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Pass Christian Rises.org Rebuilding the Lives and Community of Pass Christian, Mississippi |
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DH, as he prefers to be called, has lived in the "Pass" for the past 28 years. He considers this his home. Born in Cincinnati, Ohio and educated in several universities throughout the United States, DH Short II, M.D., loves Pass Christian. On August 29, 2005, DH and his wife, Kathie, lived through the worse storm in America's history. What they thought would be a short-term interruption has created a life-changing experience for most along the shores of the Gulf Coast.
Dr. Short, a former practicing cardiac surgeon, is now a physician's advisor and advisor for several vascular laboratories in the Gulf Port area. DH and Kathie expected to return to their home in the Pass (as locals call their community). As Hurricane Katrina approached, the Shorts prepared their home by putting clean water in the bath tub, washed their clothes and folded them and put them away, and put things in order. They thought they would return within three to five days realizing they may be without water or electricity. DH said he and Kathie, both of whom had been through seven to nine hurricanes in the past, would leave home that morning, only to have their lives and those of others, destroyed by the punishing Hurricane Katrina.
She was a Category 5 hurricane just before it hit Pass Christian, but it was the storm surge and force of winds and the wall of water that destroyed the community of 6,500 people beyond imagination. The Short's home was reduced to a slab with nothing to speak of to salvage. Kathie found out that her family home in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, also suffered the same fate as their Pass Christian home--total destruction. The couple lost five vehicles, but it was the loss of personal items that can never be replaced that hurt the most.
“We have each other,” said DH. “We will rebuild on our lot in Pass Christian.” Short said that was not the fate of one of his former Rotarians in the Pass Christian Rotary Club. Prior to the hurricane, there were twenty-two Pass Christian Rotary club members. A fellow Rotarian and his wife had been through many storms and hurricanes. “He never missed a meeting,” said Short. For forty-two years, Short’s Rotarian friend had perfect Rotary meeting attendance. The man and his wife stayed in their home because this was the house that made it through Hurricane Camille. He told his family and friends who urged him to leave that the house “would hold up.” The couple was sadly found dead five days after the hurricane hit, nearly four blocks from their home in a tree.
The Shorts had a different experience. DH and Kathie had twenty-nine dogs in their kennel, mostly their own; but included dogs that they were boarding and training for show. Kathie is an All Breed Dog Show Judge, a Professional Handler and a Multi-breed Groomer. They chose not to abandon their dogs. Before they left that fateful morning, each dog was bathed and groomed and then crated. DH and Kathie took them to the hospital where DH worked and placed the crates near a loading dock. When the storm hit, that room began to take on water, said Short. “We had to move fifty-five gallon barrels into the area, invert them and stack our dogs, which were in the crates, to keep them from drowning. The dogs did quite well and afterwards people would visit them and get some comfort from our animals.” Since the storm, the dogs have moved twice and are currently in the Shorts animal rescue shelter in Oklahoma. DH and Kathie miss their family.
DH said that there were forty-five 19th century homes along the beach in the "Pass". These beautiful homes were highly valued and provided the town with a substantial tax income. Today, ten of those homes are still livable, but only ten to fifteen are repairable. The others are gone, destroyed beyond repair.
Short said the town's local city government had less than about $660,000 as their so-called “rainy day” fund. Since the hurricane, the town has spent more than half of that, had to borrow $1 million, and is now considering another ten $10 million loan. The problem is that the town's infrastructure, including its business district, its municipal buildings and their equipment and at least 20,000 feet of sewer line has been destroyed. The Pass, which had a population of some 6,500 people, had 760 after the storm. Currently, there approximately are approximately 4,200 residents.
DH says his town is in crisis. Of the 4,200 people, he estimates that twenty-five percent will stay, twenty-five percent will eventually leave, and the remainder will take a “wait and see” approach. He cautions, however, that some people cannot leave because of economic reasons. Today, there are 30 multi-occupant tents in Pass Christian. These are being used by volunteers helping our city. Short says these people need our help. This is America! How can this continue to go on? DH is worried that Americans elsewhere are feeling good about the money they sent, but now the rest of the story must be told about recovery on the Gulf Coast. When he meets people and they tell him that their business or organization has donated a substantial amount of money for Katrina relief, he usually asks them how it was used. Their answer is usually “I don't know.”
The Rotary Club of Pass Christian is the only civic association in town. As president of the club and one who still loves the Pass and wants to see it rise from the debris of Hurricane Katrina, Dr. Short is traveling around the country at his own expense, asking for assistance. He has selected his fellow Rotarians in hopes that they will also get others to help his community. DH calls it "Rotary America"--getting Rotarians to realize that the millions of dollars donated must be disseminated to those in need internationally and domestically.
DH does not demean the federal or state governments. He speaks well of FEMA the SBA, and other groups who have tried to help. He says, however, that some of these groups are leaving the area, or their mission is completed. It is long-term fixes that we need to work on now and our Rotary club has taken up the challenge.
DH’s first attempt to reach out was about one month ago. He traveled to California to meet with Rotary Clubs. The result brought new life to his purpose. He has been to Pennsylvania and parts of Maryland, Georgia, Maine, Mississippi, Illinois, Kansas, Iowa, Oklahoma, California, South Caroline, Alabama, Tennessee and Florida. “We need the funds.” DH has pledged that the funds donated to the Pass Christian Rotary Charity Fund will be used exclusively for the projects and not for overhead. He feels that his Club has developed a clear needs assessment on how funds will used wisely and efficiently. Pass Christian Rotary Charity Fund Overview and Plans for Community Relief: "This city of 6,500 people (pre-Katrina) now has 4,200 residents. Eighty percent of our homes have been destroyed or severely damaged. The business district is gone! Fifty of our upscale high-taxed homes are gone! Pass Christian has a significant economic loss. Pass Christian’s $600,000 emergency fund will be exhausted in six weeks. The city is establishing a $1 million loan and considering a $10 million line of credit. There is a 30 tent village for volunteers. Electricity and telephone service have been reestablished.. Sewage and water lines are incomplete. My Rotary Club is attempting to raise $3.5 million. We must help our neighbors; we must help the Mississippi Gulf Coast rise out of Katrina’s debris."More photos of Hurricane Katrina's force after it slammed into Pass Christian. |
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