Hurricane Pictures, Part 1
So, my dad brought his camera when he came up this past weekend, and he let me download copies of his pictures. I had seen the satellite footage, I had heard the stories (and guessed that his house would be gone before the storm had even passed), but seeing pictures is quite another thing. I'm glad that I've seen them, though, since I'm going home this weekend. I may or may not go down there, but if I do, at least I'll be prepared.
For starters, here's part of a satellite image I got from the NOAA website:
That's my family's houses. See?
Yeah, I didn't at first, either. Here's another image, with labels:
And now, on with the show:
Cindy's Rising Waters
During TS Cindy in July, the water rose pretty high (higher than hurricane Dennis). This was taken looking southwest, toward the seaman's memorial near the corner of Washington and Front Beach Dr.
Mailbox
Only the top of the mailbox peeked above the water.
Cindy's Aftermath
No damage, just lots of (nasty) debris. The water came up to the edge of the carport, but not inside.
Living Room
This is my dad's living room before the storm -- that's Rhonda Weidner on TV, announcing church service cancellations on Sunday, August 28, 2005.
Desk
My dad's roll top desk -- not an antique, but one of his favorite pieces of furniture that he ever bought.
Full Living Room
Looking into the living room from the front hallway. Wasn't it pretty?
Bedroom
My dad and Deborah only packed one suitcase apiece, I think (maybe even one together). They thought they were coming home -- this wasn't "that kind" of storm.
Dining Room
China cabinet on the left.
Kitchen Southeast
Southeast corner of the kitchen (and house).
Kitchen Southwest
Southwest corner of the kitchen.
Last Look
When they left, water had already filled the ditch in front of the house, although my dad says that was "tidal." Not sure what he means. (Note the fence on the left -- during Cindy, the water got up to 12 inches from the top of that fence -- their entire property was underwater.)
View from Washington, Pre-Katrina
Front view of the former 160 Washington Ave.
Looking down Washington
Looking down Washington as they drove away.
This is what they came home to:
First Look
View from the north half of the driveway as my dad and step-mom arrived "home."
Columns
All but four of the pillars which held up the house just fell like dominoes.
Crushed
These columns weigh an enormous amount. Think about how heavy those cinderblocks are individually -- now imagine about 20 of those, plus cement, plus steel rebar inside. Yeah -- pretty heavy.
Snapped
This column snapped at the base. Can you imagine how much force was necessary to SNAP a solid concerte pillar like that??
Wrecked
What's left of their home. If you look closely on the lower left-hand side you can see an unbroken piece of my step-mom's china, and also an Ole Miss camp chair buried under some debris.
Debris
Notice the unbroken glass bowl and coffee bug, mixed in with the tangled steel bed frame. Oh, and the bottle of liquor. Fun times.
More Debris
Another shot of that same (northeast) corner of the slab. Notice the twisted steel rebar sticking up in the center of the picture. A concrete pillar was ripped away from that rebar. Oh, and also, the brick facing that was apparently ripped off the house.
And Yet More Debris
This is looking north, through what used to be the gate leading to my grandparents' and great-grandmother's houses. I think that's some roofing on top of that pile. There's a 4-foot-deep ditch under that pile.
Ditch
What's left of their belongings, in the ditch running along the north property line/fence. I doubt they'll be digging through that anytime soon.
TV
My dad's big-screen HDTV. Yeah.
Power Lines
My dad said that all the power lines are covered in clothes, and NONE of them are his or Deborah's. He said it's very depressing.
View from Washington, Post-Katrina
The current 160 Washington Ave.
Nuclear
You know how everyone keeps saying that a nuclear bomb went off? Here's what they mean. My family's homes -- KABOOM!!
No More Pesky Neighbors
The house on the lot between my dad's and the beach is no more. Completely gone.
My dad told me that he and Deborah rode around the beach and up Jackson Avenue (where closedblueyes's mom lives). They spotted their refrigerator and couch in her backyard, half a mile away, in her "debris swamp."
I guess I should say something about my own attachment (or lack thereof) to this house: they just moved in last Christmas. I'd been there several times and it was really a nice house. I thought they would grow old there together, that I'd bring my kids over to spend the night. They only lived there for 8 months, barely as long as it took to build it. He and Deborah spent the last two years planning, designing, and building that house. They fought over and ultimately compromised on just about every piece of furniture or decoration. They weren't even done organizing or decorating some parts of the house. My dad had been wanting and trying to build there for ten years before that. He wanted to live next to his parents and grandmother, and ultimately, that's what we got -- our own little family compound. For them, that house represents lost opportunity (beyond the financial loss). For me, I hurt for them, and there are some things that were in that house that I will personally grieve over -- certain antiques, pictures, random things that had sentimental value to me. But my real heartache is from my grandparents' and especially my great-grandmother's homes.
