Instead of focusing on the upcoming trip to California last week, Jason Garey was preoccupied with Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath.
Instead of relaxing or hanging out with his Terrapin soccer teammates on the way to the airport Wednesday, Garey spoke with coach Sasho Cirovski about how to join the relief efforts.
Instead of playing two games in front of his parents this weekend, Garey is unsure about the next time they’ll visit.
The Terps’ star is from Gonzales, La. — about 60 miles northwest of New Orleans — and though his family is safe, Katrina’s vast impact was felt by the large number of Gareys living in the area.
“You wake up one morning and think we may be gone for a day or two, maybe three days,” said Mike Garey, Jason’s uncle who evacuated his home in Jefferson Parish. “But the next minute, you got complete devastation in some areas. Everybody in this city is affected.”
Mike and his wife, Gaynell, moved in with Jason’s parents, Rick and Kathleen, before Katrina struck Sunday night. Other family members went to Houston.
“It was a really worrisome feeling when I was watching the news,” Jason said. “I didn’t sleep at all Sunday night. I was just really worried about my family. Our house is pretty high, but you never know what could happen with the tornadoes.”
While Jason’s house was unharmed, his uncle’s suffered roof and other minor damages. Jefferson Parish is only about 10 miles from downtown New Orleans.
Though largely shielded from Katrina’s brute force, the Gareys still witnessed the hurricane’s effects.
“This is the largest disaster ever in the history of the United States,” Mike said. “What you see on TV does not do justice to what’s going on.”
Despite being states away, the Terps’ senior forward has had trouble using his cell phone because of its Louisiana area code. But Jason said he has been in regular contact with his family and has received strong support from friends.
“Those first couple of days, it was hard to concentrate on practice,” Garey said. “It has been on my mind a lot.”
“You can see this is weighing heavily on him,” Cirovski said. “I think he’s done about as well as you can do to find some balance with the whole situation. I know that he’s been very distraught and distracted, as well he should be.”
Jason, however, is not idly standing by. Along with Cirovski and his teammates, he is organizing a cash donation table for Katrina relief efforts at the game tomorrow night against No. 5-ranked Santa Clara in the Maryland/adidas Classic.
In a team meeting, each player agreed to contribute at least $20 to the fund and Cirovski will then match those donations, with the team’s charity totaling over $1,000.
“We’re going to lead the way,” Cirovski said. “It’s been on our minds a lot. It’s our very small way of trying to help.”
Rick and Kathleen had previously planned to attend the tournament this weekend, but their situation has eliminated those hopes. Now, Jason likely will not see them until he goes home over winter break.
Home is something Mike may not see again for months. After assessing the damage to his house earlier this week, he now has to wait for at least 30 days until the electricity and sewage are completely repaired.
And as for Mike’s job as a fishing guide, there’s even more uncertainty. Relying heavily on tourists for business, he is now forced to wait until at least parts of New Orleans are restored.
“I don’t know right now. I really don’t,” Mike said when asked about his employment situation. “As far as putting my business back in, that could take a long time. But it’ll come back eventually.”
Compounding the mental stress Jason has dealt with over the past week and a half, the Terps’ leading scorer from a year ago has also been battling a nagging groin injury. He scored once in the Terps’ 7-0 victory over Cal State Fullerton Friday, but was shut out along with his teammates against UCLA.
Now that Jason knows his family is safe and relatively situated, his level of concern can finally lower.
“I’ve seen the last couple days finally a smile on his face from the fact that there’s a very small sense of ‘normalcy,’ at least with the water receding and people finding shelter,” Cirovski said.
Jason’s uncle finished the telephone interview with some advice to Jason and his own daughter, who attends Louisiana State.
“They’re very concerned, but the best thing really they can do is stay there at school,” Mike Garey said. “At least we know they’re safe. And the sports keep them occupied. Let us handle the rest of it, one way or another. Get good grades, play hard and stay out of the bars all night.”
Contact reporter Daniel Chiat at chiatdbk@gmail.com.
