Numerous issues confront the people of South Mississippi in the restoration effort following Katrina. A great deal of progress has been made, much of which has been well documented by local, state, national and international media reports since last September.
The following overview topics may be helpful in creating new or follow up stories:
Economic Development—numerous announcements of new projects and expansions of existing businesses.
Contacts: Larry Barnett, Harrison County Development Commission 228-896-5020
Hal Walters, Hancock County Port & Harbor Commission 228-467-9231
George Freeland, Jackson County Economic Development Foundation 228-769-6263
Gaming Industry—more than half of the Coast’s casino properties have reopened and more are on the way.
Contacts: Larry Gregory, Exec. Director, Mississippi Gaming Commission – 601-576-3809
or Jerry St. Pe, Chairman of the Mississippi Gaming Commission –228-696-0651
Golf Tourism Industry— 90% - 95% of the areas golf courses are open and more are on the way:
Contacts: Kevin Drum, Executive Director, Mississippi Gulf Coast Golf Association,
228-374-GOLF, ext 24, cell 228-32-GOLF, Kevin@GolfCoast.com
Tourism—efforts are underway to rebuild Coast tourist attractions and events
Contacts: Steve Richer, Harrison County Tourism Commission - 228-596-7004
Bill Holmes, Mississippi Coast Coliseum – 594-3700
Beth Carriere, Hancock County – 228-463-9222
Margaret Miller, Ocean Springs – 228-875-4424
Airline Industry—flights into and out of the Gulfport-Biloxi Regional Airport are now exceeding pre-Katrina levels
Contact: Bruce Frallic, Gulfport-Biloxi Airport – 228-863-5951 ext. 13
Housing and Construction—massive rebuilding efforts are underway to replace the thousands of housing units destroyed by the storm…modular housing is becoming an important part of the mix
Contacts: Mississippi Development Authority – 228-392-0907
Joe Cloyd - 601-624-7964 joe@cloyd.ms
Individual cities and counties
Gulf Opportunity (GO) Zone opportunities—federal funding has been made available to provide tax credits and other assistance for business opportunities
Contact: John Harral, Butler Snow – 228-575-3038
Infrastructure Rebuilding—the enormous task of rebuilding roads, bridges, water systems, etc. is well underway
Contacts: Wayne Brown, MDOT – 601-359-7001
Individual cities and counties
Scott Hamilton, Mississippi Development Authority – 601-359-3449
Gavin Smith, Governor's Office of Recovery and Renewal - 601-359-3150
Condominium Development—an important aspect of the Coast’s economy before the storm, new development has even more potential and is moving forward
Contacts: Larry Barnett, Harrison County Development Commission – 228-896-5020
Mike Boudreaux, Gulf Coast Investment Developers – 228-435-9534
Revenues and Taxes—tax collections from all sectors have made unexpectedly healthy gains in the past year
Contacts: individual cities and counties
Mississippi Tax Commission – 601-923-7000 – Gulf Coast: 228-436-0554
Planning—a broad scope of planning has been taking place in each of the cities across the Coast…many plans are already being implemented
Contacts: Governor’s Commission report (on line) www.governorscommission.com - 601-359-3150
General Clark Griffith - 228-388-5657
Chairman, City of Biloxi Renewing the Renaissance commission
www.cnu.org
www.mississippirenewal.org
Individual cities and counties
Debris Collection—record amounts of storm debris have been collected and removed as part of the recovery
Contacts: Individual cities and counties
Governor’s office – 601-359-3150
Seafood Industry—although far from where it was prior to the storm, this vital Coast sector is recovering
Contact: Robin Krohn, Maritime & Seafood Industry Museum – 228-435-6320
Employment—the Coast’s workforce faces many issues, but there has been steady progress as local businesses create more jobs
Contact: Scott Hamilton, Mississippi Development Authority – 601-359-3449
Alice Perry, Mississippi Department of Employment Securities - 601-321-6000
Insurance Issues—the insurance industry’s response continues to be an important part of recovery locally and will also have national implications
Contacts: George Dale, Mississippi Insurance Commissioner – 601-359-3569
Jim Hood, Mississippi Attorney General's Office - 601-359-3680
Volunteerism—Hundreds of individuals have come from all over the world to assist in the rebuilding of the Mississippi Gulf Coast
