A Memory by Natalie Sinclair
After Hurricane Katrina hit on August 28th, 2005, you may remember there was a response to provide help from all across the country. I was on one of the first Red Cross busses of nurses to visit the area.
![](https://stpeterlutheran-nc.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Destruction.jpg)
We were housed in a church in Pass Christian. Some of the group stayed in the sanctuary. I was in the gym. We all just slept where we could.
![](https://stpeterlutheran-nc.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/PassChristian.jpg)
I was later moved to Gulf Port, Mississippi where we set up first aid stations and worked with the Red Cross to establish a dining tent and, well, an entire temporary village.
![](https://stpeterlutheran-nc.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/MVC-012S-Copy-2.jpg)
Eventually I was moved to Ocean Springs to help with creating a kitchen/dining unit. In all for that first trip, I was in the disaster zone nearly three weeks when suddenly an emergency at home required my presence.
![](https://stpeterlutheran-nc.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/DiningTent.jpg)
We had no cell phones at that time. There were all kinds of transportation issues! With a lot of help I made it to an airport and flew home — to find my husband in the hospital!
![](https://stpeterlutheran-nc.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/InTheMessTent.jpg)
Ted was ok and eventually I returned with a group from church. Then Ted and I went alone on a mission trip of our own. While we were there we made friends with an older gentleman and went back again later to finish his home. I know there was another group trip, and at some point we were in Biloxi.
![](https://stpeterlutheran-nc.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/MVC-032S-Copy-2.jpg)
In all I was able to go five times. The church itself was involved with multiple trips that various members made helping rebuild in the gulf after Katrina.
![](https://stpeterlutheran-nc.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/m123-Copy.jpg)