Biloxi, Mississippi

We are sure glad this lighthouse is still standing. It is the most photographed icon of Biloxi, MS.

So we crossed Lake Ponchartrain leaving New Orleans (this is the lake that flooded so severely during Katrina that the levees broke, flooding most of the city) on a long bridge that is being rebuilt. The highway from there to Biloxi was full of evidence of hurricane damage to trees and some homes.

We arrived in Biloxi about 90 minutes later to see this lighthouse. There is also a huge Vegas-style casino a few blocks from here, called Beau Ravage as well as the Hard Rock casino.

Other than that, this town is still devastated. Aparently, once lined with beautiful hotels, casinos, and Southern Style homes, there isn't much left. The difference being - New Orleans was affected by the levees breaking, the flooding...Biloxi took a direct and full category 5 hurricane HIT...and the differences are obvious. There really isn't much left.

They are in the stages of rebuilding. There are signs of people and businessess returning, building bigger and better than ever, but eerily...many foundations stand, the empty land around them.

Yesterday we spent the day wandering. We drove by the new casinos and on a bridge - one that I told the kids had to be brand-spanking new. It almost dazzled in the bright sunlight! (I must admit, it IS nice to see the sun!!) We took the first exit and discovered a beach on the other side, lined with what used to be some incredible homes. We must have passed the remains of at least 50 piers - all you can see are the posts that remain.

The sand there was softer and the sun seemed a little warmer than near our hotel. We took advantage and the kids frolicked while I watched. We walked a little ways down to what appeared to be a pier still standing. As we got closer, we realized that only about 1/2 of it was safe to walk on, so we did. The water was murky and shallow. There were a couple men chatting about fishing. As one left, we began talking to the other one. Here is his story -

He is a native here. He stayed in his house during Katrina, WITHOUT a basement! He said he wasn't really scared, but a tree came crashing through his roof. He was more mad than anything, he said. He described the huge storm surge, pointing out the trees on an island out in the water - all you can see of them is the top leaves. That is how high the water was, he said. Nothing here on land remained untouched. The marina where we were standing was gone, now rebuilt. Where our hotel is was full of homes and life - now there is nothing.

He also confirmed that the bridge was in fact new. See those posts, he said...that is where the previous highway was. His eyes glazed over a bit as he described..."Nobody on the news ever said what really happened here - that bridge was full of people evacuating. Hundreds of cars. That storm surge came - nothing anyone ever expected - and those people were swept away in it. Gone in their cars with all their belongings. All died." He went on to describe how whole homes were just swept off their foundations, into the sea, casinos included. I suggested the looters must have had a heyday. He explained that there were slot machines all over the beach - and quarters and chips and the like - and the casinos, if they went back into business, had to honor them - they didn't know if it was your winnings or what you had found on the beach. So, I guess a few people made out in the process! He said you can still find the occasional quarter on the beach. He was without power for 3 weeks in his home. A church came by and provided a generator, and that was how he survived.

We have seen the still remaining remnants. If you google "Biloxi" on Google Images, there are some great pics of before and after - all of which we have seen here and wondered what might have been here before. I tried to post them for you but they are copyrighted.

The lighthouse remains, just outside our hotel.

But as Megan said, this provides an opportunity to start over. A chance to do things the right way. To rebuild, bigger and better than ever. That appears to be the case with what we have seen so far!

We spent the rest of the day on the playground and beach, and driving through neighborhoods to watch some construction. Ian wanted to watch the Buckeyes so we were back to the hotel for the evening and to see them win.

And now we know a little bit more about Biloxi!