Rockaway Beach, MO
Monday, October 17, 2005
Down But Not Out From Hurricane Katrina
I started to see signs of damage as I drove from Mobile to Biloxi on Saturday. There were roofs with blue tarps on them and billboards that were naked, but I was not prepared for what I saw when I came over the I-110 bridge into Biloxi and started to see the number of houses that were literally blown away.
Leland Speed, head of the Mississippi Development Authority told me, “We have lost 71,000 homes. In a normal year, we only build 1500/year. How are we going to be able to get housing for so many people?” My guess is that the building crane is going to be the new official bird of the Gulf Coast.
He also told me of their challenges with FEMA, which is setting new flood standards for Federal Flood Insurance. Initially they wanted to set it at over 27 feet high, which would have made many areas economically unbuildable, especially for people of moderate means. Based on several conversations with FEMA and others, I’m guessing that the new maps will be 5 to 8 feet above current maps. It will add to costs and change building plans, but is probably a workable plan.
Susan Lunardini, President of Southern Consultants a Civil Engineering firm and a true Mississippi Lady offered to take me for a tour of the area, which I eagerly accepted. She has lived in MS all her life and has spent a lot of time in the area and offered me a unique local flavor on our tour. She even showed me where Elvis Presley used to water-ski in Ocean Springs when he was starting to achieve fame.
She told me, “Some of the storm surges were 30 feet above sea level.” That is as high as a football goal post! We saw a great number of American flags flying, as a sign of hope on the rebuilding process.
“The Gulf Coast is a world unto itself in Mississippi, but it is beloved by all in the state.” The devastation was incredible, but the spirit of Susan, Leland and everyone I talked to in Mississippi was up-beat about the future. Heck, by the end of the tour, even the live oaks that had been battered by the storm, seemed to have gotten greener.
Leland Speed, head of the Mississippi Development Authority told me, “We have lost 71,000 homes. In a normal year, we only build 1500/year. How are we going to be able to get housing for so many people?” My guess is that the building crane is going to be the new official bird of the Gulf Coast.
He also told me of their challenges with FEMA, which is setting new flood standards for Federal Flood Insurance. Initially they wanted to set it at over 27 feet high, which would have made many areas economically unbuildable, especially for people of moderate means. Based on several conversations with FEMA and others, I’m guessing that the new maps will be 5 to 8 feet above current maps. It will add to costs and change building plans, but is probably a workable plan.
Susan Lunardini, President of Southern Consultants a Civil Engineering firm and a true Mississippi Lady offered to take me for a tour of the area, which I eagerly accepted. She has lived in MS all her life and has spent a lot of time in the area and offered me a unique local flavor on our tour. She even showed me where Elvis Presley used to water-ski in Ocean Springs when he was starting to achieve fame.
She told me, “Some of the storm surges were 30 feet above sea level.” That is as high as a football goal post! We saw a great number of American flags flying, as a sign of hope on the rebuilding process.
“The Gulf Coast is a world unto itself in Mississippi, but it is beloved by all in the state.” The devastation was incredible, but the spirit of Susan, Leland and everyone I talked to in Mississippi was up-beat about the future. Heck, by the end of the tour, even the live oaks that had been battered by the storm, seemed to have gotten greener.
Sunday, October 16, 2005
Katrina’s Fury
The force of Katrina is amazing! I’ve been on a number of trips along the Gulf Coast in the past two days, visiting 9 of the 11 towns that compose the entire Mississippi Coast. These towns range in size from 6,579 to 71,127.
I’m going to be posting some of these photos in the next couple of days and will be blogging on what I’ve seen here and a very unique Mississippi Renewal Forum that I was invited to participate in along with 100 others from around the country and 130 from within the State of Mississippi. It has been a very moving experience for me in talking with people who have seen everything blown away but remain positive in their approach. It is CAN DO in action!
I’m going to be posting some of these photos in the next couple of days and will be blogging on what I’ve seen here and a very unique Mississippi Renewal Forum that I was invited to participate in along with 100 others from around the country and 130 from within the State of Mississippi. It has been a very moving experience for me in talking with people who have seen everything blown away but remain positive in their approach. It is CAN DO in action!
