow FEMA and American Red Cross trucks access to the parish. They are arriving.

“Water is being delivered, feeding stations are opening, and additional shelters are opening. There are no utilities in St. Tammany Parish at this time. No water, electricity, sewer service, etc. are available.

“PUBLIC SAFETY ALERTS: If you remained in St. Tammany Parish during the storm and are returning to a flooded area to check your home, beware of snake infestations. Water snakes may have entered your neighborhood and home with the flood waters. Be cautious of furniture and other hiding places.

Anti-venom is available at hospitals.

“If you did not evacuate and have

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Hurricane Katrina Survivors Needed

returned to your home, turn off all circuit breakers in your circuit box, including the main, to prevent electrical shock and fires when power is restored.

“VACCINE RECOMMENDATIONS: It would be beneficial to get a tetanus booster if over five years since your last one, and any other that may be recommended by your health care provider. This will alleviate the demand on local supplies.”

The road back

We hope all of the community is now safe at home, or at least safe with family and friends. Like you, my staff and I evacuated for the hurricane and are eager to rebuild our community and get things back to normal. With that said, feeling a little like the house above and need a make over? Let Dr. Tabor and the staff at Northshore Dermatology rejuvenate you with a 10% discount off all cosmetic procedures. Call 985-641-5198 for a complimentary consultation.

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Inside Northside

Parish and city officials and employees, citizens, National Guard, Red Cross and other volunteers and utility company crews worked around the clock to make the northshore habitable again.

About two weeks after Katrina hit, some parish residents were allowed to return.

On September 13, 2005, St. Tammany Parish Public School System officials released dates for school system employees to return to work in anticipation of reopening schools October 3—a major step on the journey back.

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Right: The spirit of northshore entrepreneurs was not broken by the storm.

Below: This windshield, however…

Bottom: Sludge left by the receding water

photo © 2005 Thomas B. Growden photo © 2005 Christine Carlton

photo © 2005 Thomas B. Growden

hampered cleanup efforts along the lakefront.

40

Inside Northside

photo © 2005 Thomas B. Growden

Above: Damage to businesses in Olde Towne Slidell was devastating, but the recovery has already begun.

Left: At North Shore Square Mall, transformers waited to be put into service.

photo © 2005 Thomas B. Growden

Below: The Port Hole in Slidell was washed through by

photo © 2005 Thomas B. Growden

Katrina’s storm surge.

H u r r i c a n e K a t r i n a 2 005

41

photo © 2005 NyxoLyno Cangemi/U.S. Coast Guard

of Tampa, Fla., gives the signal to hoist a pregnant woman in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.

photo © 2005 Daniel Cima/American Red Cross

Right and below: The Houston Astrodome.

photo © 2005 Daniel Cima/American Red Cross

Above: The Coast Guard’s Scott D. Rady

42

Inside Northside

photo © 2005 NyxoLyno Cangemi/U.S. Coast Guard

Above: The Coast Guard’s Shawn Beaty, of Long Island, N.Y., looks for survivors from his HH-60 Jayhawk helicopter.

Left: Members of the Coast Guard Sector Ohio Valley Disaster Response Team and the MiamiDade Urban Search and Rescue Team mark photo © 2005 Robert Reed/U.S. Coast Guard

a house to show that it has been searched for survivors.

Left: U.S. Navy sailors from the

Bataan (LHD 5) and Mexican Marines carry a log as they remove Hurricane Katrina debris.

Right: U.S. Navy officer Tim Hawkins retrieves a survivor of Hurricane Katrina from a New Orleans rooftop.

photo © 2005 Jay C. Pugh, U.S. Navy/Department of Defense

photo © 2005 Michael Sandberg, U.S. Navy/Department of Defense

amphibious assault ship USS

H u r r i c a n e K a t r i n a 2 005

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photo © 2005 Abby Miller

Cleanup on the northshore will take months, if not years.

The trees of the northshore, a great source of pride for local residents, were particularly hard hit by the storm and subsequent

44

Inside Northside

photo © 2005 Thomas B. Growden

photo © 2005 Lori Murphy

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Inside Northside

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To the employees of St. Tammany Parish Hospital

The Board of Commissioners and Administration of St. Tammany Parish Hospital wish to thank our world-class employees for their selfless dedication to our community and its medical needs. Before Hurricane Katrina ever struck, the hospital went into emergency mode, drawing teams of essential personnel to the hospital to prepare for the storm. Those dedicated professionals served our patients for days, ensuring the hospital could deliver everything from the very best medical care to the tastiest meals, cleanest facilities and necessities such as water and power.

Our nonessential personnel found ways to get back to the hospital directly after the storm or to serve the community in other ways including volunteering to provide meals and laundry services for visiting utility workers, repairing roofs, removing trees and other essential aid.

To ensure that our employees could return to work even before their children could return to schools and daycares, team members from many administrative and support departments staffed an employee daycare in the STPH Parenting Center, caring for fellow team members’ children so that they could care for patients at the hospital and return our system to normal operations.

We thank our employees for their instrumental influence in operating the special needs shelter at Covington High School. From clinical staffing, supplies and equipment to non-clinical staff volunteers seeing to personal needs, feeding, cleaning and comforting evacuees and patients, St. Tammany Parish Hospital employees delivered. To every member of the St. Tammany Parish Hospital team, we say Thank You! It is because of you and your dedication to the people of our community, that St. Tammany Parish Hospital never missed a beat before, during and after Hurricane Katrina.

You are the reason St. Tammany Parish Hospital delivers World-class health care…Close to home.

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Lights in the Darkness Northshore Hospitals Rode Out the Storm The fire department was doing rescue missions and

by Stacey Paretti bringing them in to us quickly,” Partridge recounts. The center dealt with emergencies ranging from diabetic and heart patients who were in desperate need of medicine to trauma patients who suffered accidents during evacuation from Slidell’s rapidly rising waters. “We saw lacerations and bruises on people who had been hit by Heaven Sent — Charles floating tree branches. We saw many patients who were and Sharon Licciardi of Chalmette with their newborn daughter, Neveah. The name was chosen because it means “heaven.”

Sharon was scheduled to be induced at a New Orleans hospital on August 31. Beacuse of the hurricane,

Photo courtesy North Oaks Hospital.

IN THE THREE WEEKS leading up to their wedding date, Michelle Partridge and Russell Shoultz should have been consumed with the last minute details of planning their big day. Instead, the couple found themselves engaged in another huge project: a fullfunctioning triage center that took in over 500 patients a day in the week following Hurricane Katrina.

Partridge, Clinical Director of Women’s and Children’s Services at Slidell Memorial Hospital, played a major role in staffing the triage center, which operated out of several off-site medical office buildings. Shoultz, District 1 Deputy Fire Chief, was in charge of search and rescue efforts for the area, and would give his fiancée a “heads up” prior to each emergency drop off to the center. The situation was far from ideal, yet the couple worked together to make the best of it—a theme that seemed to be repeated at many hospitals across the region.

Slidell Memorial Hospital’s census just days before the storm showed 107 patients on campus. By Sunday, the day before Katrina hit, all but 12 had been evacuated to Wesley Medical Center in Hattiesburg.

The remaining twelve, who could not be moved for a variety of medical reasons, were kept stable in what was deemed to be the safest part of the building: the surgery recovery room. Partridge said that everything ran smoothly during the storm itself, but when the wrath of the wind and water surge subsided, it became clear that they would have to move.

“We had to find an off-site, stable place for triage.

Neveah was instead delivered by Dr. Thuc Tran at North Oaks on September 3. When the

dehydrated. Some had been stuck in their attics for up to fourteen hours.”

The situation took a personal toll on the staff, as many stayed at the hospital all of the first week following the storm—before even knowing the fate of their own families. “My family evacuated to Jacksonville, and it was an entire week before I could get through to them to let them know I was okay,”

hospital staff learned that all of the family’s possessions, including the baby’s nursery, were destroyed by the floodwaters, they began bringing gifts to the family.

H u r r i c a n e K a t r i n a 2 005

49

Partridge says. “They were going crazy because the media was reporting, inaccurately, that there was eight feet of water in the hospital.”

Partridge says that she is extremely proud of the devoted nurses who remained at the triage unit, some working shifts in 24-hour increments.

“We were here for our community to be true nurses and care for these people,” she says. But that’s not to say that she wasn’t anxious to leave the hospital in late September—for her honeymoon.

The happy couple, who had originally planned to wed in a beachside ceremony in Bay St. Louis, instead tied the knot beside the bayou near Heritage Park in Slidell.

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50

Inside Northside

“Never in my career have I seen such levels of excellence as were displayed

by North Oaks team members during the crisis period of Hurricane Katrina,” asserts Hammond’s North Oaks Chief Executive Officer James E. Cathey Jr. “They demonstrated remarkable skill and determination in using every means possible to keep our hospitals up and running and to fulfill our responsibilities to administer to the health care needs of the people of this region. The effort, compassion, care, teamwork, commitment and dedication shown made me extremely proud to be associated with each and every one of them.”

Every member of the North Oaks management team echoed these sentiments when they unanimously voted to choose the more than 600 health system employees who worked tirelessly throughout Hurricane Katrina as Employees of the Month for August.

While elective procedures and outpatient services were canceled ahead of Katrina’s arrival and fully reinstituted by one week post-Katrina, essential

emergency and inpatient care at North Oaks Medical Center continued without interruption throughout the storm and into the recovery period. Patient care also never wavered at North Oaks Rehabilitation Hospital.

“This was made possible by implementation of a comprehensive disaster plan,” says North Oaks Risk Management Coordinator Sherry Collura, RN. “We kept in close contact and worked with the parish’s Office of Emergency Preparedness, as well as other local, state, federal and military authorities. Other components of our plan put into action included the provision of on-site shelter accommodations for essential personnel and the foresight of staff members to order ample supplies in advance to ensure we could weather the storm and the recovery period.”

After the storm, the staff of Fairway Medical in Covington canvassed the community, offering tetanus shots to surrounding hospitals and fire departments and to evacuees housed at shelters. One of the hospital’s employees Judy Newman, RN, shares her thoughts on the relief effort: “Fairway Medical organized a distribution center out of their facility’s warehouse to meet the needs of the community. We received donations from nearby parishes, including East Feliciana and West Feliciana. States pitched in from all around the country: Alabama, Kentucky, Pennsylvania and Washington, DC. We saw help from local church groups, an Eagle Scout group from Houston and “Airing Flight,” a medical flight support group from Alabama that provided us with much-needed medical supplies. Volunteers assisted in the organization and distribution of the supplies. Special needs were met according to

Photo courtesy St. Tammany Parish Hospital.

each individual’s circumstance.”

No patients had to be transferred to other facilities, according to Chief Nursing Officer Paula Hymel, RN, BSN. Back-up generators at both facilities kept critical medical equipment fully functional—despite an almost immediate power outage that occurred around 5:30 a.m. the morning of Katrina’s landfall.

“I will always remember the sound of the generator running,” recounts Plant Operations Coordinator Russell Hoover. “We slept in our offices on the floor, and we were in tune with the sounds of the generator at all times to make sure it wouldn’t go out or overheat.”

Even the Nutritional Services staff pulled out a

team effort, as they managed to dish up over 10,000 hot meals in the 96-hour timeframe without power from Sunday, August 28 to Wednesday, August 31.

“By the grace of God, we never had to go to peanut butter and jelly sandwiches,” comments North Oaks Nutritional Services Director Ann McDaniel.

In another example, an Emergency Department Staff Nurse used “curbside triage” to assess patients’ needs when the ER became inundated the day after the storm. Even with a generator providing power to fans, it felt hotter inside than outside. So, the nurse met incoming patients at their air-conditioned cars, where he took vital signs and determined needs.

Many children and elderly patients were suffering from heat exhaustion or heat stroke, and there were several patients with injuries from chainsaws that first day. He worked quickly to assess each situation, while trying desperately to keep each person comfortable. Undoubtedly, his 16 years of combined experience as a medic on active duty and in the U.S. Army National Guard helped him adapt to the unusual circumstances of the day.

Even in the face of tragic personal loss, staff members continued to reach out to patients’ physical, emotional, spiritual and material needs. When employees of Maternal/Child Services learned that a

Hospitals throughout the area became emergency supply distribution centers. Caring for the health and well-being of the community took on a whole new meaning.

H u r r i c a n e K a t r i n a 2 005

51

displaced Chalmette couple, who had given birth to a daughter at North Oaks, had lost their home and its contents— including many items for the nursery— to floodwaters, they began bringing baby gifts. Their room at North Oaks overflowed with love and happiness, despite the personal losses the family had sustained. Overwhelmed with the outpouring of support, new mom Sharon Licciardi remarked, “They don’t know me, and yet, here they are going out of their way to help our family. We are truly blessed.”

