Katrina Relief

Email -

Pre-Summer Update
Urgently Need Volunteers

As we move into the summer of the fifth year - there is still so much work left to be done. Volunteers have come time and time again - and the work is both grueling and rewarding.

With the Zero by Five campaign on the part of FEMA and MEMA - we have to have residents out of cottages and all temporary housing by the anniversary. That is the State's goal. They are issuing eviction notices and clients are being forced out of their temporary housing and their homes are not complete. We are going to court to stand with these clients; we are offering to help them pack and move; we critically need volunteers to finish some of these homes. We need you!

And we are so critically in need of volunteers, especially skilled volunteers. Many of the homes have funding - but we need those skilled workers to get those skilled tasks complete: carpenters, plumbers, electricians, sheetrock finishers.

The most critical need is for estimators. For that we can use retired construction people who are not able to do the physical work anymore - but are needed to go out and assess these homes so we can submit the clients for grants. It is a critical need and we are having a tough time finding people who can do this one critical task.

If you have some time now, some time this summer - we need to talk to you and schedule you in.
Despite the oil spill in the Gulf - this is still a tourist haven and maybe you can make this a working vacation. The Gulf Coast has so much to offer and New Orleans is so close - just down HW 59 from the facility about 60 miles.

And north of us - they urgently need volunteers to assist with the tornado damage in Yazoo - 689 homes were destroyed or damaged.

On the BP oil spill - they are telling us they are not going to use volunteers but, regardless, we are all preparing in case plan changes. And the ! scenario for the BP oil spill is constantly in flux - as they do not know where the oil will land, if it will land, or how much work we have to do with the wildlife. Anyone working on that project is going to have to have specific OSHA training and that has not been put in place yet.

For the day to day operations - check out the blog:

http://www.reliefvolunteers.com/hancockdailyblog.html

For all of you who have come prior, have come multiple times, still continue to support us - I personally thank you.

IF you are interested in volunteering - and you have questions, please call my cell phone at:
(228) 344-8616

The new facility is pictured to the right - it is very comfortable and you will find all that it has moved far beyond the rough volunteer camp of past.

Looking forward to hearing from you.

Kathleen Johnson
Director:
Katrina Relief

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Thrift Store Opening

Katrina Relief will be operating a thrift store for furniture out of the
Poplarville facility. The purpose is to provide free or very lost cost
basic furniture for those moving back into their rehabilitated or
rebuilt homes (with an emphasis for those moving out of FEMA trailers).

We will be accepting donations of good usable furniture with an emphasis
on beds, chests of drawers, tables, chairs, and living room furniture
including couches/coffee tables.

We are also accepting donations of left over building supplies or usable
used building materials such as doors, cabinets etc. One 2x4 or 20 - we
will accept it all!

If you have a donation could you please call the following numbers at:
(601) 795-9979
(228) 344-8616 (Kathleen's cell phone).
Location of Store: 2272 HW 53, Poplarville. Ms. 39470
Donations at the Poplarville site can be dropped off M-F with
appointment
(Donations can be dropped off at 700 Tabor St., Waveland with
appointment only as that is a warehouse for storage only)

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February 11th, 2009

Cold Weather Shelter Opening
Northern Hancock County/Pearl River County
(Cold Weather Shelter will remain open as long as cold weather warning is in effect)

Katrina Relief Facility
2272 HW 53, Poplarville. Ms. 39470
(12 miles south of Poplarville)
Facility Phone: (601) 795-9979
Emergency Phone: (228) 344-8616

http://www.reliefvolunteers.com/hancockdaily blog.html

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Date: Fri, 04 Dec 2009 00:53:12 -0000 [12:53:12 AM UTC]
From: Kathleen Johnson
To: KatrinaVolunteersHancockCounty@yahoogroups.com
Reply-To: KatrinaVolunteersHancockCounty@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [KatrinaVolunteersHancockCounty] New York Fire Department Arrives with Toys in Steep Hollow !

New York Fire Department Arrives with Toys in Steep Hollow !
7pm Steep Hollow, Mississippi (outside Poplarville in Pearl River
County)

The firemen from New York arrived tonight in five Penske trucks with
toys for distribution on this Saturday in Steep Hollow at the Katrina
Relief/Waveland Citizens Fund Facility at 2272 HW 53, Poplarville. Ms.
This is a Hope Haven and Katrina Relief Waveland Citizens Fund project
under the direction of Frannie Hillman.

9/2/08
SEE site for GUSTAV volunteer need request!!
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/KatrinaVolunteersHancockCounty/message/1930

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Copied from website:

In hushed whispers, a gentle smile, to dream once more......10/9/07

Kathleen Johnson is a long term full time volunteer who has been working in Waveland, Hancock County, Mississippi, since just after the onset of the storm. She currently operates her own disaster relief agency serving a growing list of 1500 clients. Her fiscal arm is the Waveland Citizens Fund - a registered 501 (c) 3. Website: http://www.reliefvolunteers.com