Mississippi a year after Katrina

Mississippians mississipi Katrina hurricane FEMA 2005 Disaster Photos

TheGulf Coast of Mississippi was hit by the eye of Hurricane Katrina onAugust 29, 2005. In Hancock County, 36,000 families lost their homesand moved into trailers supplied by FEMA (Federal Emergency ManagementAgency). Those that owned land placed the trailer on their property;the rest were placed into trailer parks.

A year after the storm the majority of these families were still living in this temporary housing. The storm eroded social differences-thousands of people were facing the same challenge of trying to get their lives together again.

Insurance fraud, lack of contractors and mismanagement of government grants postponed the recovery of this part of the US. Many Mississippians felt left aside while New Orleans was receiving most of the media attention and help.

This series of portraits is a testimony of these people's living situation a year after the storm.

THE PORTRAITS
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Alma MacArthur, 77, stands with the foundation of her former home inPearlington where she now lives in a trailer. "It was beautifulfivve-bedroom house", she sais.

DoloresWilson says she'll celebrate her 85th birthday in her trailer inWaveland. The mother of 13, grandmother of 80 and great-grandmother of102, she says she's 'going to be on this land until they kick me out.'

Bob and Susan Whitfield sit outside their former home in Bay St. Louis.The couple is waiting to hear from insurance companies to determinewhether they can afford to rebuild. 'We were devastated with whathappened...but life goes on,' says Bob.

Shea Kelley has been living at the FEMA trailer park in Bay St. Louis for several months.

Shirley Thompson stands with a shovel outside her FEMA trailer in Pearlington. Thompson and her mother have lived in the trailer on their property for the past year.

Victoria Whittington, a single mother, stands with her three childrenoutside her trailer along U.S. Highway 90. She says her children havesuffered the most.

Don Lee of Pearlington escaped the floodwaters in this aluminum boat.'We drifted out to the next road and, by the grace of God, we grabbedon to some trees that kept us from going on down through the woods,' hesays. His boat is all he has left.

Malin Chamberlain, a Bay St. Louis teacher, stands on the steps thatonce led to her house on Beach Boulevard, one of the nicest areas intown. 'It was just a house,' she says. 'I am grateful that I'm alive.'

Pam Naylor and Tom McAulew pose with their cats outside their trailerin Bay St. Louis. They were rescued from the roof of their home by someneighbors in a boat when Katrina flooded their home. 'I now understand'what evacuating means, says Pam.

Charles Grey Jr., the director of the Hancock County HistoricalSociety, is luckier than some. He lost nearly everything in the storm,but managed to salvage his 1964 Rolls-Royce.

Carl Lozier says evacuees aren't being helped as much as they should.He's been living in this trailer park, in Bay St. Louis, for severalmonths.

Lillian Rogers of Pearlington waves from her wheelchair. 'I'm thankfulthat I finally got this ramp,' she says of the entrance to her trailer.'It makes my life easier.'

Denise Swanson sits with her three children outside their mobile homein Pearlington. Swanson says her oldest daughter, who is 16, just foundout she's pregnant. 'It's hard to picture where we are going to put ababy right now.'

Mississippi a year after Katrina

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Mississippi a year after Katrina

The Gulf Coast of Mississippi was hit by the eye of Hurricane Katrina on August 29, 2005. In Hancock County, 36,000 families lost their homes and Read More

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