Relatively few moments mark our adult memories. Most are written in our minds in semi-permanent markers.

Some are scrawled in indelible ink. Others are chiseled into our psyche with such brute and emotional force that the marks will never fade.

Hurricane Katrina is one of those.

The storm, now 10 years removed, remains a significant influence on the areas it affected most — particularly the often forgotten Mississippi Gulf Coast, which saw destruction of biblical proportions and New Orleans.

But the storm changed us all in various ways.

The Natchez area — relatively lightly affected by the weather of the storm — became a safe haven of sorts for many, a place with supplies and friendly faces that welcomed storm refugees.

The days after Katrina tested everyone’s patience and faith.

Looking back on it with the clarity only time can provide the days following Katrina were among Mississippi’s finest hours — Natchez’s too.

Mississippi, as former Gov. Haley Barbour so eloquently reminded the nation, “You just hitch up your britches and do what you gotta do.”

Mississippi did that, despite tears in our eyes, in amazing ways. It’s one of the million things we love so much about our state and its people.

To some of those displaced people the lure of Natchez made them want to stay. Some had no other choice; others stayed because they liked the small town atmosphere we have.

Our new friends who were unceremoniously blown in by the storm have contributed greatly to our community and continue to do so.

Katrina took parts of Mississippi to its knees, but the state got up quickly and is stronger than ever, and thank God for that.