USM Gulf Park Program Commemorates 10th Anniversary of Katrina

The anniversary of America's worst natural disaster - Hurricane Katrina - is no cause for celebration.

But the resiliency and commitment of The University of Southern Mississippi family and Gulf Coast residents to rebound from the epic storm was honored during a special program Aug. 28 at the school's Gulf Park Campus.   

In conjunction with the city of Long Beach and supported by the Gulf Coast Business Council, Southern Miss Gulf Coast hosted the lecture “Overcoming Katrina: 10 Years of Progress” by former Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour at its Fleming Education Center. Barbour, who led the state during the storm and its aftermath, is the author of a new book, America's Great Storm: Leading through Hurricane Katrina.

Guest speakers also included Dr. Bennett, Long Beach Mayor Billy Skellie and Southern Miss Gulf Park Vice President Steven Miller. USM Gulf Coast Student Government Association President McKenzie Irish led the Pledge of Allegiance.

Southern Miss President Rodney Bennett welcomed the audience to the event, which included recognition of current and former USM employees for their service in helping the University rebound from Katrina. Former Southern Miss President Shelby Thames and Patricia “Pat” Joachim, who served as Associate Provost for Southern Miss Gulf Coast when Katrina struck, were also praised for successfully leading the University's recovery.

“I'm proud to be here today as we recognize this important milestone in our history,” Dr. Bennett said. “We have made remarkable progress since then.”  Vice President Miller concurred with Dr. Bennett, adding that USM Gulf Park's faculty and staff looked forward to continuing the school's mission of delivering quality higher education opportunities to the Gulf Coast.

More than 230 people in Mississippi died in the Aug. 29, 2005 storm. USM incurred nearly $300 million in losses from Hurricane Katrina, while the area affected by the storm resulted in more than $100 billion in damages.

Long Beach major Billy Skellie Jr. expressed his gratitude for the special relationship between the city and the University, and thanked Barbour for his service as governor during the storm. He also praised local residents for sticking through the hard times brought by Katrina and, with the help of thousands of volunteers, rebuilding for the future.

“It would have been easy to fold up and leave (after Katrina),” Skellie said. “But that just didn't happen.”

Barbour said the residents of the Gulf Coast and all those who responded with bravery and determination to not only help themselves, but those who couldn't – and the thousands of volunteers from all across the country - were examples of what is great about America.

He took special note of the work of first responders – police, fire and rescue units - including the Waveland Police Department, which was overwhelmed by Katrina's nearly 40-foot surge as its headquarters and 26-man force were washed away the morning of Aug. 26. Against the odds, all 26 members of the department survived and returned to work by 8 p.m. the day of the storm to assist in search and rescue operations.

If not for the heroics of those police officers and their colleagues across the Gulf Coast,  Barbour believes the state's death toll would have been higher. “That's a testament to the first responders in Hurricane Katrina, who will always have my gratitude,” Barbour said. “So many of them lost everything they had, but were back on duty.”

A website for the Katrina Anniversary featuring the University's Katrina 10-year report, oral histories, research, photo galleries, faculty publications and more are available at http://www.usm.edu/katrina-anniversary.