Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Novelist escapes eye of hurricane

A local woman's sister, who is a professional novelist, is staying in Gurdon after going through the eye of Hurricane Katrina, in Picayune, Miss.

Of her time inside the storm, 35-year-old Terri Bailey Bordelon, said Wednesday, "It was the most terrifying experience of my life."

Bailey, originally from Magnet Cove, Ark., is the author of "Cries of the Orchids," a fictitious novel proposing what could happen if the love of money were stronger than the love of clients in a social work setting.

Bailey has a private social work practice out of her home in Picayune, and plans to return there when weather conditions allow it.

"People will need a lot of emotional support because of this natural disaster," she said. "It is time for survivors of the storm to hear messages of hope."

Bailey has been in Gurdon since Tuesday, Aug. 30, after driving out of the storm by private vehicle, with barely enough gas to reach Alexandria, La. Her twin sister, Traci Garrett, of Picayune, helped her "load up the kids and get out of there."

The two women were accompanied by Bailey's children; Kaleb, 13, and Kaci, 21 months.

Bailey and her on-the-road family members are staying with her other sister, Shea Leon, of Gurdon. The mother to the three sisters, Karen Malcom, also lives in Gurdon.

Bailey is married to Johnny Bordelon, who is safe. She said there are still several friends she has not heard from. The writer continues to ask questions, trying to find out how they fared in the hurricane.

"As to the people of Gurdon, I want to thank you for the compassion and the quality of care that has been shown to me, my family and my neighbors on the coast," Bailey said.

"Please continue to pray for us."

Bailey said Homeland Security workers in the New Orleans area talked of a plan to combat such a disaster as this, "but it seems there were too many chiefs and red tape to get anything in place."

"We should have had a specific course of action in mind years ago for a disaster of this nature," she said. "We failed our people, and this is absolutely inexcusable here in America."

Bailey said the apparent slow start, in regard to getting people out of harm's way when the hurricane first hit, is at least in part the fault of poor decisions made by Ray Nagen, mayor of New Orleans.

"As much as I respect him (Nagen), to simply tell impoverished communities of people to evacuate is not enough. These folks had no cars and were public transportation riders living month to month."

As to needs, Bailey said those wanting to help the hurricane victims should remember toddlers. Donating cribs, playpens, sippy cups etc. will give the young mothers a little more sleep at night.

She said teenage boys and girls will need games, magazines and more. Bailey suggests donations be taken to the Red Cross in Arkadelphia.

A notice going around Gurdon Friday said, "Attention Hurricane Katrina evacuees, hurricane assistance available at Arkadelphia Recreation Center, 2555 Twin Rivers Drive or the National Guard Armory, 410 Crittenden Street, in Arkadelphia, from Saturday, 8 a.m. until 5 p.m., and on Sunday, 8 a.m. until 5 p.m."