By DOUG GRAVES
Ohio Correspondent

DATELINE, Ohio — While some headed to the sunny beaches of Florida during spring break, 26 students and advisers from the Franklin-Monroe High School FFA in Darke County spent their spring break helping victims of Hurricane Katrina.

The students convened in the New Orleans suburb of Chalmette, which has a population of 16,000. This suburb, which is just seven feet above sea level, has never recovered from that devastating hurricane that struck in 2005.

“We did a lot of work on flood-damaged houses that were nearly condemned,” said B.J. Price, district technician for the Preble County Soil and Water Conservation District, who accompanied the group. “Many of us stripped old walls and added drywall, while others worked on roofs and other structures.

“The destruction is overwhelming. Only about half of the residents have returned. Most of those who have returned are still trying to get their lives on track.”

The group of 15 students and 11 advisers worked 12-hour days. Most gained experience in painting, nailing, roofing, cleaning, scrubbing and building. Walls were rebuilt while others were torn down. There was no shortage of work to be done.

Nathan Feitshans, a junior at Franklin-Monroe High and a third-year FFA member, was shocked at the ruins. “If they rebuilt just one house a day, it would take 74 years to get everyone back to normal,” he said.

“There’s been improvement, but you leave with pictures of the devastation in your mind. It’s hard to imagine that the water from Katrina was everywhere. You listen to the residents and hear their stories ... they’re just unbelievable. It sure makes me appreciate living in west-central Ohio.”

Van Spitler, a junior, found the entire trip breathtaking. “There’s still so many empty buildings and it’s still a ghost town,” Spitler said. “There’s still an abundance of empty houses.”
The school’s band director, Laura Ayers, came home happy that she was able to lend a hand.

“I had never done any roofing until this time,” said Ayers, who was sore from head to toe. “We all did our share of sanding, painting, drywall, roofing and more.”