
Hurricane Katrina first ripped through Florida as a "minimal" Catagory I hurricane before moving on to rage unbridled devestation in the Gulf of Mexico. It was Cat. I in Florida unless you were in Key West, FL. Due to a weather interaction with a system over Cuba winds bumped to Catagory II. At least 98 mph sustained winds is what a NOAA vessel that sought safe harbor in Key West recorded. It went on for HOURS. The hurricane was never predicted to hit the Keys and it came as a surprise ... a big one! At one point they just shut down the only road into the island and said good luck.
Key West is the home of the KiteHouse. Paul Menta has a nice setup including a houseboat base out on the flats.

Let's call this shot "before" Katrina, and some views in past times Here
and this one ...

"after" Katrina.

Sun used to come in here ...

but today ... GRUNT SNAPPER!? Permission to come aboard?

Anybody seen Paul ... uh, Got Wind?

Ah, found him along with Nick.
There she lies in ten feet of water a total loss. With advanced warning, the vessel was secured and weathered Hurricane Dennis in July with no problems, not so this time around. They say the South will rise again. I have to believe it is true, particularly this small piece of it. Paul is working to buy another even larger platform for riding in the flats of Key West soon. Stay tuned!
Katrina has done unimaginable damage as we see on a daily basis. It is a challenge to human endurance, ability to carry on under unimaginable circumstances and compassion. With hard work, faith, help from the rest of us, this calamity shall to shall pass. If you can help it would be sincerely appreciated MORE HERE ANOTHER IDEA APPEARS BELOW, READ ON!
I mentioned a prize after the Sea Story and you've seen the submarine, here it comes ...
A PARTY AND PREMIER OF
“Into The Air: A Kiteboarding Experienceâ€