A busy launching pad Accounts from Covington’s Lakeview Regional Medical Center were similar in theme to those in Hammond.

Hospital Chief Executive Officer Max Lauderdale described the site as a “selfcontained city,” complete with generator power, water supply and a four-day

52

Inside Northside

supply of food that had been stored before the storm. The 120 staff residents of the Lakeview “city,” including approximately 30 physicians, worked up to 20-hour shifts in the days following the hurricane.

Lauderdale says the greatest impact on the hospital was in those first few days, as the site’s helicopter launch pad was a seeming revolving door for emergency drop-offs. “At one point, we had five helicopters on campus,” remembers Lauderdale. One of the emergency drop-offs was a young boy who was found in New Orleans, wading in water by himself. His legs were infected, and he was admitted to Lakeview for treatment. His family could not be contacted, so Lauderdale went up to the boy’s room every morning to check on him and visit a while. After a few days, the boy’s godmother was found in Shreveport and the hospital

sent a helicopter to bring her down to Covington. “It was such a good feeling to be a part of it all, to be helping people,” Lauderdale adds.

After the hectic and demanding week following the storm, Lauderdale says that he could still hear the sound of helicopters in his sleep. He has nothing but praise and thanks for the soldiers who ran the search and rescue missions. “They were truly men of their word and got us so much help,” he says. The soldiers must have agreed with Lauderdale’s sentiment. One afternoon, he heard the all-too-familiar sound of the chopper and gazed out his office window to find one landing right there in the grass. A crew that had just completed their assignment was flying back east to Fort Polk in Texas.

They went out of their way to stop by the hospital to thank the staff for such wonderful assistance with their mission.

In the wake of the storm, things were under control at St.

Needs Shelter, helping with everything from clerical work to folding

Tammany Parish Hospital in Covington. No patients were evacuated

laundry.

from the campus, as the hospital’s emergency plan kicked into gear

•

seamlessly. In a lucky coincidence, the hospital had opened a new section of its Emergency Department just two days before the storm

Laboratory technician Eddie Cook volunteered many

hours at the Covington High School shelter.

•

Susan Stahl, Tumor Registry secretary, washed clothes

hit. “The new section includes a minor care area, which expanded

and cooked two hot meals a day on her gas stove at home for the

our capacity while allowing for faster care. The timing could not

Goodbee Fire Department.

have been more advantageous,” remarks Melissa Hodgson, the

•

When Registered Nurse Susan Seal could not leave

hospital’s Director of Communication. The Emergency Department’s

her hospital shift to return home and care for her damaged roof,

limits were tested, however, as it handled a 50 percent increase

anesthesiologists Drs. Michael Iverson and Patrick McCaslin went

over normal census in the week following Katrina. Four emergency

for her. They climbed onto her roof to remove a tree and put a tarp

medical specialists (Drs. Ingrid Labat, Jamie Moore, Richard Roberts

in its place.

and Catherine Speights) rose to the challenge, working 24-hour

•

Many of St. Tammany’s staff, such as Marion Thomas

shifts for six days straight. With work hours like that, it’s amazing

of the Nursing Administration Department, Director of Hospital

that St. Tammany’s staff would find any time to volunteer their

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services in other areas of the community. But Hodgson says that’s

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with their families to come pick them up,” says Hodgson. “They all pitched in and did what they felt was right to do.”

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by Stacey Paretti Rase

HAS ANYONE ELSE EXPERIENCED this phenomenon? The sun seems to rise earlier and shine brighter when it hits your bedroom window.

At night, your walls catch the lights of every car that passes near your home. Your electric bill is higher than ever before, because you just can’t seem to keep it cool enough inside. And neighbors that you never even knew you had are in your direct line of sight when you peer out from your front door.

If so, you’re not alone. In fact, your situation is not unlike most others on the northshore. The reason for our strange condition? All of our trees are gone.

That’s the bad news. The good news, according to local arborists, is that now is just the right time to begin anew. Late fall and winter time are perfect for planting new trees. And with the proper selections, you will be enjoying more shade (and privacy!) in no time.

When selecting new trees for your landscape, Louisiana-licensed arborist Freddie Gonzales of Dixie Tree Service, L.L.C. says that there are many varieties 54

Inside Northside

that can be planted now to quickly acquire the shade effect that so many of us are desiring. Trees such as the Bradford pear, river birch and crepe myrtle are fast-growing and relatively inexpensive choices that blend nicely into most landscapes. Gonzales’ top pick of trees, however, is the live oak, especially for those who are planning to be in their homes for years to come. “If you plant a small live oak, about six inches in diameter and ten feet high, you will be truly enjoying it in about fifteen years,” he says. “If you don’t want to wait that long, then a water oak or post oak is the way to go.”

And if you’re concerned about protecting your tree investment from the next big storm, Gonzales points out that live oaks around the area fared substantially well, compared to other species. One drive around the northshore area proves his point, as live oaks continue to stand tall, while other species litter the ground around them. Gonzales says that the liters of an oak tree—the large parts that jut off

photo © 2005 Thomas B. Growden

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from the trunk and contain its many branches—contain wood that grows in spiral formations. “That’s what makes them dense and heavy, so they don’t break easily. That’s also why oaks aren’t used for firewood,” he adds. “It’s difficult to cut wood into logs that grow in that spiral formation.”

Smart homeowners know that

promptly to avoid further damage to property or human life should they fall when the next gust of wind blows through. Pruning of crowns should be minimal, but damaged roots should be pruned to remove rough tears so that the remaining roots will fit back in the hole. Once a tree has been properly uprighted, it will need watering daily,

proper care of their trees, in the form of preventive maintenance, can save a tree from disaster in high winds. By having a professional trim and prune annually, weaker portions of each tree can be effectively removed. “Trees that are properly maintained don’t catch the wind as easily as others,” he notes. “If people spent more time paying attention to good pruning, the high winds would just pass through the tree instead of creating a sail effect, which brings the tree down.” Another preventive measure for future storms includes tying down trees with cable anchors—a good suggestion for shorter, ornamental trees.

But now that the damage is done, experts offer advice for the next step in surveying your tree damage. First, take a look around at your still-standing trees.

Look up into the treetops for hanging limbs, or those that are dead and brown.

Those branches should be removed

just as if it were a transplanted tree.

Additionally, most experts agree that stump removal is not done purely for aesthetic reasons. Ants and termites love to eat rotting stumps, which could cause a hazard if the stump is close to your home or in areas where children play.

And don’t be so quick to chop down every tree that shows signs of damage. Gonzales advises homeowners to let the damaged trees lie dormant in the winter and to keep a close eye on them again in the spring. “That’s when their fresh growth will begin to show,” he says. “You might not be able to tell now if it’s able to be salvaged, but the springtime will tell you for sure.”

Many people are taking the approach of “a good pine is a dead pine” right now, since the tall timbers were the primary source of damage to area roofs, fences and personal property.

But removing every pine from your lot

photo © 2005 Thomas B. Growden

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Inside Northside

can be quite costly, and is probably unnecessary. “If your pines look good and aren’t leaning toward the house, they’re probably okay,” asserts Gonzales.

He notes that homeowners should use common sense in this area. “If a pine tree lived through winds over 150 miles per hour during Hurricane Katrina, they withstood the worst already.”

One last caveat: If you do plan to hire a tree service to remove downed trees and stumps, always insure that their insurance and license is officially authorized in the state of Louisiana. Ask your homeowner’s insurance carrier for their preferred user list of companies that they have dealt with successfully.

“With hundreds and possibly thousands of dollars at stake, not to mention the integrity and appearance of your property and your personal safety, make sure that you take your time in deciding which company you should hire,” warns Peter Gerstenberger, senior advisor for safety and compliance with the Tree Care Industry Association. The group warns against companies who solicit business by going door to door, demand payment in advance or fail to produce a written estimate or work order.

And always get multiple estimates for a given job. It’s sad to say, but many people are being taken advantage of in their time of need. Gonzales has seen estimates for the same job quoted at $2,800 by one company and $10,000 by another.

“It’s a good idea to hire someone local who is reliable and has done the majority of their work in this area,” he says. “Local companies won’t price gouge you today, because they are trying to build a client base for tomorrow.”

Homeowners who would like a professional arborist to assess their trees can contact the Tree Care Industry Association at www.treecareindustry.org.

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H u r r i c a n e K a t r i n a 2 005

57

In future years, families will recount their Katrina experience for each new generation. For every family, there is a unique

photo © 2005 Dorothy Maloney

story. Here are just a few.

Survival

Everyone has a Story

Tales of

Steven Showalter: Chalmette survivor

by Karen B. Gibbs

Driving up to the Covington home of Steven Showalter’s sister, Trish, I knew we were at the right house. This was the home he was sharing with 12 other family members, all refugees from Katrina.

Brother Chris and his two sons, Mikey and Chris Jr., were in the driveway scrubbing gray mud from stainless steel cookware. “Go get Steven,” called Uncle Bo, “and somebody get me some more green pads to scrub the pots.”

Steven walked around the mud-caked articles spread out on the driveway. “Come on in,” he said.

“Don’t mind the dogs—there’s ten of them,” he 58

Inside Northside

cautioned, as we tiptoed over the sleeping lab in the foyer. In the room off to the left, mattresses covered the floor. A tiny dog, awakened from his nap, moved beneath the covers—a yipping lump trying to find his way out.

Steven continued into the kitchen and past his mom, Verlene. “Look,” she smiled sweetly as she lifted a glistening angel from the soapy water. “They managed to save my Seraphim angel collection. They were all covered with mud but they’re looking better now, don’t you think?”

She had lost practically everything, as had others in her family yet she was still happy and grateful.

What remarkable buoyancy. What love and gratitude this family showed. It was then I had insight into the

gathered in the kitchen barbequing food salvaged from the freezer. Remembers Steven, “We were sitting there eating with candles burning while my dog was trying to catch the shrimp flicking on top of the water.”

Tuesday morning found Steven sitting in a kitchen chair, water in his lap, watching schools of minnows swim over the tops of his tennis shoes on their way through his living room. Despite his own predicament, Steven was haunted by Monday’s

photo © 2005 Steven Showalter

character of Steven Showalter. It was then the heart of his story began to stir.

One week before Katrina hit, Steven Showalter decided he would not evacuate his Chalmette home.

The elevation of his two-story house on Damour Street in “downtown Chalmette” was +10, and his neighbor boasted he “never even took on water during Betsy.” Add to that Steven’s bad experiences evacuating, plus the promise he made to his daughter not to leave behind Duchess, her German shorthaired pointer, and he had four very good reasons to stay put. Or so he thought.

Like many who rode out Katrina, Steven was relieved that his house fared well through Sunday night.

It was a different story, however, when the winds changed direction and the storm started to pass. That’s when the water rose from four inches in the street at 8:15a.m. to above the kitchen’s counter tops by 9:15a.m. In less than 40 minutes, Steven was in waist deep water, carrying as much as he could to the safety of his second floor.

After saving some of his belongings, Steven swam through floodwaters 10 feet deep in the street to rescue a red dog that was drowning. That being done, he unlatched his 22-foot semi-V bottom boat from its trailer and went about helping people in trouble. He ferried a neighboring family to the courthouse, rescued a few desperate people off their rooftops and brought cigarettes and water to a man who said he was too old to go to an evacuation center.

A couple of high school buddies, Jeff Hawkins and Mike Darby, came by in a flatboat toting an African Gray parrot and a 10-week-old lab puppy.

They told of how they had to kick out the windows of their house to escape. Happy for their safety, Steven invited them to stay. Later that night, the trio

memory of desperate people at Chalmette High School calling out for help. He needed to find water for them. Riding down the street in his boat, he spotted a Kentwood truck. Miraculously, Steven was able to open the door at the back of the truck and retrieve gallons of life-saving water that he delivered to some of the many who needed it.

That evening, as the water receded, Steven and his friends washed mud out of the house. It was a futile gesture. With so much destruction around them, there was no hope of staying in Chalmette.

Evacuation programs were in place, but they would not accept animals. The trio knew if they were going to get out with their lives and their pets, they had to do it on their own. They decided to leave in two boats the next day, hoping to go over a breach in the levee.

Problem one: Steven needed a smaller boat to make it over the breach. Solution: Just like the H u r r i c a n e K a t r i n a 2 005

59

Kentwood truck, the answer to Steven’s prayer was floating in the water around him—a half-submerged flatboat. He bailed out the water, got the motor working and siphoned fuel out of his boat for the trip ahead.

