God Bless You! The MS coast has been all but forgotten
in the shadow of New Orleans(not to make light of their plight)-if the media doesn't keep the ball rolling, no one will know how bad these folks are hurting-I have family in MS so don't believe everything thegovt tells us!!!

thanks for all of the good coverage. We appreciate that you have not forgotten us.

Thank you MSNBC for getting to know the people of Bay St. Louis and Waveland and thank you to all those who have followed the story with empathy, kindness and support. You were able to take a disaster and show a twist to it that many would never have seen without your reporters insights. Thanks again for caring. P.S. Check back in on Hancock County, I just bet you will find it's people doing just what you guys predicted once you got to know them..................."Rising from the Ruin"!!!

You have given us names, faces and voices and let people know we are more than our FEMA numbers. For that we will be eternally grateful. Please keep Mike Stuckey involved. I truly believe he has become one of us. I don't cry very often if at all, considering I have nothing but a slab and a few trinkets found in the mud, but if anything can bring a tear, its one of Mike's stories. He has not only seen our hearts, he has gotten into our souls. Thanks MSNBC.

I just returned from Bay St. Louis and Waveland where I spent the holidays working with family and friends still trying to make some headway in the cleanup and rebuilding of their homes and property. I saw very little change from the devastation that I witnessed a week after the storm hit. In fact, I saw more of it because I finally had the courage to drive to the edge of downtown Bay St. Louis to see what was left of my childhood memorials. The shock of what I saw was wrenching. My Bay St. Louis is very very broken. Yes, there are more blue roofs and we actually had one family home ready for dry wall. But I shudder to think of the residents of these communities continuing their grueling daily routines without the help of the many volunteers who have devoted themselves to these towns. In the past three nights since I have been home, The Nightly News barely mentioned the ravaged MS gulf coast. If continuos coverage ceases, so will the influx of much needed assistance. People there are still suffering. Children ask if they will have a home again. Many are living in clusters of FEMA trailers and tents set up in a church yard. No, this was not a Happy Holiday. It was a time of great sadness, and while I appreciate your interest in developing indepth features about the progress, I am afrraid that the people will be forgotten and the scope of their tragedy diminished in the minds of most Americans. Please don't forget them. I don't want the next newscast that I see about Katrina's wrath to be on Aug 20, 2006 when reporters go back for the "big story" like the one the other night about the tsunami. This story must remain current and in the forefront. The people of this country who have lost so much need your help. You have the power to move people. Please continue to do it.

Thankyou MSNBC, Hancock residents are just beginning to get FEMA denial responses and need your continued support as so many American business and citizens are wanting to pitch in with rebuilding efforts. YOU are our greatest hope for connecting them with the many residents who want to rebuild here but have learned they will not be able to afford it. A square of shingles is approaching $60 here but can be bought for $35 a few states over, sheetrock is a rare commidity with caps on how much you can buy. We have families in need of building supplies and there are over 500 skilled volunteer workers in our area, but getting them building supplies is very difficult! PLEASE let people know they CAN do something for Waveland & Bay St.Louis by calling the Hancock County Emergency Operations Center at (228) 466-8200 or by visiting www.hancockeoc.com

Thank you very much for taking a moment to spend some time in the Bay/Waveland area. By keeping the spotlight on these two small towns, the rest of America is able to see not only the devastation, but the closeness and rebuilding that each town yields. Thank you for an in-depth look at our neighbors and friends. Thanks to your coverage, America will continue to see that although we are down, we will persevere. The Bay/Waveland area will take its past and build a bigger and brighter future for generations to come.

"Each dawn holds a new hope for a new plan, making the start of each day the start of a new life."

I lost my house in Waveland about 1/2 mile off the beach. For the first time in my 46 years I had found a wonderful paradise I knew I would live in forever. I never fully understood the scope of these disasters in the past. It's like losing the love of your life, your wife and best friend. It's been over 4 months and I still don't believe it's real. I keep trying to wakeup and everything will be back again.

Thanks for showing recovery of Bay St. Louis and Waveland, but all the other cities on the coast were hit very hard, such as Ocean Springs, Pascagoula, Pass Christian, Biloxi, and Gulfport. Why not show their recovery of the Katrina ruins too..

If MSNBC had to pick the most devestated and damaged area of the gulf coast, they couldn't have picked better. They brought a spot light to an area that was overshadowed by news about New Oleans. I hope they continue to cover Mississippi and to spread along the coast a lot more towards the east. Downtown Pass Christian and Long Beach were also badly meesed up. All I can say is keep up the good work.

It is very critical to maintain coverage of the recovery from Katrina, the people of the area need to know that have support from the outside, and the people outside need to know of the progress, there is tremendous values at stake, the homes of thousands of people, the businesses of thousands and the honesty of their representatives, as the amounts of money injected in that area are huge. It is taxpayer funds and as a result require monitoring, as public officials and Washington officials have not demonstrated the best practises in these areas. A great deal has been learned from this horror of a storm, and the rebuilding of all these areas is vitally important to the values of Americans and the people of New Orleans, Louisiana, Alabama, and Missisisppi.

