Hurricane Katrina Recovery

Habitat for Humanity
of Greater Columbus

On August 29, 2005 Hurricane Katrina changed the lives of hundreds of thousands of people in the Gulf Coast area. In September 2005 Howard Baulch, the president of Hilliard Adopt-A-House, went to Louisiana and Mississippi to help begin the clean-up.

In September 2006 Howard led a United Methodist Volunteers in Mission team to Slidell, Louisiana to aid Slidell First United Methodist Church in their recovery.

In February 2007 Grant and Mary Ann Fish led a team of volunteers to Mobile, Alabama to help build homes for those who have been rendered homeless.

On February 23, 2008 Grant and Mary Ann Fish led a team of volunteers to Mobile to be a part of Mission Mobile 2008. Working in conjunction with Habitat for Humanity of Mobile county, the team helped with the construction of additional homes in the area. Volunteers Grant Fish, Steve Beard, Howard Dean, Mary Ann Fish, Lisa Haney, Harold Rausch, Mike Smeltzer, Win Smith, David Throndsen, Mike Torok and Mark White combined their efforts for a week of service to our Lord.

On February 21, 2009 Grant and Mary Ann Fish led a team of 14 volunteers to Alabama to work on six different homes as part of Mission Mobile 2009. They did roofing, siding (cement board), interior doors, laminate flooring, interior trim, shuse wrap, exterior doors and windows, and soffit work.

On February 20, 2010, Grant and Mary Ann Fish led a team of volunteers to Mobile, Alabama for a week to continue aiding families devastated by Hurricane Katrina. The following volunteers participated: Steve Beard (Linworth UMC), Heather Courtney (Hilliard UMC), Howard Dean (Linworth UMC), Grant Fish (Hilliard UMC), Mary Ann Fish (Hilliard UMC), Amber Hay (Hilliard UMC), Glenn Hay (Hilliard UMC), John Hay (Hilliard UMC), Judi Hay (Hilliard UMC), Michelle Hay (Hilliard UMC), Vicki Nichols (Linworth UMC), Roger Powell (Trinity UMC), Harold Rausch (St. James Lutheran), David Throndsen (Indian Run UMC), Mike Torok (Hilliard UMC), and Mark White (Indian Run UMC).

On February 19, 2011, Grant and Mary Ann Fish led a team of volunteers to Mobile, Alabama again. The project this year was a six bedroom home for a very large family. The team included Steve Beard (Linworth UMC), Howard Dean (Linworth UMC), Grant Fish (Hilliard UMC), Mary Ann Fish (Hilliard UMC), Craig Hay (Hilliard UMC), John Hay (Hilliard UMC), Judi Hay (Hilliard UMC), Chris Martin, Roger Powell (Trinity UMC), Harold Rausch (St. James Lutheran), David Throndsen (Indian Run UMC), Mike Torok (Hilliard UMC), and Jeff Turner.