More About Pearlington, Mississippi  

 

Pearlington is located on the eastern bank of the Pearl River that divides Mississippi and Louisiana, approximately 40 miles east of New Orleans. Centrally located in what was once timbering country, 15 miles east of Slidell, LA and 15 miles west of Waveland and Bay St. Louis in Hancock County, MS Pearlington is pretty much a "bedroom community" if such a term applies. Lumbering and fishing were the primary trades in years past. The last sawmill closed around 1970 when much of the area east and north of town became a buffer zone for NASA's Stennis Space Center. Most of the folks in Pearlington work someplace else--if they work at all. In recent years, Pearlington's population has increasingly featured retirees, folks living on disability or low income. The racial makeup is classic Deep South, about 80% white to 20% black.

The Gulf of Mexico lies 8 miles south of Pearlington, across the swampy delta of the Pearl. The forest grows on the east bank of the Pearl. There is nothing but flat, open land to the southwest. It was out of this vastness that Hurricane Katrina made a second landfall in the Gulf region on Monday, August 28, 2005. Pearlington occupied Ground Zero--the eye of the storm passed directly over the town. Most of the residents evacuated. Of the few left behind, 3 died. The rest found whatever shelter they could, most taking to boats and riding the water surge on the back side of the storm's eye. The people we worked with described a wall of water 10 feet coming up the road, followed by a tidal wave that crested around 20-30 feet depending on where you were located. Many people rode the storm out in the branches of the  magnificent live oak trees shading the town. Another young couple paddled out in a canoe--9 miles before they found dry ground. For those
who had evacuated, the news was grim. For four agonizing days, all they heard was that Pearlington had been wiped off the face of the earth with no survivors.

The truth was considerably kinder. Devastated but not destroyed, Pearlington had survived. Two years later, the recovery is still the only thing happening in town. PDA and other church groups have sent hundreds of volunteer teams out to help the residents rebuild. It's a tedious process. Of the nearly 2,000 who lived in Pearlington prior to the storm, only 800 have returned. The PDA camp occupies the pad that once held the local post office. Pearlington needs to have 900 permanent residents before the US Postal Service will reopen in town.

Lillie Sams, 89 years old, has weathered more hurricanes than she can count. Her sturdy brick house in rural Hancock County, Mississippi stood on high ground. But when the 34-foot wall of water from Hurricane Katrina surged over her hometown of Pearlington, Lillie had to run for her life. "The water was up to your neck before you could shout for help," she said. With her relatives, Lillie fled in a rowboat to the Greater Mt. Zion Church. Swimming to the top of the pulpit and punching a whole through the ceiling, her family took sanctuary in the attic while 125 mile-per-hour winds tore the roof apart.

One of her neighbors, 79 year-old Willie Lee, was thrown from his house by a giant storm wave. He managed to hang on to a tree branch as the water rushed beneath him. Willie thought he'd reached safety until he looked down and saw a large poisonous snake on the same branch. The two clung to the branches for hours! Finally, the snake slithered away.

What are the Volunteer Villages? There are six volunteer villages in Louisiana and Mississippi. The villages are guided by a spirit of Christ-like cooperation between the teams.

What are the facilities like? The villages are very basic. Staying the villages is like a camping experience. The Pearlington site is where the old Post Office was. The camp houses 75-100 people. The tents are hard corrugated polypropylene.  Other necessities include cots inside tents, portable toilets, kitchen, shower facilities, dining area, sinks, air conditioning and heating inside tents, gathering are for groups, parking space, washer & dryer.

What is a team? A team is a group of 3-150 volunteers from one church.  Most teams stay for one week. Teams pay $20 per night per person. This helps offset the operating costs of the village and includes meals for volunteers.

Who can be a member of a team? Members of any faith Individuals aged 18 and up People in good physical condition Anyone with an open and flexible attitude.

Who should not volunteer? Anyone under the age of 18 (but don't despair, Mexico is calling you) people with health problems who are heat sensitive or can't stand humidity,  individuals who are not team players, people who are not members of a team of 3 or more.

What to bring?

What not to bring. RV's and campers, tents, alcohol.

Here are some other Pearlington links:

Brick Layers


Pearlington Recovery & Resource Center 

Wikipedia

Webshots Album

Presbyterian Disaster Assistance

PDA Katrina Page

The Pearlington Project Katrina Foundation, Inc.

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