Editing Hancock County, Mississippi (section)

==Recovery from Hurricane Katrina==
{{Expand section|date=August 2007}}
A loosely knit group of [[hippies]] called the "[[Rainbow Family]]" arrived in Hancock County soon after Hurricane Katrina. From early September 2005 to early December 2005, they ran the "[[New Waveland Cafe and Clinic]]"  <ref>{{Cite web|url=http://newwavelandcafe.blogspot.com/|title=Pferdeerziehung im Fohlenalter|date=July 1, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Hippie Kitchens Serve Final Meal to Hurricane Victims |website=[[NPR]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200801195613/https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5025313 |archive-date=August 1, 2020 |url-status=live |url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5025313}}</ref> located in the parking lot of Fred's Dept Store on Highway 90.

The café provided free hot meals three times a day. The clinic was staffed by volunteer doctors and nurses from around the United States who saw more than 5000 patients during the duration. They provided treatment free of charge and dispensed free medications. Donations of medications and supplies came from a multitude of sources, with International Aid <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://internationalaid.org/|title=International Aid|website=internationalaid.org}}</ref> arranging the most donations. This was the first experience of the Rainbow Family in running a disaster relief center. The Bastrop Christian Outreach Center also volunteered with the Rainbow Family.

Local churches were central points of recovery in Bay St. Louis, Waveland, and Diamondhead. Some churches provided shelter, meals, clothing, and various clean-up supplies. The churches also provided distribution points where supplies could be donated and easily passed on to those who needed help. Other disaster relief agencies that were active in Hancock County include Samaritan's Purse, Southern Baptist Convention Disaster Relief, Red Cross, Rotary International and Salvation Army.

Businesses became operational as quickly as possible. The Waveland Wal-Mart operated out of a tent for 3 months following the storm; Diamondhead Discount Drug was opened within 2 days following Katrina, although the owner's store and home were both severely damaged. Other business such as Dairy Queen and Subway donated their foodstuffs, before it could spoil, in order to feed survivors.