We just spoke to the Leavengoods and they had a chance to go into Biloxi today. Their house only has a few shingles missing, a tree and several limbs down. There is minor roof and water damage at Dr. Leavengood’s office.
Pam’s grandmother, Cora Buenz, at the nursing home in Gulfport is safe and secure. All of the residents spent the night in the hallway, but the building made it through the hurricane with little or no damage.
Bobby and Laura’s house, one of First Presbyterian Church Biloxi’s manses, is unscathed. Next door at the church the storm surge blew the front doors off the hinges and filled the sanctuary with about three feet of water. Other than that and a broken window upstairs the building is sound.
The lack of damage to First Presbyterian is amazing considering that the church sits on Hwy 90 right across from the beach. All of the antebellum homes on either side of the church are gone. Huge sections of the lower part of Hwy 90–the east bound lanes–are collapsed and washed away.
Batch and Holly, a young couple from First Presbyterian Church, had fled the area on Sunday with the Leavengoods. Their beach front bungalow in Gulfport is gone; just a slab and some steps remain.
I can tell there is a mix of emotions from relief and thankfulness to overwhelming sorrow. At one point Laura got on the phone crying saying, “It’s so bad…” There are also family friends who stayed behind that they have not made contact with yet. Please offer praise for what was spared and continue to pray for everyone affected by the hurricane.
2 Comments
Doug and Lois
We are continually praying for you, your family and the First Pres family. We are overwhelmed by the pictures we have seen of the damage but are rejoicing that the church and your home and office appear to have survived well. Rob Murphy and his mother are coming to Biloxi today to try to secure her home and do what clean up they can. We heard that her home was spared great damage, also. We would love to hear news of the First Pres family and how we could help.
Doug and Lois,
You have no idea how relieved we are to find this web site and see/hear that you are okay. We have been ‘praying without ceasing’ for our dear friends who make pizza and carmel rolls and a brother and sister in Christ! Praise God your home wasn’t completely destroyed. Lois, I thought so much of the things you treasure and how you had to leave…but praising God you and family are safe, and we would love a word back as to how we can specifically pray for you. Our church sent $31,000 to a church in the area. Praise God your church is still standing! Hope to hear back……….Judy & Orvey Hampton ..call if you can. 714.528.0704
2 Cor. 1:5-7 James 5:13 Psalm 55:22