On the eve of the 3rd anniversary of
Hurricane Katrina, I would like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to
the millions of people who have visited this site, sent me comments
on this site, donated to local and national charities on behalf of
the victims of Katrina and most importantly to the victims; moved on
with their lives as they continue to move back into their homes,
deal with local, federal governments and insurance companies. Your
strength and courage does not go unnoticed and that is why this site
has remained in tact since September 1, 2005.
While Tropical storm Gustav and possible Hanna make their way
to the Gulf Coast, let us not forget the past but learn from it. I’m
asking all of you on the Gulf Coast to please listen to the ominous
warnings suggested by your local, state and federal governments to
secure your belongings and evacuate your loved ones and pets to
higher ground. This time there is no excuse to stay.
Although I do not have a lot of confidence in our CURRENT
government, I do know that there are many people who care about your
well-being; I for one. For up to the minute information on TS Gustav
and TS Hanna, please go to the
National
Hurricane Center’s website.
Some Facts:
1. As of May 19, 2006, the confirmed death toll (total
of direct and indirect deaths) stood at 1,836, mainly from Louisiana
(1,577) and Mississippi (238). However, 705 people remain
categorized as missing in Louisiana, and many of the deaths are
indirect, but it is almost impossible to determine the exact cause
of some of the fatalities.
2. $81.2 billion in damages
3. 53 different levee breaches in greater New Orleans
4. Federal disaster declarations covered 90,000 square
miles (233,000 km˛) of the United States, an area almost as large as
the United Kingdom. The hurricane left an estimated three million
people without electricity. On September 3, 2005, Homeland Security
Secretary Michael Chertoff described the aftermath of Hurricane
Katrina as "probably the worst catastrophe, or set of catastrophes,"
in the country's history, referring to the hurricane itself plus the
flooding of New Orleans
Obviously, there is still much work that needs to be
done in rebuilding the Gulf Coast. While two-thirds of the people
who lived in the New Orleans area have returned, that still leaves
over 150,000 that have done their best to rebuild their lives
elsewhere. While most of Hurricane Katrina's coverage centered
around New Orleans because of its population and popularity around
the world, Florida, Alabama and especially Mississippi suffered
major damages as well. Here are some facts about Mississippi you may
not have known.
U.S. Route 90's Bay St. Louis Bridge on Pass Christian
was destroyed as a result of Katrina.The Gulf coast of Mississippi
suffered massive damage from the impact of Hurricane Katrina on
August 29, leaving 238 people dead, 67 missing, and billions of
dollars in damage: bridges, barges, boats, piers, houses and cars
were washed inland. Katrina traveled up the entire state, and
afterwards, all 82 counties in Mississippi were declared disaster
areas for federal assistance, 47 for full assistance.
After making a brief initial landfall in
Louisiana, Katrina had made its final landfall near the state line,
and the eyewall passed over the cities of Bay St. Louis and Waveland
as a Category 3 hurricane with sustained winds of 120 mph (195
km/h). Katrina's powerful right-front quadrant passed over the west
and central Mississippi coast, causing a powerful 27-foot (8.2 m)
storm surge, which penetrated 6 miles (10 km) inland in many areas
and up to 12 miles (20 km) inland along bays and rivers; in some
areas, the surge crossed Interstate 10 for several miles. Hurricane
Katrina brought strong winds to Mississippi, which caused
significant tree damage throughout the state. The highest unofficial
reported wind gust recorded from Katrina was one of 135 mph (217
km/h) in Poplarville, in Pearl River County.
Damage to Long Beach, Mississippi following Hurricane Katrina. The
storm also brought heavy rains with 8 – 10 inches (200 – 250 mm)
falling in southwestern Mississippi and rain in excess of 4 inches
(100 mm) falling throughout the majority of the state. Katrina
caused eleven tornadoes in Mississippi on August 29, some of which
damaged trees and power lines.
Battered by wind, rain and storm surge, some
beachfront neighborhoods were completely leveled. Preliminary
estimates by Mississippi officials calculated that 90% of the
structures within half a mile of the coastline were completely
destroyed, and that storm surges traveled as much as six miles (10
km) inland in portions of the state's coast. One apartment complex
with approximately thirty residents seeking shelter inside
collapsed. More than half of the 13 casinos in the state, which were
floated on barges to comply with Mississippi land-based gambling
laws, were washed hundreds of yards inland by waves.
A number of streets and bridges were washed away. On U.S. Highway 90
along the Mississippi Gulf Coast, two major bridges were completely
destroyed: the Bay St. Louis - Pass Christian bridge, and the Biloxi
- Ocean Springs bridge. In addition, the eastbound span of the I-10
bridge over the Pascagoula River estuary was damaged. In the weeks
after the storm, with the connectivity of the coastal U.S. Highway
90 shattered, traffic traveling parallel to the coast was reduced to
two lanes on the remaining I-10 span.
Surge damage in Pascagoula, Mississippi. All
three coastal counties of the state were severely affected by the
storm. Katrina's surge was the most extensive, as well as the
highest, in the documented history of the United States; large
portions of both Hancock, Harrison, and Jackson Counties were
inundated by the storm surge, in all three cases affecting most of
the populated areas. Surge covered almost the entire lower half of
Hancock County, destroying the coastal communities of Clermont
Harbor and Waveland, much of Bay St. Louis, and flowed up the
Jourdan River, flooding Kiln. In Harrison County, Pass Christian was
completely inundated, along with a narrow strip of land to the east
along the coast, which includes the cities of Long Beach and
Gulfport; the flooding was more extensive in communities such as
D'Iberville, which borders Back Bay. Biloxi, on a peninsula between
the Back Bay and the coast, was particularly hard hit, especially
the low-lying Point Cadet area. In Jackson County, storm surge
flowed up the wide river estuary, with the combined surge and
freshwater flooding cutting the county in half. Remarkably, over 90%
of Pascagoula, the easternmost coastal city in Mississippi, and
about 75 miles (121 km) east of Katrina's landfall near the
Louisiana-Mississippi border, was flooded from surge at the height
of the storm. Other large Jackson County neighborhoods such as
Porteaux Bay and Gulf Hills were severely damaged with large
portions being completely destroyed, and St. Martin was hard hit;
Ocean Springs, Moss Point, Gautier, and Escatawpa also suffered
major surge damage.
Mississippi Emergency Management Agency officials also
recorded deaths in Forrest, Hinds, Warren, and Leake counties. Over
900,000 people throughout the state experienced power outages.
Although I’m not from Louisiana and was in California
at the time of Katrina, I have now been in southwest Louisiana for
34 months helping where I can. My experience here has been
less than pleasant to say the least. Few have suggested that I may
have profited from this site. That could not be further from the
truth. Never have I profited one penny from this website or anything
having to do with Hurricane Katrina. The truth is that I have lost
tens of thousands of dollars while being here, spent more nights
than I want to remember living in and out of my car and have
suffered great indecencies from people here. The list goes on
but this site has never been about me but for victims of Hurricane
Katrina. I have no regrets in devoting the better part of the last
three years helping my fellow Americans.
On this, the 45th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther
King’s “I Have a Dream” speech and on the historic day Barack Obama
will accept the nomination for the Democratic Party, let us remember
that we are all Americans regardless of race, creed, religion or
color and should be judge on our character and continue to push to
become a more compassionate, more loving people who think about
something other than our self while on this planet.
God Bless you all and America.
One (1) Love, Gary R. Sloate
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