Waveland Post Katrina (about 4 weeks after landfall)

[gulfcoastliberal]

My mom and my stepdad went back to Waveland (I didn't have the heart) as soon as they roads were officially cleared enough to let in out of state people. These are pictures taken on disposable cameras and transferred to CD, so they aren't the best quality. I'm including a couple of pics of grandmas house before the storm so you get an idea of the destruction.

Grandmas house before the storm. 222 Hillcrest St, 2 blocks from the beach. She was on about 2 acres, a nice sized lot. Small 3 bedroom house, maybe 1200 sq feet with a nice porch in bac overlooking some woods.


Side view of house. My mom paid $2,000 to have trees cut down and carted off before Katrina hit. Turned out to be a waste of money - the truck in the background belongs to the tree guys.


Inside house, kitchen gacing the cabinet that had priceless pre-wwI de haviland china.


Cozy living room


Grandma's bedroom. Fantastic old furniture.


This what's left of the carport post Katrina. One of a couple of identifying remains of her lot.


Remains of the front porch - somehow a piece of the wrought-iron railing is still there.


Foundation - house was built up slightly on cinder blocks, a few of which are left.


This is looking north towards what was the neighbors house.


Grandmas roof, found about 100 yard down the street.


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Hillcrest St facing south.


Mom looking for something, anything.


This house is still standing. It's at the very north part of Hillcrest across the street from the RR tracks. The owners had been meticulouly restoring it before Katrina.


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Coleman St - Wavelands main St that had restaurants, city hall, shops.



Camping out on Coleman St.


All that's left of town hall - a mural depicting the ocean. Ironically, the plaque still standing is a memorial to all those who helped rebuild Waveland after Hurricane Camille.


Where the American Legion was. Raising ol Glory.



Please feel free to use these photos if you think they might be useful. I know sfexpat was looking for pictures for katrinaunderground.

[uppityperson]

1. I am so sorry.

Thank you for another photoessay. Have they been back? I know it is a lot to ask, but have you any recent pictures for us to put in people's faces when they give us that bs crap that things have recovered there and everything is fine?

[gulfcoastliberal]

2. Thanks. I'm going back the Tuesday after xmas with grandma.

We're going back so she can get her stuff in her safe deposit box and go see a lawyer in Bay St Louis to sign up for a class action suit against State farm. They are saying her contents insurance doesn't apply (she had flood insurance0 but paid all these extra premiums for 20+ years to insure the contents of the house. State farm called her the other day and went off about how she doesn't have a claim and they're not going to pay her a dime. So like Trent Lott, she'll be joining the lawsuit v State Farm. The fuckers. I;m hoping I'll get to meet Merh when we go over, since we'll be stopping in Gulfport.

But my stepdad does business in Mississippi near Waveland and he said the last time he was there it looked exactly the same as those pictures. I'll bring along my digital camera and get some good shots of the conditions there when we go back.

Thanks for the well wishes. Peace.

[uppityperson]

3. I thought State Farm and Allstate had turned around and said they'd pay?

I know that they at first were saying no payments, but I though they'd turned around and said they'd pay. I hope they get their asses sued and have to pay for what they were insured for. I know that insurances will take a loss but tough shit, it's gambling. They want to make more money than they pay out and are gambling with us. They lost, should pay up. Good luch and happy holidays.

[intheflow]

4. There's a web site just about Waveland.

http://www.femaforgotwaveland.com/

You're photos are exactly the Waveland I encountered doing damage assessment for the Red Cross 3 months after the storm. This web site, FEMA Forgot Waveland, was the homepage on one of the computers at the Naval base the volunteers stayed at in Gulfport. I'll always be haunted by the extreme devestation I saw in Waveland. There really is almost nothing left. :cry:

I'm so sorry for your family's loss.

[gulfcoastliberal]

6. Thank you. There's a good link to more Waveland pics from femforgotwavela

http://www.lisasheaven.com/katrinadamage/index.htm

More good pics here.

[merh]

5. Incredible photos, thank you for sharing them with us.

Folks just can't imagine the magnitude of the devastation. These images do help.

Give a hug to your grandmother for me, give her plenty of hugs and hugs back to you.

:hug: :grouphug: