After two decades, casinos in East Biloxi flourish dramaticly, while Main Street experiences a desiccated condition following Hurricane Katrina.
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In the heart of Mississippi, the city of East Biloxi continues to grapple with the lingering effects of Hurricane Katrina 20 years ago. This coastal town, known for its vibrant casinos, has been left divided, not just by the natural disaster, but also by economic, racial, and recovery issues.
Stephan Bisaha, a journalist from New Orleans Public Radio, sheds light on this complex situation. The city's economic landscape is starkly divided by its railroad tracks. On one side, the casinos, a significant part of Biloxi's economy, were built on barges south of the tracks. These casinos, primarily owned by companies like Harrah's Entertainment (now Caesars Entertainment), MGM Mirage (now MGM Resorts International), and Boyd Gaming, were not destroyed by the hurricane. Instead, they were able to move with the flooding, a testament to their unique construction.
However, north of the tracks, the story is vastly different. Approximately 80% of the houses were either destroyed or made uninhabitable due to the hurricane. The recovery process here is slow and uneven, mirroring the economic divide.
The racial divide in East Biloxi is another significant issue. The city is segregated, with the majority of the casinos and wealth concentrated south of the railroad tracks, while the predominantly African American communities are north of the tracks.
The railroad tracks themselves play a crucial role in this complex web of divides. They serve as a significant dividing factor, both economically and recovery-wise. The casinos, though a source of income, also contribute to the recovery divide, as they were able to move and recover more quickly due to their unique construction.
As discussions about East Biloxi's economic, racial, and recovery issues continue, it is clear that this coastal town has a long road ahead. The railroad tracks, once a simple infrastructure, now symbolise the deep-rooted divides that the city must overcome to achieve a more equitable recovery.
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