gulfport, mississippi. paul, good morning. reporter: good morning, willie. you mentioned katrina. almost seven years to the day and this area here in coastal mississippi, gulfport, really was ground zero for hurricane katrina. we all know the tragedy in new orleans. the storm surge and winds was pounding this area and almost leveled whole blocks in this coastal region. i am standing about 18-feet above sea level. there was 10, 11 feet of water above me when katrina came onshore. so this area prone to storm surge. we are set up across the street from the gulf of mexico, because we know the storm surge forecast is a 6-12 foot storm surge. farther off to the right, that is the port of gulfport mississippi, completely evacuated tonight. they finished their preparations yesterday. that port completely demolished seven years ago because of katrina. they just reopened a year ago. all the cranes have been moves away. locals around here were rushing their preparations last night. so