Waveland, MS Aerial Photo

[skysummit]

While searching for SST maps, I ran across the aerial shot of Waveland, MS. It was taken in September. Basically there's not a single structure left. Once you click on thumbnail, click on the image to make it the correct size....it's pretty big.

[Audrey2Katrina]

Absolutely Horrendous... if/when they come back... it will be quite literally from the ground up. God Bless 'Em!

A2K

[Dionne]

Yeah man. Waveland looks bad. But people are rebuilding. I did not see any residential reconstruction right on the coast. One of the homes we repaired was one mile from the gulf......and the water line was 5'4". I-10 at Waveland is 6 miles from the Gulf and you can still see a water line at that location.

I'm almost certain the bacterial infection that colonized my stomach came from drinking community water in Waveland.

[SouthFloridawx]

I am suprised that there isn't investors moving in trying to build there as this is prime location. I would certainly hope that someday we'll see rebuilding there and people coming back.

[george_r_1961]

Skysummit I drove over to Waveland the day after we met in nola and the only word to describe what I saw is incredible. Theres next to nothing left there. Just slabs where buildings once stood and a few skeletal remains of some structures that werent completely leveled. A grim reminder of what Mother Nature can unleash.

[Dionne]

I am suprised that there isn't investors moving in trying to build there as this is prime location. I would certainly hope that someday we'll see rebuilding there and people coming back.

There are investors building in Waveland. It's a new casino. It's in an area where all the shrimpers used to dock. I seem to recall the name is the Silver Slipper? The development includes two high rise residentials in long term planning.
They are just now coming out of the ground with the foundation. It's right on the waters edge. The project is being built as a destination resort. It's going to be years in the construction phase.....but it's going to be really fancy.

[BC]

I am suprised that there isn't investors moving in trying to build there as this is prime location. I would certainly hope that someday we'll see rebuilding there and people coming back.

There are investors building in Waveland. It's a new casino. It's in an area where all the shrimpers used to dock. I seem to recall the name is the Silver Slipper? The development includes two high rise residentials in long term planning.
They are just now coming out of the ground with the foundation. It's right on the waters edge. The project is being built as a destination resort. It's going to be years in the construction phase.....but it's going to be really fancy.

Yep, Silver Slipper was actually planned before the storm, but was delayed by it of course.. The President Casino in Biloxi was purchased and they were going to move it to Waveland (Bayou Caddy)..

[Frank P]

I've driven through that area on several occasions.... everything is gone, its unbelievable, and there are only a spattering of homes being built... that's how it is all along the coast.. you would expect after a year more houses would have been built ... but that is not the case.... people are still waiting for insurance money, grant money, lawsuits, others are afraid of the costs of getting home insurance, and the fear of another active hurricane season all are contributing to a lack of new construction along the coast... it is going to be years and years before you see these lots filled with houses.... such is the case for a majority of the MS gulf coast... I would estimate that there is less than 10 new homes under construction for the entire coast of Biloxi south of the railroad tracks... actually I think I've only counted about 4 or 5.. and even less on the Back Bay side of town...

[BC]

I would estimate that there is less than 10 new homes under construction for the entire coast of Biloxi south of the railroad tracks... actually I think I've only counted about 4 or 5.. and even less on the Back Bay side of town...

There are just about as many condo developments going up as there are new houses..

[Alladin]

I would not rebuild in a storm surge area. I have lived along the gulf coast in Florida for the past 30 years and my houses have been at ground zero for some big and destructive hurricanes (Andrew, Erin, Opal, Ivan, Dennis). Yet, my various houses have never flooded and they have only suffered minor wind damage. The reason is simple. I have always been very careful about sight selection and I’ve made sure my elevation is beyond the reach of any storm surge or flooding.

It’s possible to strengthen a house to resist high winds. It takes some work but it’s not hard to accomplish. The main objective is to make sure the foundation, walls and roof are tied together so that they function as one integral unit. Storm shutters are a must for a big storm. You can defend against high winds. You can’t defend against high water.

Water crashing into your house from a storm surge or a raging flood is devastating. Even without turbulent and powerful torrents of water washing over a dwelling, slowly rising water can be just as destructive. I’m sure you know that it only takes a few inches of water in a car before it becomes a total loss.

When I purchased my house in Homestead, FL in 1977 I made sure it would survive a category 5 hurricane, and it did survive Andrew. However, over the years I watched as a building boom hit south Florida. Developers rapidly built poorly constructed houses in storm surge areas. As I drove by these developments, I knew they would not survive a big storm. Of course, they were torn apart by the wind and water from Andrew and within a few years, new houses were built in the exact same locations. These new houses will fare no better in the next big storm to hit the area because they are in the storm surge area.

