The second anniversary of Katrina is upon us and it is hard to believe that more has not been accomplished. At the same time, we must continue to realize and not forget that Katrina was The Storm of epic proportions causing destruction which has resulted in the need for solutions and the continuation of help. Solutions should be just and fair and work for the common good of all the people who lost their homes and livelihoods.
With solutions becoming harder and harder to realize as the days fly by, another year, now making two, is giving rise to new problems along the coastland of Mississippi. The problems related to rebuilding people’s homes and of providing affordable housing for previous homeowners and renters in the middle to lower income levels is of utmost importance.
In those initial days of the aftermath many public officials made grand statements as if they were tripping on some happy pill. The favored cant phrases of the day, “bigger and better” and “recover, rebuild, renew” were spouted more times than an insurance adjuster can say NO to a Katrina claim. It sounded like the money-people were poised to pounce with hungry mouths and greedy claws upon the little people.
The grand scheme, which was supposed to bring those catch phrases into being, came in the form of the Mississippi Renewal Forum, the brainchild of Gov. Haley Barbour. The forum was put together by the New Urbanist leader and Miami architect, Andres Duany. In a few short days he garnered his forces of 100 architects, urban planners, traffic engineers, retail consultants, and other miscellaneous experts. They all met on the coast and teamed up with 130 local architects and officials of various sorts. The result was a dreamy Smart Coded New Urbanist vision for the destroyed coast.
By October of 2005, Barbour had what he wanted, that is, a plan for the “bigger and better” coast, a fairyland of biblical proportions. Eleven communities of appropriately scaled, styled, and landscaped homes, cottages, condos, and businesses linked together with a light-rail transit system. This light-rail system would overtake the CSX railroad that currently carries trains filled with cargo and CSX would have to move further north of its current position.
The people in these 11 communities, along with potential tourists and casino buffs, would suddenly have need of light-rail transit. Initially, this is a great idea. The coast would benefit by a reduction of traffic on the overly crowded I-10 and Hwy. 90 roadways as people journey back and forth between work, gambling, shopping, and whatever else they would be doing. Magically, the people who had lived and worked in the wiped out communities of former sprawldom would have jobs and very good paying ones from the looks of the new-vision housing options. Thus the people would be able to rebuild in the form of a Smart Coded, New Urbanist, architecturally approved home or maybe purchase one of the uber-cool condos towering over the beachy views.
Tourism would abound because of the uber-attractive and uber-cozy Smart Code mix of living and work spaces that would make up the varied and compacted town structures. Dining, art gallery hopping, and shopping in cool boutiques and other locally owned small businesses would be a cultural experience that would create the desire of non-locals to want to live there. They would thus purchase one of the ultra-expensive condos just to have that “second getaway” home! Other than the social rearranging of neighborhoods and towns that New Urbanism dreams of, people (certain people) would make money and that’s the basic idea in real estate endeavors.
Voilà! It all sounded so easy and so good, but especially, it looked good. “Live, work, play” (the mantra of New Urbanist visionaries) was about to hit the coast, or so it seemed. They supposedly support the inclusion of all working classes, ethnic groups, and cultures into the planning of the communities, but in reality, middle class America can not yet afford to take part in this social revolution of the neighborhood. De-sprawling the urban and suburban landscapes is a nice idea on paper. However, it doesn’t really solve the most important issue of all and that is fair, affordable, quality housing for the middle class on down. Especially, it does not allow for affordable rebuilding on the coast given the manner in which its ideas are supposed to be brought to fruition. Strict ordinances, building codes, zoning, home size limitations (ruling out smaller homes), and lot size limitations have bogged down the rebuilding process.
As for pricing, an example is explained in the August 28, 2006 artilce in Pine Magazine titled, “Can We Afford New Urbanism?” The article reveals that a family of four in Atlanta making barely over $62,000 would wind up only being able to afford to rent a 1,000 square foot apartment for $900.00 a month instead of being able to buy a Smart Code, New Urban home. After researching the various New Urbanist areas in and around the city, nothing was affordable, and pushing the budget beyond reasonable would only have the family in a one bedroom condo of a studio size.
The Mississippi Renewal Forum ended with a cohesive visual of the coast as a whole which reflected New Urbanism. Instead of 11 different looks for 11 different communities, every community fit in with its neighbor. The watercolor illustrations painted a picture of matchy-match that went beyond the normal reasoning of what livability includes. True livability incorporates individualism, which seems to be non-existent in those illustrations. For example, in condo communities would one dare paint their own front door purple or red? Once again, we are being marketed conformity. It’s just another scheme to attempt to make us all look alike or be ousted to the outer regions and away from the “beautiful people” and the “live, work, play” mantra of New Urbanism.
