Although Hurricane Katrina has produced many dark clouds overthe state, one silver lining appeared with last week’s arrival ofBrookhaven’s sales tax check for October.

The check for the city’s share of sales tax, which representedbuying activity in September, provided a significant boost to citycoffers. The monthly amount was up almost $120,000 over lastOctober, and the city is more than $200,000 ahead for the year.

While celebrations might be inappropriate in the wake of suchwidespread devastation, it is well-established that increasedeconomic activity follows natural disasters.

Those displaced by the storm spend assistance funds and othermoney on food, clothing, shelter and other necessities. Residentstake their insurance settlements to home-improvement stores andother retailers to get supplies to repair damage from thestorm.

Brookhaven was fortunate to be spared from the major damage thatmany other communities saw. Thanks to the hard work of communityleaders and volunteers after the storm, the city was quickly backup and running and well positioned to assist in meeting the needsof evacuees and residents.

Continued robust sales tax collections will allow Brookhaven torebound after the hurricane and help the city to come back strongerthan it was before the first storm clouds arrived.