The devastation by Hurricane Katrina has touched
all of us on the Gulf Coast, and the USM Department
of Marine Science at Stennis Space Center was
certainly no exception. Many of our employees
and students lost their homes. Our new laboratory
building, the George A. Knauer Marine Sciences
Building (Building 1022) and our office complex
(Building 1020) suffered some roof and water
damage (see photos). We were all deeply saddened
by the losses suffered by so many others in
New Orleans area and along the Gulf Coast. However,
as so often happens in difficult situations,
we can find inspiration in the persevering spirit
and resilience of our community and co-workers.
At
left, evacuees sheltered in the halls of the
Knauer Building prepare for bed as Katrina approaches
the Coast. All pitched in and helped clear Don
Redalje's lab when the eyewall breached the
roof Monday. (photo by Becky Roman)
From the earliest stages of this unprecedented
catastrophe, the Department of Marine Science
played a key role in the recovery. The Knauer
building served as a shelter during the storm
for faculty and other Gulf Coast residents.
At one point, as many as forty people took up
residence in our facility. The quick and heroic
work of our ride-out team, headed up by Don
and Becky Roman, Charlotte Brunner, Alan Shiller,
David Dodd, Xiaogang Chen, and numerous others
minimized losses of equipment. This team was
also instrumental in setting up a communications
center for the department that provided a central
contact point for those of us who had evacuated
to various locations. Robyn Montgomery was instrumental
in contributing to this effort and helping to
track down people. Thankfully, we were able
to account for all our employees, students,
and their families. Our most precious resources,
our people, are intact. Many of our employees
have provided space in their homes for those
less fortunate. Our facilities also provided
a command and control center for a unit of the
Mississippi National Guard, Special Operations
DET - South, from Jackson, MS. They made numerous
sorties into surrounding rural areas and provided
essential supplies and communications to these
hard-hit areas. Our facilities were also used
by officers of the Florida Highway Patrol, who
were helping in recovery and rescue operations,
and by the custodial staff of the Stennis Space
Center to shower and clean up after long days
of their hard work.
The catastrophic impacts of the storm on housing
and infrastructure necessitated a delay in the
beginning of classes for the semester, but through
the dedication and hard work of our faculty,
staff, and students, we were able to resume
classes on Monday, Sep. 19. This was only one
week after the main campus in Hattiesburg resumed
classes. Repairs to our facility have begun
now in earnest, and we anticipate a full restoration
of our facility by the end of the current semester.
At right,
the sodden door mat to the Knauer Building dries
out on one of the large pine trees that blocked
the driveway after Katrina. The trees were downed
by easterly winds prior to passage of the hurricane
eye. The trees miraculously missed two parked
cars belonging to several of our 40 evacuees.
(photo by Don Roman)
We are grateful to all of our friends and colleagues
who have expressed their concern and extended
generous offers of assistance. This has been
a source of inspiration and strength. We have
established a special Student Emergency Assistance
Fund to provide additional support to our students
in need, to help them through this difficult
time. Any donation is greatly appreciated (see
below).
Our academic programs and research projects
continue in earnest, and our program remains
an integral part of the multi-agency partnership
that exists at Stennis Space Center. Already,
our faculty have participated in studies to
assess the impact of Hurricanes Katrina and
Rita on the northern Gulf of Mexico coastal
region. Our other research activities have continued
as well, and remain a vital part of our mission.
We look forward to a sustained role as an integral
part of USM's presence on the Gulf Coast and
to the rebuilding of our community.
Dr. Steven Lohrenz, Chair
Southern Miss Department of Marine Science
Donations
Needed
More than half of our students at The University
of Southern Mississippi's Department of Marine
Science lost housing, belongings, books and
food supplies as a result of Hurricane Katrina.
Donations to assist students can be made to
the DMS Student Assistance Fund.
Please mail the check to this address:
Bridgett Harvey, Business Manager
Department of Marine Science
The University of Southern Mississippi
1020 Balch Blvd.
Stennis Space Center, MS 39529