With bottles of water and red fuel containers midway in the boat, and Duchess in her life vest as

his masthead, Steven took off in the commandeered flatboat with Jeff, Mike, parrot and pup following close behind. As they were leaving the neighborhood, they fished a box of Snickers out of the water for the hours ahead.

Along the 40 Arpent Canal, they came upon three young men in a large flatboat who needed help finding their way out. The three boats traveled until they found a spot where foot-deep water was topping the levee. Backing his boat into position, Steven revved the motor and, with Duchess holding on for dear life, sped over the top of the levee Dukes-ofHazzard style. Less dramatically, the other two boats were pushed and pulled over the levee into Bayou Bienvenue. Heading down the bayou, they found a 300-yard breach frothing with white water rapids.

This was the only time Steven admits to being fearful. His 14-foot flatboat took three major waves 60

Inside Northside

as it went through the whitewater and into calmer water, where he bailed out the boat. At this point, Duchess was ready for a Dramamine, but all she got was a pat on the head. Jeff and Mike made it over without incident, but the three young men who tagged along came through sideways, killing their motor in the process. After one hour, the men got the motor started again.

Going south through Chef Pass, the three-boat-armada crossed the lake at the shortest point—five miles. Once across, they struck a heading toward the Causeway. The journey took nine hours, with choppy water all the way. Passing Hwy. 11, Steven observed the destruction along Carr Drive. When he came to the jostled Twin Span, he began to fathom the power of Katrina. For hours and hours after that, there was nothing but blue sky and choppy water.

“It was God’s grace that we made it out as we did,” he relates. “From the Kentwood truck full of bottled water to the boat adrift coming down the street just when I needed it to a box of Snicker’s bars that came floating by as we left Chalmette, God’s hand was on us the entire way.”

By the time they reached the Causeway tollbooth, Duchess was so seasick she could only lie in the grass. While she recovered, Steven got a ride on a motorcycle to the house of his sister, Trish. There he got a pick-up truck and went back to the Causeway to get everyone.

Today, Steven, along with his mother, Verlene, Uncle Bo, ten other family members, plus their 11 pets, all live with Trish. While they are all proud of Steven, he dismisses the accolades. “There was so much need; I feel like I should have done more.

I don’t feel like I did enough.” Focusing on the positive, he adds, “I am thankful all my family made it out without loss of life—even the pets.” Then, summing it all up he smiles and says, “The important things made it.”

The Hills family: homeless to hope in 28 days

When Katrina was upgraded to a Category 5, Roy Hills and his family of four evacuated to Beaumont, Texas. They slept in the family car in the parking lot of a Holiday Inn while Katrina took aim on Louisiana and their Covington home. As soon as the storm had passed, the eager family took off for home, braving tropical force winds and rain en route. Aghast at the devastation around them, they snaked their way through the fallen trees that littered the road. Upon arriving home Monday evening, their hearts sank. Two enormous trees had crashed through the house, devastating their lives in the process.

“I couldn’t believe it,” recalls Kimberly Brown, Roy’s wife.

“It was terrible,” echoes eight-year-old Brianna.

“We should have stayed in Beaumont,” Roy remembers thinking as he loaded his family back into their car. Twenty-four hours ago they were evacuees.

Now they were homeless.

With only the comfort of one another and the precious few belongings they took with them, the family spent Monday night in the parking lot of Rouse’s supermarket.

Brianna snuggled against her big pillow, while sevenyear-old Matthew hugged his favorite teddy bear. Kimberly thought of the wedding pictures she’d grabbed as they fled, and Roy was glad he’d remembered to take the TV. And so slept the family of four, surrounded by hastily chosen clothing and mementos—items that would ultimately become the only tangible reminders of a life now gone.

The next morning, Roy and his family sought refuge at the Red Cross shelter in William Pitcher Jr. High in Covington. For the next 25 days, they slept on cots and ate their meals uncomfortably close to strangers who shared their fate. Roy continued working 12-hour days at his gas station job, while

Kimberly pulled 16-hour shifts at a local nursing home. Fortunately, Kimberly’s grandparents, also in the shelter, were able to care for Brianna and Matthew.

On their 26th day at William Pitcher, the Hills family was moved to the Red Cross shelter in Folsom. Frustration and helplessness weighed heavily on Roy. He and Kimberly had just married in April, and now he was faced with providing not only a home, but also everything that goes in it for his new family. More than anything, he and Kimberly wanted a place to call home again, but the prospect of finding another rental house was extremely poor.

It was at this time that the Young Life Christian Organization from Slidell came to talk with the residents of the shelter. Unbelievably, this remarkable group had tapped into a network of fellow Christians in five states who wanted to open their arms and hearts to the displaced victims of Katrina. Roy and

photo © 2005 Dorothy Maloney

by Karen B. Gibbs

Kimberly applied for assistance and chose to relocate to Springfield, Ohio. They were promised two weeks lodging in a hotel and help in finding jobs matching their skills, housing within their budget and schooling for Brianna and special-needs student Matthew, who is deaf.

“Everything’s starting to work out with this move,” Roy says softly, obviously touched by the H u r r i c a n e K a t r i n a 2 005

61

photo © 2005 Dorothy Maloney

The Hills family slept in the family car at the Beaumont Holiday Inn while Katrina took aim on their Covington home. The family has relocated to Springfield, Ohio.

62

Inside Northside

love of total strangers. “Family, the people you hope would be there for you, tell you ‘I hope you’ll be okay.’” He shakes his head slowly, obviously unable to comprehend such indifference. Then, eyes brimming with tears, he adds, “There are good people in the world. You think nobody really cares until something like this happens. Those you ordinarily wouldn’t count on are here to do for you.”

On Wednesday, September 28, Roy and his family loaded bags of their meager belongings into their car and headed north to begin life anew in Ohio. Standing tall in the face of tragedy, the Hills family survived—not alone, but with the love, help and support of the Red Cross and Christian strangers who offered what money can’t buy: hope.

The ten-mile stretch leading out of Folsom is lined with thousands of once-majestic pines now broken and piled helter-skelter atop each other. Like so many matchsticks they lie, their twisted trunks mute testimony to the battle fought. Every now and then, however—like the Hills family—a survivor tree appears, bruised, yet still standing, gleaming in the afternoon sun. The Hills and the tree both signal

hope to the broken spirits around them, and the promise of good things to come.

Katrina saves a life

by Jan LeBlanc Hurricane Katrina affected so many lives in different ways, but none quite like Covington native Gary Keife. With so many tales of destruction, devastation and heartache, his story of survival is unlike any other you may have heard thus far.

Hurricane Katrina saved Gary’s life.

After being on a donor waiting list for over a year for a liver transplant, the once-vibrant 42-year old and his family had just about given up hope. The twelve months prior to that fateful August 29 date had been terribly challenging for Gary. His liver was shutting down, he couldn’t eat normally and he was sleeping nearly twenty hours a day. “I had so little energy, making it difficult to raise my son,” he says.

Gary was receiving excellent care at Ochsner Hospital in New Orleans, one of the largest liver transplant centers in the state, but was becoming increasingly discouraged with each passing day that

a liver was not available for donation. “Every day we would wait for the call to come saying that one was available,” Gary remembers. “The call never came.”

Lucky for Gary, Katrina did. He rode out the storm at his Covington home, but found it necessary to leave the next day, as trees had fallen through his roof. Before setting out, he called ahead to his friend Scott in Shreveport, who agreed to provide Gary a

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Inside Northside

room for a while. Additionally, Scott contacted Shreveport’s Willis Knighton Hospital and set up an appointment for Gary to be seen the next day.

“They couldn’t believe I wasn’t already in a coma. My levels were the highest in the state,” he says, referring to his elevated levels of liver enzymes, bilirubin and creatine. “Ochsner forwarded my medical records, and I was immediately moved to the top of the list at the hospital for a transplant.” Within two weeks, on September 16, a liver became available in Bossier City. The transplant surgery was scheduled immediately.

Since the successful operation, Gary has enjoyed sharing his amazing story with others who have been affected by the storm, as it offers a positive balance to so many stories with unhappy endings. “Everything was truly a miracle,” he says. “When the hurricane forced us away, we thought there was no hope. But if not for the evacuation, I would still be there waiting.”

Vicky Treadway: stranded for 14 days

by Karen B. Gibbs At first, Vicky Treadway thought she could ride out Katrina in her Lacombe trailer. But as the winds intensified and hurricane predictions became more dire, she realized she’d made the wrong choice. Reaching for her phone, she dialed 911, but got no answer. Like it or not, she was going to face the Category 5 hurricane alone on her secluded wooded home site.

A religious person by nature, Vicky turned to God for help, and then she took action. Moving her car to what she figured would be the safe side of her mobile home, she put it up on 2-by-4s to provide traction in the soft, grassy area.

Next she called for Jennifer, her moody white and gray cat, to come inside.

photo © 2005 Lori Murphy

Surprisingly, the fickle feline responded without a fight. “Watch the animals,” Vicky remembered her late husband Bruce telling her. “They’ll tell you about the weather before the weather man can.” If that was true, then Jennifer was forecasting a mighty nasty storm. Vicky then double-checked the rest of her storm preparations: water, peanut butter and crackers, flashlights, candles, cell phone, portable radio and rosary—a good supply for at least a couple of days, she figured.

But she figured wrong.

As Katrina passed over Lacombe, her violent winds snapped the trees around Vicky’s trailer like toothpicks.

While, miraculously, none fell on the trailer itself, the yard and the quartermile driveway leading to it were rendered impassable by the twisted trees and tangled branches. Next came the flooding. Vicky watched helplessly as the waters rose three feet, claiming her car in the process. When Katrina finally left the area, Vicky had lost electricity (and with it her well), telephone (not even the cell phone worked) and her car.

There was no one to yell to, no one to hope for. She was hemmed in by fallen trees and uncertain how to get through them. Not willing to sit back and play helpless, Vicky found a hand saw and began cutting away the trees one tiny limb at a time. Days later, when she could hardly notice her progress, Vicky felt discouraged.

Except for the fleeting visit of a relative who made an empty promise to return the next day, Vicky saw no one. “I ate peanut butter and crackers for the first four days,” she says. “But it really wasn’t that bad,” she adds, optimistically.

The isolation soon took its toll on Vicky. She wondered when, if ever, anyone would discover her. Then, four or five days after the storm hit, power crews began working in the area, removing trees and limbs in order to reach a transmitter that was— fortunately—located next to Vicky’s trailer. As the sound of the chain saws came closer and closer, Vicky stood in her yard, hoping to catch the attention of the workers.

When the crews found Vicky, H u r r i c a n e K a t r i n a 2 005

65

alone and surrounded by debris, they couldn’t believe their eyes. “Lady, we never thought anyone lived way back here,” one of them said. In an effort to help, another crew member brought her water and MREs. That was more of a luxury for Vicky than the men would ever know. For the first time since the storm, Vicky was able to bathe. “I’ll tell you how I did it,” she explains. “I put two gallons of water into the bathtub for a cold bath. Using that same water, I washed my hair; then, I washed my clothes in it.” Her resourcefulness and cheerfulness were amazing.

Once postal delivery resumed, Vicky mailed a couple of pleas for help to friends she hoped hadn’t evacuated.

Within a day or two, these friends showed up at her doorstep, bringing hope and hugs.

With Vicky, as with everyone, life post-Katrina is returning to normal little by little. Her next big task is finding a good used car—one that didn’t go swimming in Katrina’s waters.

Doing so would enable this remarkable lady to return to her job when it opens.

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Inside Northside

The War Zone

by Taylor Harvey Driving slowly and cautiously down the bumpy street, my family had our brights shining on the dark, rough gravel ahead of us. We were getting prepared to see our destroyed neighborhood. It was a week after hurricane Katrina had hit and according to the news, everything was damaged.

The feeling that I had in the pit of my stomach was like a thousand butterflies having a field day. As I looked around, I saw complete devastation. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing.

It looked as if someone had come and bombed all of our yards.

Trees were down everywhere. All the neighbors’ yards looked like a torn-up forest. Every house that I could see looked like torpedoes went through the roofs. Across the street were debris mounds that reminded me of those trenches the soldiers hide behind. It looked like helicopters flew down and cut the tops of all the trees off. It felt like a total war zone around me.

When we finally drove into our driveway, we had a feeling of what to expect. A tree had fallen into our kitchen, which made it totally unusable.

The hole was the size of a school bus, and since we had no electricity, everything in our freezer melted. The smell of rotten eggs and sour fish filled the air. Since we have a guesthouse, we were able to use that kitchen.

