Katrina's Devastation

Just when it looked like New Orleans would be saved from the brunt of the storm, the levees broke and/or overflowed. Looking at the photos of the devastation in New Orleans, Mississippi, and Alabama is really starting to make me reconsider living on the Gulf Coast. When (it's only a matter of time, after all) the big one hits the greater Tampa Bay area, it will look much like New Orleans...

Now they are trying to manage a "total evacuation" of New Orleans due to the continued rising water. The system of canals and pumps they set up just for such a disaster are not working as they had planned...this is a city that PLANNED for a disaster like this, and they are ready to have everyone leave! I hate to think what will happen here when we get hit with a cat 4 or 5.

My friend Susan and her brother managed to make it through the traffic and are high and dry in New Mexico, but are worried about family and friends back in Mississippi. They are unable to get through to anyone, and can't get any news coverage from the area where he lives. We are all searching over the internet for any photos of Pass Christian and the surrounding small towns along the Gulf Coast between New Orleans and Gulfport.

There is talk over the web about the environmentalists and local communities in the Gulf Coast areas that told their local governments that clearing out the natural barriers to develop homes and businesses would cause more havoc if a hurricane of this size ever hit...needless to say, it fell on deaf ears. Not to say that there wouldn't still be destruction, but maybe not to this extent.