Hurricane Katrina 20 Years Ago

[66fyssh]

My family and I were living in Biloxi when Katrina hit. Biloxi was on the right side, the dirty side of the storm. If you know hurricanes, you know what that means.

We were without power for 9 days. Had to boil our water for 3 months. But, our house was only slightly damaged from a tree limb and our fence was blown down...but no water inside. The street behind ours was not so lucky. My wife's work building had 6 foot of water. Both of our boys, one just out of high school, the other a senior moved away not knowing what would become of Biloxi. We were instantly empty testers.

My wife and I hung in there for 10 months and then sold our home and moved to Georgia. That storm changed the trajectory of our lives. It was life changing & very difficult; but there were many blessing that came after. God has been very good to us in the past 20 years.

Just over a year ago, life once again took us to the Gulf Coast, this time to Navarre Florida. Hopefully we won't live through another storm like that, lol. In addition, I now have to put Air Conditioning in my Barracuda!!

A couple pictures of Biloxi.

1. Me in front of McDonald's. The only thing left inside is a huge tree trunk!

2. The Grand Casino Biloxi broke its moorings and floated across Highway 90, then came down on houses, smashing them.

3. The National Guard keeping people away from Highway 90 and the coast.

 

[go-fish]

I was stationed in Gulfport at the time. Lived in Long Beach, on the beach in an apartment complex off Hwy 90. Needless to say it was a complete loss. I was actually in Okinawa, JPN on a deployment and my 8 month pregnant wife evacuated back to her hometown of San Diego, CA to have our baby at Balboa Navy Hospital. That girl is about to turn 20.
We lived in a 24 ft 5th wheel for about a year after I got back from Oki in November and the wife/baby came back. Amazing times.

I ended up parking the 5th wheel at a Mopar buddy's house in Kiln, MS and built my 1970 'Cuda during that year. Ended up being a pretty cool experience. It was just luck that I had parked the 'Cuda at his house before my deployment because I didn't want it sitting at the apartments while I was gone. It would have been wadded up. That car also made it through a 7.2 magnitude earthquake in 2010 and a 17,000 acre wildfire, both in San Diego. We're back in Oklahoma now but trying to not have it go through a tornado.
We lived in coastal MS another 5 years until I got stationed in San Diego in 2010. I have not been back to MS Gulf Coast since 2014 but you could still see very visible remnants of Katrina. I would retire there though. The gulf coast is an amazing place and filled with the best people.

 

[66fyssh]

@go-fish great story! Glad things worked out like the did for you. Although, I'm sure you lost a lot of things from your place in Long Beach. I was stationed at Keesler at the time and was on terminal leave when Katrina hit.

We've been back twice since and sre planning to go again in October, although it's only 2.5 hours drive now!! My goal is to take our Barracuda to Cruisin' the Coast one year.

You guys have done well surviving disasters!!! Here's to continued success!!

 

[RustyRatRod]

I remember Leanna (RIP) talkin about it. They lost everything. That's why they relocated and she started all over and got into powder coating.

 

[RustyRatRod]

I was stationed in Gulfport at the time. Lived in Long Beach, on the beach in an apartment complex off Hwy 90. Needless to say it was a complete loss. I was actually in Okinawa, JPN on a deployment and my 8 month pregnant wife evacuated back to her hometown of San Diego, CA to have our baby at Balboa Navy Hospital. That girl is about to turn 20.
We lived in a 24 ft 5th wheel for about a year after I got back from Oki in November and the wife/baby came back. Amazing times.

I ended up parking the 5th wheel at a Mopar buddy's house in Kiln, MS and built my 1970 'Cuda during that year. Ended up being a pretty cool experience. It was just luck that I had parked the 'Cuda at his house before my deployment because I didn't want it sitting at the apartments while I was gone. It would have been wadded up. That car also made it through a 7.2 magnitude earthquake in 2010 and a 17,000 acre wildfire, both in San Diego. We're back in Oklahoma now but trying to not have it go through a tornado.
We lived in coastal MS another 5 years until I got stationed in San Diego in 2010. I have not been back to MS Gulf Coast since 2014 but you could still see very visible remnants of Katrina. I would retire there though. The gulf coast is an amazing place and filled with the best people.

