By Toni Miles
Those who have weathered hurricanes and other storms throughout South Mississippi’s hurricane seasons know how long it can take to clean up the damage and rebuild. The Long Beach Harbor is no exception, say City officials, especially considering the additional work, surveys and protocols that have to be followed to secure funding from the government to make the needed repairs, and work is still underway to mitigate the colossal damage left behind in Hurricane Zeta’s wake when it made landfall on October 28 of 2020.
While boaters and other water- craft operators can now launch from at least one section of the Long Beach Harbor, work is con- tinuing in other areas, including on the northernmost launch pad and channel, which is expected to open soon.
Aside from this, debris is still being located via side-scan sonar investigation of the harbor, which has already revealed significant sunken debris, including three sunken vessels, loose and floating portions of damaged piers throughout the harbor, trailing electrical components and water service lines.
A bathymetric survey of the Long Beach Boat Launch is expected to be carried out in the next few weeks, with emergency dredging of the channel and boat launch ap- proach to follow the survey. The two southernmost boat launches are damaged and heaved, requiring further repairs.
A pile integrity testing program to investigate damage to the pilings is also underway. So far, ninety percent of the inspected pilings are damaged in some way.
Assessments of electrical damage are also taking place, with the landside electrical platforms still being reviewed. More than fifty percent of all pier electrical components have been determined to have more than fifty percent damage due to extensive pier damage to the pilings.
Meanwhile, failed bulkheads and seawalls have moved and shifted, and a non-destructive investigation of the pavements, sidewalks and bulkheads (sidewalks and pavement that have sunken, settled and buckled) has been planned.
City leaders say, based on previous hurricane damage, there is always unknown debris locations throughout the harbor, and, while the City is doing its best to assess and mitigate these damages, those who use the harbor are urged to exercise extreme caution until repairs are complete. The City will provide updates as further information from damage surveys continues.
A rendering of what the completed sign will look like
While harbor repairs have been a long-time coming and an arduous process, the City’s efforts are paying off. A new welcome sign at the Long Beach Harbor is almost complete as work in and along the harbor continues.