Hurricane Katrina Devastates Casinos On US Eastern Seaboard
American emergency services continue to battle against rising flood waters, desperately trying to reach thousands still stranded in the wake of this week's hurricane damage, all along the Mississippi coast. Many of the area's gambling towns, including Gulftown and Biloxi have been devastated.
New Orleans remains underwater amid reports of appalling conditions in and around the city's flooded downtown area. Rescuers are struggling to cope with the sheer numbers of people left without homes, food, water or clothes.
Casino Town Devastated
The tourist town of Gulfport is completely destroyed, and along with it the town's main attraction - its casinos. While not a single building remains undamaged in town, the casinos - housed on huge barges moored permanently offshore - are now piles of twisted metal. Some have been thrown hundreds of yards inland.
The economic effects of the devastation will be enormous. The casino business provides jobs for over 14,000 people in the area. While Mississippi's gulf coast casinos generate some $500,000 a day in gaming taxes for the state government. According to reports, every casino on this strip of coast has been utterly destroyed in Katrina' ferocious winds. And very few of the hotels that serve the casinos are serviceable. None have avoided being damaged.
In the town of Gulfport itself, there is no water, electricity, refrigeration or food available. Experts predict it will take weeks, if not months, for normality to return.
Reports say Biloxi, a coastal town and another of the area's famous gambling destinations, has fared equally badly. The town, home to 50,000 residents, was one of the worst hit by Katrina.
How You Can Help
US aid agencies have launched emergency appeals to help victims of Katrina's devastation. US Government officials are also making appeals for donations, urging people to give generously to aid agencies assisting with the relief effort.
Money donated will go towards a variety of services including provision of shelter, food, crisis counselling and childcare.
