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Date 4-6-06
Contact Chinika Hood 601.266.5568
Hattiesburg—Members
from the University of Southern Mississippi’s Department of Community
Health Science are traveling to Waveland today in hopes for restoring
laughter and a sense of normalcy to the children affected by Hurricane
Katrina.
Partnering with
the Mississippi Public Health Association, the group of 15 is rolling
up their sleeves to refurbish a playground at Waveland Elementary
School in honor of National Public Health Week, which is focusing
this year on building healthy environments for children.
Waveland is
considered ground zero of the worst natural disaster to hit the
United States in recent history. The damage from Hurricane Katrina
to the community was extensive and devastating. Every street received
storm surge waters, flooding every home and business. Eight months
after the storm, the majority of families living in the area remain
in Federal Emergency Management Agency trailers and only a handful
of businesses have reopened to full capacity.
“Being that
the children are still seeing debris and destruction on a daily
basis, the beautification project will have a tremendous positive
effect for them,” said Waveland Elementary Librarian Vikki Wescovich.
“Having something pleasant to view increases their ability to cope
with the changes to their daily routines. It will also ensure a
sense of hope that other parts of their environment will again be
normal and inviting,” she said.
Before Katrina,
380 students attended Waveland Elementary. The number now stands
at 187. The school is currently functioning in 11 portable modular
trailers and eight rooms on the side of the original school. The
eight rooms were constructed of cinderblock, therefore salvageable
for temporary use, according to Wescovich. One of the smaller sized
classrooms has been set up as the school's kitchen, where food is
transported in daily from another within the district.
Gulf Coast native
Dr. Jim McGuire of Community Health Science is anxious to aid in
any opportunity that will help the area rebound from the storm.
“We wanted to
work within Waveland because while it was heavily devastated by
Hurricane Katrina, it hasn’t received the publicity or recovery
efforts that other communities have received,” said McGuire. “I
have seen this event through the eyes of my family and friends,
and it’s important to me to help in any way I can. We’re (Southern
Miss) also actively conducting research on the public health impact
in the area and intend to remain an active partner with the community
throughout the rebuilding efforts,” he said.
“These very
young children will more than likely not remember the beauty of
the Gulf Coast and their town prior to Hurricane Katrina,” said
Southern Miss’ Terri Sasser, manager of the Center for Research,
Evaluation, Assessment and Training Services. “They will, however,
remember the devastation and the lack of green space to run and
play. If, through this project, we can improve their lives just
a little by helping create a more welcoming environment for them
at school, that’s one step toward rebuilding a healthy community.”
Sasser believes
the destruction from Hurricane Katrina also provides the community
a chance to rebuild with the public’s health in mind, such as building
shops within walking distance of homes and installing community
water and wastewater systems to ensure a healthy environment.
While Sasser
dreams of ways to turn children at Waveland Elementary into happy,
healthy adults, the kids are occupying themselves with thoughts
of their new colorful jungle gym, swings and flower garden.
Third-graders
Kristen and Cain said they can’t wait. “It’s going to be nice,”
said Kristen. "It's a good thing and I am very excited,"
added Cain.
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