TS/Hurricane Sally & Biloxi

I vividly recall Hurricane Katrina and the devastating damage caused to the Gulf Coast and all the casinos in Gulfport and Biloxi. We had visited the Beau Rivage three times pre-Katrina and found it to be nothing less than enchanting. Was it called their Chart House restaurant with the giant aquarium wrapped around three sides of it with excellent dining options? Our son and DIL were actually at the Beau on 8/20/05 and cut their trip short to hastily return to Tampa when Katrina was forecast to hit here before it turned north into the Gulf Coast. The people at the Beau wished them the best as they left only to left homeless within the next two days. The aftermath showed pictures of hundreds of slot machines washed into the front doors of the Beau. MGM responded most admirably assisting their employees and completely gutting the interior of the resort. It re-opened exactly one year after the storm had hit. For the next several years, the Beau became our home casino.


I just saw that Sally may well hit Biloxi as a Cat II with an 11 foot storm surge. While much of the area remains significantly diminished even today from Katrina, will Sally finish off this popular gambling destination? It has only been 15 years since the last devastation. Will investors find it wise to rebuild again?

 

This is the most active Atlantic basin storm map that I've seen in all my years living in Florida.

We're also running out of storm names. After Vicky there is Wilfred then they start naming storms Alpha, Beta, Gamma etc. The only other time that has occurred was in 2005. The thing I remember most about that hurricane season, besides Katrina of course, was that shortly after Christmas, and actually into 2006, there was Tropical Storm Zeta flitting around out in the Atlantic somewhere. Zeta!!!

 

We just got drenched down here in SW FL..it's been lot worse though..Now we watch and wait for the next one...Nothing to complain about compared to the poor people out West..

 

"The thing I remember most about that hurricane season, besides Katrina of course, was that shortly after Christmas, and actually into 2006, there was Tropical Storm Zeta flitting around out in the Atlantic somewhere. Zeta!!!"

Poor Rita & Wilma both Cat 5 storms at one point, any other year and they would have been memorable.

Rita struck near the border of Louisiana and Texas. The hurricane re-flooded New Orleans (though to a far less degree than Katrina), and caused about $18.5 billion in damage.[35] Wilma caused about $19 billion in damage when it moved across southern Florida in October. The hurricane contributed to 30 deaths, five of whom were killed directly by the storm.

 

Ugh....I’ve been catching up on all the hurricane news on the internet and Weather Channel on TV and we’re expected to get between 18”-24” of rain here in Pensacola.

 

Saw Duval street flooding @Sloppy Joes,
Hope everyone will be safe on 2nd landfall In Ms/La.

 

Nothing on the Beau FB page, but if you try to book a reservation, here is what it says right now.

Due to Hurricane Sally, we have temporarily ceased operations of our casino and hotel. Communication for guests with hotel reservations will be sent separately. Employees, please visit MyMGM or LEO for the latest.


And this on the Harrahs Gulf Coast page

By orders from the Mississippi Gaming Commission, Harrah’s Gulf Coast will temporarily suspend operations beginning at 4PM on Monday, September 14. Updates will be forthcoming. Please stay safe.

 

Beau closed for the storm at 16000 CST yesterday. I think the storm surge in that area is supposed to be 6 to 9 feet as of this morning. Beau casino floor and hotel should be safe at that level. It may be close as the evelvation near the harbor doors looks to be about 12 feet. During Katrina they had 17 feet.

 

Hoping everyone will be safe.

 

Biloxi is going to be a massive, massive mess. Long portions of I-10 are going to closed for days.

So far, in Pensacola we’ve had a foot of rain with another 20” expected within the next 24 hours. This hurricane is only moving forward at about 1-2 mph so flooding s going to be absolutely brutal on this part of the Gulf coast. The core is still about 20 miles or so offshore and it looks like it won’t make landfall until tomorrow morning. Looks like Pensacola will take a direct hit. The wind won’t be as big of a deal as the stronger hurricanes but with 1-2 inches of rain per hour for 24 hours, or so, it’s gonna get ugly in these parts.

 

Praying for safety for you @MikeOPensacola and everyone in range of Sally for what looks to be catastrophic flooding.

 

Thanks @Geogran. I’ve been through my share of these things, but I live far enough away from the beach that in the past I’ve always been more concerned of 100 + mph winds, and all the associated structure damage, than flooding. Not so this time.... Fortunately my condo is on the second story but my heart goes out to people who live in lower-lying areas. I’ll post some pics when I can out and about a little bit on Thursday or Friday.

 

@MikeOPensacola be safe down there the next few days. Hopefully they are wrong and the speed picks up some but not sure about that.

 

You're on the northeast edge in Pensacola. As of the latest NHC update (about 20 minutes old as of right now), Pensacola is in the absolute worst location for this storm. Biloxi should be fine. Their highest storm surge so far has been about 2 feet, Oensacola has already registered over 4' within the last hour. Biloxi will only get north to south winds from this unless it makes a radical shift in direction.

I'm currently showing wind at 67mph out of the SE in Pensacola and 40mph out of the North in Biloxi. Fortunately this is still just a Cat 1 storm as of right now but it's on the very high end of that.

Be safe there Mike. It's coming right for you as of right now, and hurricane force winds are only about 20 miles from mainland Pensacola and headed right for it. (The white boxes with arrows and numbers are wind tags showing current speeds and direction)

 

Stay safe, Mike.

The one thing I don't miss about living on the coast, is hurricanes.

 

Thx dude.

Yeah, @MCann, things have got noticeably worse in the last half hour. Rain is now virtually horizontal. Whitecaps in my pool. My glass sliding door to my patio is bowing in and out by a good inch or so. Leak in my roof - it’s like the Jolly Green Giant, with a full bladder, is relieving himself in my living room (thank baby Jesus for those huge Rubbermaid bins). 17” of rain so far with lord knows how much more. Probably at least another foot and a half.

Riding the storm out....

 

Thanks guys.

 

@MikeOPensacola hope overnight wasn't too bad for you all, and that the leak in your living room did not end up getting too bad!

 

Damn Mike it sounds like your condo is the top dwelling under the roof. Good luck in keeping the water out. This storm is moving slower than people walk and loaded with water. I think you are right about the duration you still have to endure. Hope you don't lose power.
My USAF friend lives 42 miles west of Biloxi and was able to ride it out OK due to the change of path.

 

Very bad over towards Florida. Looking at Traffic cams in Biloxi, it looks dry. Not sure why casinos are still closed.