I am from Gulfport, MS currently in Iraq. I have family and property there. I was told that I may have nothing to come back to. People still there are trying to rebuild, not only thier homes, but thier lives and dignity. People lost homes, jobs, but don't forget loved ones and friends. I don't know what to expect when I return. I am just hoping that all the people I care about are alive and well. I am tired of hearing of New Orleans. I have family in Slidell who are still without a home. I had to help my family with the money I am earning to keep them afloat. I was told that I have the option to go home... What could I do but be another mouth to feed. I won't get a cent from FEMA to help me. Sorry, I am venting "misplaced" anger while others are still suffering. I pay taxes, State and Federal, so when things like this happen the people who need assistance are taken care of, not to die because of lack of shelter or food. I am over here to give these people hope that they will be able to enjoy a time of peace.

Alot of you people don`t know what`s really going on down here on the MS coast. 75% of the people aren`t on welfare. The people are not sitting around waiting on FIMA (federal incompetent management agency) checks. I registered with fima 4 days after the storm, 3 months later I finally got some help(2000 dollars) I pay 4 times that in federal taxes every year. FIMa don`t just give tons of money away even to people like myself that lost eveything. They do give tons of money to the contractors like Bechtel(they are the ones in charge of delivery and set up of temporary housing). You should witness them milking the taxpayer, you would really be upset.
The motel rooms 90% of the storm victims are staying in are away from the coast. The motels we have are full of relief workers(phone,power,cable,etc.) I was homeless for 2 1/2 months and going to work. I finally found a motel room 2 weeks before I got the fima camper and I paid the 95 dollars per night with my own money.
Burger King and other businesses probably can`t get enough help because alot of people are out of town. I`m sure there are some people that could work that don`t, but it`s no worse than the rest of the country.
I`m having problems collecting from my insurance on wind damage. The 1st adjuster couldn`t make it, the 2nd claims to have lost my paper work, the 3rd couldn`t make it, and I told the fourth to hold off because I`m going to hire a public adjuster. They are slow rolling to try to get people to give up and accept less than they should. I can tell you that my insurance is not on my side.

After our disaster in New York City I was aware of a "plan" to remove debris, for some reason I have not heard of a time table or a "plan" for the disaster areas from Katrina.

I like others do not believe that the government should pay the whole bill. But, also I think that foreign aid should be stopped until we have our own disaster under control.

It seems to me if you do not feed yourself first, you will not be strong enough to help others.

Americans are the mnost generous people in the world. They would all help and continue to help if there were a way. I think the Administration should set up a "Pheonix Corps" similar to the Peace Corps, and persons would volunteer to help, and the job would get done.

And if the folks in the present adminstration are too dumb to figure it out,and set it up, there are three examples in our own history, that I can think of,that could be used as models.

I once heard Jesse Jackson say "You may not be responsible for being on the ground, but you are responsible for getting up"

Lets pick ourselves up brush ourselves off, and get the work done.

I actually came up with an idea for prefabricated transitional housing. The general premise is that the sections can be transported in containers and then assembled on site without heavy machinery. I'm currently in the process of building a website to showcase it.

I am a former resident of Long Beach, Ms. Due to Katrina I now live in SC. Ken of Long Beach made a very good statement. Its gonna take the people of the affected areas to pitch in and help rebuild our town. FEMA can only do so much, I was one of the fortunate ones. I came to the low country because of the situation, but I now have suitable housing and a good job, but I didn't forget were I came from. I have donated and helped out when and if I could. There are facts that alot of people are sitting in hotel rooms, hanging out in the lobbies, instead of trying to find alternate housing, or jobs or schools for the kids. Katrina did take alot of lives, alot of property, jobs, admitt it she took alot but we as people have to remember our independence, that she did not take. Get up, get out of those hotels, find jobs (if you evacuated), enroll the kids into school and try and make a new start. There were times I sat up at night and cried, waking up with puffy eyes, but it didn't stop me. I love Long Beach, Ms. and one day plan to return to the town but life goes on. My boyfriend is a carpenter and I am here in SC while he is in New Orleans helping to rebuild. Ladies lets support our husbands in rebuilding ( if applicable )those who help rebuild gets us home faster. Its hard trust me I know I was actually there during the storm. I have walked the streets filled with debris and bodies and sewer, you name it. As for as FEMA is concerned, well i'd rather not comment,plus I don't have enough time, or space on this message. I'm sure alot of you know what I mean. Basically for those who were affected, keep your heads up, stay prayed up, and have faith, it alone can move a mountain. And for those who helped as far as donating to the Red Cross, or other organizations, or has given a helping hand. I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

