My Katrina - Be Prepared

[newciv1]

Thank you for this. I rode out Katrina in a shelter on Keesler Air Force Base while my home in Ocean Springs was destroyed. Now, nearly five years later, the memories are just as fresh as they ever were. Thank you for the beautiful "before" pictures especially. I am displaced to another state still but I hope to get back to Biloxi for good. Great song choice, by the way!

[mimaleen]

OMG you made me cry: I loved the Gulf Port aquarium and Sharkheads. You captured before Katrina perfectly! The marina's and wetlands are beautiful. How fitting to use this song from 3 Doors Down. Thank You

[brewkmbrly]

Very well done. I couldnt help but notice the dates on your before photos that I'm guessing were never taken with the intent of preserving moments and meanings in THIS way. I am a Diberville resident and was extremely lucky. I know many who were not and are still recovering today. Thank you for your work and for sharing it with us.

[georgetime]

I came to Gulfport with my police Dept to assist after Katrina. I can not believe the devastation I saw. We camped out in Bayou View Middle School... it was creepy out there at night along I-90 with clothes and personal effects stuck in trees. We heard a lady screaming and ran and ran to try to get to where she was but she quit before we could find her. It was rough... These storms are no joke I'd get the hell out long before they ever get there, after what I saw there.

[flwrgrl41]

Great job! I live in Gulfport and rode this storm out. My grandparents live just behind the old Camille boat, and needless to say, lost everything. I remember one of the saddest things I saw while walking through the streets the day after was childrens toys, dolls, and pictures. I loved your before pictures, that was the Gulf Coast that I remember and grew up in. Even though we are almost 3 years to the anniversary, it just donest seem to be the "old coast" I remember. Thanks again! :)

[seawitch1261]

A lot of the after pictures are from your grandparents neighborhood. My brothers live in the area and they were fortunate that the water only damaged the sub-flooring. They had a lot of wind-damage as well. When I took the after pictures, the National Guard still had check-points.

[cassiecp09]

this video made me tear up. i used to go to what i call it "the coast" A LOT since my family is all from here. i live two hours north of here. although it was way worse they my house was actually destroyed, we had to bulldose it and rebuild. God has blessed me with a new house the 2 year anniversary of Katrina

[navytown]

family's from nola/bay st. louis. home will never be the same. God bless everyone going through the hard times. keep your head up, and it will all be ok in the end.

[biloxiguh]

IM CRyING I AM FRM DERE N I MOVED 2 ATLANTA NOW I CANT RIDE BIKES PLAY N DA SAND R nUTHING LIK I USED 2 I LL MISS U ILL MAK SURE MI KIDZ WLL B BORN DERE

[bengalkitty]

Katrina was horrible. In Mobile, AL our house flooded & we had to throw out mostly everything in the house. It was devasting.... but in MS many didn't even have a house standing....

[Chewsett]

Thank you for this... I miss seeing it (The way it was before)

[iamthewillis911]

also, suicide rate for Mississippi and Louisianna is up 89% from when Katrina struck. I cant blame them though, i would want to if i lost everything, but you have to put it in gods hands and hope for the best.

[seawitch1261]

Though the number of suicides on the Mississippi Coast has increased since Katrina, I doubt it is 89%.

Do you have a news source for you figures?

[seawitch1261]

It dropped in Mississippi: From an article at Medical News:

When referring to a drop in the suicide rate, B. Kessler, Harvard Medical School, said "We found an extraordinarily high proportion of our sample who said that despite the understandable sadness with all they lost and the understandable anxieties about the future - that they felt closer to their loved ones, they felt connected to the community in a way they didn't before.

[iamthewillis911]

yes i do, we went to a historic (museum?) in gulfport and it had a survey through the people who got struck. im also surprised at it but it is true.

[Strat60msn]

I had 7ft of water - lost everything along with all my neighbors and most of my family and friends. I know of no one and have heard of no one that commited suicide because of Katrina. The one suicide that i know of happened because the person was involved in a storm related embezzlement scheme and got caught. That is Bullshit!!

[tessabianca]

I worked at Cingular Call Center in Johnson City TN at the time. We watched the whole thing on the news and were so upset. Partly because every day we had contact with the call center in Ocean Springs. We felt like we sort of knew the people and were worried for them.

[zactheruler]

The graveyard destroyed almost made me cry

[seawitch1261]

The Biloxi Cemetery is being repaired and a retaining wall is being built so hopefully it will not happen again.

