Mississippi a year after Katrina

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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 moved into trailers supplied by FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency). 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 in Pearlington where she now lives in a trailer. "It was beautiful fivve-bedroom house", she sais.

Alma MacArthur, 77, stands with the foundation of her former home in Pearlington where she now lives in a trailer. "It was beautiful fivve-bedroom house", she sais.

 
 
Dolores Wilson says she'll celebrate her 85th birthday in her trailer in Waveland. The mother of 13, grandmother of 80 and great-grandmother of 102, she says she's 'going to be on this land until they kick me out.'

Dolores Wilson says she'll celebrate her 85th birthday in her trailer in Waveland. The mother of 13, grandmother of 80 and great-grandmother of 102, 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 determine whether they can afford to rebuild. 'We were devastated with what happened...but life goes on,' says Bob.

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

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

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.

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 children outside her trailer along U.S. Highway 90.She says her children have suffered the most.

Victoria Whittington, a single mother, stands with her three children outside her trailer along U.S. Highway 90.  She says her children have suffered 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 grabbed on to some trees that kept us from going on down through the woods,' he says. His boat is all he has left.

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 grabbed on to some trees that kept us from going on down through the woods,' he says. His boat is all he has left.

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

Malin Chamberlain, a Bay St. Louis teacher, stands on the steps that once led to her house on Beach Boulevard, one of the nicest areas in town. '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 trailer in Bay St. Louis. They were rescued from the roof of their home by some neighbors in a boat when Katrina flooded their home. 'I now understand' what evacuating means, says Pam.

Pam Naylor and Tom McAulew pose with their cats outside their trailer in Bay St. Louis. They were rescued from the roof of their home by some neighbors 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 Historical Society, is luckier than some. He lost nearly everything in the storm, but managed to salvage his 1964 Rolls-Royce.

Charles Grey Jr., the director of the Hancock County Historical Society, 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 several months.

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 several months.

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

Lillian Rogers of Pearlington waves from her wheelchair. 'I'm thankful that 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 home in Pearlington. Swanson says her oldest daughter, who is 16, just found out she's pregnant. 'It's hard to picture where we are going to put a baby right now.'

Denise Swanson sits with her three children outside their mobile home in Pearlington. Swanson says her oldest daughter, who is 16, just found out she's pregnant. 'It's hard to picture where we are going to put a baby right now.'

 
 
© 2004-2008 ADRIANA LOPEZ SANFELIU
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