Biloxi lighthouse still stands after Katrina

During a report on 'Today' Tuesday AM, a reporter stood on the NW side of the Biloxi lighthouse, located in the median of US 90 in mid-Biloxi, gound zero for Katrina. As they panned, the now-barren seaside was similar to the sight north of the road, the gas station there having only it's tall carport roof over where the pumps were, the building - like the residences beyond - now having only it's foundation as a reminder.

The lighthouse was intact, although it's glazing around the lamp room appeared gone. My heart goes out to the victims there. The only H-L member I know in that area is Shortcake over near Mobile. I hope she is doing well - and survived the event in good shape.

Stainz

I believe that Shortcake is at the Reunion. And I also know that she has been working in South Carolina and wasn't planning on returning to her home until December.

I have just found a little lighthouse info on my second favourite ( ) lighthouse website and thought maybe you would be interested:
The Lighthouse Directory

I hope and pray that the humanitarian situation in the south of your country will get better and improve massively and quickly.

God watch over all the victims and give strength and resolve to all helpers!

But since we are all interested in lighthouses...

Here's a photo that was posted on lighthousing.net by Jeremy D'etremont.

http://heh.pl/&1Os

It is a startling photo.

Dennis

Wow. It's really amazing that that light is the only thing standing...and it fared quite well!

As for New Canal, as viewed in the LH Directory page...it seems to still be mostly intact, though maybe not as well. It looks like it was picked up off its foundation. The whole thing is askew, and the beautiful porch is gone. Do you all think it's a loss, or can it be repaired?

Here's what's been comfirmed so far:
Biloxi: Still standing
New Canal: Still standing with severe damage
Sand Island: Still Standing, damage unknown
Mobile Point Skeletal Tower: Still standing, the older light was removed from the site some years ago for restoration and was not there when the hurricane struck
Middle Bay: Still Standing, Damage unknown
Chandeleur Island: Destroyed

Six pieces of good news, and one of very sad news. Another light lost. This might be just the beginning.

Zachary...what's your source? Interested to see it.

Also...this is probably why it's lost:

Looking at LHFriends, it was a nice tower, too.

My sources:
Biloxi, Russ's site (http://unc.edu/~rowlett/lighthouse)
New Canal, Russ's Site
Sand Island, News Article
Middle Bay: Same Article^
Mobile Point: Saw it in a photograph
Chandeleur Island: http://www.nwrc.usgs.gov/hurricane/post-hurricane-katrina-photos.htm
It was indeed a beautiful tower, Kraig's photos however, don't show the lighthouse as it was just before Katrina struck. It was standing in open water, alot further from any land than his photos show, and the wooden pier wasn't there. This picture was taken after Hurricane Ivan struck.
http://www.nwrc.usgs.gov/hurricane/images/lighthouse_post.jpg (the lighthouse is squared in)

Has anyone found any information about the West Rigolets Lighthouse?

Michael Caswell has a website just for West Rigolets and he has updated with Katrina info. He said it might be some time before he can make it out to the area. He doubts it survived, I tend to share that opinion.

I highly doubt it's still standing as well. That and Pass Manchac are probably destroyed.

Tough news,

I hope they survived!

Just got an email from Michael Caswell, who had made a website just for West Rigolets. He wrote:

Just heard a reporter on WWL 870AM who is touring the area by boat...
the West Rigolets Lighthouse did not survive the hurricane
("completely gone, no sign of it at all" were the words he used).

--Mike

Sad news, but I guess it was just a matter of time since the private owner would do nothing.

Thaat's terrible news, Mike.

Why didn't the owner do anything for the West Rigolets?

bobo

Too bad. That was one of my favourite LA lights, and another unique, one-of-a-kind light that is lost. So now the death count from this hurricane is 2...and who knows how many more.

LA is a state full of endangered lights. Even before Katrina, many of them were ready to go any day. The storm just speeded it up.

Bob...in response to your wondering about the owner's interest in preserving his light...I have no idea. It baffles me even more when I think of how he had offers of help, which would mean he'd need to use little or no effort to save the light. It's another tragic case of what happens with privately owned lights...

Ship Island Replica is also gone according to email reports. For those who don't know this was a exact replica to replace the one that burned down. If was even built on the same exact site.

Another one? That's 3 now. I know how much heart and effort was put into the Ship Island Replica, too, which makes it even sadder.

It does make one wonder, though..if they rebuilt, would the new one be called "Ship Island Lighthouse Replica Replica?"

Pass Manchac survives! It still needs a lot of work, but is still standing.

I really feared for the Bolivar Lighthouse when it looked like Hurricane Rita was heading our way. I haven't been in the area in a couple of years, but, at that time, I went on the property to try to find the owners. No one was home but I managed to look around - trespassing, of course. The lighthouse itself, to my uneducated eye, has a lot of structural damage. I managed to look in through a small window and could see debris where something inside has collapsed. Fortunately, the keeper's house is in excellent condition - I've since learned that it is no longer a weekend home but a permanent residence for the people who own it. Another branch of the family supposedly owns the assistant keeper's house and that is sorely neglected. The oil house building also seems to have structural damage - huge crack running from top to bottom of one brick wall, among other problems. I still have hopes that, someday, the owners will do something to restore this wonderful jewel of the Texas Gulf Coast.