Former Governor Haley Barbour Visits Mississippi College With Katrina Book

Former Gov. Haley Barbour signs a copy of his new book on Hurricane Katrina for Leland Speed Library Director Kathleen Hutchson. Barbour visits Mississippi College for two events October 27 that will be open to the public.

First responders and helpful neighbors became heroes after Hurricane Katrina battered Mississippi and Louisiana.

In late August 2005, the horrific storm killed 238 people in Mississippi and 1,500 others in the Bayou State.

Written ten years later by former Gov. Haley Barbour, the book “America’s Greatest Storm: Leading Through Hurricane Katrina” tells the incredible stories of these hometown heroes.

On October 27, Barbour will speak to Mississippi College students at a 10:50 a.m. chapel program about the new book published by University Press of Mississippi. Following his talk at First Baptist Church Clinton, the Republican leader will sign copies of his book at the Leland Speed Library on the Clinton campus.

The book provides a behind the scenes account of the Mississippians who stepped up to assist distressed fellow citizens with emergency supplies and prayers.

“It is the story of a strong, resilient, self-reliant people who got flattened by the brunt of the worst natural disaster in American history,” Barbour said in an August interview in “The Clarion-Ledger.”

And “these folks got right back up, hitched their britches and went back to work, helping themselves and helping their neighbors. The story of the courage and character of these Mississippians needs to be told.”

There were 954,000 volunteers arriving in Mississippi to help.

“Crisis brings out the best in people,” Barbour told the Public Relations Association of Mississippi at an October luncheon in Jackson.

The deadly storm didn’t just slam into the Mississippi Gulf Coast. It reached 172 miles in-land, and pounded cities like Hattiesburg, Meridian, Picayune and Jackson.

“It’s unbelievable what we had to deal with,” Barbour told public relations professionals.

The storm didn’t spare political leaders, including former U.S. Sen. Trent Lott. There was “nothing left” of Lott’s home in Pascagoula, Barbour recalled.

Twenty months after Barbour was sworn in, Hurricane Katrina provided the biggest challenge of his administration. His wife, First Lady Marsha Barbour, did a magnificent job as First Lady who responded to serve the needs of South Mississippi residents in the storm’s aftermath.

Written with Jere Nash, the book provides valuable lessons to political leaders around the USA experiencing a disaster.

Being prepared well in advance, Barbour said, and remaining truthful with the public are among Katrina’s greatest lessons.