JACKSON — Mississippi’s 11 Gulf Coast casinos are preparing this Labor Day weekend for Tropical Storm Gustav, three years after Hurricane Katrina turned several of the massive casino barges and hotels into waterlogged heaps of rumble.
The 12 casinos operating along the coast on Aug. 29, 2005, were either flooded or carried away by Katrina’s powerful winds and storm surge. It was several months before the first one reopened.
Now, some casino barges are placed inside special dams that help protect the structures from changing water conditions and adverse weather. If another major storm hit, no one knows for sure if the protections would be enough.
The eye of Katrina pushed ashore near Waveland and Bay St. Louis, and destroyed thousands of homes and businesses along the state’s 70-mile coastline. Weeks later, the state Legislature eliminated the requirement that gaming resorts be located on barges in the water. Casinos are now allowed to build a short distance on shore.
Despite the change, Chett Harrison, general manager of Boomtown Casino in Biloxi, said if Gustav gains strength over the warm coastal waters, it could have a big impact.
“We have obviously taken measures, but anytime you have that amount of rise in water anything can happen, even with the measures we have taken,” Harrison said. “We will prepare ourselves the best we can.”
Boomtown spent $65 million to reopen its facility in 2006. Last year, the Gulf Coast Business Council, a corporate executives’ group, estimated that casino companies had spent $1.7 billion rebuilding along the coast.
They are a substantial economic force: In July alone, the Gulf Coast casinos took in $115.7 million. Mississippi also has casinos along the Mississippi River.
“Most of the casinos are now on land and they are built in the permanent structures that survived Katrina very well, so the impact is not going to be the same,” said Janice Jones, a spokeswoman for the Mississippi Gulf Coast Convention & Visitors Bureau. “But we are hoping that it is going to go west or east.”
Gustav was predicted to strengthen to a Category 3 hurricane as it crosses the Gulf of Mexico and could make landfall anywhere from Florida to Texas. Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour has issued a state of emergency because of the threat posed by the storm.
Jones said Gustav will delay a marketing campaign to lure tourists to the coast. Since Katrina, coast casinos have been affected by rising fuel prices, a weak economy and competition from Indian reservation casinos in Florida.
“We are doing a golf, gaming, and fishing package for the months of September and October,” Jones said. “We were hoping to launch the campaign on Monday, but we are obviously ... going to wait and see what happens.”
Local News
Mississippi casinos brace for Gustav
- Local News
-
-
SAFETY DAY
Picayune Police officers made a visit to the First Baptist Church of Picayune’s preschool class for their Community Helpers Safety Day. During the event the kids got to meet police officers and trigger lights and sirens in patrol vehicles.
- Escapee caught in county Pearl River County Sheriff’s deputies have captured the inmate who escaped from Mississippi Department of Corrections custody on Friday after attending his father’s wake in Picayune.
- Council discusses which funds to spend first On the same day as the ground breaking for the addition to the historic City Hall, city council members discussed which funds to spend first in its construction.
-
Poplarville aldermen honor Holliday, get audit report briefing
The city board of aldermen honored former District Three Supervisor Hudson Holliday at its Tuesday night meeting.
Mayor Billy Spiers presented Holliday with a framed resolution of appreciation for his dedication and service to the city while serving as county supervisor.
-
MRI INSTALLED
This $1.2 million Magnetic Resonance Imaging equipment was installed at the new location of Highland Community Hospital.
-
Hall suspected of robbery after escaping
A man who escaped from jail after attending his father’s wake is suspected of having carried out an armed robbery on the Texas-Arkansas state line. Johnny Hall escaped from Mississippi Department of Corrections custody on Friday while attending his father’s wake in Picayune.
-
City Hall expansion groundbreaking held
A groundbreaking ceremony was held Tuesday at the construction site for the expansion of the historic Picayune City Hall. “You can see our future when you look down Goodyear Boulevard. You see Chimney Square, our high school, The Link at First Baptist Church, Jack Read Park and then our historic City Hall.
-
PRC athletic director says he’ll recommend random drug testing
Pearl River Central athletic director Andy Kivlan told the school board at its Monday night meeting that he will most likely recommend that students participating in extracurricular activities, including band and ROTC, be subject to random drug screening.
-
Supervisors adopt resolution encouraging more economic development in South Miss.
Following a short presentation by State Sen. Tony Smith (R-Picayune), the board of supervisors adopted on Monday a resolution encouraging state officials and agencies to exercise “fairness and parity” regarding location of new industries in Mississippi.
-
MDEQ wants comprehensive waste disposal plan from county
The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality has told Pearl River County it wants a comprehensive waste disposal plan for the county. Supervisors indicated at their Monday meeting that they are not happy with the request.
- More Local News Headlines
-
Denver's Largest-Ever Drug Bust Nets Dozens
Marines: No Punishment for Nazi-like Flag
Vets Look to Translate Military Skills Into Jobs
Expert: Removing LA School's Staff 'Appropriate'
Raw Video: School Bus Burst Into Flames
LA School Reopens Amid Sex Abuse Scandal
$25B Settlement Reached Over Foreclosure Abuses
Pentagon: Allow Women Closer to Front Lines
Obama Gives Education Waivers to 10 States
Giffords Aide to Run for Her Seat
LA School in Sex Abuse Scandal Reopens
Winter Slamming North Asia, Parts of Europe
Syrian Forces Renew Bombardment of Homs
States, Banks Reach Foreclosure-abuse Settlement
Raw Video: Italy's Mount Etna Bursts Into Life
Greeks March; Angry Despite Debt Deal
Raw Video: U.S. Pullout Celebration
Raw Video: Annual Empire State Building Run-Up
Man Killed in Courthouse Shootout
Air Force Airlines: Leaders Get Polished Service