I am reading a lot of posts from people on the MS Gulfcoast and I have an idea I would like to share. My mother has several properties in Gulfport that were destroyed or severly damaged in Katrina. She fortunately had flood insurance but it did not pay out enough to cover all of her damage. She also had a wind policy but they don't want to pay. If we all compare our stories, especially those of you that have gotten a good pay out from the wind policy, it will help all of the people that didn't have flood insurance or those that didn't get a good payout from the flood insurance policy. She has been fighting tooth and tong for herself and homeowners surrounding her properties to get a decent payout from the wind policy. Several residents surrounding her didn't have flood insurance because they were told by their agents that they didn't need to carry one because where they are located would never flood. If a bunch of the homeowners can get together and work together and share their stories, you could all benefit. Especially if any of you stayed and witnessed the wind damage and will sign affidavits stating this. Please email me at cyberkaf@hotmail.com if you are interested in working with my mother on this issue!

Being in law enforcement, I was on the Mississippi Gulf Coast the day after the storm, and stayed there in four day shifts for the next five weeks. For those who haven't been there in person, it's brutal. Whole neighborhoods are simply gone, with nothing but jumbled up lumber and appliances lying everywhere. In some places, it's a little better now, but there is still a very long way to go. The population on the coast is made up of mostly good, hard working people who don't want to be taken care of, all they ask is simply a little help from the feds for infrastructure, and for the insurance companies to pay what they owe. The rebuilding and starting over they can handle themselves. Unfortunately, there is a minority of people, sadly, a very visible and very vocal minority, who have been taken care of for generations. This group wasn't working before the storm and won't be working after. Please don't paint the whole population of the Mississippi coast with the same brush. The vast majority of our people want nothing more than to get back on their feet and continue leading happy and productive lives.

I am keeping everyone in the gulf states in my prayers. My heart goes out to you.

I am so disgusted by our govenments response to this whole situation. Even though the news does not report about Katrina and it's survivors, I make sure to visit the latest news articles on the web to remind myself that it is not over. It is going to take such a long time.

I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers. I wish there is something more I could do.

My, my, my. I lived through Hurricane Hugo and I empathize with all of you on your losses. Yes, the loss of vegetation is just as hard to swallow knowing it'll take years to be regrown. The respite we got from Hugo was 15+ inches of snow three months to the day after Hugo blew in, just in time for Christmas. As you know, we hadn't hardly any trees for the snow to cling on, but it was beautiful none the less, WE HAD SNOW. As Christmas approaches and you find yourselves in some strange place that you must now call home, may you have a Merry Christmas in the joy of knowing that Christmas is a holiday in which we celebrate the joys of giving as the wise men did to a small babe long ago, a baby which changed our world and everything is now better through him. And for the sects of other religious orders, may your higher power see you through these hard times. I hope that all will some day say what I say now, "I hope God doesn't bless America, I HOPE HE BLESSES US ALL". Whichever name you give your higher power, may he protect you all. Stay warm as the winter season closes in fast.

Again we must continue to "work together to Make a Difference" and WE will if we work on the donations of time, personnel and pure manpower needed to help re-build in these areas.

It is amazing to me that our leaders have not passed more legislation / an act of Congress to make an organization like EEOC / FEMA work together to place those who have gone homeless there - to help put them to work - where they are needed - get perm housed - fed and allowed to provide the help we ALL should want to SEE - is going on much quicker than it is now - down there.

It has been "hit and miss" re-building instead of the all out effort an FDR, JFK or even Pres Reagan would have authorized under Presidential degree and Congress would normally pass to help in this effort.
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Should We ALL not write to them to let them know?

SRene
ParentsWhoCare.us
e-Business-Professionals.us
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If I was offered the chance and someone would make it affordable to go to work there teaching, helping to co-ordinate the re-training effots I would go in a heart beat...will you go there too?