I guess I should be thankful that the war zone is a lot better than what other people experienced. My sister, her husband and my six-year-old nephew are living with us. Their house is totally uninhabitable, except for the maggots and horseflies that seem to enjoy their new home. Her downstairs had about six feet of water in it, and mold is growing everywhere. The mold problem is so bad that it is growing all the way up to the upstairs. I even know people whose houses are totally burned down and have nothing else left. I am thankful that mine is “okay”… considering what other people are facing.

Ever since hurricane Katrina, nothing has been normal. You always hope that maybe all this is a dream and that you will wake up any moment now.

Even though this tragedy has been very tough, the people of New Orleans and the surrounding area can get through this. Our spirit can never be broken.

Taylor is a student at St. Scholastica Academy in Covington.

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KATRINA DEVASTATED MANY. Leaving people homeless, helpless and fearful. But fearful of what?

What could possibly be more frightening than seeing your world torn to pieces? This is the story of one family that thought it had lost what made its small neighborhood special, but then learned that what made it so special was not its physical beauty, but rather the people that live there.

We live on a small street in Covington that not many know—except the nine families that live on it. In our neighborhood, everyone is family and we have always thought of it as a little slice of heaven.

from the kitchen window as all of our trees and everything we never truly realized to be so important fell before my eyes. As I watched in terror, I thought, how can this happen? How can God let this happen?

Why? I cried silently, praying for the end.

As the storm finally began to subside, we walked outside in disbelief. Everything that once was vertical was now lying horizontally on the ground. I felt as though I was trapped in a nightmare with no one there to wake me up. The tranquil setting to which I was accustomed was a jungle, a war zone. As I walked around, looking for what used to be our driveway, I felt a tear running down my face, though this time, I wasn’t sure why I was crying. I think it was for the knowledge that for miles around me my world was devastated.

Over the next two days, we all worked together to get ourselves out. With our family of five, thirteen other evacuees, six dogs and a cat, quarters were very close!

The house smelled of dog and cat, it was hot and sticky, and no one could bathe. It seemed like we would be there forever, living like this, but when the men began chain sawing a path out, everyone knew we had to work together to begin making a bad situation a little better.

Finally, we were able to leave what, at the time, I thought I never wanted to come back to. As we were driving through Covington, the reality of it struck me.

This wasn’t a nightmare. I was living through an event I never thought I would be experiencing. At the time, I didn’t think things could ever be as beautiful as they

Lovelady, tx

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by Sophie Giberga

Family and friends from New Orleans joined the Giberga family in their Covington home to ride out the storm.

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With each yard abundantly blessed with towering 100-year-old pines and other mature flora, it seemed as though where we lived was more of a park than a neighborhood. But we learned that nothing beautiful necessarily lasts forever when one day something came that seemed to destroy everything we loved about our home. That thing was Hurricane Katrina.

The storm seemed to go on forever. I watched

Inside Northside

were before. As we drove off to Texas, I tried to write something about our loss, but I realized that I couldn’t write something when I didn’t yet know the ending.

We evacuated to Lovelady, Texas, a small eastTexas town that has a population of 608. My father’s company has a ranch there. Also at the ranch were two other families from Covington that had evacuated before the storm. Immediately, our mothers began looking into

schools, not knowing how long we would be there. Within days, I began attending Lovelady Junior High.

While in Lovelady, I had one of the best experiences of my life. I was overwhelmed by everyone from this small town being so generous, kind and eager to help.

My last day at Lovelady Junior High before returning to Covington was the day of the homecoming game.

I got to repay my new friends by showing my school spirit. Our families went to the football game wearing our Lovelady T-shirts. We sat there in the stands like any other Lovelady Lion, cheered for our team, and watched the homecoming queen be crowned. As I sat there, a thought occurred to me.

Even in the most difficult times, life goes on, and by becoming a part of another community, even for just two weeks, I began to see that.

The day we drove home, we didn’t know to what we were going back.

Nine hours later, we learned that the devastation we ran from was still there to greet us, but something new was born, too: a new relationship between those of us on our little street and the rest of America. Crews of men from all over the country were working 24/7 to clear debris, restore services and otherwise return us to some normalcy: a great group of FEMA workers from Sawyers Mill, Tennessee and loggers from Pineville, Louisiana and another small town in Georgia. All small towns, just like Lovelady and Covington, and all so eager to help. All the inhabitants of our street took turns feeding these guys in appreciation for their efforts. After three weeks of eating and laughing together, we bonded and learned from this experience that, even though we lost something we loved, we gained a friendship with the rest of our country that will last a lifetime.

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WHILE KATRINA’S UNBELIEVABLE DEVASTATION has changed the landscape of our area and the lives of its people, it has only served to heighten the resilience and spirit of those who call the northshore home— and those who came from far and near to lend a hand.

From the sharing of homes to the serving of meals to the care of abandoned animals; from the clearing of downed trees to the tarping of roofs—the countless times and the different ways that people have come together to help one another will never be counted and put into statistical tables. Most cared nothing for the glory; they just responded to some unquenchable urge to get up and do something.

Here are just some of the thousands of similar stories that could be told.

Angels on Assignment

by Karen B. Gibbs From the moment Circleville, Ohio resident Jeff Scudder heard about Katrina’s devastation, he wanted

People Helping People

First Baptist

to help. For starters, he agreed to ride with a friend to Louisiana to deliver a FEMA trailer. With the blessing of his wife, he took a week’s vacation from his job as a corrections officer and headed for Slidell. Once there, he felt compelled to spend the next two days helping the beleaguered victims.

That’s when Scudder walked up to flood-soaked Pontchartrain Animal Hospital and offered his

Church on Pontchartrain Boulevard in Slidell hosted relief efforts as soon as the flood waters receded from its property.

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photo © 2005 Dorothy Maloney

Jeff Scudder, Kevin Withers and Ken Good were angels from Ohio for veterinarian Michael Edwards (center right).

services. According to owner Dr. Michael Edwards, accepting help from a stranger was initially awkward.

“At first it was embarrassing that someone thought I needed help. Then I was embarrassed that I needed help. Then I was humbled by the fact that God provided an angel.” (Editor’s note: Before Katrina hit, Edwards himself had been an angel. When he and his

family evacuated to Mississippi, they took with them 33 animals that his clients had to leave behind.)

Scudder worked two days with Edwards and knew he had to come back.

Promising to return with some friends to help get the business back in order, he notified his wife of his plans. In no time, she posted his intention on the e-mail of their church.

Kevin Withers and Ken Good believe the e-mail was an answer to their prayers. Withers, a volunteer fireman from Circleville, was heartbroken because he wanted to help, but couldn’t find a way to do it. “When I saw Jeff’s e-mail, I figured wow, I do have a way of getting there,” he

recalls.

Similarly, missionary Ken Good planned to work with refugees at the proposed shelter near Columbus, Ohio, but the Red Cross moved the shelter south.

Good prayed for guidance. When he read the e-mail, he knew he’d be heading to Louisiana.

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At this point, the fine folks of Circleville stepped forward, providing two tile remover machines, discounts on supplies, cash and a truck.

Ironically, the morning the men were to leave for Louisiana, the power steering went out on the truck. At no charge, mechanic Dan Coffman made emergency repairs, sending the anxious volunteers on their way.

That leads to an interesting aside. The trio was understandably frustrated with the sixteen-hour delay in leaving—until they heard reports of four tornado touchdowns in Mississippi and fourteen in Alabama along the exact route they planned to travel. “Had we left at 4 a.m., we would have been in that area during those storms,” Withers explained. “God was looking out for us once again.”

To complete the story, Edwards adds that the power steering on the truck broke as the men backed into his parking lot in Slidell. “Well,” Withers laughs, “I only asked God for a safe trip down.”

Once the Ohio angels arrived, they worked

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Hot and thirsty residents were grateful for the many groups of citizens who offered food, water and ice.

non-stop for two weeks with Edwards.

“It was hard work tearing this floor up. Mike had done a real good job of putting it down,” Withers teases.

“I’m not sure it’s a pleasure working this hard, but it’s certainly a blessing to be here,” Good admits. “We’re helping someone who’s going to open up his business, and then the employees are going to come back, start working on their houses and so on. I’m intrigued by the multiplier effect.”

“What brought me back after working here for a few days was Mike,” Scudder begins. “He is unbelievable.

While in the middle of tearing up this clinic, someone would come to the door asking, ‘Dr. Edwards, would you take a look at my dog?’ and he’d stop everything and take care of the pup. He lost his house and his business, yet he still has a heart that says, ‘If somebody needs me, I’m going to help them.’”

Addressing Edwards’ embarrassment at being in need, Scudder adds, “I told him he has to accept help, too. That’s something he has to understand.”

“It’s a blessing what they’ve done,” Edwards glows. “I could help people and still move ahead, because I had these guys behind me who kept the work going.” Commenting on the accolades the men gave him, Edwards jokingly says, “It’s hard to listen to them say all these nice things about me. When I think that I tried to tempt them to sin … gluttony was the one I was working at.”

The men explode into good-natured laughter, and then they rave about the meals that Edwards’ son, Pete, and two now-homeless friends, Rick and Gina, prepared for them. “A bunch of homeless people cooking for others,” Edwards says shaking his head. Can you beat that?

Now that their two weeks are over, the volunteers comment on what they gained from this experience. Begins Jeff, “I left a wife and two kids, came 16 hours and walked through the doorway of a man I never knew and formed a relationship that will last a lifetime.”

Continues Kevin, “I wanted to help, and in return I’ve got something worth more than money. It’s the friendships

I’ve made.”

With that, the men get back to work, not wanting to waste a single moment of their last day in Louisiana.

They’ve got sheetrock to hang, tiles to remove and—oh yes—newly repaired power steering to pray for. “Just let it last ’til we get home, Lord. Amen.”

Helpers from near and far

by Becky Schoen Kimberly and Kristian Hahn, who own Madisonville Drugs, opened their store the day after the storm. They were concerned for the elderly in their community who depend on them for their medicines. The week after Katrina struck, they fed those special customers—and anyone else who needed a hot meal—in their parking lot, about 200 people a day. “Whom, exactly, did you feed?” I asked.

“Everyone. Neighbors, workers, shelter victims, people from all over.

One person came from the Convention Center, but I have no idea how he got here.” I asked her what she fed 200 people for lunch. “Red beans and rice, jambalaya, rice and gravy, and hot dogs and chili on Labor Day.” Kim says people actually complained when she occasionally burned something.

“What do you expect? I’m cooking in a crawfish pot!” she told them.

Madisonville Drugs, along with the Piggly Wiggly, became the “information station” in their community—a sort of clearinghouse for the homeless and helpless. The Hahns posted signs for people who needed lodging, distributed clothing and just tried to help anyone who came their way. And, rather than take their customers’ last dollar, Kim and Kristian gave those in need a week’s worth of their meds. Free. Kim explains very matter-offactly, “We had to sleep at night.”

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Six days after the hurricane, some men in a truck from Tyler, Texas were wandering around looking for someone to help. They were a Godsend for my friend Helen, whose car was trapped in her driveway by huge power lines hanging a foot off the ground. They simply stood on the wires and backed her car over them so she could leave town again. Then they went off to tarp a roof and clean up a yard.

Another group—Michael Cane, Shawn Hayden and Ryan Schwartz of Stens Corporation—outfitted a trailer with special equipment and headed south from Indiana. They set up shop outside The Home Depot in Covington and for a nominal fee sharpened chainsaw blades on the spot.

My husband went home the day after the storm. He called every night from Baton Rouge, because it was the 76

Inside Northside

only place his cell phone worked and it was the only place he could buy gas for chainsaws and generators. One night I asked him what he was doing later.

He said, “I’m going to do what I do every night—eat sausage and drink red wine.” The men had formed a logging crew. They worked to clear the streets of our neighborhood by day and grilled the thawing contents of each other’s freezers by night. Apparently there was a never-ending supply of sausage flowing forth from the freezers, and the red wine needed no refrigeration.

One of the men offered up his kitchen and den as “H.Q.” I pictured hot, dirty, sweaty men roughing it for the sake of their families and neighbors. When I returned home several days later, what I found was actually a big boys’ fort equipped with generators, satellite TV and window air conditioners!

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Million-Dollar

Tent City Home of the National Guard

CAPTAIN JOHN CANNON of the Philadelphia National Guard 56th Brigade happened upon a copy of Inside Northside one afternoon in Hammond, where his troops were stationed while delivering aid following Hurricane Katrina. “I noticed that your magazine wrote about million-dollar homes in this area,” Cannon told me during a phone call in late September. “And I thought you might like to come take a tour of our million-dollar home.”