Oops! Swept away in delusions of grandeur
First of all, there are some technical difficulties to overcome before those watercolor visions can materialize. Homes cannot appear until FEMA makes up its mind about flood elevations and produces final flood elevation maps. Even the rebuilding of schools, public buildings, and city buildings has been and is still being held up because of indecision by FEMA. Because of picky ridiculous “rules” and the snail’s pace “response” to an unbelievable disaster, funding for infrastructure just got to Waveland and work just began July 20, 2007! Thank you FEMA for finally waking up to reality.
Added to those delays are the criminal actions of insurance companies via their conspiracy to fix reports to say that water did the damage. Thanks to Rep. Gene Taylor of Bay St. Louis and Richard “Dickie” Scruggs of Oxford for taking on these companies and holding them accountable.
The grant process is a dark slippery slope that leads to a maze of paperwork. Storm victims must have a Case Manager in order to apply to Red Cross and Salvation Army and the case manager must have a builder partner in order to make the application. Case Managers are beyond overloaded with one manager responsible for up to 1500 cases when a normal load is 35. Due to labor costs and construction costs, volunteer help is needed in most cases in order to get an approved home built and such volunteer help is dwindling more and more as time goes on.
Dispersing grants has been in the manner of a drippy faucet. Some here and some there. A bit today and a bit next month but time is running out and Red Cross and Salvation army have announced that they will be winding down by the end of this year as the funds are drying up.
Grants for historical home restoration, which are awarded through the Mississippi Department of Archives and History, have totaled $24 million. MDAH has approved 326 grant applications in South Mississippi but their is no more money for disbursement. As a result, Ocean Springs residents have come up on the short end of the stick. According to the Biloxi Sun Herald, one homeowner has already done restoration work on his home and spent over $400,000 of his own in order to follow all of the historical committee’s guidelines. Now, he finds that there is no more funding to help him recoup.
As for one storm relief funding program, only part has been spent as of July 2007. The Mississippi Recovery Fund which was established by Gov. Barbour has spent only $1 million of the $30 million raised by various celebrities and musicians.
Wachovia Rebuilding South Mississippi Fund has spent $673,000 of $800,000. The Build Back the Coast Fund has spent more than $1 million of $1.3 million. Hope Katrina, which was created less than six months ago, has spent $539,000 of $550,000.
John and Rene Grisham’s Rebuild the Coast Fund has awarded all of the $8.8 million that it raised. The Bush-Clinton Katrina Fund includes about $130 million which has funded colleges, communities and churches in Mississippi. It also donated $6 million to the Mississippi Hurricane Recovery Fund and has pledged $6 million more.
Housing Issues
As if housing shortages and rebuilding issues aren’t enough, FEMA has announced new dates for the exit of those pesky little travel trailers and trailer parks. At several different times FEMA had extended the timelines. However, towns are setting dates also. The date in Ocean Springs is now August 15 which was set by the Board of Aldermen. As a result, 50 residents will have to find a place to live and that won’t be easy. There were only 43 available apartments when the announcement was made July 25, 2007. Those apartments are 125% above the fair-market value.
Affordable housing is THE issue. The Katrina cottages, which range from around 300 to 1,196 square feet are not being allowed in many cities and towns. I have been in a small cottage and seen a larger one. These are affordable and stylistically appropriate for many coastal neighborhoods.
Waveland is allowing the small Mississippi Cottage as a temporary house to get some people out of their FEMA trailers. A lottery was used to see who got a cottage. However, they want all temporary trailers, including the cottages, out by March 2009. This gives people 1 year and 7 months to get their permanent approved housing built.
In addition to the development of the Katrina Cottages, the Kernel House was developed as a small cottage for people to place toward the back of their lot. Additions could be added on in different ways and the house would grow. The plans are expandable and fit the architecture of the coast. Some of the plans show the initial cottage at the back of the property to be used later as a studio or mother-in-law house. The plans are published in the booklet, “Gulf Coast Emergency House Plans” by Stephen A. Mouzon. Truly a SMART idea!
Another form of housing called modular housing is being sneered at with great misunderstanding by many who refuse to do their homework and investigate this amazing possibility. Modular houses are built stronger than stick built houses and offer a wonderful opportunity for people to rebuild.
Zoning issues, infrastructure delays, shortage of skilled labor, shortage of volunteers, shortage of case managers, lack of coordination of volunteer groups and workers, rising building costs, funds running out, lack of affordable housing, and issues of insurance availability and costs are enough daunting reasons to make the strongest person feel inscure about their future.
So, considering the sound of the millions of dollars in grants and funding opportunities that have been in the news for the past two years, you would normally imagine that the coast ought to really be shaping up. Back to its old self. Back to normal. Houses galore and small businesses in operation all along the 80 miles of the once emerald green paradise.
However, take a tour of the most affected counties, but especially tour the coast itself. You could begin by going first to Ocean Springs and around the beach areas there. Mass destruction still abounded as of Feb. 2007. Some work has begun here and there, mostly on some older apartments-turned-condos close to the Harbor on Front Beach. Destruction in that general area goes on and on around the water front and up into quaint little neighborhoods with narrow streets. Shearwater Pottery, home of artist Walter Anderson, suffered enormous losses in artwork and buildings.
