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Subscribe to City LineAugust 17, 2009
From the office of Mayor George Schloegel
It was 40 years ago today when the eye of Hurricane Camille, one of the most powerful storms of the 20th century, crashed ashore along our Coast. Each year since then we have paid tribute to the more than 200 people who either died or were never found.
With its 23-foot storm surge and 190-mph winds, Camille reigned supreme for more than three decades as Mother Nature’s great benchmark of destruction. It was the storm by which all others were compared.
Those who lived here then have passed down stories of survival and loss to their children and grandchildren. They have spoken of how hot the summer of ’69 was. They have shown old photos of the devastation and they have told of how the Coast collectively vowed to bounce back from Camille bigger and better than ever.
At the time, Camille was the worst of all storms, but today, as we all know, the Coast is being rebuilt, and new photos and stories are being passed on by an entirely new generation of survivors—those fortunate enough to have lived to tell about Katrina, the new benchmark of destruction.
Two Saturdays from now people from every corner of our Coast will gather to mark the 4th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. It will be a great opportunity for us to remember those who died and to reflect on how far we have come since those awful days in the summer of 2005.
Katrina serves as a painful reminder of how dangerous a hurricane can be. We must never fall into a false sense of security. We must always prepare for the worst and hope for the best. We should never take the threat of a storm lightly.
Earlier this morning, Hurricane Bill formed in the Atlantic and to help you prepare, we have launched a new feature on the city’s website dedicated to giving you everything you need to know to help protect your family and your property during the hurricane season. A link to the Weather Page can be found toward the bottom of this email.
In other news, last week I joined several City Council members at a town hall meeting to discuss the city’s plan for the old VA property. The response from those who attended the meeting was positive. We received many good suggestions and ideas, and we look forward to working with the community every step of the way.
To view the latest version of the plan for the 92-acre property, click here.
In addition, we have received some very good news about our plan for Jones Park. Tomorrow afternoon, we expect to award a contract for the first phase of the park’s revitalization. This phase includes the construction of a splash pad, similar to the one at West Side, which has been such a huge hit with the youngsters in Gulfport.
We hope to build several additional splash pads in the coming years in other neighborhoods throughout the city.
Also last week, we began moving into our newly renovated City Hall. The move should be complete by day’s end and tomorrow the City Council returns to its chambers for the first meeting in more than a year at City Hall.
There is a lot to be excited about in Gulfport. We already live in a good city, but with your help, we are making it great.
Sincerely,
George Schloegel
Mayor
Are you prepared?
Hurricane season is here and the City of Gulfport wants to make sure you have all the information you need to keep your family and your property safe. For the latest tropical updates and tips on preparing for the storm season, click here.
Office of Public Information - rlafontaine@gulfport-ms.gov - Phone: 228-868-5782
P.O. Box 1780 Gulfport, MS 39502-1780 - FAX: 868-5800
