We are stationed here in Gulfport now and we are leaving in a month to live in Tennessee. It has been a shame to come across places here that are still boarded up, damaged, or never rebuilt. It has been 8 years. It's so sad to see it still so awful here and makes me wonder just how unimaginably awful it was. I just can't get over some of the damage still visible after such a long time. It's sad that the counties or state have not done more to bring people back. They seem to be focused on the casinos and tourism and not residents or new business. It could be so lovely again if all this empty space could be filled in.
— Jaime Warren, Gulfport, MS

Best pics I have seen; Am yankee familiar with the coast saw first hand some of this destruction within approximately a yr of Katrina, I know the aftermaths reality. Thanks for this presentation and historical info.
— Anonymous

It was so sad to see all the people that were left without a home and I was there to see their faces when they saw their homes in ruines.
— Clara, MN

I did live in MossPoint Ms beford Katrina hit. Now I live in Heber Springs Arkansas. I moveed here June 2 2006 . I do miss everyone on the gulf coast most . I was their beford and after it heat. I do pray for everyone on the coast.
— Rosetta Jewel, Heber Springs, AR

We lived on the Gulf Coast of Mississippi when Katrina came roaring through. When we came home and saw the destruction of what was once a beautiful coast, we could not believe it. As another commentor said, the focus of the media on New Orleans is somewhat understandable, but not to mention Mississippi coast is unforgivable. I will say, if it weren't for Robin Roberts of GMA going down now and then, nothing would ever have hit the major media sources. The difference between New Orleans and the Mississippi coast is that Mississipians have a heart for each other and we all dug in right away. Neighbor helping neighbor, stranger helping stanger. And not only that, the Biloxi major, A.J. Halloway, and the Mississippi governor, Haley Barbour, knew what to do. Poor Louisiana didn't have that kind of support. Enough said. I will admit we moved to Colorado to be near friends and family. But the Mississippi coast will always have a big spot in my heart. I miss the friends and our church, but we are very happy where we are now. God bless everyone down in Mississippi. We pray for you often.
— Cheryl Clement

As I'm looking at the devistation in Japan from the earthquake and subsequent tsunami, I could only think back to Katrina and pray for its people. Me and my family rode out the storm at my parents' house behind Edgewater Mall, and after the storm was over, we took Pass Road to my grandmother's house and noticing the trees and lines down, thinking how bad it seemed, not having a clue how REALLY bad, only to find her house had been destroyed by the Brick Yard Bayou, I thank God that we did not stay there as we first planned and the family, instead, all went to my folks house which was only a half mile from the beach, which was very irrational I thought on my parents' part at the time, but Edgewater mall saved us. I stayed on the coast for 1 year after and I left only because I got married and had to, but still go back at least 14 or 15 times a year. I remember when I went to New Orleans 9 months later, there were cars sitting on the side of the road from the storm and there was very little progress in that city, where on the MS Coast, everyone had pulled together and started to rebuild, in some areas it looked as if nothing had happened by then. It was amazing the difference between the two areas. I think it really was a great injustice of how the media coverage forgot the MS Coast and focused on New Orleans. We were watching a radio tv and was able to see New Orleans immediately after the storm, and there was little damage...until the levees broke. Not knowing how bad the devastation was in our own area because we had watched as WLOX, the station went off air due to damage. I still think it was by the Grace of God the water didn't quite reach us and for whatever crazy reason made my folks decided to ride it out in their house and not my grandmother's. I will always have a place in my heart for the MS coast and its people and nothing will ever change that.
— TL, Houston, TX

Hello to everyone in Mississippi that suffered during and still suffering the effects from Hurricane Katrina. Im not sure if anyone has been following the events that have been happening down the east coast of Australia. I have to say that we have been very very fortunate to have such a wonderful state and federal government that acted immediately, within an hour,of the disaster starting and had actually set up barriers, protection and alternative housing for our citizens. Immediately after the waters had subsided many many thousands of people from far and wide came to help all citizens with the clean-up,provide support,donate goods and donate to a disaster fund to the tune(so far) of 14 million plus dollars. So,only after 10 days of the disaster, many people have returned to their normal lives. I am so glad to be an Australian. News
— Cat, Australia

You have a picture of my dad's house in Bay St. Louis. His was the only house standing. He died two months after rebuilding and getting back into it in July 2007. I'm glad I got to see this. Thanks for posting.
— Judy Caylor Noble, Saucier, MS

My Name is Robert I was born in Algiers, Louisiana on March 2nd, 1981 in Orleans Parish, and grew up in South Mississippi's Harrison County spending much of my time visiting friends and family from both areas all throughout my life.