I am so happy to see that some attention has been turned to Mississippi. I realize that the people of New Orleans have suffered but they are not the only ones. There are so many more small towns out there that are stuggling to survive also. As well as the families in Southwest Louisiana in Cameron and Cacasieu parishs. Keep up the good work.

As usual great reporting and great responses from ALL who continue to show they CARE too...from all over the country...we will continue to offer our thoughts and prayers...and our giving 10% of every dollar we rec in new HEALTH member sign up - and for more afforadble healthcare in ALL 50 US States - this reporting is so very much needed!

THANK You MSNBC - for you have SAVED many lives from being forgotten about!

Agape,
---------------
Stephen Rene
www.eBusinessProfessionals.us
Changing Lives for the Better Everyday!
This could absolutely change your life - too!
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God bless you and thank you for keeping the world informed of our beautiful towns. It helps me keep connected to my community. Keep up the great work. And God bless Hancock County and its incredible people!

Those who really have been forgotten are the people of SW Louisiana who were hit by Rita. There are whole towns that have been wiped out and there has not been one mention of them.

Mike, have enjoyed this site. Have been to the Bay and Waveland to help out and just love to read the daily updates of this beautiful area. The people have surely touched my life and I hope to return soon. Please keep up your informative work so that this area will not be forgotten. God Bless all those on the coast and MSNBC.

As a two-time volunteer with Catholic Charities in the Biloxi area, I am enthralled by your coverage of the Bay-Waveland Area. Keep up your great reporting and keep it linked to the MSN homepage. Progress is being made in the area, but is painfully slow. You need to keep the Gulf Coast and New Orleans in the minds of the citizens of the world. Much work remains to be done.

Thank you MSNBC. I can't tell you how much it has meant to me that someone cared to report on more than just New Orleans. I still meet people every week that assume that since I am an evacuee that I must have lost it all from the storm that "hit" New Orleans. It's amazing that in this modern day, people can still be so uneducated about something as big as this.

Before you fade out a bit, I would like to ask you to check out Hope Haven in Waveland. It is a shelter for battered and abused children that has been doing much for the community that has supported it over the years, while trying to get back on its feet. Terry Latham is the director, and has been a real plus to the home. You can find him through their website at or email me, and I will give you his contact information. With the coast hurting so much now, Hope Haven could use the attention and support from those outside to assist it in helping the children of the local community.

My thanks to those that have helped thus far!

God Bless.

Jane Anderson

I am just thrilled that one media outlet still desires to keep track of the folks on the Gulf Coast. I am still in shock that the President can go before the cameras in Jackson Square and promise to do what is necessary to rebuild the region ... and before the end of the month, make like he had completely forgotten what he had promised.

All I can say is I am glad that MSNBC and NBC have been responsible in their coverage that Washington and the President's misguided handlers would have us believe.

Having served in the Air Force for 28 years, I lived in Biloxi from 1974-75 and 1981-1985. I've been there many times on business. I sure feel sorry for that area.

Thanks! Look forward to the comprehensive reports!

Thank you for continuing to update the public on the progress of rebuilding on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. I am an expat living in the Philippines and only receive the television international news. Your coverage and photos make me feel "closer to home".

I'll like to think MSNBC for providing these stories about Bay St. Louis. A few years ago I learned that my Dad's family is from Bay St.Louis. From your stories along The Hancock County Historical Society's publishing of "Celebrating The First 300 Years" I've learn a lot about the area where my grandfather was born and rised.

My brother Charles is living 100 yds from the beach in a mobile trailer from FEMA. He has 18 months to rebuild. He was in a tent. Near Bay St. Louis & Waveland border. His reports are that it is wild sometimes at night with not much protection. He ran off looters just a few nights ago. You are on your own. Eventually this area will be back. It will take years.

well i guess no more dailey's will encourage me to go to work....instead of setting at the computer...but it was always good to hear of any progress....all and all thanks MSNBC.

I am sorry that the web address for those of you who also wish to visit it for Hope Haven accidentally got deleted. It is .

Many thanks to all of you who have helped all of us hit by Katrina.

Thanks for everything but mostly for not forgetting us. Will keep looking for upcoming articles.

Like all the others, I am grateful for the coverage of Bay/Waveland. I guess the real story is how heroic each one of us can be when our neighbor is in need, or our loved ones and most impressively, strangers face devastating circumstances. When Katrina came, it was your neighbor who carried you to the second floor, and then the attic if you were in a wheelchair and didn't evacuate. It was your neighbor who took you in, when your house was a pile of sticks. It was your neighbor, in a far away state, who came in firetrucks, or with dogs to find the living and help to care for and locate the dead. I know so many heros and heroines, just people I grew up with... people of courage and fortitude and faith. I have been overwhelmed by the compassion and generosity of our country. So thank you MSNBC for telling the story. Thank you Bay St. Louis and Waveland for being who you are, and thank you friends and neighbors from across the country for caring and helping. We are all made better and wiser by this terrible storm, if only in the way it has panned for the gold in our make up and who we are has surfaced for all to see. We live in an age where the trivial and vain seems to fill our television sets, and the heroic has seemed a bit naive, and old fashioned. I thank God that compassion and courage have not died in this country. I am proud to be an American, and to call Bay St. Louis my home town.

