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May 22-27, 2007
First Presbyterian Church
Pascagoula, Mississippi

This is the home of Gene Peterson.  Her house received 3 feet of water.  Gene has since had the house raised up on concrete piers.  She was able to save her kitchen cabinets, but needs subflooring, flooring and appliances.  The house has been rewired.  Gene's living room needs sheetrock, new and refinished floors and new paint.

(View a video produced by the friends at Peachtree Presbyterian Church, Atlanta, GA.)

Pascagoula is a small Gulf Coast town in southern Mississippi located between Biloxi and Mobile, Alabama.  When Hurricane Katrina hit in August of 2005, its 30 foot storm surge left its mark on Pascagoula.  Homes were destroyed, schools were closed, and the library in the heart of the town held four feet of standing water, mud and debris.

After the structure of First Presbyterian Church withstood hurricane Katrina'a winds, the church and many of its members were faced with the challenge to clean, repair and often reconstruct.  Because 95% of the town did not have flood insurance (guided by flood zone maps and prohibitive insurance rates), communities all over the country have responded by going to Mississippi to help the membership and local community rebuild their homes and lives.

This is the home of Hugh and May Ezell.  Their house was flooded with 4 feet of water.  They currently live in a FEMA trailer.  While the walls and wiring have been completed, they still need painting, some cabinet work and overall cleaning before they can move home.  May has been keeping the infants in FPC-Pascagoula's nursery for 40 years.

Despite the fact that much of the national attention has moved on, there is still work to be done.  First Presbyterian Church has been asked to respond to the needs of the community in Pascagoula in the months ahead.

Organized by professional volunteer on-site managers, Ed and Tracy Rutherford, (a design and build team from Atlanta, GA) volunteers are housed at First Presbyterian Church, Pascagoula, which accomodates up to 35 volunteers (using air mattresses in the Sunday school rooms) with showers and large bathrooms. View some pictures of the facilities. 

Facilities in First Presbyterian Church Pascagoula, MS

Volunteers are matched with the needs of the homes and with skilled and unskilled workers (and certainly folks who would like to learn).

Volunteers from Iowa at the home of Amber and Warren Grubbs.  Warren grew up in FPC-Pascagoula.  He and Amber are about 28 years old.  Their home had four feet of water from Hurricane Katrina.  The house needs interior trimwork, new doors and painting.  The group is installing cabinets and working on the walls.

Each team is hosted for lunch or dinner by one of our families sometime during our stay.  This FPC-Pascagoula members the opportunity to express thanks and for the volunteers to hear local stories of Katrina.

For more information, you may also read the Katrina Recovery Volunteer Handbook.

For more information, please contact Kirk Hall or the church office, 252-1919.