20 Years After Katrina, Mississippi Town Still Awaits FEMA Rebuilding Funds

August 29, 2025, marks 20 years since Hurricane Katrina devastated the Gulf Coast, including the Mississippi city of Biloxi. While Katrina forever changed New Orleans, the storm's fierce winds and a three-story-high surge also razed Biloxi’s coastline, drowning homes and businesses and leaving a lasting mark on the community. Even two decades later, Biloxi is still working to rebuild, grappling with bureaucratic hurdles and funding shortfalls that have delayed crucial restoration projects.

Katrina's Lasting Impact on Biloxi

Katrina hit Biloxi with winds up to 120 miles per hour and a storm surge nearing 30 feet. The surge traveled inland as much as 10 miles, destroying nearly 60,000 structures, with over 25,000 completely wiped away. The city’s shoreline was utterly transformed, and survivors describe the aftermath as “utter obliteration.” Floodwaters turned neighborhoods into slashed slabs of concrete, a grim reminder of the storm’s destructive power.

The devastation also roiled vital infrastructure. Bridges buckled, roads were washed out, and the city’s sewage and stormwater systems suffered extensive damage, leaving the area vulnerable to future storms. Roughly 238 people died in Mississippi from Katrina, with nearly 1,400 fatalities across the Gulf Coast.

The Long Road to Rebuilding

Despite the scale of destruction, Biloxi’s recovery has been slow and frustrating. The city’s mayor, Fofo Gilich, described “a constant battle” securing funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for rebuilding efforts. One major unfinished project is upgrading the city’s pier, essential for safety and tourism. The city estimates the cost around $4 million, but FEMA’s offer has been significantly lower, at about $555,000, which Biloxi officials call "ridiculous."

Moreover, FEMA owes Biloxi approximately $34 million to complete sewer and stormwater upgrades first planned almost 20 years ago. However, the rising prices of construction materials and labor have outpaced this funding, complicating efforts to finalize these critical projects.

Broader FEMA Delays Across the Gulf Coast

Biloxi is not alone in facing these challenges. Over 200 other FEMA-funded Hurricane Katrina projects across Louisiana and Mississippi remain incomplete decades later. Many communities continue to wait on federal funds for infrastructure repairs and resilience projects intended to protect against future storms.

Congress has been grappling with ways to overhaul FEMA for more efficient disaster response. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem testified recently about the persistence of decade-old claims, emphasizing the need to ensure integrity and timely support from federal agencies. FEMA officials maintain they are working towards more effective responses to aid communities in need.

Community Spirit and Volunteer Efforts

While federal funding has lagged, the Gulf Coast community has shown remarkable resilience. More than 900,000 volunteers came to Mississippi within five years after the storm to help with debris removal and rebuilding homes and businesses. Local leaders credit these volunteers with providing hope and momentum when government aid was slow.

In neighborhoods like Turkey Creek in Gulfport, volunteers have been vital for preserving historic communities founded after the Civil War. Residents faced immense obstacles, including a complex patchwork of government and private recovery programs, navigating insurance gaps and resource scarcity, especially for those who lacked flood insurance.

Looking Ahead: Uncertainty Amid Progress

Despite some progress, uncertainty persists about how much longer full recovery will take. Biloxi’s mayor estimates it may require another three years just to complete key infrastructure projects, emphasizing the importance of creating facilities that can withstand “whatever mother nature throws at us.”

Many locals and officials remain hopeful but also wary, acknowledging the slow pace of recovery has left parts of the coast still vulnerable. Stricter building codes have made reconstruction more expensive, adding to the challenges faced by residents and city planners.

As the nation reflects on the legacy of Hurricane Katrina two decades later, Biloxi’s ongoing struggle to rebuild serves as a stark reminder of the complexities and long-term demands that follow natural disasters. It underscores the vital importance of sustained federal support, resilient infrastructure, and community solidarity in facing future storms.