Pearlington - A Small Town Forgotten

I have spoken about the many small towns in Mississippi that no longer exist because of Hurricane Katrina. I have even mentioned Pearlington. I had no idea that Pearlington was still in such a desperate situation. However, Michelle Malkin received a plea for help for this small town of 1,500.

Hi Michelle, I am an aid coordinator for the Katrina effort. My entire community jumped in with me and we adopted the town of Lumberton Mississippi. I have been working with Lumberton for a month now getting to know the people. My adoped town is inland a ways and as we ship aid to them they have been sharing with towns harder hit south of them. Yesterday my distribution contact in Lumberton got a call from Pearlington for help. He and the pick up truck brigade took what they could to Pearlington. He called and said to me "Nora, is there anything you can do for those folk? It's the worst I have seen. They have 300+ people sleeping on the ground on their football field. The whole town is just flattened. "
...
CAN YOU HELP ME get this poor town adopted and get them help. Their population is only about 1500. They are the small whistle stop no one will care about unless we can get the word out they are in dire need.

They are right across the water from New Orleans. I am so distressed that N.O. gets all the media and the little towns get nothing. Please can you help me find a way to raise visibility to the plight of the small Mississippi towns?

If you'd like to help Nora, send me an e-mail (malkin@comcast.net) and I will put you directly in contact with her. Thanks! Michelle Malkin

Please help if you can. Thank you.

UPDATE: I have cross-posted this at Love America First Small Towns are Being Forgotten.

Linked at My Vast Right Wing Conspiracy's Weekend-Link-Fest

Many, many thanks to the following who are posting as well:

Mark at Knockin' on the Golden Door

John at the Castle of Argghh

Abe at Don't Let Me Stop You

Patrick at Clarity & Resolve who placed this on his bulletin.

Spc. Van T. at Camp Katrina

Cool Blue

Phin

Dean's World

UPDATE: 10/18/05

Ms. Craig has e-mailed further details. The most pressing need is for temporary shelter such as RV's. She also provided numbers of who a town may contact if they wish to adopt a town in Mississippi: Both the Mississippi Municipal League (MML) and the Mississippi Association of Supervisors(MAS) have adopt-a-town programs set up. MML=Shari Veasey @ shari1@mmlonline.com. phone 601-960-5854 MAS is Lorie 601-354-8980. MML does incorporated towns/cities. MAS nonincorporated communities. Pearlington is in MAS.

Thanks to all who have linked or posted about this. And it's not limited to those in the United States. Anyone from from any country can call or e-mail to see how your town could help.

UPDATE: Pearlington has received some much needed help from the city of Charlottesville VA. You can read the details here.