A team of Davenport Public Works employees returned home this week from a hurricane relief mission in Bay Saint Louis, Mississippi. They helped to restore water and sewer systems in the battered city. Davenporter James Carlson says he couldn’t believe his eyes when he arrived there several weeks ago. Carlson says from five to eight blocks, the houses were 15 or 20 feet off their foundations. While nothing really prepared him for the destruction they encountered firsthand, Carlson says the reception the Iowa team got from the locals was very warm. He says once the people started returning, they were very appreciative and were glad to see the helpers from afar. At this week’s “welcome home” ceremony at the Davenport Public Works building, city worker Dan VanderPool said everything looks “really weird.”VanderPool says “I haven’t really seen anything normal for about three weeks. I’ve never seen anything like what’s down there. The people were nice and it was a warm welcome. I think we got a lot done down there.” Two Davenport city workers are still in Bay Saint Louis, but should be returning to Iowa soon.
