http://www.sacbee.com/content/politics/story/13512480p-14353118c.html
Bolton gets little news on family in Mississippi
By Cynthia Hubert -- Bee Staff Writer
Even as she cheers her Sacramento Monarchs in their run for their first WNBA championship, Ruthie Bolton's heart is heavy.
Back in her home state of Mississippi, family members and friends are suffering in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Many of their homes have been damaged or destroyed. They are sleeping in churches. They are living, in some cases, without electricity or proper food or enough water.
"It makes my heart bleed to think that anyone has to go through something like that," she said.
OAS_AD('Button20');Bolton, the former Monarchs marquee player who now works in the club's front office, grew up in tiny McLain in rural southeast Mississippi. One of 20 siblings, she has friends and relatives all across the region, some who lived in the communities that took the worst of the hurricane.
"Eighty percent of my family lives in the area," Bolton said. "Including all of the nieces and nephews, it's easily 150 people. Including friends, I probably know 400 people over there."
For now, she can only wonder about their fates, and the fate of her hometown.
By the time this story went to press, Bolton had been able to make contact with only one relative, her twin brother, Ray. He spoke to her just long enough to tell her that the damage was devastating, but that he was OK.
"He sounded very intense, which is not like him. He said he has never been so scared," Bolton said. "He feels like he is living in a nightmare."
Ray Bolton, who like his late father is a preacher, has spent hours standing in lines, trying to get gas, water and other essential supplies. His church in Hattiesburg is packed with refugees, who are hot and miserable.
Ruthie and Ray were able to talk for only about 15 minutes before the phone cut out. "I still haven't had a full report from anyone," she said, "so I don't really know what's going on."
Bolton said she suspects that many of her loved ones will have to start from "ground zero," rebuilding their homes and lives.
"It's hard to think about it," she said. "But the most important thing is that everyone is safe. Losing a house is not the end of the world. As long as everyone is healthy, I will be happy. We can deal with the other stuff later."
Bolton recalled growing up in a community where storm warnings and flooded streets were so common that residents barely flinched.
"We had storm drills at school," she said. "My family lived up on a hill, and the flow never quite got to us. But we had plenty of bad weather, and as kids it would kind of entice us. The lights would go out, and we would light candles and have fun and eat snacks.
"But we never had to leave our house. We never had to experience anything like this."
It is possible, Bolton said, that her childhood home is no longer standing.
"I'm just going to keep calling and calling, trying to make contact with one person who can tell me what is happening," she said.
And, said the preacher's daughter, she will pray for the welfare of everyone back home.
"I don't wait for a disaster to pray. I prayed before and I'm praying now. I believe God will look out for us, and one way or the other we will be OK."
Bolton gets little news on family in Mississippi
By Cynthia Hubert -- Bee Staff Writer
Even as she cheers her Sacramento Monarchs in their run for their first WNBA championship, Ruthie Bolton's heart is heavy.
Back in her home state of Mississippi, family members and friends are suffering in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Many of their homes have been damaged or destroyed. They are sleeping in churches. They are living, in some cases, without electricity or proper food or enough water.
"It makes my heart bleed to think that anyone has to go through something like that," she said.
OAS_AD('Button20');Bolton, the former Monarchs marquee player who now works in the club's front office, grew up in tiny McLain in rural southeast Mississippi. One of 20 siblings, she has friends and relatives all across the region, some who lived in the communities that took the worst of the hurricane.
"Eighty percent of my family lives in the area," Bolton said. "Including all of the nieces and nephews, it's easily 150 people. Including friends, I probably know 400 people over there."
For now, she can only wonder about their fates, and the fate of her hometown.
By the time this story went to press, Bolton had been able to make contact with only one relative, her twin brother, Ray. He spoke to her just long enough to tell her that the damage was devastating, but that he was OK.
"He sounded very intense, which is not like him. He said he has never been so scared," Bolton said. "He feels like he is living in a nightmare."
Ray Bolton, who like his late father is a preacher, has spent hours standing in lines, trying to get gas, water and other essential supplies. His church in Hattiesburg is packed with refugees, who are hot and miserable.
Ruthie and Ray were able to talk for only about 15 minutes before the phone cut out. "I still haven't had a full report from anyone," she said, "so I don't really know what's going on."
Bolton said she suspects that many of her loved ones will have to start from "ground zero," rebuilding their homes and lives.
"It's hard to think about it," she said. "But the most important thing is that everyone is safe. Losing a house is not the end of the world. As long as everyone is healthy, I will be happy. We can deal with the other stuff later."
Bolton recalled growing up in a community where storm warnings and flooded streets were so common that residents barely flinched.
"We had storm drills at school," she said. "My family lived up on a hill, and the flow never quite got to us. But we had plenty of bad weather, and as kids it would kind of entice us. The lights would go out, and we would light candles and have fun and eat snacks.
"But we never had to leave our house. We never had to experience anything like this."
It is possible, Bolton said, that her childhood home is no longer standing.
"I'm just going to keep calling and calling, trying to make contact with one person who can tell me what is happening," she said.
And, said the preacher's daughter, she will pray for the welfare of everyone back home.
"I don't wait for a disaster to pray. I prayed before and I'm praying now. I believe God will look out for us, and one way or the other we will be OK."
