Knoxville, Tenn. – October 2006 – Approached by the top-rated and nationally syndicated The Dr. Phil Show to spearhead a miraculous home restoration effort this summer, DIY Network transforms one hurricane survivor’s life in a big way. DIY to the Rescue: Katrina Rebuild documents the remarkable and emotional journey of more than 75 people who work around the clock to demolish and rebuild the nearly 40-year residence of Marion Camp, a 78-year-old grandmother and life-long resident of New Orleans. Premiering on Thursday, Oct. 26, 8 p.m. ET, DIY’s one-hour special is a heart-breaking and heart-warming look at the revitalization of a survivor and her community. Also airing on the same day (check local listings) is a special episode of Dr. Phil, featuring DIY experts Amy Devers and Karl Champley, who join Camp to talk to Dr. Phil about her personal story.
When asked why he turned to DIY Network to help with his show's ongoing commitment to the relief and recovery efforts in the Gulf Coast region, Dr. Phil McGraw said, "DIY Network is passionate, they’re exciting, and they get stuff done! These people are action oriented, they're passionate about everything they do and they create results. And Amy and Karl, of course, how much fun are they?" he continued. "I mean?if you’re gonna go to do something, do it with people that are fun and really talented as well. So, I thought it was a perfect mesh between what we wanted to do and who DIY Network is."
DIY Network agreed that working with Dr. Phil to rebuild Camp’s home and spiritual life was a wonderful match. "When we heard Marion’s story and learned that Dr. Phil was looking to replace her home, we knew that this was a homeowner rescue that we had to help with," said Freddy James, DIY Network’s vice president of programming. "By partnering with Paul Davis Restoration, we made it possible to rebuild the house with the same floor plan – using many of the original features from her home. We especially hope Marion’s new house will encourage, inspire and revitalize her community."
In its biggest mission and most ambitious effort to date, DIY to the Rescue headed to New Orleans late this summer for the rebuild and restoration of Camp's home – the 80th rescue for the popular DIY Network series. In less than two weeks, Devers and Champley, DIY home improvement experts, along with Paul Davis Restoration, demolished the original residence, laid foundation and rebuilt a new structure. In an area on the verge of total extinction, there are few beacons of hope, but Camp’s neighbors turn out to help make this project a reality!
DIY to the Rescue: Katrina Rebuild captures each and every moment, from Camp’s walk-through of her dilapidated, uninhabitable home to the surprise demolition and finally, the rebirth and heart-warming reveal! Featuring exclusive interviews with Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Blanco and other community leaders, and field trips with the National Guard and grassroots organizations helping to rebuild New Orleans, this one-hour special shares tips and insights learned the hard way, and the nuts and bolts of bringing neighborhoods back to life.
What was once an original 1880s shotgun house is transformed into a modern-day version, complete with the same structural footprint! Improved design elements include a hallway, a master bathroom, a washer & dryer nook, air conditioning, heating and an alarm system. With the help of Boyles Furniture, the interior is a mosaic of bright, cheerful colors, and elegant furniture. One of the few items the DIY to the Rescue crew was able to save and restore was an antique claw-foot bathtub – a meaningful gem for the Camp family!
"One house rebuilt. It's not much considering how much still needs to be done," said Devers, co-host of DIY to the Rescue: Katrina Rebuild. "But if it's a beacon hope for the community, then each 2x4 might as well be solid gold."
For Camp, receiving a brand new home was solid gold and she deserved only the best – movie-star treatment! DIY arranged for a grand reveal of her rebuilt house, complete with a horse-drawn carriage ride led by the McDonogh 35 Gospel Choir. Overwhelmed by emotion and joy, it was the surprise of her life. The widowed mother of nine and grandmother of 13, says her new place is a house that God built and believes she is the luckiest person in the world. "I never thought something like this was ever going to happen to me," she exclaimed. "I’ve seen something nice before, but not like this – it’s a palace!"
While traveling with Camp to see her new residence, co-host Champley said that other homes started to gut their houses to prepare for renovations. One neighbor shouted, "Hey, I’m going to build a home just like yours, Marion!"
Champley was happy to hear and see the neighborhood inspired by the rebuild of Camp’s house. "Our objective was to produce a show that would give the nation an understanding of what has happened and how after one year many areas of New Orleans are still disaster areas," he said. "DIY to the Rescue: Katrina Rebuild is there to give people insight and some understanding to the type of process involved to rebuild a home. Not just hope, but a practical understanding of how they can conduct it themselves."
DIY Network offers additional insight, do-it-yourself tips and "know-how" for anyone who is rebuilding and/or building a home. Beginning, Thursday, Oct. 26, detailed information on how to find the right contractor will be available on DIY’s companion Web site at www.DIYnetwork.com. In addition, DIY’s sister network HGTV will also air DIY to the Rescue: Katrina Rebuild on Saturday, Nov. 4, at 8 a.m.
About DIY Network
DIY Network is the television source for the best know-how and how-to when it comes to any type of do-it-yourself project and is one of the fastest growing digital networks. Currently in more than 39 million homes, DIY is 90 percent original programming across a broad range of categories including home building; home improvement; automotive and boating; crafts; gardening; hobbies; living; and woodworking. DIY’s programs and experts answer the most sought-after questions and offer creative projects for do-it-yourself enthusiasts. DIY’s companion Web site, www.DIYnetwork.com, features step-by-step instructions totaling more than 15,000 projects online and averages over 2.5 million unique visitors per month.