My family and I were like many who did not have the means to evacuate for Hurricane Katrina and myself and my family rode out the storm on the Mississippi Gulf Coast in Harrison County. We first chose to stay at the apartment we were living in about a mile or two from the beach since we really didn't have anywhere else to go. We lived near bayou bernard which is one of the industrial waterways that feeds into the Gulf of Mexico. We knew that this was not a storm to take chances with so prior to Katrina making landfall on the Mississippi coast we rested before getting up to find that the water from the bayou was encroching upon the roadways around 9pm cst. We realized at that moment that if we stayed we would not survive, so with curfews in effect we grabbed what we could and drove inland to a church off of US-49 where we road out Hurricane Katrina together.

Not a day goes by that I don't think about what could have been the outcome of us staying behind, and I realize just how fortunate we all were that we survived. During the next 24-36 hours as Katrina battered the coast with winds, rains, and one of the most incredible storm surges on record from a landfalling hurricane, we all feared for our lives as the winds raged and howled around peeling off pieces of the church and toppling trees all around us. During the height of the storm the winds raged so hard that the building we were in shuddered all around us leaving us praying to survive this Catastrophic event.

The roof started giving way and rain was coming into the church and when we looked out of one of the windows we could see that the chapel had fallen in on itself and was in pieces. We grouped together in a small common room sealed ourselves in while listening to radio updates when we could find a broadcasting station. Power went out shortly after 11pm-12 midnight leaving us with our candle light and flashlights alone. The windows rattled from the pressure of the storm's winds blowing against what was left of the building and we honestly feared that it could come down on us at anytime, but it didn't and by God's good grace we were spared. When it was time for daybreak there was still little light due to the storms immense cloud cover and the blackout that was no doubtly effecting the majority of the southern and central part of the state

It wasn't until late that evening that the clouds started to thin so we were able to emerge and survey the destruction of this powerful hurricane. I remember very distinctly that even after the storm had passed our area the winds were still incredibly strong and lasted for another day, and that at first sight it looked as though we were the victims of a nuclear attack!

I have seen many of the reports and videos that have been aired on tv and so on and agree that the coverage was more one-sided when it came to Katrina's Media Coverage and the fact is that South Mississippi was utterly devastated!

Yes I admit that the levee's breaking and the people shown begging for rescue was heart-breaking to say the least, but don't forget this Hurricane not only effected New Orleans, but the entire Gulf Coast region from Louisiana all the way the the to the Alabama Florida border.

We in South Mississippi were faced with the same challenges and adversity that many Louisianian's faced and still face.

The difference was we took matters into our own hands clearing roads and cutting pathways through the debris to allow not only national guard but red cross and other emergency response authorities to get to us.

It wasn't until weeks later that the first help started to arrive. The response time of emergency officials was the slowest I have ever seen in my entire live to date. Mississippian's joined together at this time of crisis to pull one another through not as individuals, but as a community and for the first time I can truly say that I was proud to be a gulf coast resident. Neighbors helping neighbors strangers helping strangers we all joined together at this great time of need to help one another survive. We didn't see the first emergency assistance vehicles and such until a week to 2 weeks after the storm we had no communication with the outside world cell towers were down landlines were down and most radio broadcasting was very limited at best.

It was the people that made the difference and the spirit of the people of south Mississippi. We bound together strangers and neighbors as brothers in this time of great need. We shared rations of water and food supplies and when relief efforts started arriving we helped to deliver relief to those who were left without the means to get to it for themselves. This was truly a life-changing event for so many and even though many of us have been displaced and scattered about the country it is that enduring faith of the people that will make it possible to rebuild an even greater Gulf Coast for the future.

My heart goes out to each and every person that was effected by this tragedy and may god bless us all!

