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Post by Vicki on Nov 3, 2005 1:09:36 GMT -5
Sorry, Wendy. We're sending in another group the week before Thanksgiving, too! I missed your questions, or I would have tried to answer them in my post to Carrie. I'm adding to my answers for her, as well as answering your questions that I know about. Our work teams try to take a night or afternoon off on every trip, and they recommend Po' Boy sandwiches at BB's, Captain (I think it's) Jack's for seafood, and the Mellow Mushroom for pizza. The airport is actually in Gulfport, not Biloxi. It's 20 miles west of Ocean Springs. You just get on I-10 and it's a straight shot. EXCEPT that Gulfport is much more badly damaged than O.S. and so for now there is just one road out of town. Traffic is a pain. You need to plan extra time to get in and out and don't even think about gassing up or doing any sightseeing in Gulfport -- When I was there two weeks ago, much of it was still under martial law and you can't get anywhere near the ocean unless you're with an authorized relief organization or the military. I don't know about laundry facilities as they do our laundry for us at First Baptist in Ocean Springs . Might be the same at the Methodist church if they portable showers and laundry together. Back to sleeping accommodations for Carrie: If the FEMA camp is closed, it's left Christus Victor 1,000 beds shorter for workgroups. They are trying to regroup but their options are limited. They have one 80-person tent camp, but very little space for extra tents, so be warned that if you do bring a pup tent, it will be sitting right alongside a 4-lane main drag through town. Might want to bring those earplugs! If you want to work, you need to register with one of the churches, which assign people to work crews and will make sure you are fed, bathed, etc. They will also provide you with tools and equipment. Christus Victor's work crew contact is Jim Antonakos, 228-282-3754 or 410-967-5517. At United Methodist, contact Matt at 228.875.3416 or 228.875.3568. (P.S. Contacts change frequently -- go to www.christusvictordisasterresponse.org and www.corebasecamp.com for most recent info). First Baptist in Ocean Springs also has some small team accommodations. It's indoor sleeping, they don't have as many work assignments or options (such as distribution), but they are great people and -- as I said -- they do your laundry. Let me know (vstrong@woodburylutheran.org) if you would like contact information for them as well.
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Post by Scarlet on Nov 3, 2005 9:08:36 GMT -5
Wendy, I think Vicki covered it all and who can better do that than one that has been here and done it already. Thank you Vicki.
Ocean Springs is a special little town with so much History, wonderful School district and Art appreciation groups. Small downtown specialty shops. Beautiful towering Oaks, one of which you will need to see because of age and size and "maybe" (because it is now fenced in on private property) be able to have your devotion under, is Ruskin Oak on Ruskin off Cleveland Ave. It is hard to put it all into words unless you see it for yourself. The Annual Walter Anderson Art Festival will go on as planned this weekend and all are excited about getting things back as close to normal as possible. You will now be able to get to the beach also for a devotional time.
After many years away we retired and came back to the family home. Living one block off the beach I watched as the water came at us from 3 directions and stop short, for some reason spared us with minium wind damage. We were blessed but not so for most my neighbors.
I don't think you will have any problem getting to the airport. You can go I-10 to Gulfport, go South to second light, turn back East and it will take you directly to Airport.
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Post by Scarlet on Nov 4, 2005 9:56:10 GMT -5
I need to make a correction... "Peter Anderson Festival will go on this weekend". All the Andersons are so well known for the contributions to the Arts here. Walter Anderson was the leader with his wonderful paintings and creative pottery. The Anderson family have kept this tradition going. The Walter Anderson Musuem here house many creations and is a must see on any visit to Ocean Springs.
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Post by karinf on Nov 6, 2005 10:27:57 GMT -5
Hello, I would like to come to Ocean Springs to Volunteer. I lived in O.S. and Biloxi for many years and know the area very well. What is the situation with the airports...is the Gulfport/Biloxi Airport operating? what about Mobile airport? Is I-10 open from Mobile to apx. the Ocean Springs Exit? Where can Volunteers stay, I am assuming this has to be in one's own tent? Where are people currently setting up tents in Ocean Springs? I will have to plan my logistics carefully, so ALL information would be very helpful at this time. Where does one register to work as a volunteer?? (I know people in the area if I should need references). Could the administrator of 'this' message board please contact me. Thank you. Karin
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Post by erthope on Nov 6, 2005 16:44:39 GMT -5
Hello, I am the leader of an Early Response Team from Douglassville, PA. We will be arriving in OS and staying at ST. Paul's UMC. My crew of 17 would like to know what is the most important thing that we can do as a group for the people of OS. We are packing our Trailer with equipment that we may need. We are arriving Nov. 26 and staying through Dec 3. I have read the information that has been listed and it has been helpfull to me in my planning. Looking forward to serving the people of OS. Bob
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Post by Vicki on Nov 7, 2005 9:52:42 GMT -5
In response to erthorpe:
What you are doing in going to help is just what the people in Ocean Springs need. There is so much clean up left to be done before the rebuilding can begin in earnest.