I wish this story were over...but like Ms. Wahler said, it isn't. I'd like to wake up from the nightmare and find that everything is back the way it used to be. But it's not, and it won't be for a long long time, if ever. So please, America, don't forget the people of the coast. When 911 happened, they sent firetrucks and people to help cook for the first responders. It took a long time to clear up after Sept. 11th and it was a very small area compared to the sweep of Katrina's arms on the coast. It will take years for life on the coast to feel anything like normal. So please, if you can, try to plan a trip down to help. Go to any of the towns on the coast, a week of your time will change your life forever, and help someone else's move on. To volunteer see: www.disastercorps.org/

We want to thank MSNBC for your support and for keeping the nation appraised of our progress in The Waveland and Bay St. Louis area. My Husband and I had recently bought our retirement residence in Waveland. We had finished remodeling and furnishing it just three months before Katrina hit.

We still plan to retire there and are working with our Church in Minnetonka, MN, Ridgewood Community Church, to continue sending relief to this area. Specefically we are working with the Calvary Baptist church on McLauran and Longfellow. I have spent weeks helping sort and distribute clothing and food to the residents of this area. At one point we were receiving NEW CLOTHING from companies in New York. However, three weeks back or maybe four the companies called and turned thier trucks back saying that they had seen a TV special pointing out the misuse of clothing and how it was being sold off. While there may be people taking advantage of the clothing in some areas I had not seen that to be the case at the church where I was working. I truly wish I could explain the expressions on people's faces when they would see new clothes in our tent. There was such a glow. So many of the clothes being donated to us were used and in many cases not cleaned and were very worn, so you know what a treat it was to have something new.

Don't misunderstand me many of the clothes donated to us were in great shape and clean and many of the baby clothes and toddler clothes coming in were bought new and given to us. However, New Clothes in many sizes was just the greatest. It so sad that the wrong doings of a few can stop the aid that so many still need. As the weather chnages so do the needs of the people. What they needed when it was 90's plus is different than what they need now with the rainy season upon them and the temps in 30's to 50's. Yes there are warmer days now and then, but is is much cooler now than in September and October.

So many people still do not have cars, share rides with neighbors and do still need help in so many areas. If clothes are given and food donated funds are left available for medical supplies, and building materials.

The nation has been very generious, but know there is still a need for the necessities. We are still boiling water in so many areas. Having water still donated for free pickup is a major help.

I Pray someone will contact me and let me share with them some of the needs we have in the Waveland area.

will take new roads and highway with developers and buyers paying for land from people who had homes there.

I want to thank MSNBC for all the excellent coverage you have provided of the Bay-Waveland area. It is so important that the rest of this nation get a view of the disaster that puts a face on it. It is only if people can relate to what others are going through that they will be motivated to action, be it through volunteerism, donations, or through the political process. Your stories have done this well! From a personal aspect, I have enjoyed seeing reports of the area I grew up in. I still recognize many of the persons/entities spotlighted. As after Camile, this will be a years, if not decades, long process. I hope MSNBC maintains the follow-up they promise!

Thank you so much for the daily updates and thank you for continuing them in a broader format. You have been the only network to keep an eye focused on the Gulf Coast and we all know your efforts have contributed to the progress being made there. Through your reports on Waveland/Bay St Louis, we have been able to get a glimpse of what our North Biloxi relatives must be going through. As someone who could only give a monetary contribution, I would also like to say thank you to those who have been able to give of their time - the 'invisible' groups from schools, churches, businesses, civic organizations, and just plain folk from across the United States who continue to show up all along the Coast as volunteers, doing whatever is needed. My niece's church in Mobile AL did Thanksgiving dinner for a small fishing community along the Alabama coast and she was amazed at the number of other church and school groups who are still coming to help. The 'silent majority' is alive and well. Thank you for continuing your coverage. God Bless.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR COVERAGE OF THE MS. COAST. WE LIVED IN THE BAY AND ATTENDED CHURCH IN THE PASS.
WE RETURN PERIODICALLY FOR CHURCH AND TO OUR HOUSE, ABOUT A 250 MILE ROUNDTRIP. PROGRESS IS SLOW BUT PROGRESS IS MADE. THE BAY WILL RISE AGAIN, FOR BETTER OR WORSE. I STILL FEEL SHELLSHOCKED. I MISS OUR HOME, OUR FRIENDS AND JUST THE BAY. IT IS A HOMESICKNESS. THANX, EDDIE DAVIS, ALABAMA

