If there is any place that should know the fury and devastation a monster hurricane can bring, it’s Pass Christian, Miss. The havoc wrought by Katrina’s wind and waves was a replay of 1969 when Camille slammed into this Gulf Coast town.
But Katrina, veterans say, is much worse.
Maurice Wescovich, a power company retiree who is back on the job as a volunteer, has seen enough heartbreak this week to last a lifetime.
“The first thing I’ve saw was a body in a ditch. I came down and cried from Menge avenue to Henderson point,” says Wescovich.
A building stands behind him, the shattered remains of one of Pass Christian’s two firehouses. It was clear if any first responders had been caught here when the hurricane hit, they would have become among the first in trouble. Fortunately, they evacuated before the worst of the storm.
Through barely passable streets, we saw block after block of neighborhoods— reduced to ruins. This town of 8,000, clinging to 12 miles of coast line, is hanging on but desperate for aid. They are cobbling together a relief effort as well as it can, with help from neighbors.
“Everything you see back here, all these food, the meals, the military meals, and the water has all been donated by cities,” says Lt. Jim Bradley.
They are still waiting for a federal presence to come with food, water, and ice.
“I know there’s a lot of people stopping the firemen saying ‘Where’s the help? What are you going to do?’” says Bradley. “You know, we had to leave bodies. We had nothing to put bodies in. We had to leave bodies on the side of the road,” he cries.
While we were in Pass Christian, a truck full of supplies was brought in by sail boat from a former resident who hadn’t forgotten his old neighbors. There was another donation from neighbors— tetanus shots compliments of Escambia county, Alabama, even though that area was hit as well.
Today, there was finally a very visible sign of a federal presence here, as Marine One, the president’s helicopter toured the area.
What would they say to the president if they came here to talk to the residents?
“Mister president, help us. Send us some help,” says Bradley. “We are running out of time.”