KaBoom
Cheryl Thompson
Lucille Bennett
228-596-0466 |
Hands On Gulf Coast
Erica Putinsky
Suzanne Julian
Carrie O’Neil
228-257-6094 |
AmeriCorps Volunteer Center
Abby Heinz
Adam Zachary
2nd @ Fleitas Streets
Pass Christian, MS
314-226-8945 |
Salvation Army Incident Command
Biloxi DRC
Maj. Rob Vincent
575 Division Street
228-374-8301 |
Randy’s Rangers
Randy May
2nd and Church
Pass Christian, MS
601-383-3592 |
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Other sources of information:
Mississippi Congressional delegation
Senator Thad Cochran www.senate.gov/~cochran - 228-867-9710
Senator Trent Lott www.lott.senate.gov - 202-224-6253
Congressman Gene Taylor www.house.gov/genetaylor - 202-225-5772
Governor Haley Barbour www.governorbarbour.com - 877-405-0733
NARRATED PHOTO ESSAY
“Working to Rebuild a Devastated Biloxi”
http://www.knightfdn.org/annual/2005/mm_biloxi.asp
REBUILDING THE MISSISSIPPI GULF COAST
“Visions of a New Gulf Coast Drawn on Katrina’s ‘Clean Slate’
http://www.knightfdn.org/default.asp?story=news_at_knight/newsletters/66_fall2005/01_katrina.html
BILOXI’S NON-PROFITS
“After the Storm: Rebuilding a Neighborhood, One Voice at a Time”
http://www.knightfdn.org/default.asp?story=news_at_knight/newsletters/68_summer2006/01_eastbiloxi.asp
GRANTS
“Biloxi Grant Abstracts, 2005-06”
http://www.knightfdn.org/default.asp?story=community/biloxi/grants.asp
FROM THE LIVING CITIES WEB SITE:
“An Action Plan for East Biloxi Recovery”
http://www.livingcities.org/policies_gulf_coast.html
For additional information, please contact Beverly Blake via blake@knightfdn.org
Keesler Air Force Base Public Affairs Media Info
Media representatives who wish to cover Keesler’s Hurricane Katrina recovery, humanitarian operations, human-interest features, etc., please note the following:
81st Training Wing Public Affairs:
Phone: (228) 377-2783 or (228) 377-1179
*After 5 p.m. and weekends, please call the 81st Training Wing Command Post, (228)
377-4330, and ask for the on-call public affairs rep.
E-mail: 81trw-pa1@keesler.af.mil
Public Web Site: www.keesler.af.mil
Keesler News base newspaper online: www.keesler.af.mil/KeeslerNews/
403rd Wing, Air Force Reserve Command Public Affairs
(53rd WRS "Hurricane Hunters", 815th AS "Flying Jennies"):
Phone: (228) 377-2056
*After 5 p.m. and weekends, please call the 403rd Wing Command Post, (228) 377-4181,
and ask for Major Chad Gibson or TSgt Jim Pritchett contact numbers.
E-mail: chad.gibson@keesler.af.mil
Public Web Site: www.403wg.afrc.af.mil/
Possible coverage/story ideas/media resources
(For media only/not open to the general public):
- Keesler Medical Center grand reopening Aug. 29; state officials, local civic leaders expected to attend 2nd largest hospital in the Air Force reopening after being severely damaged by Katrina
- 81st Training Wing Commander Brig. Gen. Paul Capasso will be available for interviews 1:30-2:30 p.m. Aug 28
- Keesler humanitarian relief efforts total more than 50,000 service hours; photos and b-roll video footage available; see how Keesler Airmen have reached out to those in need in storm’s aftermath
- Baby born by flashlight delivery at Keesler Medical Center during storm; parents available for interviews; photos available
- A variety of storm aftermath and current photos/b-roll video footage are available upon request.
- AF Reserve Hurricane Hunter WC-130J aircraft that flew into Katrina available on static display at Keesler’s flightline 8:30-11:30 a.m. Aug. 28 and 1-4 p.m. Aug. 29 with an aircrew available for interviews during those times
The University of Southern Mississippi on the Mississippi Gulf Coast
Prior to Hurricane Katrina
The University of Southern Mississippi’s seven sites on the Gulf Coast had a combined enrollment of over 2500. As the state’s only dual campus system, one campus is located in Hattiesburg and the Gulf Park Campus is on the Gulf Coast in Long Beach.
Other University of Southern Mississippi teaching and research sites on the Mississippi Gulf Coast included the Keesler Teaching Site at Keesler Air Force Base in Biloxi, Miss., the Jackson County Teaching Site in Gautier, Miss., the Stennis Space Center Teaching Site in Hancock County, Miss., the J. L. Scott Marine Education Center and Aquarium in Biloxi, Miss., the Gulf Coast Research Laboratory and the Cedar Point Expansion Project in Ocean Springs, Miss.
