MS Coast man helps fill sandbags for Sally hours after brother died of COVID-19
As Sally makes its way toward the Mississippi Coast, locals spent their Sunday morning preparing for the storm.
Hurricanes are a part of life for the Gulf Coast, and preparing for them is something that comes naturally for people like Timothy Lundy and Meghan Roberts.
The two are both strangers, but true to Southern hospitality, they helped each other fill bags at a sandbag location along U.S. 90 near downtown Gulfport.
Lundy moved to Biloxi from Mobile, Alabama, a year ago.
“Growing up in Mobile, I remember preparing for these kind of storms,” Ludy said while filling up a bag with sand. “If I don’t stay here, at least I know my house is protected.”
But the storm wasn’t the only thing on his mind. Lundy said his brother had just died of the coronavirus. He was taken off a ventilator at Singing River Hospital in Pascagoula earlier Sunday.
Lundy said his brother was in rehab in Lucedale when he contracted the virus. He was placed on a ventilator and was “good for a while” before his condition worsened.
“He started having breathing issues again,” Lundy said. “The doctor said he was in pretty bad shape. Even if he did survive that’d he’d be in a bed the rest of his life, I didn’t want him to suffer.”
The 33-year Army veteran said it was difficult to focus on preparing for the storm, but it brought comfort to him knowing his brother was no longer in pain.
“He’s at peace now. God has a plan for everyone, I believe that.”
As Lundy shoveled, Louisiana native Roberts held the bags open.
She said she felt like she was just shoveling for sand bags after preparing for Marco and Laura. She lived in Long Beach for a year before moving to downtown Gulfport a few weeks ago.
“I’m now right on the beach,” she laughed. “I lived through Katrina. I’m used to boarding windows and filling up sandbags. I used to live on a second floor apartment, but not anymore. This is the second time I’ve gotten sandbags since I’ve moved and I’ve only been there for a few weeks.”
“I think we’ll be fine,” she said.
Sand bag locations
Harrison County
- Harrison County Road Department at 11076 Lorraine Road
- D’Iberville Work Center at 190085 1st Ave. W
- Lyman Work Center at 15001 County Farm Road
- Woolmarket Work Center at 16395 Old Woolmarket Road
- District 4 Work Center at 8300 34th Ave. in Gulfport
- Long Beach Work Center at 605 N. Seal Ave.
- Ken Combs Pier parking lot at Courthouse Road and U.S. 90
D’Iberville at the north end of the I-110 bridge, south of Rodriguez St.
Orange Grove Community Center on Dedeaux Road, the Fire Station on 42nd Avenue
Intersection of Hewes Avenue and Glover Street
Hancock County
If you need assistance, call the Hancock County Emergency Management Agency at 228-255-0942 or Hancock County Central Dispatch at 228-255-9191.
- Hancock County Horse Arena, 4184 Kiln Delisle Road
- Old Hancock County Complex, 3068 Longfellow Drive
- Lakeshore Community Center, 6440 Lower Bay Road
- Bayside Fire Department, 6215 West Hinds Street
- West Hancock Fire Department, 16006 Washington Street
- Diamondhead City Hall, 5000 Diamondhead Circle
Jackson County
- West Division Roads Department, N. Washington Avenue (Mississippi 609), Ocean Springs
- Forts Lake Fire Department, 10701 Forts Lake Road, Moss Point
- Escatawpa Fire Department, 3801 Sentinel Dr, Moss Point
- Fontainebleau Fire Department, 3901 Hwy. 57 South, Ocean Springs
- East Division Roads Department, 10825 Hwy. 63, Moss Point
- St. Andrews Fire Department, 1401 Elm Street, Ocean Springs
Ocean Springs - Public Works Department, 712 A Pine Drive
Gautier - Behind City Hall, Highway 90
Pascagoula - Jackson County Fairgrounds, 2902 Shortcut Road
- Moss Point - New Central Fire Station, 4204 Bellview Street
- Ocean Springs - Civic Center, 3730 Bienville Boulevard
- Latimer Community Center, 10908 Daisy Vestry Road, Ocean Springs
- West Jackson County Fire Department, 15324 Big Ridge Road, St. Martin