The Board Of Directors Of Portersville Revival Group, is pleased to place on display
The Photographic Art Exhibition of the 7th And 8th Grade Students Attending Alba Middle School, in Bayou La Batre, Alabama.

Under the learned tutelage of teacher, Peggy Denniston and artist, Sheila Hagler, these 7th and 8th grade students have produced poignant black and white photographs of the hardship suffered by local families as they try to recover from the damages of hurricane Katrina. . This exhibition captures the personal trauma and innate strength of those living in the students’ hometowns of Coden and Bayou La Batre.
These two small fishing hamlets are located along the French Coast of Alabama, which is bordered by Portersville Bay.

On August 28-29, 2005, the region suffered horrendous devastation because of the high winds and tidal surge associated with the mega-storm hurricane Katrina. One local official remarked that “it looks as if a bomb went off in the region”.

As these works attest, a rich and unique culture with vast talent is the real wealth of the area. The insight of Peggy Denniston and Sheila Hagler recognized this talent and their continued efforts have produced this incredible exhibit.

All that's left of this once stately turn-of-the century home in Coden, Alabama is a set of brick steps discovered in a nearby bayou. The two-story house and its contents were strewn nearly a half-mile through the woods to the north of the house. It is said that the home contained a bedroom set from France. A similar bedroom set is found on display in Lincoln’s bedroom in Washington, D.C.
Photograph by Jada Davis, age 13

A man stands next to what was the front wall of his waterfront home. The wall was ripped away when the force of the storm surge associated with Hurricane Katrina slammed a two-ton refrigerated container into the structure. Eight of his neighbors’ houses were also smashed by the floating two-ton home wrecker.
Photograph by Adrian Overstreet, age 13

This scene was repeated throughout the Town of Coden and City of Bayou La Batre as people put their belongings outside to dry and salvage what they could. People had to take to living outside. Food preparation and family meals occur in the yard. Locally this is called a “Katrina Picnic”.
Photograph by Olivia Bird, age 11

A family stands in front of what they were able to salvage from their home after Katrina washed it off its foundation. Despite their best efforts, water and mold claimed all of their belongings including family pictures and documents that could have helped them secure FEMA aid. The six family members are now living in a trailer loaned to them by a neighbor.
Photograph by Adrian Overstreet, age 13

Mrs. Khan and four of her five children -- Sam, Sophin, Sakun and Kay -- squeeze onto the couch of their FEMA trailer. The Fema “camper trailer” is approximately 300 square feet of space and is shared by the family of seven. The camper is located behind the remains of their Hurricane Katrina shattered home. It's just a matter of time before FEMA takes away the trailer and they have no place to stay. Mrs. Khan works in a crab shop pulling backs off crabs to make a living. Mr. Khan works day jobs in the fishing industry.
Photograph by Saphea Khan, age 13

When the Red Cross ran out of tarps with which to patch leaky roofs, the Lambert family made do with the vinyl covering of a billboard donated by a local advertising company. The billboard was true to its promise and has helped to sustain the family through cold winter days. Hopefully FEMA aid will come available soon to repair the damaged home.
Photograph by Adrian Overstreet, age 13

There is no room inside the small (300 square feet) campers provided by FEMA for appliances of the size of a normal refrigerator. They must be plugged up outside the campers. Note the worn mud path between the teetering wooden steps to the Khan's FEMA trailer and what was home to the Khan‘s and their seven children prior to its destruction by Hurricane Katrina.
Photograph by Saphea Khan, age 13

A commercial fisherman who cleaned and tried to fix up his Katrina damaged home. Located in the area known as "Little Saigon" within the city limits of Bayou La Batre, Alabama, the home is now scheduled to be bulldozed. Uncle Milton continues to live in a FEMA trailer behind his former home.
Photograph by Adam Rogers, age 14

Sophin Khan, age 11 years old , points to where the water stopped rising in his home and sparing the family's most prized possession, a painting of their native Cambodia. Two other two treasured family photographs were also hung high enough to be out of danger -- one of the family with their grandmother, and the other of their grandfather who died during the battle of Khmer Rouge.
Photograph by Saphea Khan, age 13

Exhaustion and despair are found on the face of this unidentified gentleman as he sits on the remains of his water heater while taking a short break from hauling debris from his home. Behind him is what’s left of his prior home and the tiny trailer that now houses his family of five.
Photograph by Adrian Overstreet, age 13

A pair of life preservers are all that kept alive Natasha Lambert and Jeremiah Mareno after they decided to ride out the storm in their trailer in the Town of Coden, Alabama. The couple climbed atop a chest of dresser drawers and clung to the life preservers while the waters suddenly rushed inside and the wind battered their trailer, which was nearly tipped over. "We were scared to death," Natasha said. "Jeremiah kept saying, whatever happens don't let go of that life jacket. “
Photograph by Adrian Overstreet, age 13

Aline Seaman, eighty-fours years of age, sits in a rocker by a living room window of the four-room home where she has lived since 1939. Although the house is listing on its foundation and can't be salvaged, Aline refuses to leave and spends every day in her rocker before heading out at night to sleep in a FEMA trailer alongside the house. To accommodate her wishes, Aline's children removed the walls to bare wood and stripped the tile to get rid of as much dangerous mold as they could. "I've raised nine children here," she says. "I just can't give it up."
Photograph by Adam Rogers, age 14

Eighty-five year old Marie Schjott is forced to live upstairs after Katrina destroyed the first floor of her home. A separate room in the attic serves as a makeshift bedroom. A bed for her has been created from two plywood planks and a mattress. The couch, which she is sitting on, is the only piece of furniture left that doesn't have exposed springs. Because she is going deaf, Marie shares the attic with a family member who cares for her and Buster, her three-legged dog. Marie's great-grandfather was Joe Cain, who is credited with reviving Mardi Gras in the City of Mobile, Alabama following the Civil War.
Photograph by Adrian Overstreet, age 13

A self portrait in a home being repaired by a church group.
Photograph by Mui Lam

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Unfortunately, supplies are not provided by the local school system. Denniston and Hagler have used their own monies to fund this work.

In order to continue this project, funds are urgently needed to buy supplies such as camera's, film, and paper.

Donations of the same will also be accepted. Professional help with the continuance of the work of Denniston and Hagler is needed.

To this end, the Portersville Revival Group (a 501(c)(3) charitable organization) has created a fund to aid in the continuance of this program. As always, one hundred per cent of all funds collected will be distributed to the program sponsors.
If you or your organization would like to make a donation toward this project, please send the same to:

PORTERSVILLE REVIVAL GROUP
P.O. BOX 371
CODEN, ALABAMA 36523

YOU MAY CONTACT US AT TELEPHONE: (251) 377-4383 OR EMAIL: barbara131@aol.com

PLEASE MARK YOUR CHECK “TO AID THE EFFORTS OF THE CHILDREN OF ALBA MIDDLE SCHOOL”