Correction Jim. Today is the anniversary of Katrina devastating the Mississippi Gulf Coast. The news has, for a year, focused on New Orleans simply because New Orleans is the epitome of boo hoo bullshit political finger pointing.
While the Mississippi Gulf Coast was basically wiped clean by the surge and took on the full force of Katrina's winds, New Orleans had a levee breach after the fact.
They had standing flood waters for a long while. The surge came and then receded here. We didn't have homes and businesses standing in the flood waters for extended periods like New Orleans did for one very simple reason... we had nothing left. The immense surge just washed us away.
To this day, there is little recovery in New Orleans. They prefer to sit and whine and bellyache about all the bad shit that has happened and point fingers and play the blame game all while crying "poor me".
The Mississippi Gulf Coast is on a fast track to recovery. Our people have faced the adversities of the destruction and changes in life wrought by that bitch named Katrina and we are on the brink of not only recovery, but prosperity, all due to a strong sense of determination and drive, coupled with pride, integrity and lots and lots of good old fashioned hard work.
The Mississippi Gulf Coast has been largely ignored, much due to the fact that we are busting our balls rebuilding rather than whining and trying to get the pity of the nation.
We have had astounding numbers of volunteers and aid pour in and we very much appreciate every bit of it. Reports say we have had over 350,000 volunteers come to the coast to help us. Each and every day there is a sign of new life added back to our lives, a sign of hope for so many here that have been largely overshadowed by the bullshit in New Orleans.
I lived a block off the beach in Long Beach, Ms. the day Katrina arrived and lost everything. We rode the storm about 3 miles north of where we currently have moved back home to, in North Pass Christian, Ms.
Katrina sent Carol, my fiancee, 2 cats, and I on a whirlwind relocation to Missouri for 9 months, but alas, we are back home on the wonderful Mississippi Coast a year later.
It will be a long long time before full recovery is made, but, here in the great state of Mississippi, we are making steady progress.
Read the true story of heroism, destruction, and perseverance at
the Sunherald .