[zactheruler]

Thats wonderfull to know, wish you guys luck with the repairs down there

[godofwx]

I spent a total of 2 years at Keesler AFB in Biloxi. I have a ton of memories from there and I am saddened by the complete and almost total devistation of that area. I ate at the Ruby Teusdays on Highway 90 almost everyday and there is absolutely nothing left there...just bare beach. Great Video.

[Seebaes]

Thank you for this video. I was stationed in Gulfport for 5 years while serving in the military. I recognized most places in the video and it saddens me that this is what happened to those beautiful spots.

[silentslumbers]

What an excellent video for those of us who were not able to help out in the need of Hurricane Katrina (from Ontario, Canada with love)

[Strgzr11]

Dear Seawitch,

You should go into broadcasting, this was the best Katrina video I've seen. I grew up in Biloxi

(St. Martin) and we lost everything in Cammille, then my parents moved to a safer location and lost everything again in Katrina. I live in California now and when I saw your video I was so moved. It has more heart and compassion than any other one I've seen. I'm glad you're ok and I wish you the best of luck with everything. Strgzr11

[Avalonxls06]

Iv been to Biloxi Gulfport area because my mom was stationed at Keesler air force base, I was there for 2 weeks absolutley beautiful. Katrina hit and the media focused all the attention on New Orleans, I took it upon my self to pass out flyers to raise awareness of Biloxi and Gulfport, I was stopped by a reporter and made front page in my cities daily news paper...even with time passed im still thinking of you all and prey for the best

[seawitch1261]

Thank you!

[shankdrummer06]

hey guys i moved down here aug. 15 2006, i live in Gulfport. and i must say, after seeing it on tv and then comin down here...it's waaaaay different...worse. i find it funny how one of the first things on the beach was a waffle house! haha oh golly

[treadz75]

My parents lived in Ocean Springs. Never in a million years, but they got hammered by Katrina too. God bless you and hope you are doing well. I saw it 9 months after the storm and wanted to throw up.

[CharlietoKind]

I live in Madison MS and the only thing was a few trees blew down, in the summer of 06, we went to biloxi and it was destroyed...still

[Karleenl]

I grew up in Gulfport (5th Ave off of Pass Road). My husband and I went to high school at OLA/St.Stanislaus in Bay St.Louis. We had moved to Nashville a few years ago but we miss what's left of home and we wanted to say thanks for the awesome pics in this video. I don't have many pics of the coast. Guess I didn't think I'd need them. Thanks for staying and rebuilding. We still have family there in Waveland.  Anyway, THANK YOU for this video!

[charleshuff07]

This video really gives you a good feel of the devestation to the individuals. I love it.

[seawitch1261]

Orbit9101,

I'm so sorry about your friend. I'm glad you like the video. It is my small way of trying to let others know about the Mississippi story.

[Orbit9101]

Yeah! We will come back bigger, better, and stronger :). I just wanted to say thank you very very much for making this video.I lost my best freind during the storm and this just reminded me of him and how we use to go fishing and hang out and go down to Fountains Peir and go see who could throw a oyster shell the farthest And he would always throw it the farthest and ive always wanted to beat him. Thankyou for this video and i would like to see more :) perfect 10!

[seawitch1261]

orbit9101,

I'm glad you survived. There are so many stories like yours. I've made a couple of other videos.

I'm going to be uploading another.

Yes, Biloxi, Gulfport, Bay St Louis, and the many other cities along the Mississippi Coast are coming back stronger and better.

[Orbit9101]

I live in Biloxi And we are gonna bring it back up. I stayed during the storm and got 8ft of water in my home we had to go in the atic and if we wouldnt have had a summer home in florida and we would of probably ben sleeping on the roof, because everything in the house had about 2&1/2 foot of mud on it well im just glad to be living back in Biloxi! I wouldnt trade the memorys and just living here for nothing! Biloxi is My Bed and my Coffin And thank you for making this video.

[bowcatz]

I knew Katrina was a bad one when I had tree after tree toppling in my backyard and I live way up here in Jackson, MS. It was four days later before I had power and saw what had happened to the Gulf Coast area. Put my losses in perspective. I had lots of firewood and a banged up RV. Those folks on the coast had absolutely nothing.

[HAHAurfunny22]

All you here is New Orleans this and that...Biloxi, Gulfport, Waveland, Bay St.Louis...lord everything south of I-90 was destroyed. Unrecognizable in fact.

