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...I would have thought that after Biloxi (and others) were flattened in 1969. But the fools came back and built. They’ll do it again and be stunned again when the next monster hurricane hits. And then they’ll want me to help pay through FEMA assistance and higher premiums on my insurance...

And when your community is burned to the ground, blown away, flooded, flattened by an earthquake, leveled by a tornado, etc.....YOU TOO WILL WANT TO LIVE SMOEWHERE! There is nowhere without risks of some sort. Should California be abandoned after every quake? Should the plains states be abandoned after the next blizzard or tornado?

I delivered supplies to "God's Katrina Kitchen" shortly after the storm. They were needed then, but not so much now. The City of Long Beach denied their request to move to their city because the location was too close to a day care center. And....most of the those using the kitchen were not locals. (illegals, street thugs, etc.)

I lived Katrina. I lost my home, my business, friends died or moved away, but thankfully, I did not loose any family.

I visited many homes of the 'dependent class' (I had a medical equipment company that serviced 7 counties) immediately after the storm. Without fail, their squalled homes were cramped full of relief supplies. Far in excess of any real need. Sound familiar?

I qualified as a First Responder due to the nature of business. This put me at the top of the list for emergency housing. Yet I was forced to live in Alabama and commute more than 125 miles a day to my office, plus the 250 - 300 miles I routinely drove to service my clients. I did this for 3 months until I was flat broke and forced to sell my interest in the business for pennies on the dollar. I did not get 'housing' until the end of Nov. Yet the 'dependent class' were the first to receive housing and all sorts of federal help.

What did I do? At 55 years of age, I changed careers, started fresh. The only 'assistance' I got was a tiny camper to live in (for which I am grateful) I paid all my expenses, lot rent for the camper, electric, fuel, water, food, and took several online courses to better myself.

I'm not writing this to blow my own horn. You see, I am typical. That's right, typical of what thousands of Mississippians endured and the course of action they took to survive and rebuild their lives.

This is the first opportunity I have had to vent. Thanks for opening the door.

I regret saying “fools” and I apologize.

I know that no place is risk-free but some are just inherently more dangerous. The Gulf Coast is beautiful, but eventually you WILL get hit by a hurricane. My cousin, who had a very nice home right by the water in Biloxi, was very shaken (he did evacuate). He lives in Baton Rouge for now and says he will never live on the coast again. And even with his millions, he was also unable to find a place to live for a while (except with family).

My relatives who were hurt mostly picked themselves up, although my aunt did get a trailer. But they also all had money and insurance. And they had family support, otherwise I’m not sure my oldest aunt could have gotten through.

"You see, I am typical. That's right, typical of what thousands of Mississippians endured and the course of action they took to survive and rebuild their lives."

I, for one, am very impressed with the "typical" folks on the coast.
Y'all make me very proud.

Thank you for all you did WRT Katrina.
I'm glad you finally got to vent, and a nice rant it was. ;o)