Cochran Commemorates the 10th Anniversary of Hurricane Katrina

U.S. Senator Thad Cochran (R-Miss.), chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, issued the following statement to commemorate the 10th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, the deadly Aug. 29, 2005, storm that smashed into the Mississippi Gulf Coast and affected the entire state of Mississippi:

Remaining Post-Katrina Challenges Cannot Diminish Pride in Mississippians Following Deadly 2005 Hurricane

Ten years ago, Hurricane Katrina came ashore on the Mississippi Gulf Coast with devastating force, inflicting billions of dollars in property and personal damages. It was amazing that more were not killed.

The tragic loss of life and horrible property destruction shocked us all. Our recovery has required enormous dedication and determination, and thousands of Mississippians rose to that challenge.

In the days, months, and years after the storm, Mississippians pitched in to help neighbors and strangers alike. The dedication and sacrifice of the Coast Guard, the National Guard and other first responders saved lives and help enable the large-scale rebuilding that would follow. The resilience and hard work of the people, as well as the outpouring of church and volunteer workers from across the state and nation, made recovery possible.

Over the past decade, state, local, and federal elected officials have also aggressively promoted and assisted in the Gulf Coast’s recovery. But our recovery is not yet complete.

While the serious problems exposed by the Katrina recovery effort have been used to improve our national response to emergencies and natural disasters, work remains to be done to ensure a full recovery in Mississippi and along the Gulf Coast. Unsustainable insurance practices and overbearing federal regulations continue to hamper recovery and economic development efforts.

Those challenges, however, cannot diminish the pride I have in the people of Mississippi for exemplifying the strength, vision, and resilience necessary to ensure the cultural and economic vitality of our state.

This August, we commemorate the decade since Hurricane Katrina claimed lives and left indelible marks on our state. Ten years after Katrina, I remain confident that we will continue to work together to rebuild Mississippi and to advocate for common-sense policies and intelligent investments that will ensure the continued vitality of the Gulf Coast.