I was sad today when I sat down for my usual lunchtime routine - grab a sandwich and log on to msnbc.com to see what is happening along the Gulf Coast. When the website came up, the link to Rising from Ruin wasn't in its usual place, but instead was along the right column. I guess it is kind of like everything else. Eventually, people forget the suffering of others because no one tells them about it. It becomes less and less important. While I do deeply appreciate the time and attention that MSNBC has given to this coverage and in providing this wonderful website, it troubles me that there will be less coverage now. The only hurricane aftermath coverage we are seeing now on the news is about New Orleans. We have seen nothing about those towns in SW Louisiana that were wiped out by Rita. We are seeing very little, perhaps only a passing mention occasionally, of those towns along the Gulf Coast devastated by Katrina. I guess the people of the United States will be able to sleep a little easier now, knowing that their fellow Americans in the Deep South are doing great now that they're back on their feet. I mean, after all, once you have a FEMA trailer, life is back to normal, right? Thanks, MSNBC, for what you have done but PLEASE don't push this aside and let America forget. I guess I'll be like Andy now and have to get back to work.

Thanks for letting the world know about us. I feel there are some many stories that have not been told.
The seniors in high school (what about them?) No one helped them with a prom, a home coming. They missed so much. All the people that have no homes but jobs to go to, or homes to repair but no time because they have a job. (yes, a job is a great thing to still have but so difficult to go to after sleeping in a tent, in a FEMA trailer or after digging thru your home trying to find your life)
I have been working at my job and on my home. I was on the list for help but if I waited my home would just be getting started now.
No one seeked to assitance us in my neighborhood. No family adopted my family nor my children for christmas. I see all these wonderful stories but I do not see the story of the lone ranger, doing it all alone with no help. Not even taking a break.
Soon there will be a new problem in our towns. Exhaustion----- we will need help with that too.

So many of us still need the prayers. Please keep them going.

after being in lakeshore, ms just west of waveland, it was nice to feel like i was still connected down there. thanks for all the coverage you did. can't wait for the updates.

I miss big link on the main msnbc.com - but I bookmarked the site and will be checking in for more information. I spent 10 days in Gulfport in November doing relief work, and hope to travel down to help rebuild during the spring. I don't think people have any idea what it really like down there - please don't let us forget!

May GOD contine to Bless MSNBC.I grew up in Waveland,and still have family in Waveland and Bay St Louis.Reading your articles everyday helped me in so many ways.Because there were no phones,I depended on MSNBC to keep me informed on everything that was happening.I even found out that a family member that was missing is alive thanks to MSNBC.I will contine read MSNBC.THANK YOU,THANK YOU,THANK YOU,THANK YOU

Dear Average citizen, I don't know where you are with your house, or what it needs, but disaster corps might be able to help. I don't know how they rank needs, but it's worth a shot. We had our kids working with them gutting houses, and they had people supervising the work that was done. I know they are looking for skilled craftsmen now, to help: electricians, etc. So they obviously do more than gutting. I wish I were better with directions, but they're located at the ballfield in Bay St. Louis. Not the SSC field, but the other one, closer to the library, I want to say it is down Caroll Ave, but maybe it's DeMontluzin. Sorry for such a lame discription. They also have a phone number on their web site: 252-883-1776. I hope you get some help. It's too heavy a load to carry without a little breather. God bless you. Hang in there.

i know it's a time of change.....but is taking....Mississippi's web page from your top page....gonna help ya????....geeez

shoot....man...i thought about it ....if i'm gonna hafta go back to work.....MSNBC...should send me a helper....for spoiling me.....SEND the da** helper NOW!!!

Although now in CT, I grew up spending my weekends on the Jourdan River in Kiln and eating po-boys at Lil' Rays in Waveland. This part of the country is truly God's country! Just got back from Bay St. Louis in Dec. delivering goods and volunteering at the Supply Tent at Main St. Methodist Church in the Bay. Linda's 1/9/09 posting is so true regarding clothes. While volunteering, a man came in looking for a suit to wear to his grandfather's funeral. I had nothing at that time to offer him. I wanted so much to cry - I felt so helpless. Regarding the change in weather, pray for all of those individuals who find themselves in uninsulated FEMA trailers. I'll go back with a Disaster Response team next week and look forward to my continued work.
URGENT NEED: I received a call from the lead teacher at one local school with the following need...
IS ANYONE DRIVING FROM THE D.C. AREA IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS? SOMEONE IN THE D.C. (VIRGINIA) AREA HAS OFFICE DIVIDERS READY TO DONATE TO C.B. MURPHY ELEMENTARY (formerly in Pearlington but temporarily housed in trailers in Kiln). BUT, SHIPPING COSTS HAVE PREVENTED THEM FROM BEING DELIVERED. Please contact me at 860-651-7148 if you can add these to your delivery to the Waveland/Kiln area.
Thank you.

Thank you for all the great info from MS. I've checked this site every day and will continue to look for new info. While I've never been to MS or the Gulf Coast, how can you not feel something for people who lost sooo much? When you see how the GOVT and the insurance companies are allowed to get away with treating people like sh**, you could at least read about some of the good on this site. To all the people dealing with this trajedy, please know there are a lot of us praying for you - and hoping somehow we'll be able to help in the future.