Wow. You've been around! Thanks for your service. Somehow I thought you were still out west.

 

[Demonracer]

I was in Bayou Black in Louisiana 9 days after Katrina as a telecom restoration contractor. The devastation was truly unbelievable all over that part of the Gulf Coast. I never worked in New Orleans, but I was told by other contractors that it was horrible there. I spent exactly one year in Louisiana working to get the telecom infrastructure back up and running. Itis one year that I will never forget!

 

[R4Sedan]

Yes, I remember watching how slow that thing moved and how powerful it got. That was a really bad year for Hurricanes. So many lost so much.

 

[barbee6043]

Terrible storm. It has been a topic on the Weather Channel for days reminding people. . Question is WHEN will another big one hit that area.

 

[66Signeto]

@go-fish great story! Glad things worked out like the did for you. Although, I'm sure you lost a lot of things from your place in Long Beach. I was stationed at Keesler at the time and was on terminal leave when Katrina hit.

We've been back twice since and sre planning to go again in October, although it's only 2.5 hours drive now!! My goal is to take our Barracuda to Cruisin' the Coast one year.

You guys have done well surviving disasters!!! Here's to continued success!!

We have friends that lived on Navarre before Hurricane Ivan. They never returned. Moved up to Valdosta which has unfortunately been damaged heavily by Hurricane Michael and Helene. Pretty wild what has occurred up there being so far inland.

The Gulf itself has warmed almost 2 degrees in the last 40 years. Not so much at the surface but in the sub-surface waters. That's an almost unthinkable amount of added energy in the thermal profile these systems can tap if the atmospheric conditions are right.

 

[66fyssh]

They never returned. Moved up to Valdosta which has unfortunately been damaged heavily by Hurricane Michael and Helene. Pretty wild what has occurred up there being so far

Man, I'm hoping we don't see another one here. My wife and I drove through Navarre after Ivan and saw the destruction. We moved here from Rome, Georgia and watched with disbelief as those storms caused damage in and around Valdosta.

And yes, the water is warm. Couldn't believe how warm it was last time we got in the Gulf. Took the Barracuda to Navarre Beach today but there were too many tourists so we didn't stop.

 

[66Signeto]

Man, I'm hoping we don't see another one here. My wife and I drove through Navarre after Ivan and saw the destruction. We moved here from Rome, Georgia and watched with disbelief as those storms caused damage in and around Valdosta.

And yes, the water is warm. Couldn't believe how warm it was last time we got in the Gulf. Took the Barracuda to Navarre Beach today but there were too many tourists so we didn't stop.

I'm in the neighborhood of 40 and can easily remember a cooling seabreeze at night when we'd vacation on the coast of SC and NC even into my early 20s as a college student. No more. Now with the water staying well over 80 degrees for 2+ months I don't find it enjoyable anymore. Just nasty hot all night long with the ocean breeze.

Beach living is becoming one of those "enjoy it while it's there" things in the south. Our state's largest property insurer has already let the state know a major hurricane hitting our coast will force them to leave the market. That's if they can even cover their losses. The properties are too valuable and there are too many of them. Combine that with the policy goal of managed retreat from sea level rise paints a bleak picture.

 

[66fyssh]

I'm in the neighborhood of 40 and can easily remember a cooling seabreeze at night when we'd vacation on the coast of SC and NC even into my early 20s as a college student. No more. Now with the water staying well over 80 degrees for 2+ months I don't find it enjoyable anymore. Just nasty hot all night long with the ocean breeze.

Beach living is becoming one of those "enjoy it while it's there" things in the south. Our state's largest property insurer has already let the state know a major hurricane hitting our coast will force them to leave the market. That's if they can even cover their losses. The properties are too valuable and there are too many of them. Combine that with the policy goal of managed retreat from sea level rise paints a bleak picture.

When we moved here last May and looked at homes, we found you have to buy new or nearly new to get insurance at a decent rate. There were several we liked and checked several insurance companies but it was just not affordable. So we ended up buying one built in 2017. Thankfully I read two companies moved back to covering Florida properties so that should help some.

