Finally got the courage to visit Waveland

[MGC]

I finally had to go to Bay St. Louis Friday to pay my electric bill at Coast Electric. After we paid the bill, my husband and I drove to downtown BSL. We parked next to the washed out Firedog grill. I was shocked to see the street in front of the Firedog mostly gone. This section of BSl is up on a bluff and I thought the surge might have spared this area. It is one of my favorite on the coast with plenty of restaurants and art galleries. Sadly, most all are now totally gone or severely damaged. We then decided to check out Waveland. Total destruction. Coleman Ave, the center of old Waveland is gone. Just slabs. I will miss Rickey's, a excellent restaurant. I hope they rebuild. I did notice where the surge flowed through the railroad tracks. The surge washed out the rock base the tracks and ties are supported on in several places. The water must have been moving swiftly in this area. We then decided to drive over to Biloxi. We parked in the Coast Coliseum and walked west on Highway 90 to see the President Casino. The casino had washed into the old Holiday Inn Coliseum. People were picked up dollar slot machine tokens that had spilled along the road. We noticed we could drive along Highway 90 and decided to drive along the beach. We passed Treasure Bay Casino which looks like a beached ship wreck. The Grand Casino Biloxi was down the way a bit in two sections, high and dry on the north side of Hwy 90. Finally made it to the Ocean Springs Bridge. Took a ton of pictures along the way. So, I have visited most of the coast except Jackson County. From what I have seen, Waveland took the worst of Katrina, followed by Pass Christian then Bay St. Louis then Long Beach. I didn't visit the back bay so I'll reserve my damage assessment on Biloxi until then.......MGC

[Javlin]

Yea Rickys was excellent and well worth the 40 min drive to get there.I have only seen the ariels over that way long time before it back to what it was before.And what about the Harbour View in the Pass its gone too I am sure.The places the locals only knew and could get a bite on a busy week end without the wait.Hopefully some of these Guys will come back.

[Agua]

Yea Rickys was excellent and well worth the 40 min drive to get there.I have only seen the ariels over that way long time before it back to what it was before.And what about the Harbour View in the Pass its gone too I am sure.The places the locals only knew and could get a bite on a busy week end without the wait.Hopefully some of these Guys will come back.

I haven't had the guts to do any "sightseeing". My first drive to work from my home to downtown Biloxi was enough to make me, literally, without hyperbole, nauseous.

[Lindaloo]

I went to Bay St. Louis on Sunday. I was shocked. The damage goes all the way to I-10!

[HurryKane]

I went to Bay St. Louis on Sunday. I was shocked. The damage goes all the way to I-10!

Unfortunately, so did the water (I-10 and then some).

[BayouVenteux]

I went to Bay St. Louis on Sunday. I was shocked. The damage goes all the way to I-10!

Unfortunately, so did the water (I-10 and then some).

Yes, it is a sobering sight to see the furniture and personal effects scattered about in the low-lying wooded areas adjacent to the westbound lanes of I-10 around BSL.

[HurryKane]

That danged ice machine is still in between I-10 and the I-10/603 eastbound onramp. It's getting a little rusty.

They're telling us FEMA will end debris pickup on Nov 1, but holy cow there's a lot left in west/southeast Diamondhead and south of I-10 at D'head. I haven't been back down to Waveland/BSL in a few weeks and don't know what the debris pick-up situation is there.

There's also a large open lot behind Diamondhead where there are probably 10-12 tents set up by folks with no place to go.

[Lindaloo]

I saw that ice machine. Also, all the cars on 603 still in ditches and overturned vehicles.

[HurryKane]

I saw that ice machine. Also, all the cars on 603 still in ditches and overturned vehicles.

That's from people parking along the sides of 603 in an effort to keep their vehicles on 'higher' ground. They do it for every storm that comes near, but it is something else to see them all tossed around and crumpled like that.

[CFL]

This is sort of an aside but related to the topic, I think. Were they ever able to have normal funerals and burials in MS? I can't imagine anything worse for survivors who have lost family members.

[bevgo]

There have been quite a few funerals in MS over the past number of weeks. I doubt they were normal. Due to the condition of then bodies the casket would have to be closed and inthe south we prefer to view the body. It is part of our ritual to say good by and get closure.