The website for Hope Haven once again is www.hopehavenshelter.org.
I hope that it doesn't get deleted this time.

Man ....ya'll ain't forgot.....as long as i draw a breath.....and hopely....many more like me!!!!!....GO MISSISSIPPI!!!!....we will overcome this s***

I want to thank MSNBC for focusing on the Bay and Waveland - I was born and raised in Bay St. Louis and have lived here all my life, including the past 4 months! It is really unbelievable that if you were to come here, it would look to you like the storm hit yesterday! However, I can see improvements everyday! I would like to share some of my stories and first hand accounts of the truth and how it has been here since the storm - and how far we have come! Without the out pouring of love, compassion and generosity of the great people in this country, I'm not sure if many of us would have survived AFTER the storm. It has been the Mississippi National Guard (cleared our streets within a couple of days so we could get to our rubble), private citizens and Christine groups that have given us food, water, ice, helped us Gut our homes, and most of all - Hope!! If I receive feedback from this email that you are interested in hearing more from the Bay, or if anyone wants to know the truth about a particular subject, I will write more. If I do not have accurate information on something you want to know, I will be totally honest and tell you so.

T. Ryan, Bay St. Louis, MS

I think the only way that areas other than New Orleans got any help was from the news people going in and telling us about their plight. Also, the informtion from the citizens makes us see not only the individual plight, but the community plight as to libraries and other projects that would ordinarily be overlooked. We American's are very much out of sight, out of mind people. This not only is one of our nations greatest natural disasters, but one that showed us we have a long way to go in govermental efficiency, race relations and may other facets of life. I share the feelings of many of others that if the story is not there all the time it will be forgotten. KEEP TELLING THE STORY EVERYDAY.

Since Mississippi stayed focused and did not erupt into the chaos of New Orleans, it did not get the media coverage. Keep the word out that Mississippi suffered perhaps greater destruction, and its people deserve praise and support for the way they have conducted themselves.

I cannot begin to thank MSNbC for the coverage they provided to the nation in regards to our little communities. I was fortunate enough to spend time with Miguel and James when they did my profile and I feel like I was treated with the utmost care and respect. How many news agencies would keep staff in the area to report when every other agency pulled out? MSNBC understood that in order to be accurate, they must be HERE...so they stayed. Thank you MSNBC, for your professionalism and compassion. Thank you all who cared to hear about us, check on us and contribute time, money tears, encourageent and prayers to all of us on the coast. We will not soon forget your kindness. We have far to go before we will see "normal" agan..but we are strong, and we will be back!

I went down to Bay St Louis for relief work the week before Thanksgiving and was amazed to not only see the scope of Katrina's destruction but the still-stunned looks on the faces of many of the locals.

While our group did much hard physical work for most of the daylight hours available to us, I feel that our biggest contribution was just being there to listen to these people's stories and provide some reassurance that we wouldn't be the last assistance to come their way.

One such story we found in Waveland.

Montford had open heart surgery to replace a bad valve a few days before Katrina and, barely surviving the storm, was living in a tent surrounded by debris when we arrived. He hadn't seen anyone at his home since it was spraypainted uninhabitable some 75 days earlier. He was near despair. We cleared his lot of the trees/debris (so the Fema trailer could be delivered), left him some cash and maybe just a little hope.

We are planning to return to Bay St Louis in April and have been advised by a local that people are 'starting to get fed-up' with the slow pace of reconstruction and may 'take matters into their own hands'.

I am not sure what that means, but I do know that people with hope have more patience than those that don't.

Thank you for covering other states (such as Texas) instead of just New Orleans,your great!

I just wanted to let the rest of the Bay Waveland community, know that there is a computer repair service, in the area. Beach Front Computer Service, which is an appropiate name for the business is located at Buccaneer State Park. Operating from their FEMA trailer, they managed to get my laptop, back up and running, so I could communicate with the rest of the online world. KUDOS to Beach Front for staying in the Bay Waveland community, as we will need a company like theirs in the rebuilding of our two great towns! Thanks guys!!

Average citizen, the ballfield Laurie is talking about is McDonald Field where the girls play. It's at Dunbar and Ulman. Keep the faith. It will get better. We who are displaced are still praying for you and letting the folks know where we are to keep sending help. May God bless you and keep you in His arms.

From your Florida Brethren!
As a team member of a Florida Emergency response team, I spent 3 weeks in Hancock County. We arrived a couple days after the storm. Our mission was to set up satellite comms for govt agencies as well as Fire and Police. As rudimentary as our accomodations were, I felt enormous sympathy for you all. We were lucky for the fact that we stayed at the jail compound where we could shower every other day. We slept in tents and woke every day to travel to Waveland and Pass Christian as well as Stennis area. Even as a Floridian, the damage was astounding to us. It was almost a helpless feeling that we could not do more for the people there. Many a day, we just drove the neighborhoods, helping people in any way we could, cutting trees, moving debris, handing out food.
The photos we took and shared with our families and friends were stunning in magnitude, but it served a purpose, to let the rest of the country know just what happened there and not just New Orleans. It was an honor to have served there. All of Florida is has you in our thoughts. The people there are a true inspiration for hard work and fortitude. I would like to someday return and spend some quality time and have a beer or two with the locals, and maybe sail.

