Corps Lends a Hand to Repair Mississippi Coast's Demolished Infrastructure
Much new construction along the Mississippi coast now was built with 1969�s Hurricane Camille in mind. At the time, the storm was thought to be the worst destructive force that could possibly hit the region. But Hurricane Katrina came ashore with a broader, higher storm surge, up to 30 ft high. As a result, homes and other structures did not simply have trees thrown through them. They were washed clean from their foundations.
The massive influx of water destroyed much of the region�s critical infrastructure. Some cities have running water but residents have been advised to boil it because of decontamination risks. Most of the region does not have functional sewer systems. The U. S. Army Corps of Engineers has stepped in to help the battered, resource-strapped municipalities fix broken wastewater treatment plants. At the Southern Regional Wastewater Management District's treatment plant in Waveland, Corps members were on scene leading an effort to repair its damaged portions.