More recently, I’ve noticed the same behavior after hurricane Ivan. Many people have rebuilt their houses right back in the middle of the obvious storm surge areas. It really doesn’t do any good to tighten up the building codes to resist high winds when you’re in the middle of a flood plain. I know, of course, that some people are rebuilding just so they can sell and get out from under their liability. They’ll just have to wait a few years until the memories of the destruction fade and then sell their houses to the uninitiated. I’ve seen this happen over and over again through the years.

When you purchase a house in Florida, the law requires that if the realtor knows of any defects in the house (electrical, plumbing, roof, etc.) they must reveal those defects to any prospective buyer. Yet, if the house is located in a flood plain or a storm surge area, they don’t have to say a thing! For water it’s strictly buyer beware.

[Frank P]

very true about building for wind and not water.... that's why I went up 10 feet... I'm 28 feet above sea level... higher than any recorded storm surge in my town's history.... and as long as the water does not hit the house it should survive ... I think its a risk worth taking... bottom line, still have plenty of flood insurance... which is affordable ...

[Lindaloo]

If they would have updated the flood maps a LONG LONG time ago, people would have purchased flood insurance making the rebuilding process pain free.

[gtalum]

IWhen you purchase a house in Florida, the law requires that if the realtor knows of any defects in the house (electrical, plumbing, roof, etc.) they must reveal those defects to any prospective buyer. Yet, if the house is located in a flood plain or a storm surge area, they don’t have to say a thing! For water it’s strictly buyer beware.

This is scary but true. I bough tmy first house (in which i still live) 4 years ago. Fortunately I'm at 35 feet of elevation and 5 miles from shore. I lucked into the location, because honestly I didn't even consider strom surge when I bought the house. Som eplaces not too far from me are on rivers that will flood badly in a category 5 storm. I'm high enough though that it won't be a concern.

[Ixolib]

If they would have updated the flood maps a LONG LONG time ago, people would have purchased flood insurance making the rebuilding process pain free.

You got DAT right!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I still wonder if the flood zones - had they been previously updated - would have taken a Katrina-type surge into consideration... In my case, at 20 feet above sea level, we STILL had three feet in the house. Essentially, if the maps had been drawn to take a Katrina-type surge into consideration, almost the entire peninsula of Biloxi would have been a flood zone. As it was for Katrina, most of that area was "NOT" in a flood zone. But it is now!!!

Sure wish I would have had flood insurance 0n 08/29.....

[Lindaloo]

I doubt they would have included a surge like Katrina's. BUT, they should have provided better maps due to Camille. I believe Camille was the reason the maps were created in the first place. After that, every hurricane (at least here in Pascagoula) they issue a mandetory evac for everyone south of Hwy. 90. That right there tells me that we should have been in a flood zone all along. They still have me listed as a C-Zone. They moved my parents area to A-Zone.

[Ixolib]

I doubt they would have included a surge like Katrina's. BUT, they should have provided better maps due to Camille. I believe Camille was the reason the maps were created in the first place. After that, every hurricane (at least here in Pascagoula) they issue a mandetory evac for everyone south of Hwy. 90. That right there tells me that we should have been in a flood zone all along. They still have me listed as a C-Zone. They moved my parents area to A-Zone.

Excellent point. I believe they also issued a similar order for everyone in Harrison county south of I-10. Of course, my brain was telling me they meant only those people who would flood (based on history). Never in a million years would I have ever thought they were talking about "ME". But, as with your situation, we too were not in a flood zone and we too were in Zone C. Not sure what we've been "re-zoned" to now, but regardless, we now have flood insurance on the house in Biloxi. Guess this is where the cliche` about hind sight comes into play, huh!!

BTW... It amazes me how many folks here in the St. Pete area are so completely unaware of what can happen. We just rented a home here that is surrounded by water on three sides, but the owner says he's fine - not in a flood zone, and doesn't need flood insurance. I have already found out it's not even worth my breath to try and explain our situation on the MS coast. They simply don't get it!! Wanna talk about naive!!! Actually, it kinda remindes me of myself; pre-Katrina...

[Lindaloo]

I felt the exact same way you did. Something in my brain did click though because I actually bought flood insurance after Georges, as did my parents. You are probably still zoned C. I thought for sure I would would be rezoned to A, but what a surprise I am still rated C. The funny part is now I keep hearing people say "Well, now we have to buy flood, once we buy it, it will never flood here again" Um okay. You just never know. I want to butt in and say "JUST BUY THE DANG FLOOD INSURANCE!"

You can talk until you are blue in the face to people who have not had to "deal" with anything like this. I bet you can go to Texas and talk to Rita survivors and they will fully understand and vice versa. Plus the Ivan survivors, we can't forget them. I just thought of something, 4 states have experienced major storm surge from hurricanes. Unreal!! I certainly hope this is not a pattern and this type of surge will become a natural occurrence with every storm. Oh goodness, I am leaving on that thought.

