Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity

Jim Nelson, Construction Manager for Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity, visited the Gulf region earlier this summer to see first hand how TCHFH’s contributions have supported the hurricane relief efforts.  Nelson made plans to visit Habitat affiliates in Slidell, Louisiana and Mobile, Alabama, where TCHFH sent homes.

On his way to Slidell, Louisiana, Nelson traveled the Gulf Coast from Mobile through Biloxi, Gulfport, Long Beach, Pas Christian, Bay St. Louis, and through New Orleans.

During his first stop, Nelson spent four days with Brenda Carson-Lawless, executive director, Habitat for Humanity of Mobile County, and her staff.  At the time Nelson was on-site, the Mobile affiliate had just completed a 5-day blitz build with over 200 volunteers the week of May 8, 2006.   This build project constructed the eleven houses Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity had assembled in our panel plant and shipped by truck to their site during the latter part of April.

In south Mobile County, Nelson visited a fishing village on the coast the day their Governor and media were watching very large fishing boats being plucked from the trees by a crane.

“Along the 100 mile coastal road, US Highway 90, there was total devastation from the shoreline to many city blocks inland.   We were told the eye of Katrina was 100 miles across, reaching from Bay St Louis to Mobile; that the surge was 25 to 35 feet high - many feet above the phone poles - that full length of the coast,” said Nelson.

During his drive, Nelson observed that the only sign of fast food restaurants and gas stations were concrete slabs.  Their business signs stood as memorials – the only testament to their previous existence. With such desolation, there were no available bathrooms and no gas stops along that 100 mile stretch.

Churches, old houses, motels, businesses and other buildings along the coastline were literally totaled. The very old stately live-oak trees with Spanish moss that lined the highway were stripped clean, like northern trees waiting for winter.  Some of the trees were uprooted and dragged into the surf with some of their branches exposed above the water. Beach sand still covered the ground as far as two and three blocks from the beach.

While much of the debris was cleaned up, some large piles remained here and there.  Contractors had begun restoration work on a few of the larger buildings.

The bridge over Bay St Louis was still down and Nelson had to detour through Pas Christian to Interstate 10.  Pas Christian was virtually gone but there were some volunteer campsites.

Nelson was forced to drive very slowly on the I-10 bridge with its temporary trusses over Lake Pontchatrain and into New Orleans.  At very slow interstate speed he witnessed the still devastated 9th ward.

“Our response to all this devastation throughout the 100 miles was one of awe and quiet sober respect.  We offered prayer for those that suffered there,” said Nelson.

Nelson ended his journey in Slidell, Louisiana, where he spent two days with Nancy Wood and the East St. Tamany Habitat for Humanity affiliate. This was the destination of the four homes that were shipped last October and November by barge down the Mississippi River from St. Paul.  When Nelson visited, the houses were complete with families living in them.  Click here to read Habitat International’s news coverage of the barge trip.

Nelson journeyed to the gulf coast nine months after the hurricanes hit, and significant devastation remains.  While relief efforts have been tremendous, as Nelson experienced, there is still considerable work to be done. Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity is committed to providing on-going support to the gulf region, providing materials and volunteers for the construction of simple, decent, affordable housing.