Our cultural tourism industry was a $9 billion industry in the state before the storms hit. We led the nation in utilizing our culture.

Last year was such a tremendous increase, it is hard to equal it. I gave a report on these numbers to our eight-parish economic development group last week. They were shocked and awed. They couldn't believe the financial growth we've had. They still remember St. Landry Parish the way it was seven or eight years ago.

Last year was such a tremendous increase, it is hard to equal it. Still, our numbers are good; very, very good.

While we continue to assess the damage from Katrina, the threat to production of new storms is attracting everybody's attention and could drive prices right back up.

Where no storms come, / Where the green swell is in the havens dumb, / And out of the swing of the sea.

This was definitely one of the bigger storms of the year in terms of total snowfall.