Volunteers Return to Coast for 10 Year Anniversary of Katrina

It’s been almost ten years since Hurricane Katrina devastated the Coast, and volunteers from 19 different states have gathered to learn more about disaster relief to increase preparedness in the case of another disaster.

Nearly ten years ago, a host of out of state volunteers came to the Gulf Coast to help local residents rebuild their homes and lives after Katrina. Robert Craig, a disaster relief volunteer, says, "One of the things I remember most is just kind of walking around the corner of the house and seeing this freshman in high school really become a best friend to this 60 plus year old Gulf resident and just to watch the things he learned from that resident during that week."

Some volunteers traveled as far as 2,000 miles, like Nancy Rasmussen of Redondo Beach, California. Rasmussen says, "I guess one of the most indebtable images in my mind is to see a doorstep, you know two steps, concrete, and nothing else."

Coast resident, Rev. Elijah Mitchell, remembers coordinating disaster relief efforts amidst the chaos the storm left behind. Rev. Mitchell says, "It was more devastating than what I saw in Vietnam, and I could not believe what I saw, especially the people, children, just walking with whatever personal belongings they had, just walking up the street here on Highway 90 and in the communities. It was heartbreaking.”

Now ten years later, some volunteers from 19 states have returned to share stories and learn more about disaster relief to increase preparedness in the case of another disaster. Rev. Dr. Connie Shelton of Connectional Ministries says, "So they have a basic disaster response training that they do. We also offer cultural competence, volunteer management in between disasters, communication skills during disasters, lots of ways we can connect and work together after a disaster."

Volunteers say working together was key to surviving Katrina, and any other storms life brings their way.