"My hat is off to the Corps" Holly Beach before Hurricane Rita above) and after. The Corps cleared hundreds of  LA-RFO Photo. Back to Features

Debris teams open door to recovery for Holly Beach
By Specialist Larry Gleeson, Public Affairs, Louisiana Recovery Field Office

Locals and visitors often referred to Holly Beach as "The Cajun Riviera." With its laid-back atmosphere and natural beauty, the Cameron Parish coastal community was a favorite homes for some and vacation destination for others.

Hurricane Rita changed all that when her powerful winds, gusting at more than 120 miles per hour, leveled every structure in the community with the exception of a water tower located away from the shore.

Residents returned to find debris scattered over hundreds of acres. In some fields and marshy areas debris waiting to be collected makes the area look like a dumping ground.

Despite the incredible damage, no deaths here were attributed to Hurricane Rita. This is a sharp contrast to 1957 when more than 500 residents drowned as Hurricane Audrey came ashore and leveled the beach town.

After Audrey, residents resurrected Holly Beach by building beachfront cabins locally known as "camps." And, what once was a favorite area where locals hunted, crabbed, fished, bird watched and took leisurely strolls, also became a destination for swimmers, sunbathers and a favorite place to celebrate Independence Day.

Over the 4th of July weekend in 1997, more than 50,000 people flocked to this free, highly accessible beach. Over the same weekend in 2006, only a few hundred came to celebrate.

Nevertheless, a spirit of resurrection and celebration once again prevails in Holly Beach. Tight-knit families celebrated as they always have with barbecues, Cajun music and plenty of beach frolicking.

A new activity this year saw local residents out viewing their properties. Removed by Corps demolition team now are the many splintered timber pylons, the large blocks of broken concrete, and the decimated autos, all remnants of Rita’s fury.

The Corps was directed by FEMA in June 2006 to remove debris from the Holly Beach community. According to Quality Assurance Site Supervisor Charlie Bulla, "residents were unable to remove (all the debris) themselves." Charlie Fales of the St. Petersburg District is the Project Manager.

Long time Holly Beach resident Ray Miller praised the work being done by the Corps.

"My hat is off to the Corps," he said. "I can’t say enough about the Corps. They came in here week before last and cleared all the timber pylons and broken up concrete.

"That Charlie Bulla has done a fantastic job. This is the way a clean up is supposed to be. They are almost done and would be done if it weren’t for all the rain we’ve had."

Neighbor Debra Vincent echoed Bulla’s sentiments.

"The Corps is doing a good job, a fantastic job," she said. "They’ve come in and gotten after it."