Katrina virtually wipes Miss. town off map

[gulfcoastliberal]

WAVELAND, Miss. - Hurricane Katrina seemed to take a particular vengeance out on this town. The storm virtually wiped Waveland off the map, prompting state officials to say it took a harder hit from the wind and water than any other town along the coast.

Rescue workers there Wednesday found shell-shocked survivors scavenging what they could from homes and businesses that were completely washed away. The air smelled of natural gas, lumber and rotting flesh.

"Total devastation. There's nothing left," said Brian Mollere, a resident who was left cut and bruised. Katrina tore his clothes off and he had to dig in the debris for shorts and a T-shirt.

Katrina dragged away nearly every home and business within a half mile of the beach, leaving driveways and walkways to nowhere. The water scattered random reminders of what had been normal, quiet lives: family photos, Barbie dolls, jazz records, whiskey bottles.

http://www.sunherald.com/mld/sunherald/12532430.htm

I know probably no one here knows or cares about Waveland. But my grnadmother lived there for 60 years and I went there every summer and most winters in my childhood to swim and shoot fireworks. The place was really great. And their Congressional Rep is Gene Taylor, a 4-term DEM.

Edit: Grandma's house was 1 block from beach. :(

[Ripley]

1. Have you seen any thing about Ocean Springs?

I know it is east of Waveland...but I can't find any news or pics and I have friends there. The bridge to Ocean Springs from Biloxi was destroyed. Is your Grandmother okay?

I'm so sick about this destruction and lack of help!

[gulfcoastliberal]

3. Not sure about Ocean Springs - it's farthest to the East in MS

So it should have a lotless storm damage.

Check out gulfcoastnews.com and there's message boardon there you can browse thru to find info.

My mom brought my grandma (her mom) back to FL and she here safely yet sadly.

[Ripley]

5. Glad to hear she survived.

Sorry her town didn't. Thanks for the link.

[Shakespeare]

8. Not really farthest east--it's snug up against Biloxi.

It's considerably farther west than Pascagoula...

[Shakespeare]

7. My mom (in Pensacola) said it looks like it's completely gone.

Apparently, they're getting a lot more extensive and non-network coverage there, and what footage they've seen of Ocean Springs has been pretty bad. :-(

[Ripley]

9. SHIT SHIT SHIT

The only report I heard was from a woman who said all the homes on the beach were gone...but I didn't know if that type of damage was up to the highway. I haven't seen one reporter there. I can't reach anyone.

[gulfcoastliberal]

12. Doesn't sound good for Oean Springs - link below

http://www.cnn.com/2005/WEATHER/08/29/cnna.rodgers/

[Katha]

10. Oh, no

I have a friend from Ocean Springs -- thank God, she and her husband made it to Tupelo -- but I was hoping against hope that OS didn't get hit terribly hard.

[RandomKoolzip]

2. I knew a couple from Waveland who put out a cool

indie rock 'zine. They used to come down to Nawlins and see all the cool bands that came through...I saw Dub Narcotic Sound System with them in 97. I wonder if they're still alive....

They always used to complain about how lonely it was to be into good music in such a small town. Shit.

[gulfcoastliberal]

6. Hopefully they evacuated.

If they lived behind the RR tracks, those homes had less damage. The RR tracks are about 10-12ft tall and it acted like a seawall against the surge. People on the other side had "only" 5-8ft of water in their homes.

[ewagner]

4. So sorry that

your memories have been taken away.

for all the people of the Gulf Coast :cry:

[TeeYiYi]

11. . . .

Do you still have family in Waveland? Are they safe? Did your grandma's house make it?

TYY:hug:

[gulfcoastliberal]

13. Grandma is ok here in FL

We're going to try to drive back there tomorrow to see if there's anything left or salvageable, like photos, etc.

[David__77]

14. Picture of desperation.

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/050901/480/msjb11509010443&vm=r&vm=r

Dale Graham gathers supplies from a Wal-Mart store for victims of Hurricane Katrina on Wednesday, Aug. 31, 2005, in Waveland, Miss. Graham said store officials had given him permission. The store was damaged by the hurricane. (AP Photo/Ben Sklar)

[gulfcoastliberal]

15. Heartbreaking

What a disaster. Thanks for decimating FEMA, Bush.

[NIGHT TRIPPER]

16. our 8th grade class went there on a weekend retreat--with all the teachers

Grew up in New Orleans-----I wouldn't say nobody cares about Waveland-

Sad news--

[Zhade]

17. We care about all who were hurt by this.

Yes, the drama with NO obscures other losses, but please don't think we don't care. We do.

I'm very sorry about your grandmother's house. :hug: