Dateline Biloxi -- March 28, 2006:
Removal of debris from the barges thrown across US 90, several hundred yards from the water line, is about completed. The area formerly was occupied by many stately homes, including pre-Civil War historic homes surrounded by stately Oak trees. The homes are gone, and most of the trees are gone or dead.
Demolition of a large portion of a Casino hotel on the Bay side of Biloxi gets underway. A portion of the hotel was undamaged and is open. Only one other casino on the beach was in operation, and it was newly constructed and opened several months after Katrina. Lack of housing has impaired efforts at clean-up and reconstruction, but Biloxi appears significantly better off than small towns in the area, where some hospitals still operate from tents.
This marina building was located a block closer to the ocean than the hotel above.
US Route 90 -- the Gulf Coast Highway -- is simply gone at Waveland, MS, and at Biloxi where the highway crossed open water. No work has started on clearing and rebuilding the highway, and debates are present over location and design plans.
One of the handful of clean-up crews observed in the area is working on cleanup of the maritime museum in Biloxi. Most of the clean-up crews observed in the area were high school and college students on Spring Break who volunteered with their churches -- and volunteers may be working in the area a year from now or even two.
This portion of the Isle of Capris Casino and Hotel is under-going repairs for storm damage incurred prior to opening. Major portions of the hotel and casino opened in January 2006, but the hotel is short-handed on workers due to lack of housing.
This condo building located a block from the Gulf is typical of the buildings that survived the storm structurally, but with massive internal damage. Most of the lush yards in the area were killed by the salt-water flood.
This stately church on the business front in Biloxi took the force of the storm surge and only its skeletal remains survived.
Other businesses in the church area also are closed.
This shopping center, like most businesses, was wiped out and tenants have not returned. Businesses further back from the beach sustained less damage, but loss of homes has prevented many workers from returning. Even fast-food chains in the area are advertising sign-on bonuses to try to return to normal business hours. Home Depot, 84 Lumber, and Lowes locations are the hotspots in towns along the coast.
These beach clubs are among the very few that survived the storm at all. Damage is probably total.