From Deseret News archives:
LDS wards in Katrina's wake face uncertainty
At least two wards of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the New Orleans area may not rebound for some time. Others have been seriously impacted.
Members of the New Orleans (Spanish) 2nd Ward evacuated before the storm to Alexandria, La. Seeing the condition of their homes on television, they are planning to move elsewhere.
Another meetinghouse, the Chalmette Ward of the Slidell Louisiana Stake, located in the St. Bernard Parish of greater New Orleans, is submerged and likely will take years to rebuild.
"We are a small stake, and to lose a ward is huge," said Charlene Kirby, Slidell Stake Relief Society president.
After the storm, "Chalmette was forgotten" by the officials, she said. "So many communities were not reported on, as the focus stayed on New Orleans."
She described the ward as having grown slowly over the past two decades, with a membership that did not change much. But it retained its members over time.
"It was a little bitty ward and close-knit," she said. At one time, the ward used a school for a meetinghouse. "We met in the hallways, and we loved it."
Bishop Navo said even those maintaining the local hospital armed themselves for protection in the looting that followed the storm.
But the horrific experiences of those who opted to weather the storm and faced the trauma of the subsequent flooding and unrest, coupled with the water ruining property and becoming toxic, make it likely that the area's old neighborhoods won't reconstitute quite the same.
Still, much of the LDS stake is composed of people who have been here for generations, and many of them will likely return if given the option, their local leaders say.
Farther down the coast, residents of beach cities contemplate the unbelievably extensive wreckage where they once lived and worked most of the damage caused by a 28-foot surge of ocean water driven by Katrina's 190-mph gusts.
Robert Garrett, bishop of a ward in Waveland, Miss., said that within the ward, only 11 habitable homes remain where once 380 families lived. He said the heat and the stench of the mud fuel feelings of hopelessness, but "We're going to give it a grand try."
Comments
- Sports on the air 1:21 a.m.
- 2009 MLS Cup recap 12:45 a.m.
- MLS Cup winners, MVPs 12:41 a.m.
- Real Salt Lake: Game at a glance 12:36 a.m.
- Paper circulation worse than it looks 12:28 a.m.
- RSL wins MLS Cup on penalty kicks 12:22 a.m.
- Editorial: Cancer screening 12:15 a.m.
- Afterthoughts 12:15 a.m.
- Treat teachers with respect, trust 12:15 a.m.
- 'Reform' helps old, hurts young 12:15 a.m.
- BYU records with win
- Jazz outlast Pistons in overtime
- Glenn Beck to enter politics?
- Cougars turn focus to dreaded rivals
- Cougars put the fun back in football
- Former BYU professor remembered
- Kirilenko heating up for the Jazz
- Police link alcohol to murder
- Wendover airfield's legacy lost?
- Florida No. 1, TCU 4 in AP Top 25
- Buttars wants to limit gay rights laws
202 - Glenn Beck to enter politics?
191 - Palin plans tour stop in Utah
178 - RSL wins MLS Cup on penalty kicks
130 - BYU records with win
129 - Palin's book shows she's unqualified
125 - Officer cleared in Cardall Taser case
103 - BYU cuts Women's Research Inst.
100 - Jazz finally win in San Antonio
98 - Utes knock off rival Aggies
93
A little after midnight Wednesday morning, about 21 hours ago as I write...
There's a lot of reason to leave your plastic home as you shop:
That game was amazing! I think this will really help the sport grow in Utah....
Congrats on a great win. Utah as a whole should be proud not just of a major...
Congrats Real Salt Lake! but, they aren't the first major sports team to...
I told ALL of you how much i liked NED Pure irony his contributions vs x...
this is to NevadaUTE @ 10:25!!! I love soccer, I love Real and it brought a...
wow!!! amazing. UTAH JAZZ DO SOMETHING!!!
So much fear and anger from Beck lovers. You all lost the last election, we...
This is the most emotion I have had watching a sporting event since my...
Nicky Rimando is my hero! I love that guy. He has had his detractors, but...
Two stars means nothing! We played as a team and it showed! I'm still in...


You can be the first to comment on this story.