I moved to the Gulf are in 1974 with my family, the remnants of Camille (1969)were visible but not too dramatic, I think this storm is leagues beyond Camille.
My family rode out Katrina in Ocean Springs (4 miles East) of Keesler, they wound up climbing into the attic to avoid the five feet of rising water inside the house. Talking on the phone does not give justice to what it was like. Thanks for the very vivid and descriptive email summary... it will be awhile before things are anywhere near normal.
My brother in law lives in Ocean Springs. He also is in the Air Force, stationed at Keesler. He lives on the east side of Ocean Springs, near a road that runs out to the Gulf and there is a marina along this road. You may know where it is. I've only been there once so I don't know the name or address. He was very lucky and din't have any damage, except fro a fence blown down. Other homes in the neighborhood were destroyed.
Really hit home for my family as well. My bride of 34 years trained there, I trained there as a SSGT and as a civil servant, and our son trained there in 2002 - plus we all vacationed there for a few weeks one summer.
RileyD, nwJ