The home Cannon was referring to was Camp Keystone, the brigade’s “tent city,” located on a 45-acre plot of land that normally is home to Hammond’s soccer fields. The site served as home base for nearly 1,000 soldiers during their time in southeast Louisiana. The troops retreated to the tent city between working shifts at PODs (Points of Distribution) throughout St. Tammany, Tangipahoa 78

Inside Northside

and Washington Parishes, where they handed out water, ice and food to the needy following the storm.

The estimated cost to operate the camp for a mere thirty days: 1.2 to 1.5 million dollars—the figures that spurred Cannon’s tongue-in-cheek comment.

Except for the price comparison, the tent city had nothing in common with a luxury home. For starters, two armed security guards met me at my car when I pulled up to the site’s dusty entrance.

After receiving clearance, I was met by Human Intelligence Coordinator, Major Joe Decree, whose duty was to coordinate the intricate details of housing the soldiers on the site. “My job is to house them, feed them and then get them back out there working. I like to say that I’m running a hotel here,” he quipped, after inviting me to hop onto his ATV for a tour of the site.

photos © 2005 Thomas B. Growden

camp keystone

Our first stop was one of three massive living quarter tents, each of which housed up to 300 people. The major allowed me to peek inside, after surveying the space to ensure each soldier was “decent.” We entered through a heavy tarp— no French doors or crown molding to be found anywhere—and my eyes took a moment to adjust to the darkness of the windowless space. The enormous expanse was nothing but a sea of green cots, lined up end to end as far as the eye could see. Only a handful of soldiers were there during my midday visit. Some were playing cards; others were simply resting before their next distribution shift. I noticed that each cot held the personal effects of its owner: pillow, blanket, books and toiletries.

Not that there were any fancy restroom facilities

needed IVs for dehydration), a fuel station and a recreation field, where a group of guys was enjoying a game of horseshoes. It was there in the field that I noticed signs of the land’s previous life. Soccer goal posts still stood tall, albeit covered with soldiers’ clothes hung out to dry.

Next, we visited the tent-covered mess hall, where two catered meals were served daily; bag lunches were sent with each soldier to eat during their work day. The space housed the camp’s only semblance of luxurious living: a large-screen satellite television that stood predominantly in the corner of the tent. A few guardsmen were huddled around, intently watching an episode of “Jeopardy.” I learned that the satellite feed had come just in time for the troops to enjoy the New Orleans Saints “home”

in which to use those toiletries! The site’s only bathroom facilities were the 130 portable toilets that lined a fence near the highway. “A service comes twice a day to empty them, so it’s not so bad,” Decree remarked. He pointed out a few bright yellow tents, each housing four shower heads, which were erected at the south end of the campground, but were not yet operational. “We’re waiting for a line to be drawn in from the city water supply so that we don’t have to find a separate place to dump. It should be soon,” he noted, without even a hint of frustration in his voice.

Surprising, coming from a man whose troops hadn’t had a shower in weeks.

Decree then pointed out other highlights of the site—a medic tent (to date, only two soldiers had

opener game, played in New York.

“The guys really loved that. Actually, this camp is living large for field troops like us,” Decree said.

He acknowledged access to the Internet, as well as satellite telephones. “We have what we call our ‘Internet Café’ and we also have a laundry service that comes by. If we want a shower, we can get one down the street, if we’re willing to walk.”

Mall Headquarters Decree made “down the street” sound like a hop, skip and a jump. But the site of the shower trailers was actually over a mile away, at the Hammond Square Mall’s JC Penney. The store was converted into an Incident Command Post that H u r r i c a n e K a t r i n a 2 005

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served as the base of operations for both the mall and the tent city sites. Housed at the mall were more soldiers from the Pennsylvania National Guard, as well as a variety of civilian relief support systems, including the Red Cross, the Corp of Engineers, state employees from as close as Texas and as far off as Wyoming, and the Lonestar State Wildfire Incident Response Team. The latter usually deals with emergency base operations for wildfire rescue and relief, but the site’s Community Relations Officer Steve Parsons said that the command center is used in a variety of emergency situations.

“It’s a very efficient way of managing a large response team. It’s the same set up we used when responding to the Oklahoma City bombing and 80

Inside Northside

photos © 2005 Thomas B. Growden

9/11,” he said. “Our teams are trained to quickly seek out facilities in the community in which it would be appropriate to house operations after a disaster.”

Accommodations at the “Penney Dome”—as one handmade sign read—were Spartan, yet a sure step up from the tent city across town. First of all, there was air conditioning, an amenity that I immensely appreciated after spending an hour in the blistering heat of the tent city grounds. In the mall’s living quarters, soldiers slept just feet away from call centers and computer terminals, making it somewhat difficult to rest, but the cots were noticeably more spread out than in the tent city “bedrooms.”

Restrooms were available, as well as private changing rooms. Residents even had a place to hang their clothes at night, upon the deserted clothes racks left behind by the department store. In the mall’s

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Inside Northside

parking lot were trucks fashioned with rows of sinks and mirrors, which were used for daily tooth brushing and face washing. Close by were the aforementioned shower trailers, bearing a reminder message on their doors to “Please remove boots before entering.”

Parsons then led me to the outdoor mess hall, which resembled a cafeteria lunch line, complete with soft drink spigots and cereal dispensers. Food was prepared by a caterer in a mobile kitchen nearby. “There’s a national list of approved caterers through the government,” Parsons explained. “The one here is called ‘For Stars Catering’ out of California,” he laughed, as he waited for the irony to sink in. The catering company had gone from servicing fancy movie stars out west to the hot and hungry soldiers here in Louisiana.

Next to the mess hall sat a bulletin board that broadcast news to the soldiers. Featured were clippings of world news events, sports scores and weather updates. I stopped short when I read a report tacked to the

board detailing how many people had been assisted by the Pennsylvania National Guard at the various PODs in the area. At the time of my visit, the soldiers had distributed 1,580,000 bags of ice, 1,912,500 gallons of water and 5,914,368 MREs (meals, ready to eat). “We serve about forty to fifty thousand people a day,” Parsons said, and noted that the Covington POD at the intersection of Highway 21 and Interstate 12 was the largest in the area.

“To date, nearly one million people have been helped.”

Build it, so they can come Members of the 56th Brigade were more than eager to offer their services to south Louisiana following the storm.

“Two days before our mobilization, guys were calling in and offering to come down here,” said Decree. But while deploying troops was an easy decision, finding the right space to house them definitely was not. Brigade Civil Affairs Officer Captain Mike Fluck was sent ahead of the troops to scope out possible sites. After surveying and

accessing damage in the Slidell area with Mayor Ben Morris, Fluck said the initial plan was to set up the tent city beside the runway of the Slidell Airport. “It was plenty big enough,” he admitted. “But, can you imagine trying to sleep while those planes take off and land?” Luckily, before the final decision was made, Fluck happened to drive by the Hammond soccer field site, which was originally set up as temporary housing for displaced employees of Cingular Wireless. “The site was perfect. And Cingular no longer needed it, so I put in the request,” he said. “Six hours later, we got it.”

An environmental engineer by trade, Fluck went to work quickly lining up contractors to properly equip the site for its hundreds of incoming residents.

It was a process that he described as fast, furious and unique. “Luckily, many of our guardsmen brought skills to the table from their work back home,” he said. Among the troops were electricians, plumbers and even an environmental engineer who helped to map out the facility’s design. In the end, the final layout of the tent city had the look of a military base, but truly jelled as a small village.

“We all came together and we’re doing great out here now, although we’re not used to this heat,” laughed Decree. “And the lovebugs have sparked some curious discussion, since we don’t see those back home.”

When asked about their favorite experiences from being stationed in south Louisiana, Decree and Fluck didn’t hesitate to answer. “Definitely the jambalaya!” remarked Decree.

“And the hospitality of the folks down here,” added Fluck. “You never know how the people are going to react to you, but the people here have been extremely hospitable.”

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Impact Katrina’s Economic

on the northshore

photo © 2005 Christine Carlton

by Tim Burns AS THE NORTHSHORE CLEANS UP, digs out and

Rips on the Lake in Mandeville.

84

regains essential services, the focus quickly turns to economic recovery efforts for the area. A quick assessment of the economic damage shows that it is just as staggering as the physical damage. The Louisiana Department of Economic Development estimates that Hurricanes Katrina and Rita wiped out 40 percent of the businesses in the state.

The sad reality for St. Tammany is that some of our residents lost both their business and their home, and are now faced with the monumental task of rebuilding both. Our hearts go out to the small businesses who have served the northshore for years past and who are now facing trying times. St. Tammany is also home to many who work on the southshore who have lost their businesses or jobs and face an uncertain future, as well.

This tremendous disaster has had considerable negative economic consequences for our community, as shown by the decline in sales tax collections parish-wide, despite an estimated 40 percent population increase. While many of the businesses in the lesser-affected areas are now up and running,

Inside Northside

there is a notable shortage in the labor force, with “Help Wanted” signs as plentiful as business advertising. Many workers have been displaced, and, in some cases, others have reportedly left for higher-paying positions in the storm recovery efforts, including working with FEMA. This labor force shortage poses an issue for businesses.

Plans for Recovery Our immediate challenge is helping our community and its businesses get back on their feet.

In an effort to pump life back into our economy, the state is working to get federal contracts awarded to local businesses. We want to make sure that Louisiana businesses are the ones who are given the opportunity to rebuild our communities, and this is a priority.

The Louisiana Department of Economic Development unveiled its recovery plan at the end of September. The keys to business recovery were outlined as follows: Short-term bridge loan Federal business grants Incentives for individuals to return

Incentives for businesses to return Hurricane recovery bonds Unemployment compensation assistance Although the program is not yet in place, and is largely dependent on congressional action, it is based on the Florida model, and could provide bridge loans to businesses from both state and federal sources. The federal business grants are based on the 9/11 model, and are included in the federal legislation. The incentives for businesses to return include accelerated depreciation and small-business investment tax credits, as well as other tax credits. Many of these programs are still being finalized at this writing.

Additional information can be found at www.ledforward.louisiana.gov, www. accesslouisiana.gov, or by calling the DED at 1-866-310-7617.

Senators Mary Landrieu and David Vitter have proposed the Hurricane Katrina Disaster Relief and Economic Recovery Act, which includes the appropriation for the DED bridge loans, a one-year moratorium before paying and an increase in the cap on the loans. In addition, Congressman Bobby Jindal is proposing legislation to provide an Economic Opportunity Zone in which the capital-gains tax on investments is eliminated and government regulations are simplified or eliminated. Businesses included in the zone could be allowed to fully expense business investments for the next five years, and also eliminate tax depreciation lives of new capital equipment and facilities and old capital. This would reduce the cost of purchasing new and more productive equipment and structures.

These and other bold tax initiatives are what are needed to bring new and stronger economic development to the state, and will ultimately generate greater tax revenues for the region and the nation.

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Inside Northside

Katrina’s economic impact affected the entire United States, in addition to the Gulf Coast. Prior to the storm, the nation’s economy was growing briskly. The unemployment rate had been falling steadily, and the economy had added 150,000-200,000 jobs a month. According to Douglas Holtz-Eakin of the Congressional Budget Office, the effects of Katrina, concentrated in the second half of this year, will result in noticeably slower growth and noticeably slower improvement in the jobs picture. As a result, it will significantly affect the growth path of the U.S. economy. Although unlikely to cause a recession, it will still be noticeable.

Help for small businesses The Business Roundtable that was recently sponsored at the Mandeville Community Center by Congressman Bobby Jindal included officials of the Small Business Administration, FEMA, the Corps of Engineers, the Louisiana Department of Economic Development and the Small Business Development Center at Southeastern University.

There were several presentations made about available aid packages for small businesses.

At this time, the backbone of federal assistance to small businesses is the U. S. Small Business Administration Disaster Loans program, which has the following types: 1) Home Disaster Loans: Loans to homeowners or renters to repair or replace disaster-damaged real estate or personal property owned by the victim.

With FEMA assistance limited to cash grants for rentals, repair and some replacement, the majority of the costs for replacing a house will be from an SBA loan. The interest rate ranges from 2.7% to 5.375% over 30 years, and the law limits loans to $200,000.

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Inside Northside

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2) Business Physical Disaster Loans: Loans to businesses to repair or replace disaster-damaged property owned by the business, including real estate, inventories, supplies, machinery and equipment. Businesses of any size are eligible. Non-profit organizations such as charities, churches and private universities are also eligible. The interest rate ranges from 4% to 6.5% over 30 years, and the law limits the loans to $1.5 million for repair or replacement of business assets.

