Gov. Barbour Proclaims Mourning Period Through Sept. 1st - Flags Flown at Half-Mast

Here is the text of Gov. Haley Barbour's executive order for a period of mourning for Hurricane Katrina victims:

EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 966
WHEREAS, on the morning of August 29, 2005, Mississippi was struck by Hurricane Katrina, the worst natural disaster in American history; and

WHEREAS, at landfall the brunt of the hurricane's destructive force was unleashed on the Mississippi Coast, wiping out more than 80 miles of coastline and leaving in its wake 70,000 uninhabitable, often obliterated homes and destroying thousands of small businesses, schools, public buildings and infrastructure such as highways, ports, railroads, and water and sewer systems; and

WHEREAS, the storm continued inland for more than 150 miles, changing forever the State's physical landscape; and

WHEREAS, the level of devastation to human life and property was unprecedented with more than 230 Mississippians losing their lives to the fury of the storm; and

WHEREAS, the anniversary of the first year since Katrina is an appropriate time to memorialize the lives lost; and

WHEREAS, the prayers of the people of the State are with the families and friends of the victims of Hurricane Katrina, NOW, THEREFORE, I, Haley Barbour, by the authority vested in me as Governor by the Constitution and laws of the State of Mississippi, do hereby proclaim a period of official mourning in the State of Mississippi and do hereby order all flags of the United States of America and the State of Mississippi be flown at half-staff on all buildings and grounds of the State of Mississippi and all areas under its jurisdiction beginning August 29, 2006, and ending September 1, 2006.

Governor Haley Barbour