Editing Pass Christian, Mississippi (section)

==== Hurricane Katrina ====
{{see also|Effects of Hurricane Katrina in Mississippi}}
On August 29, 2005, Pass Christian was almost completely destroyed by Hurricane Katrina. Of the approximately 8,000 homes in Pass Christian, all but 500 were damaged or destroyed. In spite of the fact that the beachfront Scenic Drive follows the crest of a small bluff, affording it some elevation, most of the historic mansions along the road were severely damaged, and many were completely destroyed, including the superbly restored Greek Revival mansion "Union Quarters" described in the National Register of Historic Places as having been built in 1855. A cast-iron fence fronted the property, enclosing a Magnolia Historical Marker which was dedicated in 1960. It read, "Union officers were temporarily quartered here during the invasion of Pass Christian."

Hurricane Katrina totally destroyed the local public library. It was rebuilt.<ref>"Hurricane Katrina Related Damages to Public Libraries in Mississippi" (September 2005), Mississippi Library Commission, web:[http://www.ala.org/ala/cro/katrina/MSPL_Katrina_Damage.pdf ALA-Katrina]. {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071031143618/http://www.ala.org/ala/cro/katrina/MSPL_Katrina_Damage.pdf |date=October 31, 2007 }}</ref> Thirteen members of the city's police department retreated to the library after the police station became unsafe and water from the Gulf of Mexico began to pour in.

The library was immediately north of City Hall across a small parking lot but was at a lower elevation. When the water crested the elevation of City Hall, the police cars in the parking lot began to float and were carried around the parking lot by the current.  One car struck the south side doors, causing them to implode, and the Gulf of Mexico driven by Katrina's powerful winds rushed into the building.  With no way to fight against the current they were trapped inside a concrete box that was rapidly filling with water. Knowing that they had to escape they attempted to shoot the glass out of the north side of the building. This was unsuccessful, as the bullets ricocheted off the glass. The [[laminated glass]] proved impervious to the .45 caliber rounds of the police-issue handguns. The force of the water entering the building after the southern wall was destroyed by the car was far too strong to swim against. The only way out was with the current. Police Chief John Dubbisson swam to the rear doors that had to be opened where he successfully touched the push bar. He then grabbed a railing before the storm surge could carry him off. All that were inside the library made it outside and rode out the rest of the storm on the roof.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.cbn.com/700club/features/amazing/passchristian021406.aspx | title=A Daring Escape from Katrina's Flood Waters | publisher=[[Christian Broadcasting Network]] | work=[[The 700 Club]] | access-date=October 23, 2014 | author=David Kithcart}}</ref><ref name="MSNBC">{{cite web | url=http://dailynightly.msnbc.com/2005/11/shootout_at_pas.html | title=Shootout at Pass Christian | publisher=[[MSNBC]] | work=The Daily Nightly | date=2005-11-03 | access-date=2014-10-23 | author=Savidge, Martin | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141022165219/http://dailynightly.msnbc.com/2005/11/shootout_at_pas.html | archive-date=2014-10-22 | url-status=dead }}</ref>

The [[storm surge]] from Hurricane Katrina that hit Pass Christian was estimated at 8.5&nbsp;m (27.8&nbsp;ft),<ref name="KatrinaTCR">{{cite web| last=Knabb| first=Richard D|author2=Rhome, Jamie R. |author3=Brown, Daniel P | url={{NHC TCR url|id=AL122005_Katrina}}| format=PDF| title=Tropical Cyclone Report: Hurricane Katrina: 23–30 August 2005| publisher=[[National Hurricane Center]]| date=2005-12-20| access-date=2008-10-11}}</ref> which is the US record high,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wunderground.com/hurricane/surge_us_records.asp |title=U.S. storm surge records &#124; Weather Underground |website=Wunderground.com |access-date=2017-05-02}}</ref> leveling Pass Christian up to half a mile inland from the shore; estimation of highest storm surges was complicated because high-water markers were also destroyed. [[U.S. Route 90|Highway 90]] along the beach was damaged, and the bridge over the Bay of St. Louis was thrown completely apart, not being reopened until a new bridge was partially completed in May 2007. (Connection was temporarily replaced by a [[ferry]] service.) [[Sewage]] contamination rendered the local water supply unusable, as some samples tested positive for more than 250 bacteria and parasites. By late September 2005, access was restricted south of the railroad tracks (about four blocks inland) without proper credentials, as crews continued to search for victims and clear debris. By early 2007, although rebuilding was underway in much of the city, a large portion of empty, deserted homes and other structures remain. Many residents were still living in [[FEMA trailer]]s, and out-of-state volunteers were still needed for the rebuilding effort.