I'm tired and going to sleep, so I'll try to post the pictures of my grandparents' and great-grandmother's houses tomorrow.
For starters, here's part of a satellite image I got from the NOAA website:
That's my family's houses. See?
Yeah, I didn't at first, either. Here's another image, with labels:
And now, on with the show:
Cindy's Rising Waters
During TS Cindy in July, the water rose pretty high (higher than hurricane Dennis). This was taken looking southwest, toward the seaman's memorial near the corner of Washington and Front Beach Dr.
Mailbox
Only the top of the mailbox peeked above the water.
Cindy's Aftermath
No damage, just lots of (nasty) debris. The water came up to the edge of the carport, but not inside.
Living Room
This is my dad's living room before the storm -- that's Rhonda Weidner on TV, announcing church service cancellations on Sunday, August 28, 2005.
Desk
My dad's roll top desk -- not an antique, but one of his favorite pieces of furniture that he ever bought.
Full Living Room
Looking into the living room from the front hallway. Wasn't it pretty?
Bedroom
My dad and Deborah only packed one suitcase apiece, I think (maybe even one together). They thought they were coming home -- this wasn't "that kind" of storm.
Dining Room
China cabinet on the left.
Kitchen Southeast
Southeast corner of the kitchen (and house).
Kitchen Southwest
Southwest corner of the kitchen.
Last Look
When they left, water had already filled the ditch in front of the house, although my dad says that was "tidal." Not sure what he means. (Note the fence on the left -- during Cindy, the water got up to 12 inches from the top of that fence -- their entire property was underwater.)
View from Washington, Pre-Katrina
Front view of the former 160 Washington Ave.
Looking down Washington
Looking down Washington as they drove away.
This is what they came home to:
First Look
View from the north half of the driveway as my dad and step-mom arrived "home."
Columns
All but four of the pillars which held up the house just fell like dominoes.
Crushed
These columns weigh an enormous amount. Think about how heavy those cinderblocks are individually -- now imagine about 20 of those, plus cement, plus steel rebar inside. Yeah -- pretty heavy.
Snapped
This column snapped at the base. Can you imagine how much force was necessary to SNAP a solid concerte pillar like that??
Wrecked
What's left of their home. If you look closely on the lower left-hand side you can see an unbroken piece of my step-mom's china, and also an Ole Miss camp chair buried under some debris.
Debris
Notice the unbroken glass bowl and coffee bug, mixed in with the tangled steel bed frame. Oh, and the bottle of liquor. Fun times.
More Debris
Another shot of that same (northeast) corner of the slab. Notice the twisted steel rebar sticking up in the center of the picture. A concrete pillar was ripped away from that rebar. Oh, and also, the brick facing that was apparently ripped off the house.
And Yet More Debris
This is looking north, through what used to be the gate leading to my grandparents' and great-grandmother's houses. I think that's some roofing on top of that pile. There's a 4-foot-deep ditch under that pile.
Ditch
What's left of their belongings, in the ditch running along the north property line/fence. I doubt they'll be digging through that anytime soon.
TV
My dad's big-screen HDTV. Yeah.
Power Lines
My dad said that all the power lines are covered in clothes, and NONE of them are his or Deborah's. He said it's very depressing.
View from Washington, Post-Katrina
The current 160 Washington Ave.
Nuclear
You know how everyone keeps saying that a nuclear bomb went off? Here's what they mean. My family's homes -- KABOOM!!
No More Pesky Neighbors
The house on the lot between my dad's and the beach is no more. Completely gone.
My dad told me that he and Deborah rode around the beach and up Jackson Avenue (where closedblueyes's mom lives). They spotted their refrigerator and couch in her backyard, half a mile away, in her "debris swamp."
I guess I should say something about my own attachment (or lack thereof) to this house: they just moved in last Christmas. I'd been there several times and it was really a nice house. I thought they would grow old there together, that I'd bring my kids over to spend the night. They only lived there for 8 months, barely as long as it took to build it. He and Deborah spent the last two years planning, designing, and building that house. They fought over and ultimately compromised on just about every piece of furniture or decoration. They weren't even done organizing or decorating some parts of the house. My dad had been wanting and trying to build there for ten years before that. He wanted to live next to his parents and grandmother, and ultimately, that's what we got -- our own little family compound. For them, that house represents lost opportunity (beyond the financial loss). For me, I hurt for them, and there are some things that were in that house that I will personally grieve over -- certain antiques, pictures, random things that had sentimental value to me. But my real heartache is from my grandparents' and especially my great-grandmother's homes.
I'm tired and going to sleep, so I'll try to post the pictures of my grandparents' and great-grandmother's houses tomorrow.