While I feel so sorry for the people of New Orleans,
I believe the people of Mississippi were hit harder.
Thirteen cities on the coast of Mississippi lost at least the first four blocks of their towns and some like Waveland and Bay Saint Louis lost practically the entire town. Homes and buildings over 100 miles inland in the state of Mississippi were damaged because the storm went up through that state. In all of this, the people of Mississippi were a class act. I say that because they were polite and thankful for the help received. I can't say that for the people of New Orleans. Many were unbelievely bad mannered and prayed upon one another and even those trying to help. Then to blame others when they failed to evacuate was even more shameful. The mayor failed to do his job and so did the state leadership. That's the bottom line and they need to face up to their
responsibility and failure to act accordingly.

Today is Dec 15th and we are still waiting on a trailer. We get a phone call every day from fema asking if we have our trailer yet.Instead of calling to find out if we have a trailer find out why we don't. We are still waiting for an inspector. It seems there isn't any communacation between each group. Please organize these people.

I am an Insurance agent and frankly am tired of the bashing that Insurance Companies get for not paying for the flooding that went on in all of the hurricanes. That risk is EXCLUDED. Most people didn't have coverage because they didn't believe their property would flood and Insurance companies would happily have provided the coverage had they simply asked and paid the premium. Should Insurance Companies be made to pay for this excluded coverage by the courts ir will simply bankrupt all of the ones that are involved as they were not collecting the necessary premium to cover this risk. Lastly, to those who claim huge profits made by these insurance companies, I suggest you buy their stock and then you will reap your share of these so called profits. Buy the way, earthquakes are excluded as well unless you buy up the coverage.

What a need for compassion for an area that has been hit by such devastation. I have been down there helping with Samaritans Purse to volunteer with the clean up and I am looking forward to going back in 2006. The impacted area goes on for hundreds of miles and I could not comprehend it until I was there. I was touched by the heart’s of the people we were able to help and whatever good we were able to bring to them, they gave back to us even more with gratitude and thanks. You could not pay us enough to do the job we did, yet our entire group did not want to leave and we are all looking forward to volunteer again to help. Kiln, Bayou Talla Fellowship Church, and Waveland you have shown us that what is truly important is your heart and no matter how great the storm is, you are even greater.

i have a question for Mr. Fontenot. why do the insurance companies EXCLUDE everything that causes damage in a hurrican except wind and call it a hurricane policy?

I have written before, but it is still unbelievabe that we have so many people still living in tents and children without proper homes. Are we so jaded and calloused by the horrible new we see daily that we can so easily forget the suffering on the Gulf Coast? Wake up America! We gave Americans who are still suffering. Where is our government that people are still living in tents this long after the disaster?

George is on the right track. If salvage companies try to make money on the destruction not by throwing things away but trying to salvage the value of it, then everyone benefits. We don't waste our resources, the salvage companies charge less for their services because theres money to be had re-selling, and we don't end up with huge landfills of storm debris. Every downed tree is valuable as hardwood, softwood, plywood, or a host of other materials. Every scrapped car is hundreds of dollars in scrap metal. The clothes destroyed by the storm can be recycled all into paper, new cloth, even building insulation. The list goes on and on. There needs to be the establishment of an economic incentive to the rebuilding, because by enstablishing money-making engines in all of the clean-up roles, everybody profits and the destroyed areas recover economically much more quickly because there is more money staying in, or being created by, the local system.

I live in Bay Saint Louis down on Cedar Point. I wish to thank all of you for coming and helping Bay-Waveland. We are now living in a FEMA trailer on our own property. As of yesterday one of our neighbors was still living in a tent on his property. The temperature at night is in the 30's. It is like living in a landfill, the devastation is hard to imagine until you actually see it. There really are not any words to say to all that have helped except thank you.

My home is north of Lake Pontchartrain (New Orleans is south of the lake) and on the MS/LA state line. Katrina whacked us hard. Half of Slidell was inundated with water and so many homes and businesses destroyed. My home was wind-damaged as were so many others. Mega tons of trees down. No power or phones for a month. We only want government help with clean-up and infrastructure. Our local sales taxes are up due to refugees from New Orleans and St. Bernard parish; New Orleans is not so fortunate. How dow they pay for civil services? South of the lake, New Orleans and St. Bernard Parishes were drowned by faulty levees and the Mississippi River Gulf Outlet that were Federal projects. Fed miss-construction helped those projects fail; now Fed help is desperately need to fix them right.

