By Gordon Gant
February 6, 2006

At the opening Plenary session of the 74th Winter Meeting January 25, three mayors reported to Conference attendees on each of their cities’ experiences with the awful effects of the hurricane season. The mayors were: New Orleans Mayor C. Ray Nagin, Mayor A. J. Holloway of Biloxi, Mississippi and Miami Mayor Manuel Diaz.

Prior to the presentations from each of the mayors, Conference Executive Director Tom Cochran introduced a video depicting Conference President Long Beach Mayor Beverly O’ Neill’s initial visit to the Gulf Coast region with Charleston Mayor Joseph P. Riley and the Mayors Institute for City Design’s tour and meetings with the affected mayors of the region. The video showed awesome destruction to city infrastructure and the letter complete destruction of private homes. In many instances, houses were completely reduced to rubble, particularly on the Mississippi Coast. In New Orleans, the greatest damage was done as result of water flooding the city after three breaks in the levee system.

The water covered nearly 80 percent of the city for three weeks. Adding insult to injury, hurricane Rita re-flooded the lower 9th Ward of New Orleans just after it was dried out from Katrina. Some two hundred thousand plus homes were severely damaged.

In detail, Nagin described the devastation shown on the video and expressed “a heart felt thanks to the wonderful American people who took in New Orleans’ evacuees in forty-eight states, including Alaska.” Nagin also thanked O’Neill for “bringing the support of the United States Conference of Mayors, one of the most powerful organizations in America” only days after Hurricane Katrina hit. Nagin indicated that he looks forward to working hard in the tremendous challenge to bring the city back better than ever, and greatly appreciates the support of each and every mayor as he and the Louisiana Leadership continue to seek the federal support needed to return his citizens home and rebuild the infrastructure of the great city of New Orleans.

Holloway introduced a very moving video that graphically demonstrated Katrina’s devastation with vivid film footage showed the raw power of the wind and water as it systematically tore through his city in a time lapse fashion. Holloway expressed gratitude to O’Neill for assigning Riley to his city and region to assess the rebuilding process from a mayor’s perspective. Holloway expressed the tremendous challenge that lies ahead in rebuilding his community. However, he and his citizens were moving forward and starting the long climb to rebound.

Diaz informed the mayors that Miami received some portion of the four storms this past hurricane season. Diaz reminded all in attendance that, “The next hurricane season is little over five months away.” Furthermore, Diaz said, ”Who would have known that we would have used up all of the storm names and would see storms Alpha and Beta.” The mayor went on to explain that in Miami, the citizens need to prepare for the entire hurricane season as practically all the storms come through or near the South Florida Corrida. Diaz expressed his sincere thanks and appreciation to the Conference Leadership and its members for all the support and assistance rendered to Miami.