Are folks nuts or what? Post Katrina

It came as no surprise to me that as the Hurricane Katrina approached, anyone who watched the evening news could see the size of this massive storm.



In August of 1969, the week before Hurricane Camille hit, my father, along with his friends had gone deep-sea fishing in the Gulf. The radio on board the boat went out and the Captain said they would have to go back in, especially with the waters in such turmoil.

Arriving back in Gulfport, they received news of the approaching storm and Dad decided to come home, rather than stay for the "party".

Twenty-four hours later, she hit and hit hard. We all listened as news reports defined the devestation of the coast. The weather here in the Delta did not turn bleak, but we did receive some of the outer bands of the winds and rain.

Some six months later, we returned to the coast to see my cousin and team vye for the state football title in the Annual Shrimp Bowl Classic.

I was so shocked to still see the debris left by the ravages of the storm. Many lots were vacant with the homes still standing, boarded up.

I thought back to how beautiful the coast used to be, and how the old and stately oaks were twisted, knarled and bedraggled.

The old Friendship House restaurant was gone where we ate many a wonderful meal. The little hotel we stayed at was gone, as well as the amusement park across the street on the shore side. Things were different, scarey.

On August 29th, 2005, Katrina moved in very slowly, leaving nothing in its path. I watched at a friend's home in awe and horror as New Orleans flooded, leaving the poor to fend for themselves. There was nothing that could stop this force of nature. Yet the people that were abandoned was more confusing.

The night she came ashore, we had some knowledge of its power and strength as the wind and rain pelted the Delta and much of Mississippi.

The lights went out in the middle of the night and remained off for many days. That first and second night, I couldn't sleep as the house was air-tight and opening the windows was out of the question.

I decided to sleep on the porch. The winds terrified me and all I could do was pray that we remain intact. I had never in all my years known of such force.

Its now the beginning of the 2006 hurricane season. With the forecasters not knowing what will happen, I was again astonished at the lack of concern offered by the giants of commerce building new developments along the coast. Will they never learn?

The insurance industry has announced it vacating the states and leaving all without the needed coverage to rebuild.

News reports daily of activity on the coast and that the largest casino planned re-opening on the anniversary of Katrina. How many more lives will be lost this hurricane season due to greedy corporations filling their pockets with the almighty dollar?

How stupid is that? Will we ever learn?