For the people of D’Iberville, Miss., Hurricane Katrina’s 125 mile per hour winds blew in not only windows and doors, they also blew in an angel.

Upon seeing the horrific images of what Hurricane Katrina left of the Gulf Coast, DeKalb resident Paul Jerde sprung into action.

“I am in the construction business, and I had a truck and trailer,” Jerde said. “I asked myself, why can’t I help?”

Having a large truck and trailer at his disposal gave Jerde an edge when it came to helping those affected by the storm. While people from all over the country donated millions of dollars in relief aid, Jerde loaded up his trailer with supplies to deliver on his own.

“I took basic necessities,” Jerde said. “I was told that people needed food, water, baby formula, Pampers and undergarments. If I had been in that same situation, I would have liked for someone to do the same for me.”

Money is one of the most vital things to have when natural disasters strike and people are left homeless, but Jerde said that is not the only thing people need.

“I learned that within the first 10 days it’s not money that helps. It’s food because of living issues,” Jerde said.

Jerde’s observations directly reflect his statement, because money is essential but does very little for the people sitting atop their roofs and escaping the flood waters.

DeKalb County residents supplied Jerde with pharmaceutical goods to deliver to the Gulf Coast, but he purchased the rest of the supplies with his own money.

New Orleans was one of the hardest-hit cities along the Gulf Coast, but Jerde saw how the conditions in Mississippi weren’t much better.

“There were homes under six feet of water,” Jerde said.

Unlike New Orleans, relief in Mississippi was coordinated and timely, he said.

“The situation in Mississippi was probably a little different than in New Orleans because Mississippi didn’t have to deal with a lot of the sewage in the water,” he said.

Jerde said when he arrived at D’Iberville, the relief coordination was very well organized. There was a medical clinic inside a local elementary school, and as soon as he dropped off supplies, they were distributed to those who needed them.

Jerde said of the disaster, “It’s one of those things that you see and really wish you could do more for the people affected.”