August 29, 2005. No one who lived on the Mississippi Gulf Coast that day will ever forget where they were and what they were doing. Winnie and I rode out the storm with friends at their house, in a location we thought was safe. Spoiler alert – It wasn’t.
Water rising up to the front door of the house
Early Monday morning we watched as the storm surge rolled in up over the front lawn and starting trickling into the house we were staying in.
Some of the storm debris that floated into the sideyard
After the flood waters started receding, we went back out and put the boat back on the trailer. Then we tried to get large items away from the house while they were still floating. The most exciting item was a very large propane tank.
On the boat - as if I needed a life jacket then.
After swimming through storm ravaged flood waters just to get to the boat, William actually thought I might need a life jacket.
Getting Ready to Evacuate Before the Storm
Final preps for evacuating to our friends home on Sunday afternoon, August 28. The windows were all boarded up, furniture and belongings inside of the house was picked up, covered over, and supplies ready.
Looking out the front living room windows
Milli looks out the back window at the flooded neighborhood.
We are so over this!
As the flood waters continued to recede, we had a bit of a party.
As The Flood Waters Receded - WeiFang is still standing.
Winnie poses for a picture as the waters recede and hurricane winds continue to die down. This was her first hurricane.
Flooded House, Front
Taken about 1:30PM August 29, sitting on the boat we had just prepared to use for evacuation. The waters were just starting to subside as seen by the black mark on the walls of the house.
Flooded Neighborhood
A nightmarish shot of neighbors houses - also flooded
Flooded Truck
Taken about 1:30PM, immediately after the previous photo. We had moved the cars to the higher elevation driveway when flood waters started rolling over the front lawn earlier that morning. It was wasted effort, except one truck that was saved by moving it to higher ground.
Back of House Boarded Up
Front of House Boarded Up
We made standard hurricane preparations before evacuating, but it wasn't enough. Even with these coverings, the three windows were broken and pushed in from the force of receding floodwaters.
Cumulative Wind Pattern - Katrina
NOAA chart showing the predicted wind pattern.
Hurricane Katrina - Predicted Storm Path
NOAA chart showing the predicted storm path. This turned out to be pretty accurate.
Satellite Photo - Hurricane Katrina
NOAA satellite photo of this monster storm.
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