The Rebuild Ocean Springs Fund

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The Rebuild Ocean Springs Fund

• Recovery for a
• Historic Mississippi Community
• Hard Hit by Hurricane Katrina

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Ocean Springs, originally founded in 1699, is
known as the City of Discovery for its place in
the history of the Gulf Coast region. This downed
historic marker is one sign that the city and her
people are now looking towards the future to
recovery.
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The OCEAN SPRINGS Community
ZIP Code 39564 Census Data Population 31,819 Land
Area 57.44 miles Housing Units 12,894 Water
Area 0.40 miles Total Area 57.85
miles Population Density 553.91 Housing
Density 224.46 Density per square mile of
land area.
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Ocean Springs What Is

• A Mid-Sized City Hard Hit by a Historic Hurricane
• 30 of Ocean Springs residences are heavily
  damaged
• 10 of the citys homes have been destroyed
  (literally gone or damaged beyond repair)
• A significant loss of jobs due to the devastation
  of businesses in and around Ocean Springs
• Transportation is severely impacted, with major
  thoroughfares lost along with the bridges that
  connect the many waterfront communities

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The Biloxi-Ocean Springs bridge was the road to
and from work for thousands of area residents it
is estimated that it will take nearly two years
to rebuild the bridge -- most of the jobs
awaiting on the other side were also victims of
Katrina.
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Roads and bridges arent the only traffic
accidents left in Katrinas wake automobiles are
at a premium following record losses due to storm
surge and downed trees. Rail lines suffered
similarly.
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Homes throughout Ocean Springs were chosen for
a personal visit from Katrina, and clean up
efforts place residents personal property more
outside than in
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except in the far too many cases where there is
no longer any inside and residents are left to
sort through the ruins of their family home
looking for heirlooms and mementos.
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Ocean Springs What Is

• A Mid-Sized City Hard Hit by a Historic Hurricane
• Severe blows taken by community support systems
  such as the public schools and the local Boys
  Girls Club
• Quality of life affected by the loss of parks and
  recreation facilities
• Historic Districts nearly demolished
• Overwhelming impact on tax base and commercial
  interests

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• All of the campuses of the Ocean Springs School
  District sustained damage, with an estimated 35
  - 50 of faculty, staff and children suffering
  the loss of their homes, cars, and personal
  possessions.

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This private residence, designed and built by
noted Chicago architects Louis Sullivan and Frank
Lloyd Wright, is one of the many historically
significant structures lost.
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Safe harbor wasnt safe for the many recreational
and commercial water craft which were damaged by
the storm, like these boats which sought refuge
along a tributary of Fort Bayou.
Sailboats safe in the Ocean Springs Harbor
pre-Katrina.
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A Moment for Our Mayor

• Ocean Springs is one of the only cities on the
  Mississippi Gulf Coast that still has an intact
  central business district. We hope to be an
  anchor for rebuilding and renewal for the entire
  region.
• With your help, we can get people into
  much-needed housing and rebuild our public
  infrastructure.
• The Rebuild Ocean Springs Fund is local,
  accountable, and efficient.

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Ocean Springs An Anchor for Rebuilding

• City Hall was spared major damage and has
  continuously served as the hub for local
  post-hurricane efforts
• Public Safety services, including city police and
  fire departments, functioning at high levels
• Water and sewer services functional in all areas
  open to residents

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Ocean Springs An Anchor for Rebuilding

• Ocean Springs retail establishments are open,
  helping to rebuild the economy
• Historic downtown restaurants are providing hot
  meals for storm-weary residents
• Locally-owned hardware stores and big box chains
  are providing much-needed cleaning and rebuilding
  supplies

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Ocean Springs An Anchor for Rebuilding

• Quality of Life Remains A Priority
• The annual Peter Anderson Festival, selected as
  one of the Southeast Tourism Societys top 20
  events, was held Nov. 5-6, 2005, with near record
  attendance despite a rainy opening day.
• The Walter Anderson Museum of Art sustained no
  damage to the art! It is the only Coast museum
  now open to the public.

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The Rebuild Ocean Springs Fund

• Rebuilding the Community through Individual and
  Organizational Efforts
• A Way to Focus Charitable Giving
• People Building Bridges Between
• What Is and What Should Be

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The Rebuild Ocean Springs Fund

• Established as a 501(c)(3) Advised Fund with the
  Foundation for the Mid South
• Administered by Local Individuals with A Shared
  Vision for Ocean Springs
• Offering Humanitarian Assistance to Individuals
• Rebuilding Public Infrastructure and Key
  Institutions

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Rebuild Ocean Springs Fund

• Humanitarian Assistance to Individuals
• A portion of the funds raised will be distributed
  to individuals to help rebuild their homes and
  lives. We will assist individuals and families
  to develop their own disaster recovery plans.
  People will receive help with housing, medical
  care, and other services.

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Rebuild Ocean Springs Fund

• Humanitarian Assistance
• You have to have just an inner faith that its
  going to be rebuilt, and that theres hope and
  theres a future. If not, then you would probably
  be thinking about just gathering your possessions
  and moving on somewhere else. And we love this
  community too much to just pick up and leave.
• Local landscaper Michelle Hale

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Rebuild Ocean Springs Fund

• Rebuilding Ocean Springs Program Area
• This program area will make grants to local
  nonprofits and government entities to help
  rebuild the community facilities and
  infrastructure that residents rely upon

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Rebuild Ocean Springs Fund

• Rebuilding Ocean Springs Program Area
• Grants will be made to rebuild
• Neighborhoods and town centers.
• The local economy.
• Physical infrastructure.
• Arts and culture sector.
• Key social services.

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Rebuild Ocean Springs Fund

• Rebuilding Ocean Springs Program Area
• Ocean Springs was great before, but we have an
  historic opportunity to create an even better
  community with a real sense of place.
• Ocean Springs Mayor Connie Moran

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What You Can Do To Help

• Donate to the Rebuild Ocean Springs Fund
• Host or Co-Host Special Events Designed to
  Benefit The Fund
• Help share the good news about Ocean Springs and
  its post-Katrina prospects for a bright future

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To Make A Donation

• Tax deductible contributions can be made online
  at www.fndmidsouth.org, or they can be sent to
• Rebuild Ocean Springs Fund Foundation for the
  Mid South 134 East Amite Street Jackson, MS
  39201Make checks payable to the FMS / Rebuild
  Ocean Springs FundTo donate by phone, call
  1-888-355-8168after hours 1-601-355-8167

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It means a great deal to us to think that help
can come from unexpected places and people we
have yet to meet. We have received all the
hurricane relief suppliesyouve sent. Thanks to
you, we have water, food and clothes. What we
need now is HOPE.
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For More Information

• For more information on the Rebuild Ocean Springs
  Fund, please contact
• Julia Weaver, Chairman 228-872-2670
  juliaweaver_at_bellsouth.net
• For more information on the grants application
  process, please contact
• Denise Ellis, Grants Officer Foundation for
  the Mid South bdellis_at_fndmidsouth.org

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The Rebuild Ocean Springs Fund Recovery for a
Historic Mississippi CommunityHard Hit by
Hurricane KatrinaProduced by CC Cooper
Communicationsin cooperation withThe Rebuild
Ocean Springs FundOctober 2005