Residents of Pearlington, Mississippi console each other while fishing on the Pearl River, nearly a year after Hurricane Katrina made landfall in the town with an over 15 foot storm deluge. Photograph by Seth Butler — Residents of Pearlington console each other while fishing on the Pearl River, nearly a year after the eye of Hurricane Katrina made landfall nearby and flooded the town with over 15 feet of storm deluge.

Residents of Pearlington console each other while fishing on the Pearl River, nearly a year after the eye of Hurricane Katrina made landfall nearby and flooded the town with over 15 feet of storm deluge.

A storm-worn and barely legible Mississippi welcome sign stands akimbo in Pearlington, Mississippi near the Pearl River, nearly a year after Hurricane Katrina made landfall in the town with an over 15 foot storm deluge. Photograph by Seth Butler — A barely legible storm-worn Mississippi welcome sign stands akimbo in Pearlington near the Pearl River.

A barely legible storm-worn Mississippi welcome sign stands akimbo in Pearlington near the Pearl River.

Children play on a tire swing in front of the entrance to the Pearlington Resource Center, locally known as Pearl Mart, while parents from community await aid distribution. Pearl Mart remained the last functioning distribution center in the region at the time, nearly a year after Hurricane Katrina made landfall in the town with an over 15 foot storm deluge. Photograph by Seth Butler — Children play on a tire swing in front of the entrance to the Pearlington Resource Center, locally known as Pearl Mart, while parents from the community await aid distribution. Pearl Mart remained the last functioning distribution center in the region at the time, managed solely by volunteer organizing efforts.

Children play on a tire swing in front of the entrance to the Pearlington Resource Center, locally known as Pearl Mart, while parents from the community await aid distribution. Pearl Mart remained the last functioning distribution center in the region at the time, managed solely by volunteer organizing efforts.

The manager of the Pearlington Resource Center, locally known as Pearl Mart, makes phone calls in her office. Pearl Mart remained the last functioning distribution center in the region at the time, nearly a year after Hurricane Katrina made landfall in the town with an over 15 foot storm deluge. Photograph by Seth Butler — The volunteer manager of the Pearlington Resource Center makes phone calls in her office at a once flooded local school gym.

The volunteer manager of the Pearlington Resource Center makes phone calls in her office at a once flooded local school gym.

An elderly resident of Pearlington, Mississippi poses for a portrait while she wears donated clothing in a trailer that was provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), nearly a year after Hurricane Katrina made landfall in the town with an over 15 foot storm deluge. Photograph by Seth Butler — An elderly resident of Pearlington poses for a portrait, wearing donated clothing in a trailer that was provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

An elderly resident of Pearlington poses for a portrait, wearing donated clothing in a trailer that was provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

A volunteer poses for a portrait, holding a two-way radio while leaning on a pile of donated mattresses in front of the Pearlington Resource Center, locally known as Pearl Mart. Pearl Mart remained the last functioning distribution center in the region at the time, nearly a year after Hurricane Katrina made landfall in the town with an over 15 foot storm deluge. Photograph by Seth Butler — A volunteer poses for a portrait, holding a two-way radio while leaning on a pile of donated mattresses in front of the Pearlington Resource Center.

A group of volunteers gathers outside a church undergoing reconstruction in Pearlington, Mississippi, nearly a year after Hurricane Katrina made landfall in the town with an over 15 foot storm deluge. Photograph by Seth Butler — A group of volunteers gathers outside a church undergoing reconstruction in Pearlington.

A group of volunteers gathers outside a church undergoing reconstruction in Pearlington.

Volunteers for Habitat for Humanity finish the interior of a home undergoing reconstruction in Pearlington, Mississippi, nearly a year after Hurricane Katrina made landfall in the town with an over 15 foot storm deluge. Photograph by Seth Butler — Volunteers for Habitat for Humanity finish the interior of a home undergoing reconstruction in Pearlington.

Volunteers for Habitat for Humanity finish the interior of a home undergoing reconstruction in Pearlington.

Volunteers finish the the roof of a home undergoing reconstruction in Pearlington, Mississippi, nearly a year after Hurricane Katrina made landfall in the town with an over 15 foot storm deluge. Photograph by Seth Butler — Volunteers finish the the roof of a home undergoing reconstruction in Pearlington.

Volunteers finish the the roof of a home undergoing reconstruction in Pearlington.

Tin cans of donated food are displayed on a nearly empty shelf along with a sign reading "2 Per Family" at the Pearlington Resource Center, locally known as Pearl Mart. Pearl Mart remained the last functioning aid distribution center in the region at the time, nearly a year after Hurricane Katrina made landfall in the town with an over 15 foot storm deluge. Photograph by Seth Butler — Tin cans of donated food are displayed on a nearly empty shelf at the Pearlington Resource Center.

