Hurricane Nate, only a Category 1, has Devastated Alabama in ways that such a lower classified storm would seem unlikely to have left such horror in its wake.
I am in Mobile, Alabama where the mood is one of frenzy and catastrophe.
There are nearly 100,000 people without power statewide, and Hurricane Nate which should have been a small and somber storm hit us brutally.
The historic downtown region, a popular tourist destination for both Mardi Gras and Seafood, is now underwater.
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Locals know that when a storm hits Alabama along the Gulf Coast in part due to the lack of elevation its catastrophic for the area.
Thousands of jobs in the downtown region will now be lost temporarily while the cleanup efforts begin.
Historic highrises and towering buildings that are home to some of the nation's most exquisite dining will be closed while the roads surrounding the commercial districts remain underwater.
This is a dangerous situation for those with families, who rely on those jobs to provide for their children.
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I can tell you that <i>being a waitress isn't easy</i>, I once helped pay my way through college serving tables at some of these restaurants. I cannot imagine what those with children will have to endure whilst they cannot work.
It's painful to even think about that. See, in Alabama we care about each other. It's called <i>Southern Hospitality</i>, and it's what we call the norm here.
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There are brave Patriots and law enforcement out right now trying to assist those in need, who may not have had the mobility or extra cash to stockpile on water and toiletries.
For this we are all grateful that our community comes together in a time of need to provide the help to those who need it most.
One of the larger problems with Mobile coming from downtown, is Mobile Bay. For those who are unaware, the cities of Spanish Fort lay on one side of the bridge which crosses the bay and Mobile sit on the other.
That water is at near street levels at all times whenever even a minor storm surge comes through.
With a Hurricane, however; you're talking the entire downtown region going underwater and fast.
There's been multiple reports of cars simply floating away downstream, through the makeshift waterways that poured in from the Bay Area, and it's a dangerous situation for anyone living close to the shoreline.
Those people may undoubtedly be without power for weeks. As of now it's very spotty as to who exactly is without power and who was fortunate enough to be able maintain electricity.
Another grave concern is with the standing water which has poured in. That's going to harbor insects and contaminants which could prove to be dangerous for locals.
The same can be said for those West of Mobile, heading along Interstate 10 into Mississippi.
As you approach Grand Bay, Alabama as well as both Pascagoula, Mississippi you have major shipyards which not only build accessories for maritime but also for the United States Navy.
We're uncertain as to total estimates of what damage may have been incurred at the shipyards.
We do however know that in Biloxi, Mississippi (a popular tourist area filled with Casinos) that many of the Casinos are completely underwater.
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As you can see in the above footage the Golden Nugget Casino is submerged in the first floor.
What we do know is that this will take a heavy toll on the economy of not only the regions of Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana; but the entire United States of America which has already been brutalized after Hurricanes Harvey and Irma.
Pray for the Gulf Coast during this crucial time of recovery and cleanup.
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