I can't believe that we go and help every country there is out there and don't help our own American people. Somehow, I think they got it backwards. I feel so sorry for everyone that got displaced due to the hurricanes. Don't give up and believe in God because he will get you through all of this. I do my best and contribute $50 per payday. I don't have much so I give what I can. How do we even know if the monies the people donate are even getting the cash? Just keep calling FEMA and whoever else you need to call. You are all in my prayers every night. Is there some other way people can be more helpful? It just seems like once the news stop talking about it everyone got pushed out of everyone minds, but not mine.

God bless you all.

The US was more diligent in raising funds for the Tsunami victims than helping the people in New Orleans. A reminder "charity begins at home, first" It is shameful the way our government continues to handle this tragedy

One of the problems is the context of reality that has been twarted by the media industry so badly.
The goverment is not even prepared to deal with the effects of global warming, because for a long time they have been covering the truth about this fact.As long as these inept individuals are within goverment
more problems will continue to come, steming from the divorce from reality practiced by the sold out media goverment puppets.

I have been reading some of the comments re: Katrina
and feel so sad for all those who are STILL suffering !I haven't read anything recently about the mayor of New Orleans who to me was quite a hero
before and after the storm struck ! Before, because he managed almost singlehandedly to move his people out and most probably saved thousands of lives because of his fast thinking and steadfastness.
May God bless him !!

I live in Cincinnati. From my office window I watch the trains roll by with car after car of plain little white trailers. I try to imagine how an entire family is going to live in this confined space. I ask God to please place a blessing on each little "home" and to be with those who have survived this devistating event.
America learns from her mistakes. If an event of this magnitude occurs again, state and federal agencies will surely be better prepared.
Let's all pray that we never have tofind out for sure.

Georgette, I totally agree with you.If this would have happened in a third world country. I do believe the response would have been different. I live in Houston TX. And my heart goes out to all the Katrina surviors as well as Rita surviors. Just want to say the least we could do here in Houston was to try and thanks to our Mayor we did that. And were still trying any way we can too help. FEMA is a Joke.

I have been able to witness important conversations involving people with government power seeing that I am apart of an entity....Such statements have been made:

" We find a least 10 to 20 dead bodies a day. Now we are at about 5,000 in New Orleans alone, not counting those we have killed for looting."

" We have killed about 100 looters in New Orleans and 4 on the coast."

" No, we(Homeland Security) can not report the total number of bodies we've found." Eventually we will underestimate the total for media sake."

I am totally disgusted by some of the things I've witnessed here in Mississippi. I wish that this corrupt government could be exposed.

"

My heart, charity, and help go out to all the people who have been hurt in the above states.

However, everyone keeps waiting on the government..... bad mistake.... in the end, it will be the private sector (ie, investors, personal homeowners, personal business owners, etc.) that will rebuild Mississippi, Alabama, and Louisiana (even New Orleans). Everyone in this country (JUST ABOUT) lives paycheck to paycheck with little thought about hurricanes, floods, tornados, etc. After having been through 6 (7?) hurricanes on the east coast of Florida the past 7 years, I've learned not to wait on the government but to be prepared ahead of time. Yes, it takes money away from going to the movies, eating out, etc., but what is missing a meal compared to not having/not having enough insurance on your house? not having enough money in the bank in case a disaster happens?

The truth hurts, but it will take YEARS for all of the affected areas to get back to where they were 6 months ago. I have a friend who lived near Biloxi when it got hit by that hurricane about 25-30 years ago. It took until the late 1990's for Biloxi to recover...then, look what happens! Another one!

All this reminds me of a quote - "Live each day like it was your last...plan for tomorrow like you're going to live forever..."

i am from new orleans too.keep your head up and be strong what don't kill you can only make you stronger. god has plans for you and your family good luck.

My heart goes out to anyone affected by this horific situation and eveyone should remember that this could be anyone of us in this situation at any minute.Mother nature does not care where she hangs her hat or sits. She is mighty big when she wants to be. Please keep these people in your prayers and don't forget that what you have today may be gone tomorrow. Money will not fix all these problems. We need compassion for all affected. There are many groups of people we need to help in many ways. People that are sent to help the victims are affected also. Thank you

I think we need a new president to come in and take over, and try and fix the mess that Bush has put us in. Maybe flood his home and see how he would deal with it, with no money and all! Its all about him when it comes to what's going on. With the war in iraq long over, our soldiers need to come home to there families... instead of over there dying one at a time!!

Most Americans are one paycheck, hurricane,earthquake or illiness from losing everything. I think what this shows there is no homeland security and certainly no security from anything in this country anyone more even the bird flu when it arrives.(Watch and See)Because there is no health insurance for most Americans when they get sick. Most of the officials are so busy defending themselves from money laundering, lying, taking in donations they should not have, until now there only only concern is SELF! I live in Texas and this could have very well being us here. I am so sorry that we have such SORRY people in place in our government as officals who are our leaders. So, so, sad.

Yes, the help has not gotten to everyone yet, but there are limits to what can be done and in what time limit. Many who have been offered help have refused it. It didn't help that the mayor of N.O. did not declare an evacuation when he should have. If the people of these devastated areas want someone in government to blame they need not go so far as the white house. There is a reason that FEMA's Brown is no longer in his previous postion as well. Why is this Bush or the Republican's problem? Because a democrat wants it to be. Anything to further their own political adgenda. THe fact of the matter is that many people who should have been paying attention dropped the ball and everyday people are having to pay the consequences. Unfortunatley, that is life. Knowing the weather patterns that have been developing in that part of the country, perhaps it is time to move? Those that stay do so at their own risk.

