Seriously, I’m not laughing about the damage done to Gulfport–I’ve had reason to pass by there several times over the last month, and the damage done to peoples’ homes is heartbreaking. The last time I drove by, most homes were still submerged up to the roof.
But I just gotta know: will there be a re-build of the pole-dancing business?
(From WGEM)
Gulfport Residents Finally Return HomePosted: Aug 16, 2008 08:33 PM
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Gulfport Residents Finally Return Home
More than one hundred Henderson County homes were inundated by the swallon Mississippi River on June 17th, when the Gulfport levee broke.
Saturday, residents of that area got a glimpse of the devastation left behind by the Mighty Mississippi.
When residents in Gulfport returned to their homes for the first time, they knew it wasn’t going to be a pretty sight. But the flood was so fierce, what it left in its path was a little worse than expected. This home was completely knocked off its foundation. This porch is now lodged up against a van. And black mold can be found almost everywhere.
“Gone,” describes homeowner Steve Eaton. “What can you do? Rebuild.”
Eaton has lived in Gulfport his entire life. In 1989, he finished building this home, one he has lived in since. But after years of craftsmanship and years of memories, he says he’ll have to rebuild nearly all of if.
“I lost 20 years of my life of building it,” says Eaton. “That’s a big thing. I built it and to lose it? I guess I’ll just start over.”
The floodwaters in Steve’s home reached as high as the ceiling. He estimates that he faces $165,000 worth of damages. But he says he is not letting it get the best of him.
“I am always positive. I work every day so I have to keep a positive attitude.”
Just a few blocks away, Roger Brockett was checking out his brother’s home. Roger helped convert this garage into a home for his brother, but like all the other residents in Gulfport…he will have to start over.
“It might be salvageable,” says Brockett. “More than likely, I’ll put a mobile home in for him and just salvage the metal structure.”"=
Roger says the cleanup will take a lot of work, especially because the flood damaged the home a lot more than he thought.
“It pulled them right out of the ground. The back part of that garage, and it stood straight up in the air at the end.”
And while Roger and other residents continue to check out the damage in Gulfport, they are reminded with one thing.
“You can’t mess with nature. What nature does, nature is going to do.”
But even though Mother Nature physically destroyed Gulfport, it has no match for the perseverance of its residents.
Tags: local_news, nature
Hey Tornado Ali – Stumbled on your blog. Got a laugh from this:
“But I just gotta know: will there be a re-build of the pole-dancing business?”
It is very important we know the answer to this!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kenthenderson/2612944936/in/photostream/