Katrina Anniversary: Show and Tell Friday

Even though we are about 2 and 1/2 hours from the Mississippi Gulf Coast, we felt the effects of Katrina. We had many trees down, and 100 mile per hour winds at times plus LOTS of rain.

Since the anniversary of Katrina is today, I want to show you the damage we had to our home. We were adding on the screened porch at the time, and the roof material was in the backyard waiting for the roofers. The night before the storm, our contractor was here until about 10 pm trying to lay tarps and secure the roof to prevent leaking. The winds and rain from Katrina were too intense and his efforts didn't do any good.

During the storm, which lasted all day and into the night, we discovered the roof leaking in the dining area which was right next to the new porch addition. These pictures show our dining room after the ceiling in the dining room just couldn't take any more of the rain.


You can see the garbage cans scattered throughout the room...we tried most of the night to contain the water...but finally gave up around midnight. We had no power and we could tell that we were fighting a losing battle! Our hardwood floors were only a few months old when Katrina came through. They still bear some scars from Katrina, but after cleaning them up we decided to postpone replacing them. Our total damage throughout our home was around $13,000 which our insurance paid within days! I know we were so blessed after hearing the stories many people went through with their insurance companies.

There were so many people effected by this storm. My cousin lost her home, and found out about it on CNN while watching a news broadcast that surveyed the damage from her mom's home in Jackson.

At first, we were not aware of the magnitude of the storm and the damage it had caused because we had no electricity for 6 days. When we finally did get power, the pictures on TV of the devastation were heartbreaking!

On another note, not all of our memories of the storm are terrible. These little orange crocs of Connor's remind me of a funny story. I have searched my computer files for a picture of Connor wearing the orange crocs, but can't find one...so you'll just have to use your imagination!

I had bought him a pair of orange crocs a few weeks before the storm and he was so proud of them. Actually, the pair in the picture is his second pair- the first ones were much smaller. He stayed with me in the days after the storm since we were out of school and his nursery was closed. He was only 3 at the time, and each day we would go to the mall since the power was off and it was so hot. We would eat lunch and he played on the playground at the mall. One day I looked up and Connor was crying and having a fit trying to take orange crocs off this little boy who was on the playground. He thought the little guy was wearing his shoes! I had his pair in my purse since he flung them off when we got there. I love to tell him this story and wish I had taken pictures of it. I won't get rid of these orange crocs-they remind me of the story!

I know this has been long and rambling...but I hope we don't have to go through another Katrina for a long time! I don't know if the Mississippi Gulf Coast and New Orleans can make it through that much devastation again! If you want to check on Gustav, which may be headed this way, click here. It looks as if the people of New Orleans and the Mississippi Gulf Coast will be evacuating instead of attending services to remember those that died in Katrina.
For other Show and Tell posts be sure to visit Kelli at There's No Place Like Home.
Thanks Kelli for hosting this!
Diane