Effect of Hurricane Katrina on Mississippi
Encyclopedia : E : EF : EFF : Effect of Hurricane Katrina on Mississippi
The two counties most affected by the storm were Hancock County and Harrison County. Mississippi Emergency Management Agency officials also recorded deaths in Hinds, Warren, and Leake counties. About 800,000 people through the state experienced power outages, which is almost a third of the population.Gates, Jimmie E. "[Power to be restored - but not all at once]." The Clarion-Ledger. August 30, 2005.
United States Navy officials announced that two Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyers that were under construction at Litton-Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula had been damaged by the storm, as well as the Amphibious assault ship USS Makin Island.
Surveying the damage the day after Katrina's passing, Mississippi governor Haley Barbour called the scene indescribable, saying "I can only imagine that this is what Hiroshima looked like 60 years ago."Staff Writer. "[What Hiroshima Looked Like]." [news24.com]. February 9, 2006. Relief and rebuilding efforts, which continue to today, initially focused on restoring power and clearing communities of debris up to eight feet in depth.Korosec, Thomas. "[Small town in eye of storm wiped out]." Houston Chronicle. August 31, 2005.
Along with countless others affected by the hurricane, US Senator Trent Lott has lost his Pascagoula home, and the boyhood home of Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre was also totally destroyed.
Hancock County
Hancock County was the scene of the final landfall of the eye of Hurricane Katrina, and its communities and infrastructure suffered some of the most intense damage inflicted by that storm. Most of the damage was in two communities, Waveland and Bay St. Louis, as well as southern Diamondhead. The bridge between Bay St. Louis and Pass Christian was destroyed.Katrina practically obliterated Waveland, and state officials said that it took a harder hit from the wind and water than any other town along the coast. The storm dragged away almost every structure within one half mile of the beach, leaving driveways and walkways that went to nowhere.Burdeau, Cain. "[Waveland practically wiped off map by force of Katrina]." WWL-TV. August 31, 2005. The death toll was estimated at about 50.
In Bay St. Louis, Katrina destroyed the first floor and dormitories of Saint Stanislaus College.
The destruction brought forth by Katrina also caused about one-quarter of the labor force to lose their jobs, with the unemployment rate reaching as high as 24.3%Staff Writer. "[Miss. unemployment dips slightly]." Clarion Ledger. November 24, 2005.
Harrison County
Harrison County, Mississippi was hit particularly hard by the hurricane and the storm surge. Its two coastal cities, Biloxi and Gulfport, suffered severe damages and a number of casualties. By September 1, 126 people were already confirmed dead.Korosec, Thomas. "[126 dead; gas, hot meals in short supply]." Houston Chronicle. September 1, 2005. Smaller coastal towns were also severely damaged. Much of Long Beach and most of Pass Christian was leveled.
In the tourist town of Biloxi, widespread damage was reported as several of the city's attractions were destroyed. Many restaurants were destroyed and several casino barges had been washed out of the water and onto land. Residents that survived Hurricane Camille stated that Katrina was "much worse," with a storm surge reportedly reaching further inland than the previous catastrophic storm. Katrina's wind estimates were lighter than Camille's, and the central air pressure was slightly higher, but Camille was also a much smaller storm so the greater impact of the storm surge may be due to the size. Keesler Air Force Base, also located in Biloxi, reported extensive damage to its facilities. Gulfport authorities reported to news station CNN that up to ten feet of water covered downtown streets. The Biloxi-Ocean Springs Bridge was also totally destroyed, and US 90 had heavy debris and severe damage to the roadbed.
Thirty of the confirmed deaths in Harrison County were at the St. Charles apartment complex, said Kelly Jakubic with the county's Emergency Operations Center.Treaster, Joseph B.; Zernike, Kate. "[Hurricane Katrina Slams Into Gulf Coast; Dozens Are Dead]." New York Times. August 30, 2005. The apartment complex was reported, by local news sources, to have collapsed with dozens of residents inside.
See also
References
External links
- [Aftermath of Katrina on the Mississippi Gulf Coast (Photo Essay)]
- [December 2005 issue of MS Economic Review and Outlook]
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