Biloxi Update
The week got off to an interesting start. It was cool to meet all the kids that came down to Biloxi with me. You could make friends with someone from every corner of the nation, with every interest and every nationality. We began the day with a catered breakfast, and were separated up into smaller, manageable teams of 10-12. After doing the usual, typically corporate (kinda lame) ice breaker activities, we took buses out on a tour of the surrounding area.
Driving through the night before didn't give me a good look at exactly what condition the community was like, so I was eager to explore. Driving up along the coast, right next to the beach, we could see remnants of destruction everywhere. There were some large commercial hotels and casinos that were rebuilt, but anything that was more private seemed to still have trouble getting back on their feet. You couldn't go more than a block without seeing empty lots with only the concrete slab that the original structure stood on remaining. Out on the water, you could see pier after endless pier that had only posts, and no slabs remaining. Storm surges from Katrina rose up to 30 feet above sea level, traveling miles onto land, flooding almost everything. A lot of the community was out of a flood zone, and was not required to purchase flood insurance. Therefore, many were left homeless and stranded. We drove past churches with walls crushed in and schools that were closed and boarded up. It all made everything seem very real. I was pretty upset with how after two years, only small steps have been made to get this area back on it's feet. Little coverage still remains in the media about the fact that these people still need a lot of help. The only way to find out was to come down and experience it for yourself.
We stopped for a quick lunch at Katrina Kafe, which opened its doors as a food shelter for many of the victims. We got to hear the owner's story of her Katrina experience. The recollections and anecdotes of all the victims we heard are still vivid and explicit. They were all polite and friendly as anyone I have met. There doesn't seem to be any bitterness or remorse. It must be that southern hospitality.
Driving through the night before didn't give me a good look at exactly what condition the community was like, so I was eager to explore. Driving up along the coast, right next to the beach, we could see remnants of destruction everywhere. There were some large commercial hotels and casinos that were rebuilt, but anything that was more private seemed to still have trouble getting back on their feet. You couldn't go more than a block without seeing empty lots with only the concrete slab that the original structure stood on remaining. Out on the water, you could see pier after endless pier that had only posts, and no slabs remaining. Storm surges from Katrina rose up to 30 feet above sea level, traveling miles onto land, flooding almost everything. A lot of the community was out of a flood zone, and was not required to purchase flood insurance. Therefore, many were left homeless and stranded. We drove past churches with walls crushed in and schools that were closed and boarded up. It all made everything seem very real. I was pretty upset with how after two years, only small steps have been made to get this area back on it's feet. Little coverage still remains in the media about the fact that these people still need a lot of help. The only way to find out was to come down and experience it for yourself.
We stopped for a quick lunch at Katrina Kafe, which opened its doors as a food shelter for many of the victims. We got to hear the owner's story of her Katrina experience. The recollections and anecdotes of all the victims we heard are still vivid and explicit. They were all polite and friendly as anyone I have met. There doesn't seem to be any bitterness or remorse. It must be that southern hospitality.
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It sounds like you had a really immersive experience down in Miss. I recall when I was a young lad traveling through the recent wreckage of the Mt. Pinatubo eruption in the Philippines. The damage was devastating and haunting to say the least. It's inspiring to see that you can help make a difference despite all the hardships mother nature can produce.