A Category 5 hurricane to struck the Mississippi Gulf Coast?

[oldman]

Americas Amber Alert News Center(BILOXI, MS USA) AP --A Category 5 hurricane hasn't struck the Mississippi Gulf Coast since 1969, but a new report says if one does hit the state, the casino industry would be devastated.

The Mississippi Ad Hoc Gaming Committee, comprised of coastal and governmental interests, says a major hurricane would put people out of work for a year and cost the state about $141 million in revenue.

The Sun Herald reported the conclusion of the yet-to-be-released report Wednesday.

The committee weighed economic numbers, engineering studies, environmental impacts and legal issues to examine how gambling barges can be protected from storms.

The preliminary report was dated Jan. 3 and is undergoing a final revision this week before being mailed to legislators.

Since casino construction began on the Gulf Coast in the 1990s, local and state officials have feared the havoc a hurricane on the scale of Camille would inflict on the high-rise hotels and floating gambling barges. Camille, a Category 5 hurricane, struck the Mississippi coast in 1969 with winds topping 200 mph.

(by The Associated Press)