3) Economic Injury Disaster Loans: Loans for working capital to small businesses and agricultural cooperatives to assist them through the disaster recovery period. The interest rate is 4% over 30 years, and the law limits the loans to $1.5 million for alleviating economic injury caused by the disaster.

Small-business owners should apply for SBA loans right away. Applicants need an acceptable credit history to apply, but you should apply even if your credit history is less than perfect. Although the form is detailed, and you may not have all your records, do your best to complete it.

More information can be obtained at www.sba.gov/disaster, or 1-800-659-2955.

In addition, the business center at Southeastern University is offering free SBA Disaster Loan Workshops. For information, go to www.selu.edu/businesscenter/ or call 985549-3831. The St. Tammany West Chamber of Commerce has launched the Business Recovery Center, which is open to all small businesses regardless of their affiliation with the Chamber. Visit http://sttammanychamber.org, or call 985-892-3216. The Louisiana Association of Business and Industry is providing some small-business assistance from its relief fund. Go to www.labi.org, or call 1-888-816-5224.

Overall, it is my estimation that St. Tammany’s economic picture could be positive over the long term, provided the influx in population is managed correctly in terms of transportation, housing and economic development.

This is a huge challenge for all of our elected officials at all levels, but especially for those of us in state and parish government. We have a strong commitment to work together to assist those businesses who are struggling, and to insure St. Tammany’s business community is represented in the rebuilding process at the local and state levels.

Much of the proposed assistance is not yet finalized.

Updated information is available at www.timburns.us, or call Rep. Burns’ office at 985-624-4492.

Tim Burns is the State Representative for District 89.

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89

tech talk

text

High

by Stacey Paretti Rase

communication.

“We went to sleep the Jetsons and woke up the Flintstones.”

- Jefferson Parish President Aaron Broussard

When all else failed, text messaging kept many northshore residents in touch.

90

I LAUGHED OUT LOUD when I heard Broussard make this observation regarding South Louisiana’s access to technology before and after Hurricane Katrina came to town. How true it is! Case in point: I didn’t hear the comment during a national interview on Fox News or MSNBC, nor did I hear it made during a press conference aired on a local news affiliate. Without television or internet access, I heard it instead over the airwaves of the United Radio Broadcasters of New Orleans—870AM—which had become my lifeline to information during the weeks following the storm. I listened to that broadcast so much throughout the month of September that I can still recite, verbatim, Cleco’s 30-second ad and its message of hope to its customers.

I’ll concede that radio access is a step above the Flintstone’s turntable record played by the beak of a Pterodactyl. But the fact that our means of communication were so abruptly cut off following the hurricane had us all feeling as if we were in the dark ages. Radio news alone seemed downright primitive to those of us who are used to getting our info from hundreds of cable channels, satellite radio streams, Web page news updates and national magazines. Yet, in the wake of the disaster, it became instantly clear

Inside Northside

that “The Big 870” was all we really needed. Sure, we were cut off from international news, but we heard what was more immediately important: power outage updates, school closing listings, shelter locations and updates from our local government. After a few weeks of nothing but local radio access, I felt truly informed after listening to a straight hour of Deke Bellavia and Garland Robinette. And when the Times Picayune finally reached my driveway, it was downright liberating to read it cover to cover in ten minutes flat, as only the most pertinent local news was printed in those first few weeks.

BK (Before Katrina), I could read each section of the paper, surf the Internet, flip TV channels and follow the news ticker for hours and my information thirst was still not quenched! But was my life more complete at the end of the day knowing which celebrity couple was on the outs or which analyst was weighing in on the real estate bubble?

Of course not. And for a short time, I savored the

absence of the never-ending barrage of information that is thrown at our face every day. As the days ticked by, I found that my anxiety level rose as the newspaper grew thicker.

It wasn’t until weeks later, as northshore residents began coming home to put their lives back in order, that the lack of available communication technology became enormously frustrating. Many people were still trying to locate loved ones that they had not talked to since before the storm hit. For them, the frustration became maddening. For those of us lucky enough to have all of our family and friends accounted for, the lack of phone service was merely an inconvenience. The situation forced us to get creative in order to find out information. Our kids had to (gasp!) walk down the block and actually knock on their friends’ doors to come out and play. Unexpected visitors “came calling” daily (just like in the old days!) to see if we were alright.

I actually witnessed neighbors in downtown Mandeville sitting on front porch rocking chairs as they watched the sun set across downed power lines.

These things we will surely remember. Just as many of us will remember that September of 2005 was when we first learned to text message.

That blessed bit of technology was a lifesaver! While damaged cell towers didn’t allow us to connect with others through a phone call, somehow text messaging was reliable. A week after the storm, I summoned the help of a tech-savvy teen (aren’t they all?) to show me the ropes. Two weeks later, I could send an entire message by text to my husband without even looking down at the phone. (“Im stuck on 190.

Where r u?”)

Pretty impressive for Flintstones.

university population to a record high.

photo Š 2005 Elaine Simmons

Making resources fill the need In St. Tammany, only five of the 51 schools were damaged, largely in the Slidell area, but other campuses became shelters for families in need. Both situations needed to be addressed in preparing the system to reopen. To accommodate the students most impacted by damaged schools, a platooning system was implemented, relocating students to

copinglearn to

by Jamey Landry

Above: The plaid skirts from many storm-affected schools blend in nicely at St. Scholastica Academy.

Right: Students, both old and new, of St. Thomas Aquinas Regional Catholic High School in Hammond listen to a message from School Chaplain Father Randy Cuevas.

92

SCHOOL SYSTEMS throughout the metropolitan area were crippled by Hurricane Katrina. Children just getting back into a normal routine after the summer break suddenly found themselves sharing homes, staying in shelters and evacuated across the Southeast and beyond.

The anxiety among children was palpable.

Among those most affected were students in the parishes of Jefferson, Orleans and St. Bernard. Many of the evacuees from those parishes headed north to the relative safety of the northshore, as well as to other in-state locations. Some school districts in the state have seen their student populations increase as much as 27 percent compared to the October 2004 enrollment, according to the Louisiana Department of Education.

Although St. Tammany Parish has become a haven for some displaced students, the opening of public schools on October 3 saw a decline in overall enrollment, particularly in the Slidell area. Many northshore families who evacuated had not yet returned, but most are expected back in the coming months. The private and parochial schools have opened enrollment to new families at an unprecedented rate.

Tangipahoa Parish has seen growth in both its public and private schools and at Southeastern Louisiana University. Enrolling students from the University of New Orleans and other area colleges has pushed the

Inside Northside

photo Š 2005 Darlene Tallo

Education rises to the challenge

undamaged schools.

Growth in the non-public schools has been dramatic. Christ Episcopal in Covington took approximately 80 new students into the fold when school resumed in September. Archdiocesan schools provided a seat to each of their displaced students from areas unable to reopen. New faces have entered classes across the northshore at every level. In Tangipahoa Parish, St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Hammond started the 2005-2006 school year with 305 students; there has been an increase of 160 students. With such demand on facilities, Aquinas increased its faculty, added classroom space and split the lunch period.

Temporary changes in regulations Acknowledging the effects of Hurricane Katrina on academic issues, the Louisiana Board

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of Elementary and Secondary Education, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Education, implemented several important changes. These emergency measures will be in place for a period of one year: All accountability testing will be maintained, including the LEAP, iLEAP and the Graduation Exit Exam, for the 20052006 school year. However, the board waived the high-stakes policy for students taking the LEAP tests in grades 4 and 8.

High school students must still pass the GEE in order to graduate.

The Louisiana Department of Education was given the ability to continue asking the U.S. Department of Education for a partial waiver of Annual Yearly Progress. Louisiana has asked that only students enrolled in schools or districts for two years be included in School Performance Scores and Subgroup Score calculations. In addition, the state has asked that no schools or districts be moved into a higher level of school improvement based on the 2005-2006 calculations.

Displaced Louisiana high school students may receive a Louisiana diploma if they have the required 23 Carnegie Units and pass the Graduation Exit Exam, no matter where they are seeking temporary shelter. This waiver also gives local school districts the ability to sign student transcripts if

Coping with stress in students Recognizing that teachers and school counselors can play a large and important role in the recovery of children affected by the hurricanes, Southeastern Louisiana University hosted a talk by Denny Taylor, a professor and doctoral director of literacy studies at Hofstra University in New York. Taylor is currently working with national and international agencies to establish an organization called “Teachers Helping Teachers” to raise awareness of the trauma experienced by children living in areas of armed conflict and natural disasters. Taylor, who volunteered her time, discussed with secondary teachers from surrounding parishes, as well as Southeastern faculty and students, the implications of trauma brought on by the hurricane for K-12 students, and how to address them.

In her talk, Taylor said: “School provides a strong sense of structure to these children, and it represents a safe place for them. Children need time to be able to think through what they have experienced,” she said. “They need time to catch up, not just in school work, but in what they have gone through. Homework as we traditionally think of it doesn’t make sense during this time.”

Taylor stressed the importance of giving children time to think through what they have experienced in the aftermath of a traumatic situation such as a hurricane. She also emphasized the importance of providing affected children with tools of their own, such as books, crayons and paper. Given the complete loss of homes and belongings some of these children’s families have suffered, these few things may be all these children own. Taylor also pointed out that flexibility by teachers and counselors is key to helping the displaced students keep up with their peers—and parents, teachers and counselors should respect the wishes of children about discussing their experiences. ­ “If they are willing to share their experiences, then certainly we should listen,” Taylor added, “but we should never try to drag it out of them, because that can also be traumatic.” She noted that art can be therapeutic, since it gives the children something fun to do and allows them to express their feelings about the storms if they are unable to do so verbally.

Taylor had these additional recommendations for dealing with distressed children: • Assume that children are doing their best to cope with the situation.

• Make sure that children have adequate food, clothing and shelter.

• Establish basic routines with children, encourage them to engage in self-care and to feel as much in control as they can.

• Read stories and more stories; sing songs; make sure there is time for children to play.

• Reassure children that, with the exception of self-destructive behaviors and emotions, their feelings and reactions are reasonable, given the situation.

Taylor suggests that teachers should endeavor to keep parents informed of observations by sending letters, when possible. She also stressed the importance of teachers taking care of themselves and each other. “Schools need to make time for teacher support groups, either at lunch time or after school,” she said. “Teachers need time to discuss what is happening and to share their own feelings.”

H u r r i c a n e K a t r i n a 2 005

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school principals are unavailable.

State Superintendent of Education Cecil J. Picard may approve revised school calendars for districts that were closed for a significant period of time due to either hurricane, pending legislative approval.

Maximum class size requirements are waived. For grades K-3, classes can include 28 students, up from 26.

For grades 4-12, classes can include 35 students, up from 33. For LA 4 and other PreK programs, classes can include up to 22 students, up from 20.

The State Department of Education stressed that, while these measures were designed to help school districts deal with the influx of displaced students, they should not be interpreted as a relaxing of accountability. In a written statement, State Superintendent of Education Cecil J. Picard said: “Accountability is the engine driving education reform in our state, and I expect it to continue once this extraordinary time has passed. We must do what’s best for the children of our state, and that’s why we will continue testing this year, but with consideration for the difficult things children are experiencing due to the hurricanes.”

Record enrollment at Southeastern With an influx of more than 1,000 guest students from the New Orleans and Gulf Coast areas, Southeastern Louisiana University’s enrollment has reached more than 16,311 students, a record number. Southeastern processed 1,360 applications from visiting students. Applicants included more than 520 from the University of New Orleans, 450 from Delgado Community College and the remainder from other universities and colleges.

President Randy Moffett welcomed 96

Inside Northside

In the true spirit of “When life gives you lemons, make lemonade,” many people feel there is now an opportunity to rebuild and improve education statewide, not just in the areas most affected by the hurricane. Parents and non-parents alike can be a part of the spirit of change. Take a more active role in your children’s education. Talk to their teachers. Volunteer at schools.

Make an effort to find out what you can do to help Louisiana education recover and move forward.

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An opportunity

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the visiting students to the Southeastern family during orientation. He said that university officials have tried to accommodate the students’ course needs as much as possible. In addition, Southeastern is offering a compressed, eight-week semester, which began on October 20.

“This is a very difficult process for these students, many of whom were just starting their college careers, others who are close to graduating,” says Moffett.

“We’re glad to be able to provide them with a home—even if only on a temporary basis—and enable them to continue toward their educational goals.”

As in the secondary schools, the unanticipated extra enrollments have presented their own challenges for staff and facilities, such as housing. To meet the need, Southeastern opened a previously closed dormitory, dubbed “Old Taylor” to distinguish it from the new Taylor Hall. It will house more than 400 students, making a total of more than 2,300 students currently living on-campus. Cardinal Newman dormitory, which had been closed for renovation, is serving as home for faculty and staff and their families who are temporarily displaced due to the hurricane.

