decade ago, two communities from different ends of the country came together in response to one of the costliest and deadliest natural disasters in U.S. history.
Today is the 10th anniversary of when the ‘H2O ? Help to Oxford? convoy rolled out of a parking lot in Oxford, Michigan and hit the road for Oxford, Mississippi.
‘I can’t believe it’s been 10 years already,? said Oxford Township Parks and Recreation Director Ron Davis, whose department spearheaded the effort that collected and delivered an estimated 52,000 bottles of drinking water to victims of Hurricane Katrina.
‘It was one of the more exciting things I think I’ve done in the 20 years I’ve been here. I still talk about it with people.?
In late August 2005, Hurricane Katrina devastated the Gulf Coast areas of Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama, resulting in property destruction on a massive scale and a significant loss of life. The storm left thousands of people homeless and lacking basic necessities.
A simple conversation at the parks and rec. office about potential ways to help the victims quickly snowballed into the H2O project.
‘It just happened,? Davis said.
The mission was to get as much bottled water as possible to Oxford, Mississippi, where an estimated 2,000 to 4,000 hurricane evacuees were staying. Oxford is located in the northern part of the state and is home to the University of Mississippi (or Ole Miss).
From Sept. 6-8, 2005, a community-wide water drive was held and more than 17,000 bottles of water were donated by local residents and businesses.
More than $10,000 in cash also was contributed. This allowed the parks and rec. department to purchase an additional 35,000 bottles of water.
‘It’s pretty remarkable what we pulled off in such a short time,? Davis said. ‘There was no bureaucracy or red tape. We just made it happen. It was a true reflection of community, everyone coming together ? not to sound hokey.?
But water wasn’t the only thing collected for the hurricane victims.
Six pallets of personal hygiene products, 10 large bags full of brand new sheets, towels and bathrobes, and three bags packed with stuffed animals were sent with it.
Someone needed to drive it all south and that’s when 14 local folks volunteered to man the relief convoy consisting of six trucks and two trailers.
The delivery team included Davis, Larry and Becky Paquin, Chris and Loretta Acheson, Phil and Jeff Castonia, Don Brantley, Todd Bell, Connie Miller, C.J. Carnacchio, Ron Bass, Jeff Kinasz and Jeremy Huston.
What motivated these folks to step up?
‘People were in dire need and I thought we could do something to help ease their pain,? Bell said.
‘I’d want someone to do that for our community if we were hit by a disaster,? said Brantley, who’s the superintendent of the Oxford Village Department of Public Works.
‘I felt bad for people,? Chris Acheson said. ‘They had lost everything. I’ve never really been in that situation.?
‘Ron (Davis) is a very good leader and when he mentioned it, it was like how could you not get on board? (My husband) Larry and I both said let’s go do something that will help other people and impact the world,? said Becky Paquin, who used to work for the parks and recreation department, but now lives in Citrus County, Florida.
For Larry, the motivation to become part of the convoy was ‘seeing the devastation and wanting to help somehow.?
‘That was the big thing,? he said.
After all the trucks and trailers were loaded, the H2O convoy left Oxford at 7:01 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 9, 2005.
In between Michigan and Mississippi, the convoy drove all night through Indiana, Kentucky and Tennessee, a total of approximately 890 miles. Along the way, convoy members dealt with fatigue, dense fog, road construction and debris, pallets collapsing due to water weight, frayed nerves, an endless procession of semi-trucks on all sides, narrow lanes, communication difficulties and of course, a few wrong turns.
‘I know it was a little rough here and there, but we stuck together through it all,? said Acheson, who noted the ‘camaraderie? of the group still stands out in his mind.
Somehow, some way, they all made it in one piece and at 1 p.m. Saturday, the helping hands from Oxford, Michigan crossed the Mississippi state line.
At 2:02 p.m., the convoy entered the city of Oxford and was given a police escort.
Once there, the volunteers were treated to an outpouring of gratitude that included many hugs, speeches, applause, gifts and a sumptuous home-cooked buffet full of Southern delicacies.
‘They were just so thankful that we were there,? said Becky Paquin. ‘They welcomed us with open arms. They couldn’t believe we did what we did.?
Larry Paquin will never forget the looks the convoy got when it pulled into town.
‘Their faces just beamed,? he said. ‘You could tell they were so grateful. You could see it.?
Convoy members were presented with a key to the city and Bell exchanged police department patches with a local officer.
‘That’s when it really hit home with me ? we really did do something special,? Bell said. ‘I know we made a difference.?
The convoy crew spent only seven hours in Oxford ? just long enough to eat, shower and catch a few winks ? then hit the road for Oxford, Michigan at 9 p.m. Saturday.
It took them 16 hours to get home.
‘It was pretty exhausting coming back,? Brantley said.
In hindsight, some of them wished they had reserved motel rooms, spent the night and gotten a fresh start in the morning.
‘One night’s sleep would have been nice, just one,? said Becky Paquin.
‘I remember at one point Ron Davis telling me he thought the dashboard was melting because he was so tired,? Bell said. ‘He had to pull over so we could switch drivers.?
Looking back 10 years later, convoy members are still glad they made the journey.
‘I’m proud of all of us for stepping up and doing it,? Brantley said. ‘It was definitely a group effort.?
‘I think it was a great experience,? Acheson said. ‘It’s something that will never leave my mind.?
‘It made me more human,? said Bell, who was quick to give most of the credit to the community. ‘The community support was the catalyst for me. I just drove the goods down. Oxford did all the work.?
‘Then, and now, I am humbled to be part of something so special,? Miller said. ‘Our friends, our community, our daughter coming together to allow my husband and I to be a part of such a special moment. We were blessed to be a part of this whole thing. I will always be very proud and grateful.?
To Becky Paquin, the trip was a good example of what people can accomplish when they rally together and ‘really try.?
‘You can do anything you set your mind to,? she said.
Now that she’s living in an area vulnerable to hurricanes, Becky values what the convoy did even more. ‘I think if we were in that same situation where we are, we would appreciate people coming down and helping us out like that, too,? she said.
‘We weren’t asked to do this. This is just something we did on our own,? said Larry Paquin. ‘I was just grateful that we could do something like that to help out. The entire trip down and back was very satisfying.?
Overall, Larry found the trip to be a very sobering experience.
‘You take for granted what you have,? he said. ‘Seeing what these people lost and realizing you could lose the same thing in any kind of a natural disaster, it kind of humbles you . . . It just kind of makes you stop and think.?
Davis said the trip ‘validated? some of the values his parents instilled him and why he does what he does for a living.
‘You just need to give back and if it’s the right thing to do, then do it,? he said.
So, would they do it again?
‘If I had the same team, yeah, I’d do it again,? Davis said. ‘I would do it again if someone was in need and we had something we could give.?
‘Oh, absolutely,? Brantley said.
‘Oh, yeah. In a heartbeat,? Acheson said. ‘When I leave (this world), I can’t take anything with me. If I can help other people out with it, that’s what I’ll do.?
‘It was a great experience,? said Becky Paquin. ‘I’d do it again if I could, absolutely ? be right there to help.?
‘I’d do it again in a minute,? Bell said. ‘I’d put everything aside to do it again. That’s how rewarding it was to me, to take care of my fellow man and help somebody out when they are down.?
‘I think each person should do something like this in their lifetime,? he added. ‘It’s that rewarding.?