My sister-in-law is making sure that another Katrina won’t affect her new house.

When hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast in 2005, the house "next door" belonging to Monica’s sister was flooded. Being some 200 feet away, it isn’t exactly right "next door," but it is the next house over. It had been built just above ground level and got about four feet of water during the hurricane. The interior was so badly damaged that the house had to be demolished. Last August construction began on a replacement house, and my sister-in-law and her husband are making sure that a repeat of Katrina – however unlikely that might seem (but so did Katrina!) – will not affect the interior of their house. Built more than 10 feet off the ground, it looks more like a beach house than the other homes in our neighborhood. It should be ready for occupancy later this month.