When you stay at the CORE camp at the Methodist Church, they will give you assignments. Clean out involves clearing out (very smelly) personal belongings and appliances -- beware the refrigerators! -- in some homes which have yet to be touched. (Vicks Vaporub under your nose masks the smell.) In those, as well as others where work has started, someone also has to take out the drywall, insulation, cabinets and fixtures to the flood line. Everything then has to be sprayed with a mold inhibitor.
A very small amount of rebuilding is beginning, so if you have trades people, talk to Matt at CORE (228-875-3416) ahead of time and let him know of special skill sets that they can utilize. The camps have tools and equipment, so while bringing your own is a good idea, don't stress if you don't have everything. But, bring work shoes or boots (I recommend two pair) and NS95 filter masks (the best you can get or afford) because there just aren't enough of those to go around. Since you live in a colder weather climate, bring your snow/coal scoops too.
With regard to work teams: We discovered having someone on the team whose primary responsibility is to work with the homeowners is essential. There is a lot of emotion in the clean outs where you are removing all of their personal belongings and so having one person help them through decision-making makes it all go so much smoother. Most homeowners are going to need to take a time out for a good cry so be ready for that. Invite them to go back to the church with you for lunch, too. Also, we found it very important to have nightly meetings to debrief -- not so much for work as to share emotions. (Yes, even the guys...)
For really good information on disaster response teams in Ocean Springs (what to pack, clean outs, health issues, etc.), go to the Christus Victor disaster response site --www.christusvictordisasterresponse.org/ community-work-crews.html.
Enjoy -- It's a humbling and amazing experience.
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Post by Vicki on Nov 7, 2005 10:05:28 GMT -5
If you check out my entry for November 3 on this thread, I think most of your questions are answered. I don't know how many volunteers go alone -- If you would like to link with a team, let me know and if your schedule works for one of our teams, I'd be glad to set you up (then you would work with the same people each day and have resources such as tools and a team leader who is knowledgeable about the work, etc.). We have a team going down Thanksgiving weekend, another between Christmas and New Years, several in January and into next summer!
We send people through our church, but at least 50% of our teams are not members of our church (and our church is large, so often people from church don't know each other, either). It's a lot of strangers working together and it's amazing.
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Post by wmlambert on Nov 7, 2005 11:24:11 GMT -5
I have heard something about a curfew. Is there one in place? I am supposed to pick up someone from the airport Friday night at 8:30 - will there be any problems with me going by myself?
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Post by Vicki on Nov 7, 2005 14:27:23 GMT -5
No curfew in Ocean Springs & curfew (if still in place) in Gulfport does not affect airport.
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Post by erthope on Nov 7, 2005 19:40:46 GMT -5
Thank you Vicki
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Post by karinf on Nov 8, 2005 2:33:23 GMT -5
To Vicki:
Thank you Vicki for your reply. Is it possible to arrange for someone to pick me up at the airport in Gulfport? Are they doing this for volunteers? I certainly would pay for all the gas used. I would be flying in. Have to think about the dates and will then contact you. Thanks again. Karin
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Post by Vicki on Nov 8, 2005 8:24:41 GMT -5
Karin:
We can probably find either a team member or volunteer from First Baptist who would come and pick you up at the airport at Gulfport. I haven't checked into cabs, but guessing that's an option as well.
If you're interested in joining one of our work teams, Email me vstrong@woodburylutheran.org and we'll get you connected!
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eileen from Faribault Minn
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Post by eileen from Faribault Minn on Nov 21, 2005 19:04:17 GMT -5
hey.... I am a school teacher from Faribault Minnesota, and I am coming down with about 25-30 from around Southern Minn. We are coming to help at a soup kitchen on Thanksgiving. I am so ready to help those in need. I am also ready to learn from all of you what experiences that you have been through. I can clean, haul, laugh, talk in Spanish and English. I am coming to be of service to your community. Up north, we don't hear much about what has been going on. I have been teaching for 25 years, and the people I am most concerned with are the teenagers. I want to let them know that there are other teenagers who want to give them a ray of hope. We pray for them everyday, they want to come down and help as well, but they have responsibilities as students. My senior students are expecially affected by all of this as they prepare to go to college. They want everyone their age to be successful and to think that some are struggling, is almost too much for them to bear. I want to see the truth and bring back the truth to them. I am leaving tue night at 4:00 and should be in Ocean Springs by Wed. aft. Eileen Kriechbaum
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