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Hurricane Katrina evacuees return on first anniversary
Thousands of people were left homeless by the worst natural disaster in U.S. history. The Vix and Weinberger families of Pass Christian, Miss., New Orleans and Metairie, La. were some of those who fled their homes in the face of Katrina's fury.
Flight brought them to Grove Hill They started northward and ended up at the Windwood Inn in Grove Hill. Elbert and Genie Vix would spend several weeks at the Windwood. Their daughter and son-in-law, Betty and David Weinberger, and their children, Allen and Jordan, would stay at the Windwood too but later rented a house and Jordan went to school for a while at Jackson Academy. The Vixes returned to Clarke County Sunday to commemorate he first year anniversary of Katrina. They are Episcopalians and their first stop Sunday was at St. Peter's Episcopal Church in Jackson where they attended while staying in the county. Both said they were surprised that so many people remembered them and welcomed them back so lovingly.
Pass Christian home destroyed Their home in Pass Christian, on Highway 90 facing the beach, was completely swept away by Katrina. They have been living in a FEMA trailer on the site but are making plans to rebuild. They also had an apartment in New Orleans that was not harmed by the storm.
Luckier than most The 80-year-old Elbert Vix said they were among the lucky few. Despite losing their home and all their material possessions, "We never missed a meal, a bath or a nice place to lay our heads to sleep at night." Not everyone was so lucky, he fully understands, as he described the destruction that is still evident along the coast. Genie Vix is from a large family that lives along the coast. She said she lost a brother-in-law to the storm but relatives considered it a miracle that there was only one fatality in the extended family. The couple said they had a lot of antiques and other heirlooms that were lost to the storm but this week they were able to joke about it. Elbert Vix laughed, "I told our daughters that maybe it was a way of taking care of things so they wouldn't fuss over the estate when we are gone." Both had nothing but praise for Grove Hill and the residents they encountered here last year. Betty Vix Weinberger in a letter published last week called Grove Hill "a Norman Rockwellian town." "It was unbelievable the number of nice people we met here in such a short time," Elbert Vix said. He admitted that he did not know how to take the charity offered last year. At the time, he protested to people that he had income and resources and that people should be helping those who could not help themselves. This week he said he now understands that people only wanted to help and he said he appreciates it.
Volunteers still at work He did express amazement and appreciation at the number of volunteers still flocking to the coast to help with cleanup and rebuilding efforts. "I don't know if my generation would have gone somewhere and worked without compensation for weeks like that. We would have said we had jobs to be at and families to take care of," he reasoned. Departing Monday, the Vixes promised they would be back next August and every anniversary after as long as they can come. "When I don't show up one year, you'll know I've moved on," Elbert Vix laughed.
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