Katrina Therapy

[yardboy]

Hey guys. you've all probably got "Post-Katrina Stress Overload Disorder" byh now, but I've been in Mississippi all the last week, trying to help clean up. I was a member of "Family Services", a group from a sister company that helped Mississippi Power Company employees get their houses cleaned, or posessions stored, since they were required to go back to work as soon as the storm was over. So for a week I've seen the worst of the storm-ravaged areas. I got picked to go because I lived there for 15 years, and had family nearby (they are okay).
The street I live on in Ocean Springs was right on Old Fort Bayou, and took a direct hit from the storm surge that came into the area. Experts estimated that the surge was 28 feet high at the beach. By the time it got to my old house, it was only about 25 feet, as estimated by the water marks on houses that still stood. People who stayed in their houses said the surge came in with a roar, audible above the noise of 115 mph wind. In my neighborhood, 8 people perished, foolishly thinking that they'd survived Camille (the previous worst storm to hit the U.S.) so they'd be okay. Others, the eye witnesses, survived by climbing in their attics (that scenario fills me with cold chills) or onto the roofs of their houses) "Fortunately" the storm came ashore in the morning, after daylight. At night, more would have likely been lost as they'd have been asleep (yes, you can sleep during a hurricane, I've done it!) or couldn't see as well.
The house I lived in, I was very proud of. I built it with my own hands. When asked how much of the work I did, I'd always answer, "Well, we started by cutting down the trees and sawing them into lumber". Yes, people do still do that, gave me great satisfaction. When I got a chance to go to my old neighborhood, I was a little uncomfortable, I'd heard that most on my street had "lost their houses", wasn't sure what that meant. At that point I'd been working for a couple of days and had seen and experienced some awful things. Working at one house, we were taking a break for water when "the smell of death walked up" Freaked us all out. Turned out the Golden Retriever of the people we were working with had found something and like a dog will do, had wallowed in it and then came back home. We called the police and they came out to search. Another on the "unaccounted for" list was removed.
Anyway, I drove down to my street, and looked around. Fortunately I knew that everyone on the street had evacuated. Otherwise..........
Here's a picture of my house, pre-Katrina:


Here's two pictures of my street East and West, post Katrina:

[yardboy]

And here's the house, unbelievably still standing. I couldn't get the same angle as the flotsum was piled into a huge mess.



I was thinking the house is rebuildable, but if you notice the ceiling down on the lower left, somehow, the refrigerator, located in the kitchen was drove through the floor of the living room with enough force to break three trusses (made from 2X6). I can't even picture how that was done. The refrigerator is still stuck in the hole. Probably full of food. No one has come back to the house since the storm. I think they'd just purchased it a month ago. Can you even imagine how they feel?
Well, thanks guys. I've had really horrid nightmares (something I never do) since I came home, maybe telling this story to you all will help.

[Casey]

Roger that sucks I have been there helpn out to,Sad sad place to be working right now,Beautiful house sorry for the lose.

[Loverotties]

Sorry for your loss!

[Doug1]

Roger, good job on the build, a lesser house would have blown away.
It must have been really hard going back after

Hang in there, the nightmares will diminish over time, confronting the demon seems to help in the long run, best of luck and glad to her that yours made out safely

[FishDaddy]

Roger, Thank you for helping in that devastated area. Has to be really tough work.

That the house is still standing is a credit to your workmanship. Hope the owners can salvage it.

Get some rest and hopefully the nightmares will be replaced by good dreams.

My best to you,

Dick

[ShirleyM]

OMG Roger... I'm glad you posted the pics and your story...
I used to live in New Orleans years ago (French Quarter and Garden District), my sons were born in New Orleans and Baton Rouge, and I've had all sorts of "flood with bodies" dreams... very weird dreams, and they are only now starting to go away, and I'm reaching more and more of my friends who evacuated, but lost everything to almost everything...

It boggles my mind how poorly the response to this catastrophe was managed and executed....Thank heavens for all the volunteers and donations...

[yardboy]

Thanks so much Guys. I did sleep somewhat better last night. Only a mild dream. I still sat up on the side of the bed and had to convince myself I wasn't in some dark flooded house with mold growing everywhere. No squishy carpet or muddy walls. Whew. I appreciate ya'll letting me tell you about it. Poor Genie has to put up with me tossing and turning. It'll be better tonight, I know.

[ShirleyM]

You've got to talk about it. And talk to the people. I can't stop watching it on CNN... and it's hard b/c I lived there for so long, and knew so many people but not their contact info... so many artists, musicians, and shop people, but not on a personal level, but I could go down there even 3 yrs ago and they'd say, "Hey, where ya been?" And "Is that TROY??" But I don't know how to reach them. Yeah, you gotta talk about it. I can't explain the dreams, but I have them over and over. They aren't scary, but they wear me out. Water everywhere, and forms that float by, indistinguishable forms in my dreams; I know they are the bodies. Those are the dreams that have pretty much stopped.

[Doug1]

Its a serious Post Traumatic Distress thing Roger, inquire at work if they have any counseling options available, if nothing most employers now have somekind of emp assistance benefits coverage through work or ins to cover employees stress, dependancies, etc, I would say this is somewhat job related, but whatever, talk to someone, even if its co workers over a few beers, dont bottle it up

[motorslave]

For sure, you do need to talk. Even if you have to wake up Casey at 2:00am! Just talk. If I could get away Id be down there in a minute to help. Its hard to watch that stuff. Hang in there Roger, and Doug had a good suggestion about checking at work. Its common for employers to have stuff for employees.

Robert

[cath]

Ommigod, Roger! What a story. Doug and Robert are right about getting help from your employee assistance program. And I'd say it most definately work-related!

Hats off to you and others who give of themselves.

Take care of yourself, Roger

[yardboy]

You guys are so kind. A couple of nights ago I had a mild dream in which was rescuing someone who looked or felt like some family member, Genie or my sisters or someone, and after I pulled them to safety I kissed them on the lips. A sudden tremendous guilt washed over me, when I realized it wasn't anyone of my family. I immediately woke up and realized part of my feeling was guilt about being away from Genie and my family when I was working. (She'd had a little issue with one of my niece's friends) I actually woke her up and apologized for being away. Funny thing was, I went right back to sleep and slept well that night and last night. I think I'm over it now. Time to take my babe to the beach.

Thanks so much for your listening to me! You are such a wonderful family of friends.

[dobejazz]

I'm glad everything is getting better for you. All of America owes you a huge Thank you for all of your help on the gulf coast.

[cath]

Amen and Amen!

You are Genie are blessed to have each other.