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97

computers, and jewelry. Some, however, …

“My son Tonner took the clothes out of his suitcase to put in the Mickey Wizard hat that he recently got in Disneyworld.” Rebecca Dougherty, Covington.

“We packed Tim’s mother’s paintings of New Orleans, as well as a few of our daughter’s art works.

Oh! And our pets: two cats, and a baby raccoon!”

Debbi and Tim Fotsch, Slidell.

“I took my children’s favorite stuffed animals.”

Desiree Simmons, Abita Springs.

“I packed my most precious cargo—my husband and three children. I then brought all of my negatives and camera gear with us on the trek to Jackson, Miss. Furnishings and possessions can be purchased—visual memories cannot.” Dorothy Cooper, Hammond.

“I am only telling you because it is my guess that nobody has submitted this. I have a box where I keep the newspaper obituaries and prayer cards of close relatives that have died. Obits have great info and are truly irreplaceable.

Please don’t identify me if you use this.” Jane Doe, Pearl River.

“We did not forget to bring wine and gin—after all, my mother-in-law needs to have her cocktails at 6pm! Believe me; I was glad to join in with her.” Suzy Kessenich, Covington.

“I packed the norm, as in insurance policies, a gun with ammo, and some jewelry. Oh! And plenty of chocolate!” Brenda Reine, Slidell.

“When we packed our “keepers,” one of the first things in the box was our Tiger season tickets!” Rene and Laura Gandolfo, Covington.

“I have a special hand cream that I love and made sure that I put that into my purse. (Weird isn’t it!) Since we took two cars, we took walkie-talkies in case we got separated. During 12 hours on the road, that was the most precious tool of communication we had. Oh—and without me saying a word, both boys put their book bags into the car. Amazing!” Norma Richard, Mandeville.

keepers

by Stacey Paretti Rase

Must-go must-haves

IN PUTTING TOGETHER this special issue, we found that “keepers” took on a whole different meaning. We asked some of our readers to share what they considered most important to keep with them while fleeing from the storm. As might be expected, some items appeared frequently, such as important papers, photographs and home videos, medicines, baby albums, family heirlooms, phone numbers,

98

Inside Northside

A D V E R T I S E M E N T

A Great Place to Call Home something when everything else was falling apart.

They needed the social interaction and communication. After being away and called EVERYONE KNOWS that the best way to relieve “refugee” or “evacuee,” they wanted to go stress is to exercise, but over the past month we somewhere familiar where someone knew their have witnessed that those affected by Hurricane name; they wanted to share stories with their Katrina sought refuge at Franco’s for many other friends. Everyone needed the support. reasons than just a good workout. They found Some just came to get a hot cup of coffee relief for their mind, body and spirit. Franco’s from Franco’s Starbucks Café. has become a new home for many.

With cell phones not working, we were fortunate enough to have the wireless Internet “Working out has kept me sane by getting back into a routine restored shortly after the storm. Once that for a sense of normalcy. As a word spread, people drove from miles away social worker, psychological just to come to the club and get on line to well-being is essential for me communicate. during this difficult time. We Tennis players came by to check on their were away for two weeks, and courts and offered to help clean up so they the first thing I did [when I could get back to their game. The cycling returned] was drive by Franco’s. group was one of the first to start back with Even with their limited hours, I group exercise. They said nothing releases was determined to make that stress better than a great spinning class. work. I usually attend group Family is great, but when you have as exercise classes, but on a many as 14 people under one roof, tension Everyone has had to sacrifice to some whim I hired Jared Meacham, quickly sets in. Everyone needed to get out degree—some more than others—but, over the Franco’s Fitness Director and of the house. Many members were thrilled past weeks, all of us have sacrificed and been Personal Trainer. I consider that to find out that during September, Franco’s denied life’s most basic needs, from food, water, as a GIFT for myself, something extended complimentary passes to evacuees shelter, gas and electricity to the loss of homes, I wouldn’t have normally done.” who were staying with members. Guests schools and separation of family and friends.

– Candy Rosenblum were invited to enjoy all the amenities, from Simple pleasures, such as cable and Internet— classes to pools and tennis. Month-to-month whom many consider a necessity—were taken away. People who memberships have been initiated to aid those who have have lost their homes and temporarily relocated to St. Tammany temporarily relocated. are joining Franco’s in record numbers. Members that we have not seen in a while are coming, too.

What about the kids?

Children can’t always identify signs of stress in their lives Why was it so important the way adults can. During times of crisis, two things that seem to get back to the club? to lower the stress and anxiety of children are for them to be We asked this question, and this is what we learned. around other children and to be playful in an active, carefree They needed to return to something routine and normal. They environment. With the kids out of school, mom needed a break needed to see their friends in class. To hear the motivational and so did the kids. Franco’s offered a Hurricane Katrina camp music and the words of the instructors encouraging them to to help them both. keep going. They needed to feel that they were accomplishing “My kids begged to come to Franco’s. All the fun stuff was

A D V E R T I S E M E N T

“Being able to go to Franco’s has been such a positive outlet for my two-year old, Madison. It allowed her to get some active play while I ran errands with Reagan, my newborn.”

– Lauren Bragg

taken away from them, and they needed an outlet, too. There they can swim have fun and play with their friends.

My first day back at work was tough; there are so many people now. I needed to come to the club and run off some frustration. My kids went to play in Franco’s Hang Out for kids. They love it.”

Kelly Persich— Pharmacist at Walgreens and mother of three

Steps to staying strong Physically • Did you notice how tired and exhausted you were in the weeks after Katrina? Trauma and stress are taxing to the body, both mentally and physically. Go ahead—take a nap or go to bed early. You need the sleep to recover.

• Get a massage. It’s one of the best ways to relax and unwind.

• Take a nice hot massage shower and Jacuzzi.

• Exercise daily. Get back on your workout routine.

• Try a yoga or Pilates class.

Spiritually It seems that many are taking advantage of this available time to

• This is a great time for reflection. Journal your thoughts and prayers.

• Change what is not right in your life.

• Attend church.

• Pray, be open.

• Accept the help of others.

• Listen to worship music; it will lift your spirit.

• Focus on your blessings, not your losses.

Emotionally

“During the days and weeks after Katrina, people were different. They smiled more; they started conversations with strangers and the people at the check-out counter. People were actually yielding to others, letting cars in line ahead of them in traffic. If they saw a familiar face, they didn’t just nod, but actually hugged one another. Neighbors were out in the street talking everyday. Some met neighbors for the first time after living near each other for years. People shared their homes, food and water. We all looked out for each other. Katrina brought out something good in all of us. She showed us who we really are and what we are made of. People full of love, compassion and faith.

Our hope abounds.”

– Sandy Franco

• Allow time for grief, but don’t allow it to consume you.

• Get in touch with those who are meaningful in your life. Express your love.

• Play with your kids.

• Turn off the news.

• Don’t take on unnecessary extra responsibilities that you know will cause stress.

• Do something that you have wanted to do, but have never taken the time for.

• The best way to recover and heal during a crisis or difficult time is to minister to someone else. Find someone who has suffered a greater loss and meet their need, minister to them, put your focus on them. Your cares won’t seem so great.

Franco’s Athletic Club

100 Bon Temps Roule • Mandeville 792-0200 • www.myfrancos.com

ton Gil Engelhardt of Ba of the Rouge, a member portation NOPD Crisis Trans mage in da the Unit, surveys

ren, Monica r grandchild he d an kits” n ga the “comfort Elaine Mor rowden, with es G ue n ac ga ev or a M and e Katrin d to Hurrican rch in hu C st they donate di ho t United Met through Firs Florida. , ad te Homes

Evacuated LSU fans in Destin celebrate the Tigers uplifting victory over Arizona.

read le re pki we e O’Kre pa trip when tt e v Y and nas Seeling iends o bands Angele e group of fr ving the hus e a th th le g r , n d fo ng che amo prepari approa Katrina r themselves fo to fend n! tio evacua ndrus yles and A g ers Tim Ha rk restorin rk o o w w t a O C ity CLE , Morgan C ts n m e o d fr si te re p LeCom ovington spirits of C nter). power and (ce ith m S Molly including

John Dougl as, Clayton Kelly and A mon Miller of Tennesse e.

102

Inside Northside

Joseph a nd Sam Giberga the debri tak s clearin g equipm ing a spin. ent for

Jayne Bankston and Neely Durh am were among th e many northsh ore residents that fled to Florida for Katrina and tri ed to make the most of the beachs ide evacuatio n.

m.

rha ne Du

Susan Monday-Saturday 10am-6pm Thursday 10am-7pm or by appointment

Mandeville Premier Centre 3426 Highway 190 985-727-9955

Who’s Got Your Back?

nah kston, Han Maggie Ban ssman. lo B r d Ambe Durham an

Schroeder Family Chiropractic

U.S.  Representative Bobby Jindal and Sta te Representative Tim Burns met with many at a forum Mr. Jindal led for business owners at the Mandeville Comm unity Center.

We would like to extend a big THANK YOU to all Katrina

volunteer relief & work crews by offering a FREE Exam,

Consultation and Adjustment.* *good through 12/31/2005

Dr. W. Scott Schroeder, D.C.

985-871-7411

19317 N. 10th Street, Suite C Covington, LA 70433 All major insurances accepted.

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Nicole N unez of St. Bern parish lo ard st her we dding dre Katrina. ss She is sh own here in dress tha in a t was don ated to h Southern er by Bridal.

B u s i n e s s YOUR NORTHSHORE CONNECTION TEAM of Wayne Mayberry and Dawn P. McBurney is just the team you need if you are planning to sell and/or buy a home. Their honesty, ethics and commitment to the highest standard of professionalism are demonstrated by the high level of satisfaction among their clients and the amount of repeat and referral business they receive. Wayne and Dawn have a combined 44 years of real estate experience. In addition, their partnership with Re/

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the industry. In 1992, he received the Real Estate Rookie of the Year award for St. Tammany Parish, the highest honor given by his peers. You can reach Wayne at 985-373-0130, 985-674-5663 or by e-mail at waynemayberry@remax.net.

Both Wayne and Dawn are lifetime members of the Million Dollar Club, and are affiliated with the National Association of REALTORS®, as well as the local real estate boards, NABOR and NOMAR. Because of the many changes brought by Katrina, many people in our area need assistance in selling and/or buying a home. If you are among them, choosing someone to represent your best interest is one of the most important decisions you can make. Dawn and Wayne will gladly answer the many questions you may have at this critical time.

Your Northshore Connection duo specialize in

Your Northshore Connection Max gives you access to the resources of the No. 1 real estate company in the world.

The team successfully reached a new record year in 2004, with sales of 18.5 million dollars, showing not only their expertise, but their dedication to quality service for both purchasers and sellers.

Before Dawn’s 30 successful years in business, she learned much from her parents, who were brokers, builders and appraisers. Dawn specializes in both the northshore and the southshore, adding her personal service in many ways. Her interior decorating skills have helped many customers make their homes warm and beautiful. The family tradition continues, as Dawn’s daughter, Ashley Marie Adams, is her licensed assistant. Both are available to help you with your needs. They can be reached at 985-789-0494, 985-674-5657 or by e-mail at homebydawn@mindspring.com.

A St. Tammany resident for 28 years, Wayne also follows a family tradition: his mother was a real estate agent for 15 years and is still working in

upscale residential properties, including country club, waterfront, historic Covington and country farms, but they are ready and willing to devote their full attention to all of your particular real estate needs.

Stop by to visit Wayne and Dawn at their offices at 1131 N. Causeway Blvd. in Mandeville, or visit www.waynemayberry.com to view property listings. Nobody in the world sells more real estate than Re/Max, and no local real estate agents can give you more dedicated attention than Your Northshore Connection. Let them help make your lives a little easier.

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by Sandra S. Juneau

sharingcomfort The drinking water donated

by AnheuserBusch was quickly dubbed “Floodweiser.”

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OUR HEARTS are saddened by the vast tragedy left in the wake of hurricanes Katrina and Rita. These catastrophic events will be forever etched in our memory as time pasts, to be referred to for all time as “before the hurricane and “after the hurricane.” As we begin the rebuilding process, we extend our prayers to the families and individuals who have lost so much. It is our fervent wish that the traditions which have sustained our region through centuries of enjoying the good life will continue, providing the strength and hope for creating a brighter

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future.

