There’s an old adage that resonates for the Gulf Coast region of Mississippi: “Where you’ve been isn’t as important as where you’re going.” That wise saying aptly served as a defining springboard given the incredible twin hurdles faced by the region not long ago.
In August 2005, Hurricane Katrina caused massive destruction, with Mississippi facing the brunt. Katrina literally followed a northerly path hovering over the entire state before exiting at the Tennessee border. How bad? No less than a 28-foot storm surge propelling water 6-12 miles inland—resulting in over 90 percent destruction.
Five years later the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, aka the BP oil spill, impacted all of the key States bordering the Gulf of Mexico. The resulting contamination was the most significant in U.S. history. These two major events, coming within a few years of each other, shaped perceptions, which were reinforced by an endless stream of news accounts via print and electronic as well as social media.
