Pass Christian Rises

DHs report was a very happy one. Electricity and water returned today to citizens of Pass Christian. He estimated that 1,200 to 1,500 are in town. Before the storm, Pass Christian has about 3,000 residents. Note, pre-Katrina population was over 7,000. Pass Christian had no loss of life, though Gustav took seven lives during its journey inland. DH's thoughts went to the ongoing Rotary projects in the Pass and attending the upcoming Rotary Zone Meeting in Indianapolis, Indiana. He also spoke of Rotary International's representative that will be visiting Pass Christian on September 16-17. He hopes this individual will be able to help their clubs fund raising efforts. DH is a very proactive and upbeat person. As a physician and local community leader he believes in Rotary's "can-do" spirit and action. The Shorts believe that all 19 homes built by the Mennonite Disaster Services from the USA and Canada with the help of Rotarians throughout the country are A-OK. When asked what was the best part of his day, DH said, "I took a bath!"

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September 1, 2008 - "We are very lucky!" D.H. Short 9:27pm EDT by Cell Phone

On Labor Day evening DH Short was called with hopes that his cell phone was operable. He answered and spoke of aftermath of Hurricane Gustav. DH and his wife, Kathie, President of the Pass Christian Rotary Club are safe. Over 50,000 people are without electric power in Harrison County, Mississippi, including Pass Christian. DH reported that the effects of Hurricane Gustav were felt and heard this morning with wind and rain. Some of the early reports noted Highway 90 experienced flooding, he had heard that there was an 8 foot storm surge that damaged the harbor area. Besides electricity, Pass Christian's water system is not functioning at this time. Kathie and DH were able to travel to their mobile home, that now stands where their home was before Katrina. Their property is near the beach. DH said that their mobile home withstood Gustav's land fall. DH reported much happiness that the community trailer (location of Rotary meetings), the temporary library, Potty-in-the-Park, and the children's park are all intact. He said the homes on Scenic Drive all stood this time. He felt that there was more damage done to the west of town. He said that the three hospitals in the area including Bay St. Louis, and the two in Gulfport stayed open for emergencies. They did take some patients to Jackson, Mississippi, as well as moving many town folk to a refugee center in the area. DH says he knows that Mayor Chip McDermott and several Aldermen stayed in town. He says that the majority of people left town as part of the evacuation order. For club Rotarians reading this, he wanted them to know that President Kathie Short went to the community trailer and removed Rotary materials. DH and Kathie are very thankful and hope that others who have faced the perils of Gustav will come through this with limited damage. "Everyone is inconvenienced, but that's nature's way of bringing us together."

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August 31, 2008 - "I am concerned that if Gustav strikes with the same magnitude as Katrina, that our rebuilding work will end."

Time: 11:30AM EDT, telephone conversation with DH. This was the hurricane advisory of that morning:

HURRICANE GUSTAV ADVISORY NUMBER  28 NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL
1000 AM CDT SUN AUG 31 2008

AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS STORM SURGE OF 12 TO 16 FEET ABOVE NORMAL
TIDAL LEVELS IS EXPECTED NEAR AND TO THE EAST OF WHERE THE CENTER
OF GUSTAV CROSSES THE NORTHERN GULF COAST.
GUSTAV IS EXPECTED TO PRODUCE TOTAL RAINFALL ACCUMULATIONS OF 6 TO
12 INCHES OVER PORTION OF LOUISIANA...SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI AND
SOUTHERN ARKANSAS...WITH ISOLATED MAXIMUM AMOUNTS OF UP TO 20
INCHES POSSIBLE THROUGH WEDNESDAY MORNING. ISOLATED TORNADOES ARE POSSIBLE

OVER THE CENTRAL GULF COAST LATER TODAY AND TONIGHT

Dr. Short and his wife Kathie were preparing to leave their post-Katrina double-wide home to move to a block home three-quarters of a mile inland. The Shorts and their five dogs would be there when the storm arrived. It withstood the wind and rain of Katrina, but he is concerned about tornadoes spawned by Gustav. Katrina's storm surge wiped out their home near the beach and most of the downtown, but did not reach the block home inland. They would not go to the hospital this time, as they did during Katrina. There is a mandatory evacuation on 08/31/2008 3pm. The Shorts are trying to take as many possessions out as possible. They lost everything after Katrina in 2005.

We wish them safety and comfort.