Geoff Belcher, owner of the Sea Coast Echo, never imagined he would witness a disaster of biblical proportions when he moved to Bay St. Louis in 1999.
Originally from Eastern Kentucky, Belcher earned a degree in English before briefly working construction and then entering the newspaper world as a political cartoonist. His career evolved from staff writer to news editor at a sister Kentucky paper.
“I determined that I needed to live where there’s a tight schedule on the front page,” he said.
By 1999, Belcher had relocated to Mississippi, drawn by the charm of Hancock County and the Gulf Coast.
“We just loved Bay St. Louis. The first couple years, we were so lucky—tropical storms came and went with barely a breeze.”
But luck ran out in August 2005.
The Storm That Changed Everything
Hurricane Katrina unfortunately lived up to the frantic predictions of forecasters in the worst way. What started as a distant threat to Florida veered toward Mississippi, leaving apocalyptic destruction in its wake.
“Downtown Bay St. Louis looked like a nuclear bomb had gone off,” Belcher recalled. “It was a wasteland. Everything gone. That was a lot to process.”
Belcher and his wife, Sandy, evacuated north before the storm hit, leaving their home vulnerable to the rising waters. With cell service and communication lines down, they could only wait and hope. Their office, historically used as a storm shelter, flooded with more than five feet of water, forcing employees to swim to safety.
Reporting From the Eye of the Disaster
Determined to keep the newspaper running, Belcher returned to Kentucky and worked with his former newspaper to produce the Sea Coast Echo’s post-Katrina edition. Utilizing AP wire services and local contacts, including then-Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott and U.S. Rep. Gene Taylor, he compiled news and photos to bring the community’s story home.
“The Saturday paper came out right after Katrina,” he said. “We didn’t miss a week. It was rough, but we did it.”
When Belcher and his wife returned to Bay St. Louis, they entered what he described as a war zone—homes destroyed, streets impassable, helicopters overhead. The publisher’s house became a makeshift office, with computers and generators set up in the living room. For weeks, the Echo operated from there, later moving to a temporary space downtown before returning to a rehabilitated office.
Bearing Witness to Human Resilience
Despite losing his home and working in conditions of mud and mold, Belcher was struck by the resilience of the community.
“Everybody was in the same boat. Everybody together,” he said.
From the makeshift tent cities distributing food and supplies—known as points of distribution, or PODs—to neighbors helping neighbors, the spirit of unity was palpable.
Belcher’s reporting put him side by side with major national figures. He photographed President George W. Bush, interviewed John McCain during the presidential campaign, and met celebrities who visited to help or observe the recovery. Yet the contrast between the local reporter in mud-spattered clothes and the polished national press was stark.
“It was a bizarre experience, but since I was local, they brought me up. It mattered that I was part of it,” Belcher said.
Watching the Community Rebuild
Two years after Katrina, the reopening of the Bay St. Louis bridge symbolized a milestone in recovery. Debris cleared, homes rebuilt, and downtown revitalized, the city transformed. Belcher has witnessed it all—from the concrete slabs marking destroyed homes to four-story hotels and upscale restaurants now lining the coast.
“It’s gratifying,” he said. “We’ve bounced back. Downtown is all new, but the small-town charm and hospitality remain.”
The Vital Role of Local Journalism
For Belcher, covering Katrina reinforced the importance of community newspapers.
“We’re the forgotten first responders,” he said. “Without boots-on-the-ground reporting, things could have been worse.”
Belcher believes local journalism is critical for holding a community accountable.
“Studies show when a community newspaper goes out of business, prices rise, taxes get out of hand, politicians get corrupt. Not here. That’s why good local journalism matters.”
Since buying the paper, Belcher has focused on preserving its legacy. The support from the community has been overwhelming, he said, and the Echo continues to serve as a trusted source of news, chronicling its past and present, documenting the resilience of the Gulf Coast.
Looking Ahead
Reflecting on Katrina 20 years later, Belcher knows another even bigger storm may come, though he hopes not.
“I hope it doesn’t happen anywhere,” he said. “But especially not here.”
Still, he remains committed to the community, to reporting the truth, and to reminding readers that in the face of disaster, human kindness endures.
Hopefully, local journalism endures too.
“Support your local newspaper,” Belcher said. “We need your help. We keep an eye on things. We tell the truth. And the community depends on it.”
