Overcoming Katrina: A Mississippi Town Recovers

© Paul Conrad/Pablo Conrad Photography A computer mouse is surrounded by dried mud in a 2nd Grade room at the Charles b. Murphy Elementary School in Pearlington, Miss. The recovery of the southern Mississippi town of Pearlington after the devastating storm surge from Hurricane Katrina.

© Paul Conrad/Pablo Conrad Photography Rosaries adorn the statue of Mary on the steps of St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Pearlington, Miss. The storm surge lifted the church off the steps and moved it 100 yards down the street where is was destroyed. The recovery of the southern Mississippi town of Pearlington after the devastating storm surge from Hurricane Katrina.

© Paul Conrad/Pablo Conrad Photography Tim Smith takes a breather while pondering what his next move will be. His home was destroyed by the storm surge cause by Hurricane Katrina.

© Paul Conrad/Pablo Conrad Photography Ana Weidie of Pearlington, Miss., explains what happened to her 200 year old home after it was flooded by a nearly 30 foot storm surge from Hurricane Katrina August 29, 2005.

© Paul Conrad/Pablo Conrad Photography Wondering what to do with his refrigerator, resident Tim Smith discusses options with a friend.

© Paul Conrad/Pablo Conrad Photography Old friends give each other a hug as they return to the town of Pearlington.

© Paul Conrad/Pablo Conrad Photography Father O'Brian performs mass for his congregation at what is left of St. Joseph's Catholic Church one month after Hurricane Katrina.

© Paul Conrad/Pablo Conrad Photography Despite the destruction from Hurricane Katrina, St. Joseph's parishoners Camille Lichtenstein, left, her daughter-in-law Eunice Lichtenstein, Father Jim O'Brian, and Ana Weidie celebrate mass outside what was once St. Joseph's Catholic Church. The church lifted off its foundation and floated to the middle of the road during the storm surge and work crews destroyed what remained in order to clear the road.

© Paul Conrad/Pablo Conrad Photography Ana Weidie of Pearlington, Miss., prays during Sunday morning mass at St. Joseph's Catholic Church.

© Paul Conrad/Pablo Conrad Photography Father Jim O'Bryan ashes the forehead of Buddy Lichtenstein during Ash Wednesday services at St. Joseph's Catholic Church. Although the main church has yet to be rebuilt, parishioners use the common room for services.

© Paul Conrad/Pablo Conrad Photography The stained glass windows of the Apostles remained intact while the others shattered from the wind at S. Paul's Catholic Church in Pass Christian, Miss.

Paul Conrad/The Aspen Times A crucifix watches over the remains of St. Paul's Catholic Church in Pass Christian, Miss. The stained glass windows of the Apostles remained intact while the others shattered from the wind.

© Paul Conrad/Pablo Conrad Photography Trying to return to a normal life, Hillary Furey hangs clean clothes outside her as kids scramble around her feet.

© Paul Conrad/Pablo Conrad Photography Stopping by the relief center, Maranda Bennett (cq), of Pearlington, sorts through a box of books.

© Paul Conrad/Pablo Conrad Photography With her 3-year-old daughter Kaitlin Shelton watching with great interest, Katrina Hart checks out clothing at the "Pearl*Mart" at the Charles B. Murphy Elementary School relief center. "We come about once a month to get things we need," she said.

© Paul Conrad/Pablo Conrad Photography Burners without Borders" volunteer Richard Scott of Lake Tahoe, Calif., walks through debris while demolishing a home.

© Paul Conrad/Pablo Conrad Photography Sweeping away dirt and debirs, volunteer James Kinard of Ashland, Ore., cleans a home's foundation after it was demolished. Kinard and several other "Burners Without Borders" volunteers are in Pearlington, Miss., cleaning up some of the heavier items and demolishing homes to help expedite the rebuilding process.

© Paul Conrad/Pablo Conrad Photography Glasses and other collected household items, including a piano, in the home of Sam Baily.

© Paul Conrad/Pablo Conrad Photography Larry Nicosia rebuilds his home 6 feet higher than it was before Hurricane Katrina.

© Paul Conrad/Pablo Conrad Photography Aspen High School sophomore Lacy Moore, 14, of Aspen, touches up the eaves on the home of John and Evelyn Carver.

© Paul Conrad/Pablo Conrad Photography Railroad tracks plunge to the bottom of St. Louis Bay after being pushed off their pylons by the storm surge from Hurricane Katrina.

© Paul Conrad/Pablo Conrad Photography Surveying the damage to downtown Bay St. Louis, Miss., David Wages of Columbia, Miss., pauses from while working on the CSX Railroad bridge.

© Paul Conrad/Pablo Conrad Photography A year and a half after Hurricane Katrina, Connie Danise gathers trash as she continues to clean her home in the Oak Harbor subdivision.

© Paul Conrad/Pablo Conrad Photography Aspen High School senior Claire Haughey, 17, grimaces while handing classmate Elle Stark, 17, a 60 pound bag of concrete mix while helping rebuild the home of Isiah "Ike" Oliver.