I lived in Waveland and was one of the people who had to swim out of my home along with my wife and daughter. The only unusual part of my story is that on Monday, August 22, one week prior to Katrinas' arrival, I underwent open heart surgery at Memorial Hospital of Gulfport. I was discharged from the Hospital on Sunday, August 28. Our assisted evacuation never materialized, and we were forced to ride out the storm. I nearly died from complications and was finally evacuated to a hospital in Jackson, MS. I could write a book about dealing with shelter personel, medical personel, and especially government agencies. One thing that I can say for sure is that I never once saw any incidence of racism, and the only bias backed up by fact is that of the Government and news medias focus on New Orleans, a city NOT hit directly by Katrina.

Gene, Thanks for being in Iraq and all your work there. I too am sick of hearing about New Orleans. They need to start the rebuilding process themselves and have an appearance that they care about their town and it's residents (that's really sad for me to say since I was born there). I too live in Slidell and we were as devestated as BSL and Waveland, if not more so. Believe me when I tell you we still need help. We are a small Louisiana town so I guess we get lumped into the category of being New Orleanians but without the actual help, just the bad publicity. We surely haven't received the help that the Mississippi Gulf Coast has and the eye came directly over Slidell as well. The entire south side of town was totally destroyed. But that's OK, as a citizen of Slidell, when all is said and done, at least we know we helped ourselves. Not only that, but we now have alot of people from St. Bernard and the Mississippi gulf coast who now call Slidell home (the north end of town). And although 60% of our own people are homeless, we are embracing those from other communities who lost theirs as well. I would like to thank all the private organizations and faith based groups who helped us out. God Bless you all and please don't forget us. As for the federal government, I'm not sure they knew who the hell we were to begin with.

The media has no REAL idea concerning the lives of the people on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. I work in a convenience store in a very busy 4 way intersection in Long Beach, Ms.and every day I see truckload after truckload of debris being hauled to asigned destinations.

There are people still living in tents after nearly 4 months since Hurricane Katrina devastated our beautiful Gulf Coast. This is a national shame that the most generous nation on earth can't provide adequate shelter sooner for these victims...FEMA needs to get their act together. I understand they have done alot, however the organization of disaster relief has to be upgraded a great deal. We've been fortunate not to have really cold weather, however it was only last Christmas we has snow on Christmas Day and if these people living in tents don't receive adequate shelter soon then we'll have another crisis on a health related issue.

As for the insurance companies not paying for the damage created by the hurricane...our own state representative, Trent Lott, is battling his own insurance company for this very reason. He lost his home and so did our congressman Gene Taylor. Here's the problem....the coastline (near the beach) wasn't designated as a flood zone. Some policy owners still carried flood insurance while others didn't because they were informed it wasn't neccessary. A "storm surge" is defined as WIND DRIVEN WATER. These homes on the coastline were destroyed as a result of the storm surge and wind. The insurance companies apparently define the storm surge waters as a flood and if they didn't carry flood insurance then they weren't covered.

I would like to thank all individuals, church groups, charieties, etc. for the outpouring of your contrabutions. prayers and time sacrificed from your families by coming here to aid the victims of this horiffic disaster....your generosity will be remembered forever.

I wish all of you a very Merry Christmas and a happy New Year and for all those who have never visited Mississippi I hope you'll see the Gulf Coast rise above this tragedy and see the transformation from complete devastation to an even more beautiful Golden Gulf Coast one could ever imagine.

I just want to thank all the private organizations and church groups that camed down to help us. They are our guardian angels from all over the United States. THANK YOU SO MUCH!
JW BAY ST LOUIS, MS

Thank you for your coverage of these towns!! I have been to the Waveland/Bay St. Louis communities on 3 separate relief missions from Northern Virginia. Each time I am there, I am struck by the peoples' resiliance, their heart, and their strong sense of family and community. The people are so glad to know that they are not forgotten in light of all of the New Orleans coverage. The Waveland/BSL communities will continue to need Federal and private support in the coming months as they rebuild their lives and homes. I look forward to reading your continuing coverage until I can make it back down to the Gulf Coast.

I can never forget new Orleans. I lived there in the 1940s during WW11. Long time ago but Ive never forgotten. To think the neighborhood (Dumaine St on the City park side)I lived in was underwater I couldnt wrap my mind around that.Even to a 12 year old it was in interesting and unusual place. Im hoping to see it become that and more again.