While nothing here can begin to compare to the devastation wrought in the Southeast by Hurricane Katrina, local businesses and individuals are feeling her effects.

Perhaps nowhere is her reach more tangible to local residents than at the gas pumps where numbers have been changing faster than on Wall Street.

Customers at North Windham’s Exxon station were upset, yet matter-of-fact about the higher prices.

“We’ll probably consolidate trips,” said Jana Beardsley of Windham. “There’s nothing you can do – if you have to go somewhere, you have to go.”

“A few years ago, the price of a gallon of gas was less than the price of a gallon of water,” said David Rogers, also from Windham. “I don’t think gas prices have kept up with inflation over the years.”

And Gorham resident Charles Enman felt the high prices “should be a wake-up call about fuel economy to carmakers.”

“We’re all at the mercy of gas pricing,” he said.

Downeast Energy can certainly attest to that statement. John Peters, president of Downeast said that both home heating oil and gas prices were immediately affected by Katrina’s wrath.

Peters said the futures market is an indicator as to what increase to expect. Oil futures rose 17.5 cents and gasoline rose 42 cents overnight.

“We are going to see a big effect immediately until all the information gets sorted out – how long the (offshore oil) rigs will be out of commission,” Peters said. “We won’t know long-term, meaning this heating season, effects until they can assess the damage.”

Chipco International Casino Supplies on Route 302 in Raymond has felt Katrina’s fury as well. Chief Financial Officer Joe London figures the loss to the company in the six-digit range.

“It’s hard to say exactly how much we’ll lose, but I’m guessing it’s at least $100,000,” he said. “We’ll be feeling this loss for the next several months, absolutely.”

The hurricane has decimated the coastline of Mississippi where Biloxi casinos and Riverboat gambling rule. One order that left Raymond on Friday, headed for The Grand Biloxi had to be turned around with the news of the storm. That order alone was carrying $30,000 worth of custom-made poker chips.

The company, with 51 employees, has four orders set for casinos in Mississippi, another two in Alabama and one in Louisiana. All of them are in jeopardy of falling through.

With many local flower orders traditionally filled using southern-grown roses and other flowers, even local florists are experiencing some inconvenience from Katrina.

Kerry Gunville, owner of Sebago Gardens on Route 302 in Windham, said that many flower shipments come up from Miami.

“Several of the vendors had the foresight to get their shipments in on Friday,” Gunville said. “With the midweek shipments, there’s no guarantee the flowers will get here.”

Gunville said she has made alternate arrangements for a wedding this weekend. The bride had requested a special order rose that must be flown into Atlanta and then flown to the Portland Jetport.

Cathy Burgess, the owner of Mrs. B’s Flowers on Route 302 in Naples, hasn’t suffered from Katrina yet. But she works with several wholesalers and found one who could deliver.

“Everything I’ve wanted, they’ve had so far,” she said.

Raymond Village Florist owner, Jessica Fay, said that a lot of the flowers are flown into Miami and the airports there are closed.

“I have an order for some specific flowers that may be late,” she said. “That means I’ll work late. Fortunately at this time of year there’s a lot available locally.”

Gas prices in Windham rose dramatically on Wednesday as a result of hurricane Katrina. Manager Joy Renell changes the numbers at the Exxon station.