Katrina Reflections on the 20th Anniversary

On the Shoofly - August 2025

With winds exceeding 125 mph and a storm surge that reached over 28 feet, Katrina was more than just a natural disaster—it was a moment that would define the future of Hancock County and the communities across the Mississippi Gulf Coast. The days following the storm were a true testament to the strength and resilience of our community.

​​- by Kirby Rhodes

Photo provided by Craig Martin

While August 29, 2005 was a defining moment for the Mississippi Gulf Coast, the true story is the tale of recovery and resillince our community showed in the days following the Storm. ​Cell phones were not nearly as prevalent as they are today, not that there was cell phone service to use them or an electricity to charge them. Many people, like Craig Martin, communicated by writing signs on the debris, to let their family and friends know they were okay. 
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808 Beach Blvd. in BSL | Sandy and Ronnie Robert

Sandy and Ronnie Robert evacuated for Katrina, leaving behind their beautiful home on Beach Boulevard in Bay St. Louis. On September 2, 2005, they came back to nothing, not even a pile of rubble. Their story didn't end there though. They've bulit a new home in a new spot and still live in the Bay.
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3rd Ave on Henderson Point | Christopher Nickels

Christopher Nickels, his wife, and their son evacuated to Louisiana. When they came back after Katrina, they were stopped at a road block on Menge Ave. and told they would have to walk the rest of the way. A six mile journey, through fallen trees, shattered homes, and lost mementos. Luckily, a utility worker driving by offered to give Chris and his family a ride to Henderson Point. When they arrived, they saw nothing but the pilings of what used to be their home. The utility worker drove them back to their vehicle. The Nickels rebuilt their home on the Point, now stronger (and taller) than ever. 
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426 Beach Blvd. after Katrina

Jimmy and Sharon Crane purchased their home at 426 Beach Boulevard in Waveland in 1986. The house was originally built in the 1880's and survived numerous hurricanes, including Camille, with minimum damage. Needless to say, that was not the case with Katrina. The Cranes rebuilt their home in the same spot, with many simialr features, a nod both to the past and their future. 
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426 Beach Blvd. before Katrina

426 Beach Blvd Today

​There are countless stories from that day, far more than could ever be captured in a single article. As we mark the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, we remember not only the unimaginable devastation she brought, but also the resilience, growth, and strength that followed in her wake. This reflection by Doug Seal honors both what Katrina took from us and what, in an unexpected way, she left behind.
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Katrina
A poem by Doug Seal
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Katrina what a mess you left
Our lives are broken, our things are destroyed
You took our lives, some literally
You took our way of life and smashed it
You took our peace and turned it upside down
You took our town and made it shambles
You took our wordly things and left us nakes
But oh Katrina you also gave us much
You took our broken lives and gave us neighbors who care
You took our way of life but made us appreciate life
You took our peace but GOD has given us real peace
You took our towns but made us a community of Love
You took normal and made everything extraordinary
You took our wordly things and GOD replaced them with heavenly gifts
So lady called Katrina you came and you went
But you helped us realize what's truly important 
Faith, Family, and Friends
Thank you lady called Katrina

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