Locals react to the Notre Dame Cathedral fire

The Notre Dame Cathedral fire is resonating with people across the globe and even here in South Mississippi.

An ocean away from France, but students in one Gulfport High School French class still felt the impact of the devastating fire. The burn was even more intense for those like Emilie Chaenault and teacher Barrett Taylor, who have stepped foot into the iconic cathedral. “I don’t even know how to describe it. My mom text me a picture and said she was heartbroken and I felt the same way,” said Chaenault.

“I was really just blown away. It was like ‘oh my gosh, this is a place I have been to hundreds of time.’ It’s just fascinating to see that happening,” said Taylor.

Ten years ago, Emilie and her family attended a Easter mass at Notre Dame. “It was a surreal experience, even though I was young, to see all the history and just everything that was chronicalized from hundreds of years in the past was crazy.”

Notre Dame became a huge part of Barrett’s life after studying aboard in Paris during college and even spending his honeymoon there. “When you actually go to Notre Dame, it’s massive and it is just really overwhelming and it’s just really overwhelming and it just really takes your breath away. You are like wow, it’s so much more majestic in person.”

Barrett says he’s extremely thankful to have captured photographs of the cathedral during his travels to France. “It’s just so calm and something special. It’s holy and you can feel it. It’s just a special place and it’s really devastating to see.”