Hurricane Katrina
and Jackson County, Mississippi
It has been 4 years since Katrina slammed into the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Much progress has been made since that fateful day; however, as the data listed below suggests there is more than just getting a person or family back into their home. Rebuilding infrastructure is critical but we must also continue the process of the other critical need...rebuilding people's emotional lives by assisting them as they deal with the daily stressors such as, financial obligations, family issues, parenting issues, depression and other mental health issues as we face the "new normal" after Katrina. When we talk with people 4 years after the event, the majority of people are not blaming Hurricane Katrina for their misfortune. What they are talking about is how their lives have changed since that day in August of 2005 and what they are confronted with on a daily basis.
You can help rebuild an individual's emotional life by making a donation of $25.00 to the Community Coalition. Your $25.00 donation goes toward a one to one session with a person or family in need.
- 100,000 people homeless initially after the impact of Hurricane Katrina in Jackson County out of a population base of 133,000.
- The storm surge reached a peak of 32 feet in Ocean Springs, Mississippi.
- 23,250 single family dwellings, apartments, and mobile homes were completely destroyed by Katrina in Jackson County. 34% of the homes completely destroyed in Mississippi by Hurricane Katrina were located in Jackson County.
- The suicide rate in Jackson County doubled from 2005 to 2006, the year after Hurricane Katrina.
- Domestic violence has increased since 2005 in Jackson County.
- Drug use by our youth has increased since 2005 in Jackson County.
What JCCSC Does
Since August 30 ,2005 the Jackson County Community Services Coalition has been involved in a number of critical issues with the recovery and rebuilding efforts in Jackson County and the outlying counties.
- The Coalition formed the Good Samaritan Project with teenagers helping people remove debris from their damaged homes.
- Organized a central station and supplied clothing to Jackson County employees.
- The Coalition was a central supply point for young children's needs, diapers, clothing, formula, etc.
- In-home counseling for people in the storm surge areas.
- Completed more than 100 debriefings since June 1st, 2006 to give people coping skills in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.
- Formed alliances with a number of local volunteer organizations in assisting families in the rebuilding efforts.
- Located funding for Christians Organized for Relief Efforts (CORE) to assist them continue their volunteer efforts along the Mississippi gulf coast.
- Partnered with Mercy Corp Inc. to initiate the Jackson County Daycare Project which connects all the daycares in Jackson County to one website,www.jccsc.org/daycare.html
- Organized the training for Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) in Jackson County, Mississippi.
- The Executive Director of JCCSC was the Medical/Mental Health Branch Director of the Unified Command of Jackson County.
