Ocean Springs, Mississippi Hurricane Survivor

September 10, 2005 ~ Michelle Edwards ~ Ocean Springs, Mississippi

Photo copyright Tim & Lori Seaborg 09/10/2005

We found Michelle cleaning out her house, with a smile still on her lovely face.   She doesn't yet have electricity in her home.  Even though her house is on stilts, 11' off the ground, the storm surge was so high that 24" of water entered her home.  There is a 55' yacht now resting in her back yard, but Michelle doesn't live near the waterfront.  The yacht traveling along the storm surge and landed in her yard. 

Her son, probably in his 30's,  was in the house at the time of the storm.  He said he tried to sleep through the storm, but kept hearing, "Bloop, bloop."  He reached down for his cell phone, and found it full of water.  When he got out of bed, he realized that the house was flooding. 

He put a mark on the wall and said to himself, "When the water reaches this level, I'm out of here," even though the winds and storm surge were intense at that point. 

He said the scariest moment was when a tornado sucked the air out of the house and raged through their back yard, shattering many trees, including a centuries-old sycamore that Michelle said "really made the place."  At the point of the tornado, Michelle's son said he certainly regretted his decision to ride out the storm in the house. 

We handed Michelle a Family Care Package and we gave her son some diapers, wet wipes, and a Baby Care Package.

(p.s. For more updates or to view more photos, visit our website http://www.survivedkatrina.org )

Lori Seaborg

11:41 AM - Sep. 12, 2005 - post comment