I’m not necessarily defending FEMA but Ms Lusich can thank some of her friends and neighbors for the delay in getting a trailer. Many people remembered previous hurricanes where trailers were brought in and eventually sold to the recipient for very little amount later. Knowing that people living in tents are getting first priority they are setting up tents in their front yards and applying for trailers. FEMA now has to go out and “qualify” each application to make sure there is a real need. This is taking a lot longer and they are rejecting many who are just trying to defraud the system. I truly hope Ms Lusich will get her trailer soon and I also hope those trying to profit from this tragedy will be allowed to take their profit to Heaven with them to show what they did while they were on this earth.

DO NOT DONATE TO THE AMEEERICAN RED CROSS!! They keep so much of the funds its sick!!!! All the head people bought new cars, put down payments on houses... its just sick and wrong that they could even live with themselves!!! Donate to the SALVATION ARMY... the donate 100% of the money they recieve!!!

If only the Governor of Louisana had gotten around faster in getting FEMA down there, things might be a little better in a shorter time but she waited....... If I was a citizen of Louisana I would not vote her in for another term

I just read a message that stated that we as a country help everyone else in a disaster but no one offered to help us with Hurricane Katrina's devestation. That person is horribly misinformed. Our rediculous president, when offered help by numerous foriegn countries, said to them "No, we can handle this on our own." What a complete idiot! Apparently someone in his chain of command pointed out what an idiotic statement he made, and a few days later he accepted foriegn aid from Greece, Italy, England etc., etc., etc. How did this fool ever get elected a second time? By making another country's issues more important than our own? Unfortunately the answer to that is yes!

I think is sad the devastation that has come from this
event. New Orleans gets rebuilt and all it's criminal
and low income people are dropped into other cities
with nothing but memories of what used to be. The
city moves on!!!!

I wish people would quit blaming the government for everything that is wrong with this nation. you ever think it might be the people. think about we have more lazy and whiny people then any where else. maybe if people would grow up a little bit and quit whining about every little problem they had our government could concentrate on more important things.It is no different then being a parent if the kids are crying and need things other things suffer. our government is too busy worrying about the spoiled people and worried about the presidents ratings. i really don't care he is in office and will be there until he;s gone so get over it.I think they are doing a pretty good job considering this nation is full of very large babies. To those people who lost there loved ones i want you to know i will always honor and remeber those who had the guts to stand up for people who are a lot less fortunate then this nation is. Anyone who has the ability has theresponsibility to help those in need both here and abroad and i don't think we are anymore important then our distant neighbors. Thank you again soldiers and all of your families

God bless the people who lost so much, and the generous Americans who are helping them. We have all sent as much money to the relief effort as we could. Now our tax dollars will pay Halliburton to rebuild New Orleans, so please keep in mind that it was not Katrina that destroyed it, but the break in the levee. The break occurred because the Bush administration took funds appropriated for strengthening the levees, to pay for the war in Iraq.

Most Americans are one paycheck, hurricane,earthquake or illiness from losing everything. I think what this shows there is no homeland security and certainly no security from anything in this country anyone more even the bird flu when it arrives.(Watch and See)Because there is no health insurance for most Americans when they get sick. Most of the officials are so busy defending themselves from money laundering, lying, taking in donations they should not have, until now there only only concern is SELF! I live in Texas and this could have very well being us here. I am so sorry that we have such SORRY people in place in our government as officals who are our leaders. So, so, sad.

Really, I can't say how much I feel for the people of the lovely states of Louisiana and Mississipi. Solely because nothing could have stopped what happened and it's just so unfortunate. That said, I truly hope that everyone involved can keep their chins up and maitain their extraordinary integrity, which has impressed me to no end, being Canadian and all. Now, I noticed in reading some of these posts, that there's actually some people out there (some lady from Colorado) who feel that the US government has met it's obligation and said that people should lighten up on criticism directed the Federal way. Please. For those who say that the US government reacted adequately, I beg of you to research who got there first. The Canadian Navy. Now, I don't say that so you'll love Canada, I say that so that ALL of you make your voices (and displeasure) heard the next time you vote. When are the policies going to shift priority from abroad to your own backyard. IT'S YOUR GOVERNMENT'S RESPONSIBILITY TO ENSURE YOUR SAFETY. That does NOT make me a communist, it makes me compassionate for human life. Too bad your government couldn't extend the same respect. All of my best wishes go out to Katrina victims. I hope the opportunity for change doesn't get overlooked, as that would be the real tragedy.

It is unbeleivable to me the attitude that so many people have regarding this unfortunate event! Why do we have the attitude that we are owed ANYTHING? Go out and get a job and use your hands for work, instead of holding them out expecting a handout! That Welfare mentality is exactly what has put so many people in this predicament. Get busy and fix your own situation, and stop blaming our AWESOME President!

I agree with Nellie, how does President Bush sleep at night knowing so many people are sleeping outside, after losing everything. I think our gov't needs to think about what natural disaters can do, stop being so nieve, and have some type of plan for our citizens who live on or near the ocean coasts. Our citizens should not be in the position their in. I feel for the people who have suffered tremendously, and my heart goes out to you all. I have a good friend of nine years who left Nov. 3 to help rebuild Mississippi. I was sad to see him go, but on the other hand very proud! They say it can only get better. I'll be praying.

In response to Sara from Washington. I guess you dont know what your talking about because the mayor is not authorized to demand a evacuation only the governor can. It was still inforced long before Katrina hit, perhaps you should have drove down there and car pooled everyone you could that did not have transportation.