Sep 14, 2005 By Jennifer Harr 5 min read

For Rose Hudson, there’s no hiding her emotion in the wake of Hurricane Katrina’s wrath. Yes, her son, John Morris Jr., his wife, Melissa, and their 10-month-old son, John Michael, residents of Slidell, La., escaped unharmed. And their home was not totally destroyed.

For that, Hudson is thankful.

It’s the prospect of what is to come, and how the couple will restore their lives, and make their home livable again, that causes the Smithfield resident to choke up.

“Sorry,” she says, barely able to get the word out through the tears she is fighting back.

Morris, 28, a graduate of Albert Gallatin Area Senior High School, worked constructing Home Depot stores and was doing that in Louisiana when he met his future wife.

They fell in love, and he moved with her to Slidell, less than an hour’s drive from New Orleans. They married, Hudson said, and had a son, John Michael Morris, whom Hudson calls “the most beautiful baby.”

But two weeks ago, as her son and grandson sat in the house they had only lived in for one month, they got word that they had to leave their home. Morris’ wife’s father is a government employee in Louisiana, and called ahead to warn the couple to leave. A short time later, as Melissa Morris left a bridal shower for her sister to rejoin her husband and son, the fire department delivered the same warning, Hudson said.

“They got out what they could throw in their vehicle, and they went back about a week and a half ago. They pretty much lost everything,” Hudson said.

They left on a Sunday, driving to Jacksonville, Fla., where they stayed with friends. Hudson said she waited anxiously, until her son was able to call her the next evening.

Even with the devastation, Hudson calls her son’s family “one of the lucky ones.”

“Two houses down from them, there was nothing but rubble. His house is at least standing, even if we have to totally strip everything,” she said.

The floor of the house is mired by two inches of muck, Hudson said. When the water came into their home, the current was so swift that it knocked the refrigerator onto its back and moved the appliance into dining room.

“All of the baby’s stuff is ruined,” she said.

The family did get the youngster’s car seat, a walker and some of his clothes, but not nearly enough to sustain him in a time where things are so uncertain.

Hudson said before her son and daughter-in-law left, they were able to grab some pictures, mementos that could never be replaced.

“Everything else,” Hudson said, “is pretty much ruined.

Like true parents, Hudson and her husband want to do whatever they can to help Morris and his family. Both Rose and Kevin Hudson have one week of vacation left at work, and they want to schedule the trip to use the time and help as much as they can.

They hope to do so in a camper, but financially, they cannot afford to buy a new one. They’re looking for a used one, but with limited resources and the need for one large enough to accommodate the seven or eight people who will make the trek with them, Hudson said they haven’t had luck.

“We keep running into roadblocks and we can’t seem to locate anything,” Hudson said.

With her son planning to live in his car as he clears out his home, and her daughter-in-law and grandson currently staying with friends in Mobile, Ala., Hudson said she thought about leaving the camper for them to live in.

She is hopeful that someone might read about her son, and be able to offer suggestions or loan them a camper for the trip.

“We’re hoping somewhere, somehow, something will come through,” she said.

She said her son is hoping to head to his home in the next few days to start the process of cleaning everything out. Then, his family, like so many others, will start from scratch.

Within the next few weeks, Hudson said she and her group plan on taking food and water, and will give their labor to their son for the week.

Right now, Morris, an electrician, is without a job. And while Hudson knows there will be a busy time for him as reconstruction efforts begin, there is nothing for him money wise right now.

Hudson said she doesn’t know exactly what her son will need in the long run. For the trip, they’re focusing on water and food that doesn’t need to be heated. And once he finds out what he’ll need to fix up the house, Hudson said she’s found a company to donate a truck and trailer to take supplies to him.

Usually, Hudson said, her son and family have been able to ride out storms.

“They’ve gotten hit with storms before, but nothing like this,” she said.

No matter what happens, Hudson culls spiritual strength.

“We’re praying, and I’m sure he’ll hear us,” she said.

Hudson said anyone who might be able to help them can call their home at 724-569-1848.