 

[340six]

Interested in a different type of build thread

I had posted this but ended up with covid and then upper respiratory infection so never posted the thread yet. From August 29th 2005 until March no home unless you count me moving back in the gutted home for the year long rebuild m. Had to sleep there so no one stole the new stuff going in. I also slept in the effed up home to guard the mess. They had shoppers trying to loot what might be saved. I had back up Gen, an auto rifle and side arm. For some crazy reason no one wanted to shop when they saw the I was there. 1st time the cops came down the street he thought I was looting and I thought the same of him. He had lights off just running lights to try and catch some. We both laughed and from then on would buzz me so I new it was them. Always stopped BSed with me and grabbed a hot or cold drink. That ice chest was full and the cheap Mr. Coffee made me tons of buddies.

 

[JDMopar]

Interested in a different type of build thread

I had posted this but ended up with covid and then upper respiratory infection so never posted the thread yet. From August 29th 2005 until March no home unless you count me moving back in the gutted home for the year long rebuild m. Had to sleep there so no one stole the new stuff going in. I also slept in the effed up home to guard the mess. They had shoppers trying to loot what might be saved. I had back up Gen, an auto rifle and side arm. For some crazy reason no one wanted to shop when they saw the I was there. 1st time the cops came down the street he thought I was looting and I thought the same of him. He had lights off just running lights to try and catch some. We both laughed and from then on would buzz me so I new it was them. Always stopped BSed with me and grabbed a hot or cold drink. That ice chest was full and the cheap Mr. Coffee made me tons of buddies.

@340six I remember that well when it happened Kevin. The pics you posted on Moparts were just unbelievable. It was impressive how they jacked your house up and it sits a lot higher now. What was it...5 or 6 feet they jacked it up? Did you get water in it again with Ida?

 

[66fyssh]

From August 29th 2005 until March no home unless you count me moving back in the gutted home for the year long rebuild

Damn man, that's certainly sticking with it. I was really amazed by the way the people of Biloxi rolled up their sleeves and went to work. My wife and I volunteered every chance we got in the early days after.

I was stationed there so it really wasn't home for us, although we would probably still be there if not for Katrina.

 

[mopar head]

Man... 20 years, doesn`t seem that long ago.

 

[66fyssh]

Man... 20 years, doesn`t seem that long ago.

I know...crazy.

I have now been retired from the Air Force 20 years!!!

Still working and hopefully will be fir another 10 years.

 

[340six]

Damn man, that's certainly sticking with it. I was really amazed by the way the people of Biloxi rolled up their sleeves and went to work. My wife and I volunteered every chance we got in the early days after.

I was stationed there so it really wasn't home for us, although we would probably still be there if not for Katrina.

For 15 plus years I worked for a Bay Saint Louis, Mississppi guy. I commuted almost daily to Waveland, Bay St.Louis, did go to Gulfport and Biloxi. He lived on the Jordan River right down the road from the old Magic Casino. Now Holleywood.
We went to see what was left. Nothing, nadda. Only a few things we could find was heavy and new it was his. His front door was in a tree few blocks over. We were glad to have a gutted home to rebuild.

 

[RustyRatRod]

I'm in the neighborhood of 40 and can easily remember a cooling seabreeze at night when we'd vacation on the coast of SC and NC even into my early 20s as a college student. No more. Now with the water staying well over 80 degrees for 2+ months I don't find it enjoyable anymore. Just nasty hot all night long with the ocean breeze.

Beach living is becoming one of those "enjoy it while it's there" things in the south. Our state's largest property insurer has already let the state know a major hurricane hitting our coast will force them to leave the market. That's if they can even cover their losses. The properties are too valuable and there are too many of them. Combine that with the policy goal of managed retreat from sea level rise paints a bleak picture.

I've never enjoyed the beach. I much prefer mountains any day.

 

[66fyssh]

For 15 plus years I worked for a Bay Saint Louis, Mississppi guy. I commuted almost daily to Waveland, Bay St.Louis, did go to Gulfport and Biloxi. He lived on the Jordan River right down the road from the old Magic Casino. Now Holleywood.
We went to see what was left. Nothing, nadda. Only a few things we could find was heavy and new it was his. His front door was in a tree few blocks over. We were glad to have a gutted home to rebuild.

Wow! I think Bay St. Lois was the center that got the highest wind, surge...everything!!

