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Camille — 34 years ago
Continued from Page 2A
few. Red Cross, Salvation Army and other humanitarian ^jts moved in. There was	hive of activity in
restoring communication, clearing debris,' bringing in pure water, feeding the thousands, makino homes for the homeless, giving innoculations treating the injured. Identifying and burying the dead. Fighting the fires. Evacuating the young and the old and the sick. And with rapid fire, decisions setting up operations to clear debris, restore public utilities, safe-guard health, protect the desolate.
Admittedly the Gulfcoast - " J coast" of only hours before had become a desolate center destruction never before known to the area. Ocean going vessels went aground, people died, businesses were damaged or destroyed. Communications
CAMILLE-PAGE 9A
Camille -1969
On August 17th, we were advised to seek shelter, For Camille was coming with very bad weather.
But some didn’t heed, they though their homes were sufficient,
To weather the storm, which was so indifferent.
So Camille took the Gulf Coast between its mighty jaws,
Then tore it apart with its strong black claws.
It left a beaten path on the beautiful Gulf Coast, And destroyed the thing that we all loved most. Our homes and businesses, they were no more.
It left debris piled high along the shore.
But reaching out for God’s helping hand,
He gave us courage and streght to clean our land. So now we thank our neighbors, who came from far and near.
May God bless them all,
They were so dear.
Today we remember them in our prayer,
Because this hurricane was a real nightmare.
There were many who didn’t survive.
Today, we thank God that we are alive.
- Verdlee Kilinar
were all but cut-off.
Processing plant damages were estimated at $8,000,000 loss, Off-shore drilling took a licking, 4,000 workers were without jobs in the industry alone, agriculture losses and dairy farmer losses were massive. Orchards of timber, pecan and tung suffered. Tourist industry was with an estimated $31,638,612 loss. Children were evacuated. 139 persons were known dead. Many unidentified or unaccounted for. 66,000 families suffered loss of property as reported to the Red Cross. 4,000,000 pounds of USDA foods were supplied. 14,000 families registered for assistance with the Red Cross. An estimated 110,000 insurance claims are anticipated! Loss of personal and corporate tax to the general fund for the balance of 1969 estimated at $3,450,000. Not to mention sales tax losses, alcoholic beverage taxes, etc.
From Gulfport headquarters, George Hastings spread his recovery team to satellite office in hard hit Bay St. Louis, Pass Christian, and Biloxi. All federal assistance force came at the request of Mississippi's Governor John Bell Williams. On-the-scene teams plan to be in the ai;ea for at least a year to supervise federal efforts, administer expenditure of millions of recovery-fund dollars,
restore and repair facilities (Public Law 81-875) and marshall efforts of more than 15 federal agencies in
33 government programs.
Three weeks following Camille Bay St. Louis was well-off by comparison.
Most of the streets were clear. Over 50 percent of the phone service was installed. For the most part private well drinking water had been tested and approved. Business places — some of them — were in operation and prices were surprisingly below normal. For instance Jitney Jungle sold bread for 10 cents a loaf and chicken at 29 a pound. Other stores and Restaurants made similar attempts to help customers.
Profiteering was rare and scorned. Damaged goods were sold to salvage houses. The people bought first-class merchandise and knew it. Dealers were honest about used cars - T. V.'s and other salvaged merchandise. School plans went forward.
There were endless meetings -planning re-construc-tion , planning a better town, planning a model community — planning a way to assist each other and thereby assist themselves. An attitude of courage, fortitude, and determination was order of the day. Day -afterday a united community with shoulder-to-the-wheel pushed forward through muck and stinch and sweat to rebuild a town with a slogan that nobody knows who originated: Let's Build Bay St. Louis — and Build it Better." American flags were never so cherished. Lives never held in more reverence.