South Mississippi Residents.

[MGC]

I had the privilege of attending the Pass Christian Rotary Club meeting today. The guests in attendance included Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour and Congressman Gene Taylor. Both Gov Barbour and Rep Taylor talked on the current efforts to rebuild the Coast. Gov Barbour stress the importance of getting people signed up for the grants that will be available for homeowners that had flood damage, were not in a flood zone and were denied monies by their insurance companies. Congressman Taylor talked about the possibility of federal regulation of the insurance industry, the efforts to acquire the CSX right-of-way to relocate HWY-90. If you have a specific question that might have been covered and I can't recall (didn't take notes) post it here and I'll try and answer your question. I did shake the Governor's had and thank him for the hard work he has done for us down here on the Coast.......MGC

[Dionne]

MGC......have you been to the Sundbergs home in Pass Christian? The home is a featured article in the Mississippi Hurricane Safe publication. Their home survived a 28 foot storm surge with accompanying 105 mph winds. I don't know the exact location of the home? Do you? If so.....how far from the gulf water is the home? And last.....did anyone supply information on newly defined BFE (base flood elevation)? thanks!

[MGC]

Dionne, I don't know of the Sundbergs. There is one house in the Pass that has been talked about quite a bit because it survived the surge. The house is built entirely of concrete. I read an article about it and the owner declined to say how much money he spent on it but he did say it was very expensive.....MGC

[HurryKane]

My old landlords built the 4-plex I rented in out of steel and concrete. The walls were nearly a foot thick and supposed to withstand cat 3 winds. They later built themselves a house out of the same construction. They're on the west side of D'head and just barely missed getting flooded by the bayou.

Sure made it a pain in the butt to get any radio/cell reception, though

I've also seen an article either in Coastal Living about a house that was made entirely of concrete, but the blocks were made to look like marble. It was gorgeous.

[BC]

Dionne, I don't know of the Sundbergs. There is one house in the Pass that has been talked about quite a bit because it survived the surge. The house is built entirely of concrete. I read an article about it and the owner declined to say how much money he spent on it but he did say it was very expensive.....MGC

Yeah, the concrete house is on the beach.. And it is the Sundberg house.. It sits back from the road a little bit and is up on concrete piers.. I'm sure it had to cost quite a bit..

Here's an article I found about it:

http://www.nbnnews.com/CHBC/issues/2005-12-20/1.html

And another with possibly better pictures (scroll down):

http://www.cement.org/homes/ch_newsletter2006-1&2.asp

[Lindaloo]

Yea the structure stood but the windows and contents were washed out.

[Dionne]

Yea the structure stood but the windows and contents were washed out.

The storm surge was 28' at the home. The owner/builder is an engineer. He followed existing BFE. The structure stood because of the connectivity in design.

FEMA is now saying BFE (basic flood elevations) are 3-10 to LOW along the Mississippi coast.