— Robert, Lake Saint Louis, MO

Today is August 21, 2010. August 29th will mark the fifth anniversary of this horrible storm. Much has been publicized about Spike Lee's upcoming follow up documentary, in where he has been quoted as saying he will include Mississippi in this one. How big of him. Unfortunately, from the reviews that I've read, it is apparently just a continuation of New Orleans' story. Thank goodness for sites like this that tell the true story of where Katrina hit. Also, I am grateful for journalists such as Robin Roberts, who continue to focus on our loss and struggle to come back. Otherwise, I would think it was just a horrible nightmare that I can't wake up from. It's hard to believe it's been two years since I posted on this site. Sadly, not much has changed. Insurance and windpool costs continue to be ridiculously high and are the key factor in keeping the Mississippi Gulf Coast from a complete recovery. I pray that we make it through this season unscathed. God bless us all.
— Pass Christian, MS

This brings back alot of Memories. I did clean up there for 2 years. I remember when my Mom, Dad and I first drove through Biloxi. That first set of steps I seen to no where. My heart dropped to my feet. As we drove through my Mom and I just cried. I don't think I had ever been so heart broken in my life. I couldn't imagine going through that. Then seeing the bridges look like someone play dominoes with them, I couldn't believe it. I think the first day we got there all we did was drive around. We ended up staying in the Wal Mart parking lot in Pass Christian, for 2 months in a tent. I wouldn't have changed it for nothing in this world. I just wanted to help. Yall are the greatest people I have ever met. So kind and caring even after all that happened. I'll be back to visit soon.
— Amanda, Frankfort, Kentucky

Having lived in Biloxi & Gulfport for several years, I moved back to Kentucky two weeks before Katrina hit. Pure luck on my part. It is as heartbreaking now to see the damage as it was days after it happened. It was, and will be again, a beautiful place to live and visit.
— Amy Matthews, Vine Grove, Kentucky

my heart breaks @ the loss of life an heartbreak beyond anything i will ever know. i volunteered to help feed habitat 4 humanity an it was something that i will never ever 4get. if i could i would do it again an again.... the golf coast has much beauty and strengh. the gulf coast an the people have my heart an prayers.
— Laurie Jo, Rhinelander, Wisc

Over six hundred miles away from Katrina, I didn't think it would ever directly impact my life, but it did. I get to see the emotional devastation this storm put into the hearts and minds of those that survived and lost everything in her destruction. I get to see it in the eyes of my wife and my step children as they relive that night every time we have severe thunderstorms, or a tornado watch or warning here in north Alabama, and occasionally there's the sudden awakening in the middle of the night from a nightmare. We met sept 2006, she was just 12 miles away from me then. We married this year, and I've never known such a woman in my life. Till I met her, I never knew or heard of the devastation and how hard the Mississippi coast was hit. It was always New Orleans this, New Orleans that. I remember one day somebody was talking about the Katrina victims and those poor people, she mentioned she and her children were SURVIVORS of Katrina, and the reply was oh so your from new Orleans? Being from the Pass area and her grandparents the Bay, let me tell you that person got an earfull, and a lesson on reality that day. We went down to visit her grandparents in 2007, I couldn't believe some of the things I seen, my mind was like, what the hell is going on. 2 years, isn't’t somebody doing something. And I remember the evening she told her papa I’m going to take them down by the beach, and the look in his eyes when he told her, baby girl, there's nothing down there for you Hun, nothing at all, then they just looked at each other for a moment, and all I could do was stand there chocking back my tears. I learned that day the difference between survivors and victims of Katrina that day. My heart and prayers go out to all the SURVIVORS of Katrina, and my condolences to all her victims and there families.
— Ricky, North Alabama

I would like to say that my prayers and hopes go out to all the people in Louisiana and Mississippi. Those that survived are truly survivors and those that didn't may they go down in our history as heroes in their own right. Hurricane Katrina affected everyone around this country one way or another. Some of the material we use at where I work came out of Louisiana and Mississippi. We were changed by Katrina here in Missouri too. God Bless to all who helped and donated. The company I work for donated toys and furniture for children. The name of the company I work for is called The Children's Factory here in Union, MO. Which is located 50 miles southwest of St. Louis. I feel honored to work for a company that cares about people in need and are needing some normalcy. Thank you
— Rebecca Pehle