I live in Gulfport MS. it is just a few miles from bay st louis. We were hit also. One of the great things about this comunity is the spirit of the people that call this place home. this has brought out the good in a lot of people. neighbors are helping neighbors in every way to get back on their feet and "recover from the ruins". I also want to acknowledge the local governments and the power company. They worked very hard to get life back to normal ,as much as possible, as fast as they could and also to the local businesses that opened back up so fast. that really helped keep spirits high in this devestation. The citizens here are determined to rebuild. That spirit is enough to make me want to stay here. We were devastated but God has given us the strength to stand up in pride again. thanx for the coverage you are giving to our comunity.

Thank you for your daily coverage for these many weeks. 'Glad to hear that you will still be carrying the citizen blogs. I, too, have this site bookmarked and return to it often to see how things are going for the folks in the towns. They and the work teams continue to be in our thoughts and prayers.

The ignorant posts by "Andy, ms" unfortunately highlight the mis-information and uneducated inclination that some fellow Americans actually believe about the people of Mississippi. Some people actually believe we deserve this tragedy or that we brought it on ourselves somehow. "Andy's" attitude is unmistakeable and unfortunate (for him) and seems to try and demean and dismiss the real heartache and tragedy that real human beings have suffered. It's a suffering that will last for years and years. Some of those *real* human beings died in this horrible storm. What greater heartache is there?

I wonder, what will people like "Andy" do when next time around, it's their homes, their families, their children, and their communities that are destroyed by a horrible natural disaster? I wonder if he would like to be ridiculed and mocked? I wonder if he would like his real troubles and pain to be dismissed flippantly.

I pray that nothing like Katrina happens to anyone else, including "Andy", because it is so horrible, you really can't grasp the full scale of the devestation until you come and see for yourself.

Come and travel Highway 90, for 27 miles of our once beautiful Mississippi Coast. Come see for yourself what has happened to fellow Americans, then see if you can possibly stomach your own ignorant and insensitive remarks.

Thank you for all you good folks who have helped and prayed for us.

This has been my link to the home I had to leave. You are writing about the people I know and love- the police officer from Bay High, the real estate agent who sold us our first house, some of the guys who used to hang out at the Good Life and sing kareoke. And if anyone knows how or what to do in order to help out with Bay High's prom, please do it. Those are my kids who I taught since they were Sophomores. It broke my heart to leave them. Anything anyone can do to help them, please do so. Thank you for helping me keep in touch with the Bay St. Louis and Waveland I still pine for.

it's nice to see the news of mississippi somewhere and I thank all who are keeping it out there. My situation is still in the holding pattern.Waiting, waiting... for insurance moneys, for a place to live and my sanity to go back to work. I worked for a casino and right now I have no smile to share with anyone not even myself. Pass Christian is the last area for everything because it is so isolated from the storm. Thanks for keeping the focus.

Shawna,Biloxi Ms. you have missunderstood....i am very pro MISSISSIPPI....shoot...i live here.....Mississippians need help....every way we can get it....and i'm willing to help my own people....any way i can....sorry...i'm still sad....and yes....maybe alittle mad at the way this diaster has been handled....call on me if you need something....i'll do my best to help....but don't make me a villian.....cause i ain't

Hey, T. I remember you from OLA! My mom talked with you at Thanksgiving... I hope you are hanging in there. I know you've got a heavy load to carry. I would love to have seen a story about the Mississippi National Guard! From what I hear, those guys were there to do whatever needed to be done, right from the start! I saw some great pictures of them cleaning up the OLA gym! Makes me so proud and it was really comforting to hear that when no help was there for you guys, when things were so desperate...they were there. It was so hard, not knowing if you were all ok...I don't know where you were during the storm, but as I remember, you were always pretty tough! A trait that I am sure has come in handy! I know you are proud, but, if you need help, sometimes it's ok to let someone share the burden. God bless you and give you strength and direction.
P.S. T, I try to write stories for our paper here every few weeks about Bay/Waveland. I'd be interested in hearing what you have to say.

I volunteered for about seven weeks in the Biloxi area, then went to Bay St. Louis and found it was much like my home town of Abingdon, Virginia. I've put online a website, http://www.baystlouis.us, and hope to help document the recovery effort there, as well as provide some basic information for residents and potential volunteers.

I will appreciate any advice on this website from residents or former residents. Within the year I hope to turn this site over to a local school group in Hancock County, and will continue to provide hosting. Any suggestions will be welcomed. I'll be back in the area during February and will be volunteering with several different groups.

Dear Average Citizen, let me know who you are and where you live. What are the ages of your children? what do they like. I may be able to help. Howver late!

