What is a “Blitz Build?”
 Hope Force International recently led a team of highly skilled and dedicated volunteers to build a home in two weeks. Mr. Edward Parker, aged 76, lost his home to Hurricane Katrina. He has lived his entire life in the Gulf coast area of Mississippi, and was the designated recipient of the first “Blitz Build” home -- erected from start to finish in 15 days. Over 85 people worked at a feverish pace – a partnership effort of several organizations -- and supervised by Hope Force International.
In the following interview, Mr. Parker describes his harrowing experience with Hurricane Katrina, and expresses his gratefulness for the “compassionate action” extended to him through so many volunteers.
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Where were you during the storm?
“My niece told me to evacuate, but I had some medical issues and didn’t want to be in a shelter. I made it through Hurricane Camille, so I thought I was going to make it through Hurricane Katrina as well. I waited for the storm and at about 2:30am, it was all calm and very little water outside…rain you know…. So I went into my bedroom to take a nap for a while. In a while, I got up to use the restroom and I stepped into water. I went to the window to look out and I was sitting in the middle of a bay.
The house had shifted a quarter turn on its foundation, so that the windows and doors were facing north and south instead of east and west. I went to the 2nd bedroom to go up into the attic where the air conditioner was…but the furniture had moved around and I couldn’t get up there. I waded back to the living room to open the door and go out, but the water rushed in…. The water was deeper outside than in the house, so I slammed the door and locked it. |
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I went into the kitchen and climbed up on the kitchen counter and held onto the cabinets. The water got up to my shoulder level…. I just started praying, ‘Lord please don’t let me go out like this!’ I prayed for help that someone would come for me. I could hear someone hollering my name outside, but they couldn’t hear me yelling back. I looked for something to throw at the window to get their attention, but there wasn’t anything there….”
(Mr. Parker eventually made his way to his sister’s house, where he slept on her porch for 2 – 3 weeks.)
Did you receive a FEMA trailer?
“A FEMA trailer was put on the lot. The plumbing was so bad that it was coming up in all of the sinks, tubs and toilet. I reported it to the inspectors, and someone was supposed to come out and take a look at it. It never happened. After a month of this, the city told me there wasn’t anything they could do, so they suggested that I look for somewhere to rent.”
(He was later housed in the same apartment complex where his family members lived.)
What has been your experience with insurance after the hurricane?
“I had a little insurance for wind damage. I was told that I wasn’t in the flood zone so I didn’t have insurance for that. I got a little help. About 3 months after the storm, the bank wanted to foreclose on my house and take my property. I took the money and paid the deed off so that I could have the property to do with what I wanted. They were going to just take it….
I get $748 dollars from my retirement. I pay for the apartment and FEMA waits 3 months to send me a check to reimburse it. But with the little money that I received, when I saw a friend that was in need, I gave them the money to fix up their house or what not…but then I tell them that they have to make sure that they bless someone when their money comes through just like I did.
It has [now] been two years and look at this house! We got to do good for people. God will bless us right back. You have to have a strong belief in God in all of this. Without it, you don’t know what to do or think. God will bless you… you just have to wait.”
…And for those who helped to make his new home a reality?
“I pray every night for the people that have come to help…. I wish I could do more for them, but I can’t, so I keep them in my prayers for God to bless them where ever they go. Thank you Jesus! I am blessed with wonderful people. Bless them all!” |