Tin cans of donated food are displayed on a nearly empty shelf at the Pearlington Resource Center.

A volunteer for Habitat for Humanity leans on a cane while posing for a portrait, in the midst of finishing the interior of a home undergoing reconstruction in Pearlington, Mississippi, nearly a year after Hurricane Katrina made landfall in the town with an over 15 foot storm deluge. Photograph by Seth Butler — A volunteer for Habitat for Humanity leans on a cane while posing for a portrait, in the midst of finishing the interior of a home undergoing reconstruction in Pearlington.

A resident of Pearlington poses for a portrait inside the doorway of her home while Habitat for Humanity volunteers finish the interior of her home undergoing reconstruction in Pearlington, Mississippi, nearly a year after Hurricane Katrina made landfall in the town with an over 15 foot storm deluge. Photograph by Seth Butler — A resident of Pearlington poses for a portrait inside the doorway of her home while Habitat for Humanity volunteers finish the home interior in Pearlington.

A resident of Pearlington poses for a portrait inside the doorway of her home while Habitat for Humanity volunteers finish the home interior in Pearlington.

A resident of Pearlington who is living in a trailer provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) speaks to a local volunteer who is making aid deliveries in Pearlington, Mississippi, nearly a year after Hurricane Katrina made landfall in the town with an over 15 foot storm deluge. Photograph by Seth Butler — A resident of Pearlington who is living in a trailer provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) speaks to a local volunteer who is making aid deliveries in Pearlington.

A disabled resident of Pearlington who is living in a trailer provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) speaks to a local volunteer who is making aid deliveries in Pearlington, Mississippi, nearly a year after Hurricane Katrina made landfall in the town with an over 15 foot storm deluge. Photograph by Seth Butler — A disabled resident of Pearlington who is living in a trailer provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) speaks to a local volunteer who is making aid deliveries.

The manager of the Pearlington Resource Center, locally known as Pearl Mart, gathers aid supplies for distribution in Salvation Army boxes. Pearl Mart remained the last functioning distribution center in the region at the time, nearly a year after Hurricane Katrina made landfall in the town with an over 15 foot storm deluge. Photograph by Seth Butler — The manager of the Pearlington Resource Center gathers aid supplies for distribution to local residents in Pearlington.

The manager of the Pearlington Resource Center gathers aid supplies for distribution to local residents in Pearlington.

A volunteer for Habitat for Humanity stands on a ladder while painting the ceiling, in the midst of finishing the interior of a home undergoing reconstruction in Pearlington, Mississippi, nearly a year after Hurricane Katrina made landfall in the town with an over 15 foot storm deluge. Photograph by Seth Butler — A volunteer for Habitat for Humanity stands on a ladder while painting the ceiling, in the midst of finishing the interior of a home undergoing reconstruction in Pearlington.

A resident of Pearlington poses for a portrait in front of a fire burning organic storm debris in Pearlington, Mississippi, nearly a year after Hurricane Katrina made landfall in the town with an over 15 foot storm deluge. Photograph by Seth Butler — A resident of Pearlington poses for a portrait in front of a fire burning the remains of organic storm debris from Hurricane Katrina in Pearlington. He survived the storm while anchored to his house in his family boat.

A resident of Pearlington poses for a portrait in front of a fire burning the remains of organic storm debris from Hurricane Katrina in Pearlington. He survived the storm while anchored to his house in his family boat.

At sunset, a statue of Mary praying stands near a smoldering fire of organic storm debris in Pearlington, Mississippi, nearly a year after Hurricane Katrina made landfall in the town with an over 15 foot storm deluge. Photograph by Seth Butler — At sunset, a statue of Mary in prayer stands near a smoldering fire of organic storm debris in Pearlington, nearly a year after the eye of Hurricane Katrina made landfall nearby and flooded the town with over 15 feet of storm deluge.

At sunset, a statue of Mary in prayer stands near a smoldering fire of organic storm debris in Pearlington, nearly a year after the eye of Hurricane Katrina made landfall nearby and flooded the town with over 15 feet of storm deluge.

Documentary Photography & Photojournalism

Katrina’s Eye

Selects from a larger documentary photography essay surrounding citizen volunteers and nonprofit relief efforts in Pearlington, Mississippi, photographed one year after the eye of Hurricane Katrina made landfall there.

Over 15 feet of water in the storm deluge left every home, building, and vehicle in the town of around 1600 people in ruin.

Practically forgotten in the public eye, with no substantial municipal infrastructure yet in place, all recovery efforts in the town fell into the hands of the citizen volunteers and nonprofits who brought aid from all across the United States, some relocating to Pearlington for more than a year.

The Pearlington Resource Center, known as Pearl Mart, turned the once flooded local school gym into a distribution center for relief supplies and volunteer organizing. Pearl Mart remained the last functioning distribution center in the region at the time, managed solely by volunteer organizing efforts.