Gulf Coast travel

Our sheltered experiences living under an umbrella in Oregon didn't prepare us with a strategy when we see extremely dark clouds ahead. We simply looked at each other and said, "Looks like we're about to get rained on."
The locals had a more practical response. They turn to the radio or tv to locate the severe thunder storms and tornado warnings. Whatever the process, we chose wisely. We stopped in Milton, Florida instead of Mobile, Alabama area as we planned because we felt like stopping. We then joined the locals watching the news reporting two tornados touching down in the Mobile area.
The reporters instructed everyone to go to an interior room if a tornado struck. As I looked at the Pleasure Way I found 50 square feet, none of which was an interior room. This seemed to me to indicate we might be vulnerable, but even more vulnerable if we had gone to Mobile as planned. We did learn, however, what a real rain storm is like. It is the kind where living under an umbrella serves as no protection.
The Mississippi coast line still bares the scars of Katrina. Everywhere are foundations that once held homes and businesses. To our left were miles and miles of white, sandy beaches. To our right were the remains people's dreams. A few have begun to rebuild. Some have hardly attempted to clean up the devastation. Wafflehouse Restaurants have built restaurants every few miles along the devastated area. One casino has been rebuilt to its pre hurricane presence. It will take a decade or more to return the area its beauty.