Beautiful MS Gulf Coast DESTROYED

[Mandy Lou]

I understand why the nation is focusing on the horror and devastation in New Orleans; many of those people did despicable things to their city and each other. But what about the beautiful Mississippi Gulf Coast, which was forever altered by Hurricane Katrina? The towns of Waveland / Bay St. Louis ( in which I have lived for 8 years) and Pass Christian, were leveled. The lovely old mansions, quaint boutiques, and neighborhoods where everyone is your friend, are nothing but huge piles of debris. I can't explain how utterly hopeless I felt when I saw nothing left of homes but slabs, or stairs leading to nowhere. What made the most impact? Seeing with my eyes (not on television), the debris line left at the intersection of Hwy 603 and I-10...not more than five feet below the interstate, which means a wall of water 25 feet high and 7 miles north of the coast.

We will survive this !!!! And we will do it our way, with passion, strength, and a helping hand from so many people in so many places.

[Mike]

Welcome Mandy Lou.

The whole Gulf Coast region has it's own magic to it. Particularly that area of Mississippi.
"The Deep South" as our friend Sonny Landreth calls it.
From Texas to Florida I've been down through it more times than I can count. I don't think you have to be from there to Love It, but I can understand how if it was your home that love would be many times magnified.

Are your plans to rebuild in Bay St. Louis? Maybe too early to tell?

I've met people here in DFW recently that told me how they thought that they were leaving their home for a couple of days and....

I know what you're saying about the irreplaceable and historic things but eventually The Deep South will still be.

In Austin last week I was in the hotel lobby having coffee in the morning next to a gentleman that was 84 yrs old from Lake Charles. We got to talking and he told me he lost over 50, 100 yr. old oaks, with 3 of em cutting his house into 3 totaled sections. He packed his truck full and evacuated before Hurricane Rita, but has been back to check on it.
He looked me dead in the eye and said.."young man ;D, it will probably be the last thing I ever do, but I will rebuild that home!" I believe him.