It’s been twenty years tomorrow since Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast on August 29, 2005.
Hurricane Katrina was a strong Category 5 Atlantic hurricane that caused over 1,800 deaths and $125 billion in damage in late August 2005. It was total devastation to lives and the economy. With Katrina, there was widespread damage and destructive winds that ripped through the state.
Through my years as mayor and county emergency management director during the recovery efforts and mitigation efforts I have worked on through the years I have modeled a lot of these efforts after the efforts that were done during Katrina back in 2005.
Gov. Haley Barbour did a tremendous job in leading this state through the recovery. It’s important to have federal and state connections, that is something that takes years to achieve. Gov. Barbour had these connections along with working with then U.S. Senators Trent Lott and Thad Cochran.
It’s also important to when there isn’t a cloud in the sky, to make plans and have preparation in place. This past week starting on Monday I presented a memorandum to the Carroll County Board of Supervisors in Vaiden for having the disaster recovery center in place in Carroll County for when we get a federal declaration for Carroll County. J.Z. George High School Gymnasium in North Carrollton has been our site in the past. This location was used in the efforts of the 2023 tornado and before then with our efforts during the pandemic with COVID 19 including testing and vaccinations.
On Tuesday, I attended the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency’s Hazard Mitigation meeting at the Leflore County EMA’s office. Throughout disaster recovery there are many steps that are essential in our efforts.
As we remember Hurricane Katrina twenty years later, during the hurricanes passage, tropical storm-force winds extended into central Mississippi with significant tree and power line damage reported in regions further north. While the most destructive damage was concentrated in coastal counties, the storm's influence and wind effects reached well inland across the majority of the state
Former Gov. Barbour was recently recognized for all that he did to help Mississippi recover and rebuild following Hurricane Katrina 20 years ago. “It reminds me that I said then that the Coast was going to come back bigger and better than ever, and it has,” Barbour said. “It is interesting to me that in three years, the Coast counties had the population back to what it was when the storm hit. New Orleans still doesn’t.” Gov. Barbour said.
Here twenty years later since Katrina we are reminded of how our communities come together during disasters. The efforts here and across this state from faith-based organizations, civic clubs, a host of organizations and citizen led efforts is tremendous during recovery efforts.
Gov. Barbour, has cited his mother's belief that "crisis brings out the best in most people" when discussing the recovery efforts. He believes Katrina proved her right, and he has consistently praised the resilience and volunteer spirit of the Mississippi people in the storm's aftermath.
Ken Strachan serves as the mayor of North Carrollton, is a member of the Mississippi Municipal League board of directors, and serves as the North Central Mayor’s Association president