[Ixolib]

I felt the exact same way you did. Something in my brain did click though because I actually bought flood insurance after Georges, as did my parents. You are probably still zoned C. I thought for sure I would would be rezoned to A, but what a surprise I am still rated C. The funny part is now I keep hearing people say "Well, now we have to buy flood, once we buy it, it will never flood here again" Um okay. You just never know. I want to butt in and say "JUST BUY THE DANG FLOOD INSURANCE!"

You can talk until you are blue in the face to people who have not had to "deal" with anything like this. I bet you can go to Texas and talk to Rita survivors and they will fully understand and vice versa. Plus the Ivan survivors, we can't forget them. I just thought of something, 4 states have experienced major storm surge from hurricanes. Unreal!! I certainly hope this is not a pattern and this type of surge will become a natural occurrence with every storm. Oh goodness, I am leaving on that thought.

And then to find out how CHEAP the flood insurance is, relatively speaking. Heck, if I'd have know that BEFORE Katrina, I think I would have gotten it anyway, regardless of my zone!!!

And yes, I hear 'ya on the surge issue. I surely hope one day soon the "officials" will begin to give at least equal credence - if not more so - to the surge consequences of a landfalling cane. No doubt, ANYONE can build to withstand wind (in most cases). But even now, it seems that the "wind" issue continues to be the primary issue that everyone concentrates on, including officials, forecasters, and John Doe. As we so well know, storm surge is an entirely different story as it will destroy everything it touches. As depicted by the original title of this thread, if not for the surge, Waveland would be alive and well today - as well as so many other coastal communities.

My advice to coastal inhabitants = buy flood insurance unless you are at least 50 feet or more above sea level!! It's cheap enough to do so without even noticing the premium dollar$ are being spent... But the benefits you will reap will far outweigh the consequences of not having the coverage. Which, by the way, is an experience I wish not to repeat ever again...

My face is getting blue-er!!

[timNms]

I felt the exact same way you did. Something in my brain did click though because I actually bought flood insurance after Georges, as did my parents. You are probably still zoned C. I thought for sure I would would be rezoned to A, but what a surprise I am still rated C. The funny part is now I keep hearing people say "Well, now we have to buy flood, once we buy it, it will never flood here again" Um okay. You just never know. I want to butt in and say "JUST BUY THE DANG FLOOD INSURANCE!"

You can talk until you are blue in the face to people who have not had to "deal" with anything like this. I bet you can go to Texas and talk to Rita survivors and they will fully understand and vice versa. Plus the Ivan survivors, we can't forget them. I just thought of something, 4 states have experienced major storm surge from hurricanes. Unreal!! I certainly hope this is not a pattern and this type of surge will become a natural occurrence with every storm. Oh goodness, I am leaving on that thought.

And then to find out how CHEAP the flood insurance is, relatively speaking. Heck, if I'd have know that BEFORE Katrina, I think I would have gotten it anyway, regardless of my zone!!!

And yes, I hear 'ya on the surge issue. I surely hope one day soon the "officials" will begin to give at least equal credence - if not more so - to the surge consequences of a landfalling cane. No doubt, ANYONE can build to withstand wind (in most cases). But even now, it seems that the "wind" issue continues to be the primary issue that everyone concentrates on, including officials, forecasters, and John Doe. As we so well know, storm surge is an entirely different story as it will destroy everything it touches. As depicted by the original title of this thread, if not for the surge, Waveland would be alive and well today - as well as so many other coastal communities.

My advice to coastal inhabitants = buy flood insurance unless you are at least 50 feet or more above sea level!! It's cheap enough to do so without even noticing the premium dollar$ are being spent... But the benefits you will reap will far outweigh the consequences of not having the coverage. Which, by the way, is an experience I wish not to repeat ever again...

My face is getting blue-er!!

Good advice, Ixolib...buy the flood insurance! My wife's aunt, who is in her seventies, lives in Pascagoula (14 blocks north of the beach and not considered in a flood zone). Well, a few days before Katrina, her insurance agent talked her OUT of buying flood insurance. Needless to say, she needed it on Aug. 29th, but didn't have it. She just moved back in her home a few wks ago, after having it repaired. Katrina put about 2 feet of water in her house. She now has flood insurance on the home.

[CajunMama]

If she were to have gotten the flood insurance a couple of days before Katrina it would not have done her any good. She would have had to wait 30 days for the policy to go into effect being that she was not in a high risk area. And i'm not exactly sure if they would have written a policy on her with a storm being in the gom.

I found this on the nfip website:

What if flood insurance is required? If you buy a house in a designated high-risk area and receive a mortgage loan from a Federally-regulated lender, by law your lender must require you to purchase and regularly renew flood insurance.

In this case, you do not have to wait 30 days for your policy to take effect. Your flood insurance protection is immediate, ensuring that you don't get caught without flood insurance if a flood threatens your home. You may also be able to escrow your premium payments.

http://www.floodsmart.gov/floodsmart/pages/index.jsp