With so much of our world turned upside down, it seems trivial to think about cuisine, but friends and family who evacuated from Katrina all agree that once they had reached safe haven, their next impulse was an overwhelming craving for the comfort foods of home. Here in South Louisiana that translates to such specialties as jambalaya, red beans and rice or crawfish étoufée, and the tradition of sharing with family and friends.

For those who were lucky enough to salvage the contents of their freezers before spoilage, their immediate saving grace was having bags of ice provided by Red Cross and FEMA for transferring foods to ice chests. With no power and only limited resources available, creativity kicked in to use up the

bounty from freezers filled with specialty meats and local products—such as peeled Louisiana crawfish tails, Ponchatoula strawberries or frozen shrimp.

Backyard barbecues became communal kitchens for dishing up grilled steaks, skillet jambalaya and crawfish étoufée. With a return to simpler times, lacking the comforts of air conditioning and the distraction of television, neighbors were able to sit and chat, share a meal and check on each other’s needs.

For so many who were displaced from their homes to the hospitality of hotels or family members in Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Texas and other states, the same cravings prevailed; with overwhelming anxiety, they sought refuge in the comfort foods from home. So many families gathered together in the same hotels that communal meals cooked in hotel microwaves became the norm, stretching creativity to the limits. Canned and packaged Louisiana specialty foods quickly disappeared from grocery shelves in stores across the South. It was these canned red beans or packaged boxes of jambalaya, sauce piquant and étoufée that provided the basis for displaced Louisianans’ “home cooked meals.”

Who would have thought the distinctive palates of Louisiana’s epicures would find comfort in the contents within khaki brown plastic pouches? But finally, as families began their return home, MREs (Meals Ready to Eat) provided by FEMA were the staple fare until local groceries regained power and restocked supplies. These miracles of technology ranged in a variety of flavors from vegetarian meals to beef stew to chicken spaghetti and even jambalaya. Many were filled with surprises that satisfied local tastes, such as individual bottles of Tabasco, fig cookies and packets of Domino sugar.

The local favorite was Menu # 18: Cajun sausage, red beans and rice.

A quote from “Recipes and Reminiscences of

New Orleans, Volume II, Our Cultural Heritage,” by noted author Leonard V. Huber, sums up the spirit of recovery for not only New Orleans, but for our entire region: “Cities are not fabricated by brick and steel alone, but in the minds, hearts and spirits of their people. If New Orleans is a vital, many-faceted and scintillating city, if her haunting quality defies reduction to simple language, if she lives in the hearts and memories of many as a city of beauty and fascination, then her people—her heritage—have made her so.”

Given the history of resilience of our area, despite the ravages of hurricane destruction, fire or flood, the spirit of our culture will forever be preserved through the essence of our cuisine and through our tradition of hospitality and sharing.

Above: MREs often contain a welcome sight to locals – Tabasco sauce and Domino sugar.

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POST-KATRINA, REAL ESTATE DEMAND far outweighs supply on the northshore. Families fleeing southshore devastation to relocate here, as well as many locals, are willing buyers. They are seeking professional help to find homes that are reasonably priced by sellers. Three brokers offer their reflections on the current situation:

Kevin Lily—Broker, Showcase Properties: “We had a good market before the hurricanes, but now we have a tremendous market. Obviously, prices are going up. Appraisers are telling us that the

Terry Moore—Broker, Latter & Blum: “Katrina put a tremendous demand on rentals and homes in our area. The increase in activity has had an effect on pricing, with a lack of housing bumping some of the prices up. Obviously, properties that are undamaged, or sustained little damage, are in stronger demand, and buyers are willing to pay more—5-10 percent more than before the storm. Frankly, as far as the huge increases go, we try not to be a part of that. Appraisers, lenders, and insurance companies aren’t going to go along with those practices, either. The market adjusts those properties that are unreasonably overvalued.

“Properties priced fairly are consumed quickly. Many buyers have lost everything they owned— their homes, their jobs and even loved ones. Sellers shouldn’t take advantage of those peoples’ misfortune by overpricing. With such a limited supply of livable homes, of course, some buyers will pay a premium for a home they’re set on buying.”

Storm Surge

by Webb Williams

most we can expect them to generally accept is a 10 percent rise in value. In some instances, however, property values have gone up as much as 20-30 percent in four or five weeks. It’s hard to tell where the market is heading.

“The first days after the hurricanes were chaotic; no communication made it extremely difficult to help families find housing. There’s been a massive population shift. Seventy percent of our buying clientele are from St. Bernard, 20 percent from Metairie and 10 percent from across the country. In the four years we’ve been generating Internet buyer leads, I could count on both hands the number of people who’ve contacted us from St. Bernard Parish to move here.

“The storms have brought out the best and the worst in people. We resolve issues between agents and parties. But now issues have gotten bigger and more expensive, and we’ve noted more lawyers involved in transactions, because everybody’s worried—and often the expectations of buyers and sellers don’t jibe.

“Our quality of life, our outstanding school system and the quality of our government make us primed to become the new New Orleans. It’s going in that direction as folks decide not to rebuild homes and businesses in flood-prone areas. We have the ability and the resources for housing, business and industry to relocate here.”

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Mark Bennett—Broker, Keller-Williams: “The storms brought a surge of activity in residential and commercial sales and rentals as families and companies were displaced. Demand was high before the hurricanes, but now we’re in a hot market situation that keeps spiraling upward. There have always been overpriced properties in the marketplace, and the market adjusts for that. With higher demand, however, come properties with higher asking prices that might sell or just sit there. Some sellers think they won the lottery because they weren’t damaged, and overprice their homes. Lenders won’t play that game, so these sellers just have to hope for a cash sale. I expect a three-to-six month shakeout before the market settles.

“All economic indicators predict even more of a boom, as developers from around the country are buying huge tracts in Baton Rouge, Hammond and our area for future growth.

“Keller-Williams agents around the country raised money that was deposited in the bank accounts of all the company’s agents whose homes were devastated by the hurricanes. Each agent affected was given up to $5,000 by those inter-company donations,” Mark adds, proudly.

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Own a Madisonville Retreat

–with Vieux Carré Charm

A ride through historic Madisonville is always reminiscent of yesteryear. The feeling is quaint, neighborly and secure. Most of the homes are generations old, with stories to tell and history to preserve. So, to honor the integrity of the community, it is important that any renovation of the town’s older homes be done with care and love.

This unique gas-lighted cottage on Main Street offers more than meets the eye. The original house, built about 1915, has been renovated to maximize the lot’s potential. While much of the house is true to its era, with heart pine floors, beaded board walls and antique cypress appointments, the new has been integrated with the old in one seamless flow.

The original cottage is 2,100 square feet of nostalgia—a threebedroom, three-bath beauty with stained glass, antique furnishings and lots of heart. It’s a gentle space, truly a masterpiece of renovation and spirit that has comfort and function, plus all of today’s amenities.

The original lot was part of a pecan orchard, with watering

troughs for livestock. Today, the backyard is a paradise with a free-form pool, waterfall and spa surrounded by brick terraces and lush foliage. With privacy in mind, a 10-foot brick wall was constructed around the property. The wrought iron gates add security and charm.

The 3,200-square-foot pool house adjacent to the cottage was designed to accommodate recreation, children and guests.

Completed in 2000, the three levels, with elevator access, house a huge recreation-kitchen area, storage and utility space,

Brookside Real Estate - Selling St. Tammany For more detailed information about this special property and other northshore treasures, call Lynn Ferina at Brookside Real Estate, 985-674-0915 or 985-807-LYNN. www.sellingsttammany.com H u r r i c a n e K a t r i n a 2 005

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Formerly Covington Marble & Granite

Let us “SAVE YOUR STONE”

We are offering a custom uninstall/reinstall system.

We are able to reinstall any natural solid surface stone.

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We are proud to be a part of the recovery and rebuilding of our community.

The future is bright for the northshore and the New Orleans metropolitan area.

Together we will make great things happen.

Our specialty is to discover your needs and customize the stone for your living and work spaces. Whether you are decorating a room, planning your dream home, creating an office setting or seeking to pull a space together, our custom stone Design Specialists are eager to meet your needs.

2326 West 21st Avenue, Covington, LA 70433 985-892-0695 • 985-892-1697 Fax

Professional Office Spaces Available

High-speed internet and phone systems are already in place!

Two office suites, approximately 1,000 square feet each. Located behind the intersection of I-12 and Hwy. 190; there is good parking and very quick access onto both highways. Probably most important… they are completely functional, with T-1 service and existing phones and phone systems in place. The occupants could be up and running immediately!

(985) 246-3900

The McEnery Company, Inc. Real Estate Brokerage & Consulting 19411 Helenberg Road, Suite 204

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Celebrating 25 Years of Excellence

Our Permex shutters survived Katrina We are the only authorized distributor of Permex and Polywood in the state.

• Custom interior wood and Polywood shutters • Maintenance free hurricane shutters • Full line of custom blinds, shades & draperies • Beautiful showroom in Mandeville Call Us for a FREE In-House Estimate

985-792-0000

Toll FREE 877-8288464

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The Northshore

Locating an exceptional Realtor is the most important step. Call the professional with a reputation for excellent service.

Ann O’Bryan ABR, CRS, GRI 1151 N. Causeway Blvd.

Mandeville, LA 70471 cell 985.630.1849 office 985.626.5695 fax 985. 626.5866 112

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Buying & Selling - After the Storms Don’t Be A Victim TWICE! Buying and selling homes are profound transactions, too important to be embarked on without professional representation. I can help.

I built my family home in St. Tammany Parish some 26 years ago and know our neighborhoods well.

As a real estate professional, I know the values of our homes and would like to represent your best interests in buying or selling in our area - or anywhere else, for that matter.

If you or someone you know is interested in buying or selling a home, please refer them to me.

I promise not to keep it under my hat.

“Home Sweet Home St. Tammany!”

Cell: (985) 264-7484 Office: (985) 727-1727 Fax: (985) 727-1705 Home: (985) 845-8735 webbwill@bellsouth.net SHOWCASE PROPERTIES 100 Mariner’s Blvd. Ste. 3 Mandeville, LA 70448

Webb Williams, Realtor

We can be reached at our temporary number, 813-739-5120

Kevin Davis

President, St. Tammany Parish

by Stacey Paretti Rase DURING KATRINA, St. Tammany Parish President Kevin Davis and his staff spent many harrowing days inside the parish’s Emergency Operations Center on Boston Street in Covington, at the site of the old parish courthouse. Here is his first-hand account of being on the front lines during that difficult time.

municipal and district lines. There was a united response to the greatest crisis St. Tammany has ever faced.

Were you able to witness anything outside during the height of the storm?

I left the EOC on Monday, the 29th, as soon as winds slowed below 50 miles per hour. Destruction was everywhere.

Trees were tossed like matchsticks across roads and roofs, flood waters reached areas beyond my imagination, and our emergency response workers were

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photo © 2005 Dana LaFonta

those hospitals for ambulances and other emergency vehicles. At the same time, getting water, food and ice to the community became critical. I reached out to every partner I could find to bring aid to us.

Now that a month has passed, what are the more current concerns for St. Tammany?

The Emergency Operations Center was fully activated on Saturday, August 27 at 6:15 p.m. Liaison officers from first responders, municipalities, law enforcement, utilities, call takers and my own department heads reported at that time. The Crisis Action Team, a smaller representative group, had been activated at the EOC since Thursday, August 25.

The number of emergency personnel on site grew to almost 200 over the next week, as we raced to coordinate emergency response. Many slept on floors, in hallways, or wherever a flat space could be found.

The dedication of these workers, and the coordination achieved among all the responding agencies, was outstanding. The needs of citizens erased 114

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photo © 2005 Dana LaFonta

At what point did you and necessary personnel report to the EOC? What were conditions like there?

rescuing citizens from rooftops and attics.

St. Tammany was filled with horror and heroics in those first few days after the storm. I was sad, worried and driven to provide all the aid I could find to my community. I returned to the EOC and immediately began implementing our initial relief efforts.

Just after the storm passed, what did you consider to be the most important issues to tackle?

My first priority was providing medical aid to citizens, which meant that I had to assist the hospitals with their needs and open the roads to

Every day we have to look at our citizens’ basic needs, such as housing, and at the same time strive to ensure that our rebuilding efforts support the reasons we live in St. Tammany: beauty, tranquility and safety, as well as our cultural and community life.

What has been your most poignant experience throughout this whole ordeal?

About a week before the storm, Maria gave birth to our son, John Clay. They both came with me to the EOC during the storm and stayed there for several weeks because of the flood damage to our home. During those never-ending days, I got a great deal of strength from the quiet moments spent with my wife and the few minutes with John Clay.