Stilts, Part 1

The hurricanes of 2004 and 2005 changed us all, but not completely. Many of us have wanted to rebuild, as closely as possible, the lives we led before...including where we called home. Some neighborhoods on the Mississippi Coast now look much like they did before. They've reclaimed their gorgeous views of the Gulf of Mexico and the Mississippi Sound. These Pass Christian homes are actually on a bit of a bluff, just beyond the beach.
Away from those precious islands of height, neighborhoods are creating their own kind of elevation...with stilts.
FEMA, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, believes that elevation lowers damage potential from rising water, and financial aid can be contingent on construction adhering to their guidelines.
So what's it like to live on a tower? Here is what some Pass Christian residents said.
Thuc Hoang says,"The house sways in the wind. We can feel it at night when we're in bed."
Jerry Carrie says the same thing. "When we get a really good wind, it moves pretty good. I call it my 'tree house.'"
"The house sways and shakes when the trains go by," comments John Dubuisson.
But it turns out there's a lot to like, too.
"The underhouse is great," says Jerry Carrie. "You get a good breeze. It's nice and cool under there. You can work. I store my boat under there, my cars. whatever."
Kris Oustalet stands near the top of his front door staircase and looks around. "You know, the beach is right there. You have downtown Pass Christian, wonderful neighbors. you have beautiful scenery around you."
But climbing all those stairs with groceries? Not necessarily a problem. See why in "Stilts," Part Two.