Innovations from Branson
As I travel around the country, I’m seeing innovative things that are going on in small towns all over the country. I wasn’t surprised that in my brief visit to Branson I saw a couple of innovations that I haven’t seen before now. They aren’t huge innovations, just common sense approaches that enhance downtown Branson.
Branson has a low wattage FM station that only covers within a mile or so of the downtown area. But, as you drive into the downtown there are signs that tell you to tune to 90.7 FM for information on the downtown and then new Branson Landing. The programming was on a tape loop, which seemed to replay itself in about 10 minutes. However, in those 10 minutes, I got a great overview of the town.
Branson’s downtown has the old style streetlights that were common eons ago. Each light had a plaque under them recognizing someone in the town. I’m assuming that the person on the plaque donated each one. Again, this isn’t rocket science, but what a great way to upgrade a downtown while giving recognition to those who made it possible.
If you have innovations that you’ve done in your town, email me at jschultz@agracel.com and I’ll try to recognize them. If you have pictures, put them into a PDF file and include them in the email. Try not to send more than two meg in one file. I’m often on the road using a cellular system to download and larger files often get bumped and tie up my system.
Branson has a low wattage FM station that only covers within a mile or so of the downtown area. But, as you drive into the downtown there are signs that tell you to tune to 90.7 FM for information on the downtown and then new Branson Landing. The programming was on a tape loop, which seemed to replay itself in about 10 minutes. However, in those 10 minutes, I got a great overview of the town.
Branson’s downtown has the old style streetlights that were common eons ago. Each light had a plaque under them recognizing someone in the town. I’m assuming that the person on the plaque donated each one. Again, this isn’t rocket science, but what a great way to upgrade a downtown while giving recognition to those who made it possible.
If you have innovations that you’ve done in your town, email me at jschultz@agracel.com and I’ll try to recognize them. If you have pictures, put them into a PDF file and include them in the email. Try not to send more than two meg in one file. I’m often on the road using a cellular system to download and larger files often get bumped and tie up my system.
Booming Branson
Branson, MO (population 6,050) is a town that could probably rest on its laurels. After all, what other town its size has 46 theaters, bringing in 7 million tourists/year? The strip along route 76, west of the downtown is lined with these theaters, restaurants, shops and hotels.
But, not all of the activity is taking place on the strip. Branson’s historic downtown is also thriving. I had trouble finding a parking place when I tried to park on Main Street at about 11 am one day last week. I saw no vacancies and lots of people on the streets.
And, the new Branson Landing is going to be incredible! This $420 million investment located on the banks of Lake Taneycomo, adjacent to Main Street, is set to open next spring. It includes a 220,000 sf convention center (paid for with a $54 million TIF), 450,000 sf of retail space (100 shops including Bass Pro Shops), $80 million of luxury condos, a $7.5 million computer-driven fountain and a one mile Boardwalk. You can see it being built at their webcam at www.bransonlanding.com.
Branson is down-home. It is fueled by bus tours and people driving to the town for All-American entertainment. The Presley family was one of the first entertainers in the town. They are still there. Grandpa and Grandma Presley still live on the grounds of their theater complex in a rather modest house. Fame hasn’t gotten to their heads, just as it hasn’t gotten to the town.
But, not all of the activity is taking place on the strip. Branson’s historic downtown is also thriving. I had trouble finding a parking place when I tried to park on Main Street at about 11 am one day last week. I saw no vacancies and lots of people on the streets.
And, the new Branson Landing is going to be incredible! This $420 million investment located on the banks of Lake Taneycomo, adjacent to Main Street, is set to open next spring. It includes a 220,000 sf convention center (paid for with a $54 million TIF), 450,000 sf of retail space (100 shops including Bass Pro Shops), $80 million of luxury condos, a $7.5 million computer-driven fountain and a one mile Boardwalk. You can see it being built at their webcam at www.bransonlanding.com.
Branson is down-home. It is fueled by bus tours and people driving to the town for All-American entertainment. The Presley family was one of the first entertainers in the town. They are still there. Grandpa and Grandma Presley still live on the grounds of their theater complex in a rather modest house. Fame hasn’t gotten to their heads, just as it hasn’t gotten to the town.
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