Winner of the 2010 Eudora Welty Book Prize and the Mississippi Library Association's Nonfiction Author's Award for 2011, Under Surge, Under Siege was also short-listed as Nonfiction finalist for the 2012 William Saroyan International Book Prize, Stanford University Libraries. Under Surge, Under Siege shows how Hurricane Katrina tore into Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, raking away lives, buildings, and livelihoods in a place known for its picturesque, coastal views; its laid-back, artsy downtown; and its deep-dyed southern cordiality. The tragedy also revealed the inner workings of a community with an indomitable heart and profound neighborly bonds. Those connections often brought out the best in people under the worst of circumstances. In Under Surge, Under Siege , Ellis Anderson, who rode out the storm in her Bay St. Louis home and sheltered many neighbors afterwards, offers stories of generosity, heroism, and laughter in the midst of terror and desperate uncertainty. Divided into two parts, this book invites readers into the intimate enclave before, during, and after the storm. "Under Surge" focuses on connections between residents, and then it demonstrates how those bonds sustained them through the worst hurricane in U.S. history. "Under Siege" documents the first three years of the grinding aftermath, detailing the unforeseen burdens of stress and depression, insurance scandals, and opportunists that threatened to complete the annihilation of the plucky town. A blend of memoir, personal diary, and firsthand reportage, Under Surge, Under Siege creates a compelling American testament to the strength of the human spirit. At last, from the perspective of the beleaguered Mississippi Gulf Coast, a vivid account of courage in the face of Hurricane Katrina and community commitment in its grim aftermath. (Curtis Wilkie, author of Dixie: A Personal Odyssey Through Events That Shaped the Modern South) Ellis Anderson's Under Surge, Under Siege: The Odyssey of Bay St. Louis and Katrina is a beautifully rendered account of a catastrophic event. Every page is filled with sorrow followed by a flash of inspiration! (Douglas Brinkley, professor of history at Rice University and author of The Great Deluge: Hurricane Katrina, New Orleans, and the Mississippi Gulf Coast) A heart-gripping, beautifully written story of everyday valor and crafted kinship in a small Gulf Coast community in the path of Katrina's fury, Under Surge, Under Siege tells of historic Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, and its living web of heroism and fortitude in the wake of a 35-foot tsunami and a second wave of destruction in the form of unresponsive government, irresponsible insurance companies, and greedy developers. Ellis Anderson's powerful saga of trouble and triumph washes over us like a tidal wave. (Minrose Gwin, author of The Queen of Palmyra and Wishing for Snow) A survivor's tale of Hurricane Katrina's destruction and a community's enduring determination While the world watched the horrors of Katrina unfold from afar, Ellis Anderson was writing from the heart of the storm's fury in a small Mississippi coastal town. Part One, "Under Surge," is her on-the-ground account that pulls readers through the horrific winds and record storm surge that scoured the state's coast.For the next three years, Anderson documented the bizarre circumstances of everyday life in the devastated town in what became Part Two: "Under Siege." Writing from her historic home as it underwent repairs and served as a shelter for survivors and volunteers, "Under Siege" details the many unexpected long-term impacts of the disaster. Throughout the book, journalism, interviews with fellow survivors, and excerpts from the writer's personal journal are combined to reveal the miraculous healing powers of community spirit. Winner of the 2010 Eudora Welty Book Prize and the 2011 Mississippi Library Association's Nonfiction Author's Award, it was also short-listed as Nonfiction finalist for the 2012 William Saroyan International Book Prize, Stanford University Libraries. A survivor's tale of Hurricane Katrina's destruction and a community's enduring determination Ellis Anderson of Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, received a Mississippi Arts Commission Literary Fellowship for portions of this book. An excerpt appeared in Southern Cultures .