[thehotpaladin]

thanks for video. makes me feel better im still alive and things are getting better :) it still kinda freaks me out tho cuz its like ive BEEN there in like all those pictures

[MsRegisteredUser]

Thanks for this tribute. Thanks to all the volunteers who have helped us, held us, prayed for us. I proudly live in Pass Christian, battered and broken but not out. I was in Long Beach for the storm, will never stay again. Lost my home in the Pass as well as my business in Old Towne Bay St Louis. I will never ever again take for granted a single person or moment in my life. Tears, every day, tears.

[seawitch1261]

MsRegisteredUser,

Thank you. I'm glad you survived. I used to cry everyday as well. The place I worked at was wiped away but soon it will re-open and soon we'll have ground breaking for our new offices. I wish you the best of luck.

I hope your tears will soon be replaced by the light of hope.

[btwnsvtcobra]

I thank god I didn't stay for the hurricane because I would have been standing in 6ft. of water....we're bringing B-TOWN back better than ever

[soundtrack829]

You're awesome for using 3DD for the music -- I had a meet & greet with them at a show a month or 2 ago and we discussed the storm and my stupidity for not evacuating (luckily I didn't lose my life! I thank God for that)... those are very respectful guys who don't ever forget where they're from. Very caring people... anyway, I love the montage even though it made me cry. It's very touching.

[auntnancy]

Beatifully done and so sad. You made this yankee cry.

[lisascott57]

We evacuated the night before was staying at the Beau Rivage drove all the way back to Florida and watched it all on TV I was devastated and so frightend for everyone

[CALLMEDAD]

Thanks for the video. I hope people remember what we went through.

[CaptainMorganX]

Breaks my heart, but I'm glad me and my friends are still alive and so many of us made it through it.

Morgan

[cartoontroll]

I hate driving down along the beach and trying to remember what was there before. All the beautiful old houses are only marked by miles of driveways and so many of the old oaks are dead or fallen. Any time I get to see pictures of before it makes me happy because I just can't remember what was.

[seawitch1261]

tubularbills,

Thank you.

mySOULmySaviour,

I evacuated 25 miles inland.

[mySOULmySAVIOUR]

how did u manage to survive ?

[tubularbills]

nice video. best of luck to you in the future

[rockyndiane]

bonnie and ted r safe

[sps2872]

That was incredible. Great job!

Thank you for reminding us how beautiful this place was not too long ago, and will be again.

[seawitch1261]

catzies,

Thank you.

jessie74,

Thank you.  It means alot that someone on the MS Gulf Coast likes it.

[jessie74]

Very nicely put together. I have lived on the Mississippi Gulf Coast all my life and I really enjoyed your video.

[catzies]

Thank you very much for doing this. People must remember. May God bless you and yours.

[seawitch1261]

tanya,

It's hard for me to remember what it was like before.

[tanya4jc2005]

thanks for the before pics..i was born and raised in biloxi,and sometimes its hard to remember what it looked like before..there are no landmarks to let people know where they are,even for someone who has lived here their whole life...thanks again for the b4 pics

[seawitch1261]

roger,

I hope things go well for you. If there is anything I can do to help, please let me know.

[roger62383]

this makes me wanna cry, i used to love to walk on the beach. they just got done rebuilding the boardwalk on the peer, and i can't believe how i take things for granted. i now live in a FEMA trailer, just greatful to be alive. you don't know how fast your life can change until it actually happens.

[seawitch1261]

kathehn

Thank you.

[kathehn]

Music is PERFECT - Before and after images capture the scope of change wrought by HK. Very moving. Thank you.

[seawitch1261]

amazingGrace06,

I was in Saucier during Katrina. My sister and I went to Gulfport the Sunday before Katrina hit. I've seen pictures of the flooding the Kessler suffered. It's a good sign they're advertising for doctors.

Take care.

[AmazingGrace06]

Wow. Your video and the music really captured what happened. My kids and i were at keesler during the storm.

Thank you for making this video.

[seawitch1261]

It is very bad and thanks for helping.

[charliecorella]

i actually went on a mission trip to gulf port and biloxi. its insane to see it before, it blows my mind after seeing all the damage in decemeber

[seawitch1261]

dragonfaire it was the only one in my son's collection that was appropriate.

[Dragonfaire]

You could not have picked a better song. People from this area will apreciate that. Nothing better then our home town boys singing. :)

[seawitch1261]

Thank you stacie.

[xxstaciexxr]

You did a really good job on this. I liked how you have the date on the bottom of some of the pics.