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Published: April 3rd 2006
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ECC TEAM
ECC TEAM Here is our “TEAM:”
Carissa Abdo
Ramon Albino
Victor Amara
Jenni Baker
Rick Bailey
Bill Dugar
Spencer Edgar
Rick Green
Maggie Hake (Our California Adoptee)
Courtney Hamill
Brittany Hicks
James Hilton
Steve Jernberg
Eder Lara
Kathy Larson
Amybeth Maurer
Traci Monahan
Craig Nechvatal
Dawn Prevastke
Susan Smith
Emilie Strauss
Kati Wallace
When we started out on this journey, I don’t think any of us really knew what we’d be facing when we arrived in Louisiana. We were calm, for the most part quiet, in the “Evil Do-Gooders” van, anyway; the “Kewl-Aiders” were a different story. :-)
We had twenty-one people and all the gear stuffed in two school vans. This didn’t leave much room for the people to settle in and get any rest. But, we managed to travel 949.3 miles together, to New Orleans, without any mishaps.
Once we were in Orleans Parish (county) things began to change; little did we know that within twenty miles our whole world would be changed. We saw damaged homes and businesses from the winds of Katrina. After leaving the Interstate, we were in the infamous 9th ward.
We later found out that there
Munster Blvd
Munster Blvd were two 9th wards, the upper and lower. The upper is on the city side of the levee system and the lower is on the other side.
The lower side of the canal levee was the side that was breeched by the barge, allowing the millions of gallons of water to flood the lower 9th ward. Many of the homes and buildings were washed off of their foundations from the flood waters.
Once we left the 9th ward, we were in St. Bernard’s Parish, where we camped and worked this last week.
Saint Bernard Parish, LA
Population (1990): 66631
Population (2006): 20000 (this is an estimate by the Parish Fire Department)
St. Bernard’s Parish is an island that sits in a bowl between Lake Pontchartrain and the Mississippi River. It is bordered by the Bayou Bienvenue and the Mississippi River Gulf Canal Levees. St. Bernard’s Parish was flooded by a wall of water (14 feet high) that breeched the levee from the north, bringing flood waters from Lake Pontchartrain. Many of the homes in the Parish are constructed of brick and managed to remain on their foundations, even though they were
Black 12 & Jenna
This was taken after we finished the cleanup in Frank and Penny's home. filled with water. When the waters receded, the homes were filled with mud and waterlogged belongings.
We arrived at Camp Premier, Chalmette , St. Bernard Parish, Louisiana, on Sunday afternoon, March 26th. We had meetings scheduled from the time we arrived until the end of the dinner hours, 8pm. We introduced ourselves to folks from all over the country, including others from Illinois. Many folks just jumped in their cars or flew in to volunteer. There were “spring-breakers,” church groups, friends, and others that answered the call for volunteers to help in the cleanup efforts.
Monday morning came early and we were introduced to the area where we’d be working. Of course, it took the bus drivers and tool delivery drivers over an hour to find the location, there were no street signs anymore. Once we arrived on Munster Boulevard, it was shocking to say the least. We were greeted by piles of rubble, cars up on fences or each other, some turned on their sides, and the musty smell of rot.
We were split into two groups, Black 11 and 12. Each group was given an address which turned out to be next door to each
Black 12, Jenna & Hank
This was taken after we finished Dennis' home. other. As we surveyed the homes, I felt I was in another world; the destruction was unbelievable. Once we received our instructions, we began removing furnishings and mud. We had to clean out each home to the cement floor and studded walls. This required everyone to work together to empty each room of its muck and then start tearing down the wall coverings. Sounds simple in one sentence, doesn’t it? It was a tremendous effort by the teams to work in the Louisiana heat and the smells. Black 11 and 12 did complete a total of four homes and met the families from each, further increasing our extended families.
As one of the sponsors of this trip, I’m very proud to have met, worked with and got to know each of the extended ECC group. I say extended group because of the pleasure it is to include Maggie Hake from NorCal, Jenna from Wisconsin, and Hank from Arkansas … Carissa will never be the same :-).
I must comment, even though I don’t want to, about my nemesis’ Brittany and Courtney, whew what a pair :-). If anyone ever figured out Courtney’s last rendition on how to get
Soup Kitchen
Amybeth, Craig and Bill with Southern Babtist Volunteers (Cooks) to the Mobil station this morning, please let us know. Brit, you probably understood every word your sister said, right?
Each one of us contributed to the good of the whole. We volunteered to attempt and work at something none of us had ever faced and hopefully will never have to personally face. I think we came away with a sense of compassion, hope, and understanding of what others are going through in our own country.
My team leader, Bill, was exceptional. He must have done something right to be thought of so highly by all the teams members, especially the young ladies :-).
We will always remember what gutting is now, right Emilie?
Black 11 and 12 stayed after the bus left one afternoon to complete more work on the homes so that we’d be assured that we'd be finished before we left Munster Blvd for the last time on Friday.
We were fortunate to be part of the recovery efforts for the people of St. Bernard Parish; without them, we would have just been doing a job. These families are now a permanent part of our lives and when we speak of Bill
Lower 9th Ward
Home foundation in foreground and Alma, Frank and Penny, Dennis and family, The Dow’s, we will always have fond memories.
I’ve met some amazing students and worked them and co-workers this week and would be proud and excited to continue this teamwork within our school district.
Many of the team have expressed a desire to return to St. Bernard Parish after school is out in May. I am hopeful we can return to help and to celebrate with the families we met as they return to their homes. We already have a request to help the son and daughter-in-law of one of the families gut their home in June. Once the cleanup is done, some homes will need to be finished or new ones built.
Every family should be proud of their son, daughter, friend, or spouse and each team member should be elated at their accomplishments during this “ECC Alternative Spring Break.”
Rick B.
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Tammy Ray
non-member comment
Welcome Back!
I’m extremely proud of all of you, and pleased to call you my friend, Rick. Not only has your group touched the lives of those in New Orleans, but you have also represented the college in a way that we can all be proud. I’ve watched your TravelBlog during the break, and I’m glad to know that you have all returned safely. God Bless each one of you! Tammy Ray -