Thanks Carol, you can e-mail me at oftheof@bellsouth.net.
Thanks for the info about the center at the ball field, I have been there to get a few things. They are a great group of people.

Richard...This is a great site! Thank you so much for putting it all together! We heard from people who wanted to help at Thanksgiving that they searched the internet and couldn't find any contacts, so they finally just jumped in their car and came down... Hopefully, your site will show up when folks do searches. I particularly appreciated all the links that you have assembled in one place. The aerial tour of Waveland... wow. I can refer people who want to know more to your site for just about everything. Well done... you are a good a faithful friend to the people of the Bay/Waveland area. God bless you!

You can continue to follow the daily events of our area by viewing www.wlox.com and www.sunherald.com. Also, I saw an advertisement that the weather channel is doing a segment about Katrina on Sunday 1/22 at either 6:30 or 7:30 in the evening. For anyone that would like to help the animals that have been left behind please get in touch with the animal shelter in Waveland.

Dear Average Citizen, I tried to reach you at the above address and the mail was returned???

Thank you for keeping this in the news. I live in Calcasieu Parish Louisiana and took a direct hit from Hurricane Rita. There are 5 homes on our block that have been destroyed. Every where you look in Calcasieu you see blue tarped roofs. I returned home the day after Rita hit. It was horrible. Looked like a bomb had dropped in the center of Lake Charles and knocked every tree down. Some major companies have not opened and this is 4 months since the hurricane. Many restaurants, only open from 4 PM to 8 PM. Even major chain stores close at 6 PM. Life is not normal. People are living in half their homes as the other half have trees through them. We fight daily with insurance companies for help.

Having said the above, that is nothing..I visited Cameron and Holly Beach ...MSNBC Needs to visit with Cameras. These people have been washed off the face of this Earth. There is nothing left. Pictures just don't do it. I am now use to seeing damage all around but when I saw this area, I cried and cried. Holly Beach..I almost missed it. Just sticks left. Not one home or a piece of a home left. These people need so much help. I have heard some insurance is denying their homeowner claims. Saying the loss was due to flood not wind. Well what drove the water in.....wind. So sad. Pay so long on policies to only find out that they refuse to cover when you have a total loss. I invite MSNBC down to the Cameron/Calcasieu area where Rita hit. We are also tired of hearing about Katrina. We did our share here. We had over 10,000 Katrina evacuees when Rita hit. We feel like everyone has forgotten there is a western side of the State of Louisiana.

Laurie,CO.....if you figgered out how to get to Richard's website....tell me ....i can't.....gee i guess i'm computer....illiterate...or ...something

andy, and anyone else having trouble...accessing Richard's web site: just type in www.baystlouis.us and don't try to use the link. That should get you there. I don't have outlook set up on my computers so the links never work. Can't figure out how to answer the set up questions right... So do it the old fashioned way and it should work.

Average citizen, I'm really glad you had some luck with the folks at disaster corps!

I moved out to Bay St Louise as a missionary with my mom and dad to help the people here. i didn't know that i would really fall in love with all the people here. we are at the st stanislause field and feed the town three times a day, muck and gut out houses and don't plan to leave this city until God moves us out. I have an old miss hat, a rebel hat with the ms flag, and trying to get a rockachaw hat so that when i go home and talk to the churches that i come in contact with or when people on the streets ask me what is old miss or what is a rebel flag? or what is a rocketchaw, i can tell them the story of all the people still here in all the devistation. i can take the people that i love back with me and tell thier stories......peace and God bless. I'll be gone for twenty days in feb and will be back for another month after that.......peace and God bless all, see ya at the tent....seven am to nine am, twelve pm to two pm, and five pm to seven pm for meals.

andy- he accidently left the comma in after the us - just go to www.baystlouis.us

Andy have you gotton into Richard's website?. I just typed baystlouis.us and it brought it right up.
Also, Carol don't know why your e-mail is not going thru that is the correct address.
oftheof@bellsouth.net
To everyone out there not from the area it is starting to look like progress with clean-up is being made with most business. Lots are closed and probably won't return which is not good but we can see the cleanup really happening.

I was searching the web for sites related to Waveland, MS with nothing to do with New Orleans (I LOVE New Orleans, but I live in Waveland) and Hurricane Katrina when I came across this GREAT site. I live south of the tracks in Waveland. I can still hear and smell Waveland as I walked about a mile and half to get to my house. For everyone on the Gulf Coast and particually the people in Waveland and Bay St. Louis the day that we returned home (what was left) are forever etched into our minds. The media has lost track of the people that Katrina affected, they would rather focus on the POLTICS. Everytime I hear FEMA this.. and Bush that... I can't help but think about my neighbors, my mom's face when she saw the house, and the problems we've endured since the hurricane. I could care less how the help gets to us, just as long as it comes. I lost everything I had ever owned in my life, I'm lucky that I am 22 years old, at least I can start over, most people lost an entire lifetime. So, thank you MSNBC.com for covering the rebuilding phases of Waveland and Bay St. Louis. We need the coverage so we can get the help, we have been looked over way too much in this process. We may not be the cash cow of the South, but we deserve just as much help. I'm grateful for the help that I have seen so far, hopefully this will only encourage more people to donate their time to the rebuilding of my hometown. Thank you.

