Hurricane Katrina Mississippi Coast Damage Photos

[wxman57]

As many of you know, my mother lives on the Mississippi coast in a little town called Gautier, just west of Pascagoula and just east of Ocean Springs. I've made 3 trips to Mississippi since mid October to rebuild my mother's home. In mid October, my sister and I put up nearly 50 sheets of sheetrock. For Thanksgiving, we painted the entire inside of the house, and I cut, installed, and painted all baseboards. I also painted all the rest of the wood trim in the house.

For Christmas, my mother came to Houston to buy a car, as you just can't find a decent used (not flooded) car there. We got her a 2004 Dodge Neon still under warranty and drove back to Mississippi one last time to deliver the car and to set up their 2 computers (which I bought and configured for Christmas). Got their computers and a wireless network up and running this week. They have ordered their carpets and vinyl flooring and the house should be back together nearly as good as new in about 2 weeks.

On my trips to Mississippi, we went along the coast on Highway 90 to take pictures. The first set of pictures was taken on October 19th along Beach Street in Pascagoula and in Ocean Springs:

http://myweb.cableone.net/nolasue/KatrinaPascagoula

http://myweb.cableone.net/nolasue/KatrinaOceanSprings

By the time I returned to Mississippi after Christmas, Highway 90 between Biloxi and Pass Christian had opened and I took pictures from Biloxi heading west toward Pass Christian. I THINK I have the pictures in the proper folders. Believe me, it was hard to tell where one city stopped and the next one started. Total devastation all along highway 90 for blocks inland.

Looking out at the beach, it's just a sea of debris, still. You can see parts of trees and appliances sticking out of the water along the coast. No swimming along the beach for quite a whiles. Here are the pictures from Biloxi to Pass Christian. There are comments on some of them.

http://myweb.cableone.net/nolasue/KatrinaBiloxi

http://myweb.cableone.net/nolasue/KatrinaGulfport

http://myweb.cableone.net/nolasue/KatrinaLongBeach

http://myweb.cableone.net/nolasue/KatrinaPassChristian

If any of you have additional info about any of the photos, please let me know.

[HurryKane]

Haven't had a chance to look at all of them, but the ones I did see are great. Thank you so much for sharing them.

[windsurfer77058]

Those are unbelievable pictures. To see so many ruined homes just reemphasizes the devistation. Since you saw it first hand and are from Houston, how would you see the Clear Lake, Nassau Bay area after this type of hurricane? Nasa? Any comments?

[wxman57]

Those are unbelievable pictures. To see so many ruined homes just reemphasizes the devistation. Since you saw it first hand and are from Houston, how would you see the Clear Lake, Nassau Bay area after this type of hurricane? Nasa? Any comments?

Galveston Bay would act as a funnel to nearly double the surge seen on Galveston Island. I'd expect that a storm like Katrina or Rita could produce a 25-30 foot surge into the west ern and northern parts of Galveston Bay. That would mean complete devestation for a mile or more inland along the Bay. Most of the little communities along Galveston Bay would be under up to 30 feet of water (Kemah, Dickinson, Texas City, La Porte, Clear Lake, etc.).

[Lindaloo]

This house below was actually leaning to the north. Mr. Smith had to secure the house to keep it from falling. You can see the support in the photo.

[windsurfer77058]

Thanks for the reply, wxman. There isn't anything we can do to stop mother nature so we'll just continue to get out of the way when a threat comes.

[Ixolib]

Thanks, wxman57... No matter how many times I see these images - both in person and in photo - I continue to be amazed, and I live here to see it (and exist among it) everyday.

On the pictures of the Grand barges both in Biloxi and Gulfport, it also amazes me to think that my livelihood of 10+ years is now gone. I worked at Grand Biloxi from June 5, 1995 until July 17, 1996. After that, I transferred to the Gulfport Grand and was there from July 18, 1996 until August 29, 2005. And my wife worked at the Corporate office which is also now closed forever.

In one morning - just a couple of hours actually - our entire existence changed forever, both personally and professionally. But we appreciate the opportunity to reflect with the pictures you've provided... Like I said, I've seen them all in person, but I just didn't (and don't) have the energy to get everything documented in pics. I hope you don't mind if I save some of them... You did a fine job taking them.

Still rebuilding here in Biloxi...

[Jim Cantore]

Unreal

[TexasStooge]

Unreal

You can say that again.

[Margie]

I grew up in Pascagoula.

My brother and his wife lost everything (they live down near Beach Blvd). My mother's house was flooded but they managed to save it.

I haven't been able to get down there. My mom's house isn't really in a state where you can come for a visit.

Thanks for the photos. It's always good to see photos, even though I knew before the NOAA aerials came out what it would look like.

Some of the photos in the Gulfport folder are Bix, including one that I think is right close to where a friend of mine used to have a home. Last time I was there I went to the mall with my mother and we ate at O'Charlie's. The cleanup around the area surrounding the MS Power Bldg is amazing. That area was littered with boxcars and debris.

So only two lanes of Hwy 90 are open. That was probably a good way to do it.

It doesn't appear that you may have got as far as the Pass, except possibly in the last couple photos.

It is amazing that all the mistletoe survived.