The rain came down so hard today in Pascagoula that it couldn't drain fast enough and the streets flooded. It was pouring when I left the house to do some banking. It was exhilarating to ride through the waterlogged streets. A few times the water splashed OVER my car and I didn't care that I couldn't see for a few seconds, I was having fun. At last, a refreshing, cleansing rain! I realized a couple of weeks ago that some of the fear that I have had all these months was slowly ebbing. I no longer slept in the recliner if it was raining. I didn't think about the big pine tree that is behind my house falling and crushing me if I slept in my bedroom. My going out today while it was raining just came natural, I had business to take care of. So I am over my terrible Katrina phobia. Three cheers!

There aren't any big changes in our coastal cities that I have noted. It was reported this morning that the City of Biloxi was without insurance coverage as their premium doubled from last year. At this writing I believe they now have partial coverage while negotiations are taking place.

Moss Point has a firefighter shortage and has been seeking assistance from neighboring cities and volunteers. They have lost some of their men to retirement and others to higher paying jobs.

The banks are thriving as I noted in an earlier post. The casino industry expects to have ten of their establishments up and running by the end of this year

Area Banks Awash In Money

Our citizens in Fema trailers are still waiting for their nightmare to end. My daughter's house, as well as other's homes, are falling into more disrepair as time rapidly approaches a year since Katrina made landfall.

Tragedy seems to breed tragedy. We have had murders, excessive fatalities from car crashes and this past Wednesday afternoon lightning struck the home of a family of nine and set it afire. Ironically, their home had survived Katrina.

Saucier Home Struck By Lightning

Personally, the way I survive all this is by praying incessantly.