Following Hurricane Katrina
The University of Southern Mississippi suffered more than $200 million in damages to physical structures and losses in equipment, intellectual property, security and revenue at both campuses and at its Coastal teaching sites. A total of 128 faculty and staff lost their homes in the hurricane. Contact: Shelia White, 228.865.4573 (office); 228.324.4573 (mobile); shelia.white@usm.edu.
Damage to the facilities on the Coast is summarized below.
- The Center of Higher Learning at Stennis Space Center, which is administered by Southern Miss, had minimal damage at its facilities. The Southern Miss Department of Marine Science, also housed at Stennis Space Center, received minimal roof and interior damage to its facilities and its offices reopened Sept. 12. Contact: Tammy Stafford, 228.688.7663 (office); 228.304.1972 (mobile); tammy.stafford@usm.edu
- The Gulf Park Campus in Long Beach sustained an estimated 90 percent damage to its buildings, including wind and flood damages, for a total damage estimate of $23.9 million. The campus had to be relocated to the site of a former hospital in Gulfport. It resumed full operation in October 2005 under an abbreviated, flexible schedule similar to that offered in the summer. Contact: Shelia White, 228.865.4573 (office); 228.324.4573 (mobile); shelia.white@usm.edu.
- In June 2006, the Mississippi Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning committed to returning to the Long Beach campus, following the completion of repairs. That return is expected in 2007. The board also announced its intention to acquire additional property in the near future for expansion of the university’s presence on the Gulf Coast. Contact: Shelia White, 228.865.4573 (office); 228.324.4573 (mobile); shelia.white@usm.edu.
- Keesler Air Force Base in Biloxi, where Southern Miss provides educational services, sustained heavy damage. Southern Miss administrative offices at the base were destroyed, and buildings where the university held classes were converted to shelters following the storm. Southern Miss resumed delivery of educational services at Keesler in the spring 2006 semester. Contact: Shelia White, 228.865.4573 (office); 228.324.4573 (mobile); shelia.white@usm.edu.
- The J.L. Scott Marine Education Center and Aquarium at Point Cadet in Biloxi was totally destroyed and has been demolished. The estimated cost of damage is $20 million. The MEC has relocated to the Gulf Coast Research Laboratory site in Ocean Springs. Gulf Coast Research Laboratory, Ocean Springs - Contact Linda Skupien, 228.872.4273 (office); 228.806.7718 (mobile).
- The Gulf Coast Research Laboratory teaching site in Ocean Springs sustained approximately $13 million in damage to buildings, contents and collections (not including research and intellectual property). As a renowned marine research institute it is the site where much of the marine biological research of the northern Gulf of Mexico has been pioneered. Gulf Coast Research Laboratory, Ocean Springs - Contact Linda Skupien, 228.872.4273 (office); 228.806.7718 (mobile).
- Cedar Point is a 224-acre site which is home to five buildings where the focus of research is on shrimp farming research and development. Cedar Point facilities sustained some damage estimated at $98,000. Gulf Coast Research Laboratory, Ocean Springs - Contact Linda Skupien, 228.872.4273 (office); 228.806.7718 (mobile).
- The University of Southern Mississippi operates a Jackson County teaching site at the Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College campus in Gautier. The Southern Miss facilities there, which the university leases, received minimal damage and the fall 2005 semester resumed Oct. 10. Contact: Shelia White, 228.865.4573 (office); 228.324.4573 (mobile); shelia.white@usm.edu
Plans for Southern Miss on the Gulf Coast
The University of Southern Mississippi and the State Institutions of Higher Learning (IHL) are committed to the university continuing as the primary agent for higher education on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Contact: Shelia White, 228.865.4573 (office); 228.324.4573 (mobile); shelia.white@usm.edu
Buildings on the Gulf Park campus at Long Beach should reopen for classes Fall 2007 after they are refurbished. The university will continue to offer classes at the Gulf Coast Student Service Center in Gulfport. Contact: Shelia White, 228.865.4573 (office); 228.324.4573 (mobile); shelia.white@usm.edu
Buildings on the Gulf Park campus that received extensive flood and wind damage and may be declared historic structures could take more time for renovation. The university and the IHL are seeking funding resources for these renovations. Contact: Shelia White, 228.865.4573 (office); 228.324.4573 (mobile); shelia.white@usm.edu
The IHL and the university are seeking 125-150 acres of property in Harrison County to locate another Southern Miss campus in anticipation of expansion of services to the Coast. This will be an additional Southern Miss site and not a replacement of an existing campus or teaching site. Contact: Shelia White, 228.865.4573 (office); 228.324.4573 (mobile); shelia.white@usm.edu