After a farewell cup of coffee with the Guldenschuhs it was back on the road to our empty house in Houma, LA. Although we could have driven straight through to Houma, we decided to split drive into two days and stop in Biloxi, MS. We decided to stop in Biloxi to check out the Keesler Air Force Base Family Camp, and the recently reopened casinos.
As most of you know most of the damage to New Orleans from Katrina was from levee failure and the subsequent flooding. Unfortunately for Mississippi their coast bore the full brunt of the storm surge and hurricane force winds. It is estimated that a thirty foot wall of water came ashore from Pass Christian all the way to Biloxi. Houses and businesses on the north side of US 90 that had been there for decades, and some for over a hundred years, and survived numerous hurricanes were completely destroyed. Biloxi is doing okay in their recovery because four of the major casinos have finally reopened and provide employment opportunities and a much needed tax base, but the majority of the coastal Mississippi communities still look like ghost towns.
After a couple of false turns we found the military Family Camp and set up camp. The majority of the Air Force Base was not damaged by the hurricane, but was without full utilities for several months following Katrina. In addition, since there are almost no rental housing available, the majority of the Fam Camp is employees of the base waiting for housing. After an early dinner it was off to the Casino Beau Rivage to contribute to the hurricane recovery. On our return from the casino, we swung through the Air Force housing at the Falcon housing site so Dan could check out another military house the Ryans occupied in the early 60s when Dan Sr was stationed at Keesler AFB.
http://www.keesler.af.mil/
As most of you know most of the damage to New Orleans from Katrina was from levee failure and the subsequent flooding. Unfortunately for Mississippi their coast bore the full brunt of the storm surge and hurricane force winds. It is estimated that a thirty foot wall of water came ashore from Pass Christian all the way to Biloxi. Houses and businesses on the north side of US 90 that had been there for decades, and some for over a hundred years, and survived numerous hurricanes were completely destroyed. Biloxi is doing okay in their recovery because four of the major casinos have finally reopened and provide employment opportunities and a much needed tax base, but the majority of the coastal Mississippi communities still look like ghost towns.
After a couple of false turns we found the military Family Camp and set up camp. The majority of the Air Force Base was not damaged by the hurricane, but was without full utilities for several months following Katrina. In addition, since there are almost no rental housing available, the majority of the Fam Camp is employees of the base waiting for housing. After an early dinner it was off to the Casino Beau Rivage to contribute to the hurricane recovery. On our return from the casino, we swung through the Air Force housing at the Falcon housing site so Dan could check out another military house the Ryans occupied in the early 60s when Dan Sr was stationed at Keesler AFB.
http://www.keesler.af.mil/
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