We couldn't easily get to Bay St. LOUIS OR Ocean Springs as the bridges were destroyed. We did go years later after bridges were rebuilt and the town was on its way back.

 

[barbee6043]

Only good think about the beach, is a good seafood restaurant!!!

 

[340six]

Wow! I think Bay St. Lois was the center that got the highest wind, surge...everything!!

We couldn't easily get to Bay St. LOUIS OR Ocean Springs as the bridges were destroyed. We did go years later after bridges were rebuilt and the town was on its way back.

The beach to the railway was toast. The tracks acted as a levy. Did a speed bump effect of water out the gulf. I have quite a few stories. Some personal and some told directly to me from whom we're involved 1st hand.
I helped with the rebuild of a guy who was a teacher at Saint Stanislaus on the Beach.

Note) Everything from Gulf to RR bad. From Railway to hwy 90 much better.
The homeowner was a major witness in the law suits against Statefarm and Allstate. They would not pay out wind and claimed all flood. His home was block wall filled, center was same supporting wall. He, his kids, and their kids rode it out in the block wall home. Lots of steel beams with wood and faired well wind wise. After the water started coming up. So there they are stacking crap up to get it higher to save it. Until water came so high they ended up on the roof. After it reached the gutters and past were on garage roof as higher. Day later was seen from air and boat came. Only his and one other home made it for streets and streets. Yes it was built as his was block filled cement steel beams.

 

[66fyssh]

The local Biloxi newspaper started posting before and after pictures and we saved a bunch of them. Then they published a hard bound book of them. We bought one for us and one for each of our boys. We also bought 3 or 4 DVD's that we watch every so often. We were certainly blessed beyond words compared to others.

Our first night to go "out to eat" with a neighbor and fellow Airman (can't remember how long after, but a restaurant had opened), our friends had a youngster they had to drop off at the sitters. When we pulled up to the house you could see through windows and doors that all the sheet rock was cut out 4 feet up from.the floor. It was surreal but it was normal for the time.

My wife's desk at work in Gulfport was sitting on the opposite side of her office. Everything still on the desk as she left it. Water came in the backside from the back bay into a small creek you could usually nearly step over. On the backside, the water wasn't violent,...it went up slowly, and went down slowly.

 

[barbee6043]

There is a reason the people with a $ in Haiti build their "homes" completely of concrete ( and some steel when they can find any.>)

 

[67dodgedartconv]

I was in Long Beach, MS during Katrina. Lot of friends and family lost houses. If you still had a house it needed a roof, along with 400,000 others. Good luck finding a roofer, much less a reputable roofer. Girlfriend's house in Pass Christian was washed away leaving only a slab. We found household items a couple of blocks away. Took 3 years to rebuild on her lot and she was lucky. I took her and her mom and their 2 cats and 2 dogs in to my 1200 sq ft house till they rebuilt. My Gulfport rental house 3 blocks from beach had 6 ft of water. Spent months gutting it to the studs. Friend in Diamondhead north of I -10 had 8 ft of water and had to go in attic with a gun and axe to shoot/chop a hole in roof if needed to escape. He had 8 guests with him because his house was "safer from the water". I stayed at another friend's house in north Pass Christian away from the water. He didn't have power for over 4 weeks. Gave him all the gas in my boat tank for his generator. I went from working a 40 hour week 8hr days at the hospital to 12 hr shifts with lots of mandatory overtime for months due to labor shortages but was thankful to have a job because many lost theirs. New Orleans got flooded, but Mississippi Gulf Coast was flooded and obliterated for several blocks inland. But so many people helped each other and so many volunteers. And so many people lost family members and homes. Insurance companies screwed people left and right. They all blamed wind damage as water damage so they wouldn't have to pay a claim. Many people had no flood insurance because they were in areas that had never flooded even in bad hurricanes before. I talked to many people who said they were happy their house was totally destroyed rather than fight the insurance companies and deal with contractors over a severely damaged house. It was truly a life changing event but I'm so thankful it wasn't any worse. I and everyone else that went through it could talk for days about the impact. God Bless all who went through it and all who helped.

P S My rust free 69 Barracuda was flooded by salt water. I saved it as best I could by stripping it as soon as I could and sending to a resto shop years later. Pictures taken about a mile away from where it went under.