Tuesday, February 17 in Galveston by Fr. Pat Genereux

The crew went back to the house we left yesterday and I have stayed at WTEC to get caught up with ODRR 'paperwork' and reply to and send emails. After lunch, we took a trip to Bolivar Peninsula. This is the area that got what is called the 'dirty' side of the hurricane; that is torrential rains, storm surge, high winds and tornados... most of the homes were severely damaged or destroyed. The community at the west end was completely destroyed as was the community at Gilchrist about 30 miles up the peninsula where only one house was left standing. The area reminded us of Parkersburg, Iowa.

Pictures tell the story better than words. The search for bodies was called off just this past week, but they expect to find more 'missing persons' as brush and debris are slowly cleared away. This is another moment when words fail and all I can do is look. We don't stay long, because it feels like we are entering a sacred space to which we have not yet been invited. The Gilchrist Volunteer Fire Department has asked the Episcopal Diocese to help them rebuild their firehouse so that an essential service can be reestablished. I wish we could stay to do that. We return to Galveston via the State Highway Department's free ferry service.