As you leave Ocean Springs, drive across the bridge to Biloxi, oops, wait, it’s not finished yet, but two lanes will open the first of November and that’s great news for all of those people who have had to travel well out of their way for over two years to go to and from their destinations.
Without the use of the Ocean Springs-Bilxoi bridge, you will have to go back north on 609 to I-10 to get to Biloxi. Exit I-110 into Biloxi and the exit onto Hwy. 90 downtown. Drive west to Gulfport, Long Beach, and Pass Christian. For miles and miles, you will see nothing but total devastation, shells of homes, slabs, steps to nothing, weed filled lots that used to be beautiful lawns, and the horrific destruction of historical landmarks. The Live Oaks that remain all along the highway are truly strong willed as they cling onto the life within them and slowly begin to sprout little bunches of green leaves, which has been a sign of hope for everyone.
Bogged Down in the Pass
Mims Carter lives in Pass Christian and is currently working with the Harrison County Long Term Recovery Coalition. He was kind enough to send along his reflections on what is happening there.
He says that “a little progress is being made, but not much. Delays due to the city officials being slow in figuring out what kind of new codes will govern rebuilding. They have gone with a smart code model. They are putting unnecessary restrictions on the type of housing that can be done. Putting minimum size limits on new houses and not allowing modular construction are two major problems.”
He says that there is a great shortage of case workers and skilled construction workers. Mental health services are suffering after being cut instead of enhanced. One of the overall issues which has created many problems is the lack of coordination among volunteer groups. “The volunteer coordination has been very poor,” he says. Mims is now in the position of a coordinator and hopes to help things get going in a more orderly manner.
Finally, he says, “I am afraid I have little positive to say, except that there are a lot of good people doing all they can to help their fellow citizens, including the faith based volunteers themselves. It is the leadership and people coordinating the efforts who have let folks down.”
Leaving Pass Christian you can now drive across the newly opened Bay St. Louis bridge. Only two lanes are in operation but that is a huge help for people traveling back and forth in this area. After arriving on the other side of the bay, turn left and drive all around Beach Blvd. until you enter Waveland.
If you aren’t too dumfounded and shocked at what you have seen thus far, wind your way up some of the little streets back to Hwy. 90 and continue west over to Pearlington. Then ask yourself, “what can I do to help?”
You may notice that I have not mentioned any of the communities east of Ocean Springs. That is because I have not been able to visit those areas. What I have seen though is an enormous tragedy, enough images of loss and destruction to last many lifetimes.
Please don’t forget our fellow Mississippians. Please find a way to help those in need.
Final Note
There are many more issues which could be discussed concerning the rebuilding of the coast. The issues are numerous and complicated and also involve the terrible damage done to the environment and wildlife habitats. Somehow the complications that began with Katrina’s landfall and nightmarish aftermath have for the past two years been further complicated by man himself. Trying to change the coast into a fairy-tale coded landscape without including the working class and affordable housing solutions is a hinderance to a true “recover, rebuild, renew” ethic. It is morally and socially irresponsible.
Resources and Links
This is one of the most amazing links, please check it out: “Discovery Explains Horrific Damage Miles East of Hurricane’s Eye” USA Researcher Uncovers Second, Devastating Eyewall Inside Hurricane Katrina – http://www.southalabama.edu/publicrelations/pressreleases/2007pr/051707b.html
Effect of Katrina in Mississippi –
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Effect_of_Hurricane_Katrina_on_Mississippi
Insurance Issues –
http://scruggskatrinagroup.com/
“The Windless Hurricane” –
http://www.memphisflyer.com/memphis/Content?oid=oid%3A28763
Mississippi Renewal Forum - Final Reports –
http://www.mississippirenewal.com/info/plansReports.html
“Can We Afford New Urbanism” –
http://pine-magazine.com/content.php?id=103
Katrina Cottage –
http://www.mississippirenewal.com/info/dayJan-11-06.html
Gulf Coast News – The most current news on all things Katrina –
http://www.gulfcoastnews.com/
The Katrina Research Center –
http://www.usm.edu/katrina/
Pearlington, Miss. –
http://operationeden.blogspot.com/
Bay St. Louis, Miss. – http://www.baysaintlouiscity.com/community/communitysub.php?
subpage_title=Comp%20Plan%20Highlights%20Part%201
Katrina Photos –
http://www.gulfcoastnews.com/KatrinaPhotos1.htm
Shearwater Pottery –
http://www.dreaminginclay.com/
Walter Anderson Museum –
http://www.walterandersonmuseum.org/
Friendship Oak –
http://www.usm.edu/gc/katrina/friendship_oak.html
The Local Voice –
http://www.TheLocalVoice.net
