we're here

On Monday morning we lost power and it was not restored until last night ( Friday). We caught the west side of hurricane Katrina here in Jackson, which they say is the best side to be on. We have not experienced the devastation of the gulf coast but there has been some major damage done. Trees are down all over town, many houses have had trees fall on them and thankfully only one death has been reported as a result of Katrina here in our county.
This was by far the biggest storm I’ve ever experienced. We sat out on the porch throughout the day and watched as huge gusts blew the trees, knocking braches and leaves everywhere. The storm continued to blow throughout the night and in the morning it was gone. Tuesday morning we began to clean up. Everything was covered in small branches and leaves. As we began to get out into the neighborhood we could see huge trees blocking roads everywhere. Power lines were knocked down all around leaving most of the city without power. Luckily a group that visited us a few months back gave us their portable cd player complete with batteries, which allowed us to listen to the radio the entire time the power was out. The day after the storm it was very hot with intense humidity making it very hard to sleep at night. We have a new appreciation for electricity and especially air conditioning. I’ve become familiar again with a chainsaw, as we have been removing fallen trees around our neighborhood. Four of the Perkins center homes have been damaged.
We began to spend our evenings outside on the deck playing chess, listening to the radio with candles for light, trying to escape the heat of the house. As uncomfortable as it was to go without power, it was hard to be discouraged while listening to what others were going through further south.
John Perkins has begun a campaign that will allow us to host 10 families who have no place to go for up to a year. His plan includes giving them jobs and a place to stay so that they to do not become crippled by welfare. He sees great value in these people continuing to use their skills, thus affirming their dignity as human beings. We are planning on heading to the coast next week to see the destruction and get a better idea of how we can be involved in clean up and rebuilding efforts. John has been doing interviews with local news stations as well as national radio programs that want his opinion on the situation. World Vision has contacted John looking for ways to get involved, so it looks like we will definitely be included in the long process of rebuilding.

Many people have evacuated to Jackson from southern areas hit hard by Katrina. Yesterday we visited the Coliseum, which has become a shelter for 2,000 people. The conditions are set up for temporary stays and seem very uncomfortable for long periods of time. These people may not have anywhere to go for a long time. Most of the people are black, poor, and needy, with nowhere else to go.

It’s been shocking to us how slowly help has been administered to the people in New Orleans. I understand that this is a devastating disaster that no one could be completely prepared for, though I can’t help but wonder-if the people who were stranded we’re white and middle-class, would the aid have come faster? To me, the hurricane is half of the disaster. The other half is the lack of aid (and slowness thereof) to the citizens of New Orleans, most of whom are African American.
Thank you to all who have called or attempted to make sure we are ok. We are doing fine and looking to help here in whatever ways we can. We will be sending out a letter from John Perkins this week detailing our plans for working with displaced people. If you would like a copy mailed to you please email me your address:

( Johnny.Bertram@gmail.com )