When I was 10-years-old, in the summer of 1992, Hurricane Andrew came plowing through Miami and pulverized my childhood home. Fortunately, I wasn’t there for the disaster, but I remember the devastation my family and I felt seeing our home and all of our possessions in flattened, soggy ruins.
A lot of our neighbors fled, leaving the tragic memories far behind, but my family stayed and rebuilt. It was the first house my parents built from the ground up and they refused to let go. To them, their home was a symbol of years of hard work, and I’m proud to say that 23 years later they still live in that very same house.
Because of this experience, I always love stories of resilience after a natural disaster, and this family below has strength in spades.
In 2005, the Parson family was dealt a cruel hand when Hurricane Katrina demolished their home that had stood for 100 years in Waveland, MS. Katrina is ranked as the third most intense and second most deadly hurricane in U.S. history. Like my family, it would have made sense if they had moved, but instead decided to do stay and do something truly beautiful…
The Parsons could not afford to rebuild their home after Hurricane Katrina destroyed it. But they couldn’t bare to just abandon it, either.
One of the only aspects of their old home that remained after the horrendous storm was the steps to their door.
They had to move elsewhere, but they would visit the site of their home frequently and would pitch a tent and camp on their property, wondering what the future would bring.
Ten years passed and the property was overrun with weeds that reclaimed the area. It seemed as if there was never a house there at all.
That’s when they got the break of a lifetime. After hearing their touching story, the FYI Network contacted the Parsons and offered to help them rebuild for their show “Tiny House Nation.”
The family couldn’t refuse the offer. This time they decided to make sure that their home would withstand floods.
The boost from a 12 x 12-foot to support foundation would also give them another perk — a gorgeous tree line view.
The final result of their build is absolutely stunning. A 576-square-foot tiny house they call “The Mississippi Memory House.”
The steps to their home that remained now act as a memorial, with each step adorned with a plaque marking a significant event in the family’s history.
The house has an open floor plan that allows light to pour in from their custom windows which can withstand up to 160-mph winds.
A split A/C unit cools the place with the help of a modern ceiling fan.
Pergo flooring and the wave tile black splash gives the kitchen a fun, beachy vibe. The pass through above also opens to a landing for an office space.
The kitchen comes complete with butcher-block counters and ample room for cooking and entertaining.
Two sliding barn doors open to reveal a master bedroom. The door in picture above contains the two eight-foot long benches! The other door, which is not pictured, has an inset that can fold out and turn into a 10-foot long dining table.
On the north side of the house, where the bedroom is located, are 19-foot ceilings.
That, with the aid of a fan, makes the area feel airy.
The family uses the large space under the home as an additional outdoor room to hang out in.
It also has a lovely outdoor lounging area with a fire pit for chillier night. Nature has reclaimed the space between the home and the water, allowing for tons of privacy — and protection.
The family splurged a little with the bathroom. It features a six-foot walk-in shower, dark gray tile, and wood accents.
After their struggle it’s so wonderful to see this family back on their feet.
What do you think of what this family did? Let us know.
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