WAVELAND, MS (WLOX) - Katrina came ashore and washed away, leaving Waveland ground zero. The storm devastated the town of 8,000, washing away all government buildings and businesses and about 95 percent of the homes.
Lives were lost and the city was left in ruins. But as Mayor Tommy Longo said, the heart, soul and spirit of Waveland's 4,500 residents remains strong.
Five years later, Waveland has broken ground on government facilities across the city. The Waveland Civic Center was the first building in the state to be completed with 100 percent Katrina relief funds.
The city has spent $100 million to replace utilities and rebuild streets. Another $20 million went to restore buildings and about 75 percent of that money was funded by FEMA.
Businesses continue to open their doors throughout the city, but many independent businesses remain lost. City officials hope that will soon change when the new business incubator is complete.
Mayor Longo said Waveland has much in store in the coming year and he hopes more families to return and rebuild so his city can grow.
The StormTeam Digital Doppler image will be updated approx. every 5 minutes. This is a screen capture of what the StormTeam is looking at. So from time to time, the image might be zoomed in on different
The StormTeam Digital Doppler image will be updated approx. every 5 minutes. This is a screen capture of what the StormTeam is looking at. So from time to time, the image might be zoomed in on different
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Tuesday, May 21 2013 12:50 PM EDT2013-05-21 16:50:22 GMT
MOORE, OK (RNN) – In one of the few positive stories to come from the deadly tornadoes in Oklahoma, an elderly woman was reunited with a four-legged friend she thought was dead. Barbara Garcia, a resident
Elderly resident Barbara Garcia frantically called for her dog after the tornado had leveled her house, but with no success.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 11:17 AM EDT2013-05-21 15:17:00 GMT
People affected by the massive tornado that killed at least 51 people and destroyed parts of Oklahoma still do not know where their loved ones are, but many of them are using social media to find out.
People affected by the massive tornado that killed at least 51 people and destroyed parts of Oklahoma still do not know where their loved ones are, but many are using social media to find out.
Monday, May 20 2013 9:30 PM EDT2013-05-21 01:30:20 GMT
A stop on a roadtrip turned one traveler's trip into a nightmare that lasted more than a month.. It happened in Marston, when Debbie Vallejo let her dog, Slick, go to the bathroom at Pilot's.
A stop on a roadtrip turned one traveler's trip into a nightmare that lasted more than a month.. It happened in Marston, when Debbie Vallejo let her dog, Slick, go to the bathroom at Pilot's.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 8:38 AM EDT2013-05-21 12:38:09 GMT
A fire in Oran destroyed a 2-story house on Tuesday morning. According to the Oran Fire Department, it happened at 4:05 a.m. at 907 highway W, which is right in the middle of town. Firefighters
No one was living in the home at the time of the time. Fire crews tell Heartland News that the family had just moved out.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 2:42 PM EDT2013-05-21 18:42:15 GMT
Residents in tornado-stricken Moore, OK, await news on missing love ones Tuesday, a day after a massive tornado devastated the city, killing at least 51. Rescuers worked all night, with particular attention
The tornado, with winds up to 200 mph, cut a 20-mile stretch as wide as two miles through the Oklahoma City metro area. The medical examiner's office reported 24 people died, including nine children.
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