Brandon Twp.-John Graham found downed trees, a sea of blue tarps on roofs, and cement and tile floors where homes used to be when he arrived in Mississippi last month.
The 53-year-old Brandon resident and Oakland County Sheriff’s Deputy left Michigan Feb. 24 on a bus bound for Hattiesburg, along with 41 other Main Street Oakland County volunteers. The group worked for a week cleaning and shoring up a high school in the area devastated by Hurricane Katrina last August.
‘It was a rough week,? says Graham, who used vacation time to help. ‘The school was trashed.?
The MSOC team was invited to Mississippi by the Historic Downtown Hattiesburg Association to help clean up and secure the Old Hattiesburg High School in downtown Hattiesburg. The school will eventually house the University of Southern Mississippi’s Department of Art and Design and art museum.
Several businesses and organizations made donations for transportations and supplies, including Ak’wa Water of Ortonville.
When the group arrived in Hattiesburg, it was raining, but the weather soon improved, as did the condition of the building.
Workers built trusses to support the roof of the high school so it wouldn’t collapse. The volunteers brought many supplies from Michigan, but had a hard time finding any in Mississippi.
‘Everyone down there is buying up materials,? said Graham, who worked on a crew covering, repairing, and building frames for the numerous windows on the building.
Graham and the other volunteers worked from 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. every day. He was outside most of the time and glad to be away from the mold inside.
The 27 men in the group stayed at one home while 15 women stayed at another home on property owned by the VFW.
Graham planned to lose 7 pounds on the trip, but instead gained 2, which he attributed to the great food provided by local restaurants and grateful residents. He said one woman was so glad they were cleaning up the eyesore that she and her neighbors threw them a luncheon.
‘I couldn’t get over how nice they were,? says Graham, adding, ‘They seem to be doing all right. They’re trying to get back on their feet.?
The MSOC volunteers helped fill 24 10-yard dumpsters and Graham says he finished all the windows that he could reach. Now, all that remains is rebuilding. The floors need to be torn out and the roof and electrical need to be redone. He expects it will take three years before the building opens as the art department and museum.
Graham is glad he was able to go down and assist, calling it an emotional experience.
‘I would go down again in a minute,? he said. ‘I met great people on the trip.?
He encourages others to go too, if they have the opportunity.
‘You don’t need to go to New Orleans to help,? he said. ‘People all over down there need help.?