Christina - I could not have said it better myself - I also lived south of the tracks in Waveland and I too love New Orleans - but you hit the nail on the head with your comments - unfortunately, I am much older than your 22 years, but your comments sounded like they were coming from a very "wise" 22 yr. old - sorry to hear of your family's lose - just remember and make sure you tell your mom: "We will come back and we will all be much stronger and better people for having gone through what we are going through." Thank you MSNBC for all you are doing for us and thanks to the thousands of great people across this country who are still here for us and will continue to be.

THANKS...to all of ya'll....guess...i'd be a real dummie.....withouth your help....good to here from everyone!!!!...i just got updated this evening....the 23rd

Someone asked: What besides money do they need? I can't answer for any one family, but I can say from general experience that people need to know that someone is praying for them and supporting them with KIND words...apparently it means a great deal to the people trying to recover who read this site. Also...they really do need physical "boots on the ground" support. If you have a church group, if you have a bunch of guys with strong bodies and hearts, if you have a skill, of any kind...please donate a week of your time to help. The Corps of Engineers is cleaning debris in Bay/Waveland and it is going very slowly. People need help gutting homes, clearing debris, dry wall, you name it. To find organizations where you can stay, and with whom you can work, check the volunteer section at www.baystlouis.us . I guarantee your life will be changed forever and hopefully you can help someone else's move just a bit further down the road to recovery. If you can't work, can you tell friends and others about this site and the terrible situation that still exists for so many people on the Gulf Coast? Can you write? People need to know that others are aware of their situation and that even if they are not on the evening news, that they have not been forgotten and will not be. Whatever you have, you have something that could help and people will be very grateful for your kindness. I guarantee it.

My husband was raised in Bay St. Louis and his mother now lives in Gulfport and has for a good number of years. We were down there with our three children over Thanksgiving to see her and could not believe the destruction and devestation. Even I remember from our honeymoon and every year we come for Mardi Gras how beautiful a place this was and still is. But even my husband who is 27 years old and I don't think has cried but once in the ten years we've been together couldn't drive along Hwy 90 without crying. All my kids who are 6, 4, and 10 mos. wanted was to see the ocean. We were glad we didn't have to explain. All they know is a Hurricane hit where their Nana lives. The Gulf Coast was a beautiful place and will be again. I am from Missouri but have lived in Mississippi and it is a great state with strong people and you will get it together again. Next time I see it I hope it is as beautiful as it once was.

We here in Baton Rouge are rather sick and tired of hearing about New Orleans also. If the people of New Orleans would stick together like the people of Southwest Louisiana and the Coast of Mississippi they would not look so pathetic. Not all the people in New Orleans think they do not have to work at rebuilding. Only the ones that were use to being handed a living from the Federal Gov't think this. The ones that have never done a hard day's work. Come on America, it is the media showing New Orleans, not the good people of New Orleans that are doing as much as they can every day to get things back up and running. All of these people before me are right. The media must stop reporting all the small stuff. We want more attention on "ALL" OF THE SMALL COMMUNITIES affected by Katrina and Rita.

I have been fortunate to be able to go to MS.,"Katrinas Kitchen," twice and work with a great group of volunters helping to feed the workers and homeless. It's amazing how God is using volunters to reach the hurting folks. A kind word and prayer goes a long way along with the work that we did. You can't imagine the damage without being there, and you can't imagine how appreciative the people are that we were feeding. I didn't hear or see anyone complaining or with poor attitudes. They blessed us as much as we blessed them.

folks I'm a 67 year old retired plumber, electrician and carpenter. any info on volunteering available. such as a place to stay and food. I have a pickup and a lot of tools. I'm not as fast as I once was but I'm available.
my needs are small and I think I could be of help for about a month.

Thank you for your coverage on waveland and bay st louis. I have three children who lost their homes completly, now in fema trailers. Progress is slow here. I am really tired of people talking about Ms getting all the help, we are not. We lost just as much as New Orleans, we had a beautiful coast from biloxi to waveland. All homes are gone it looks like a ghost town. What do you tell a 3 year old when she asks why the water ate her house? The day we came back to see our homes, it smelled of death and it looked like a warzone. I feel for all the people Katrina laid her path on. God bless all. right now mardi gras I am sure is one thing not on my children or grandchildren mine.

Glad to see Waveland and Bay St. Louis getting some much-needed attention after Katrina. They are the "forgotten towns" of that storm, just as Cameron and Holly Beach were in Rita - the forgotten hurricane. Bay St. Louis was a gem, hope it can come back. We spent a great day there just before the storm struck on vacation. Had lunch at a waterfront restaurant that I'm sure is gone, spent time browsing some fascinating shops in the town.

I would like to thank all of the volunteers that have came down here to help. They came from every almost every state in the country.
Thanks to the group from Georgia and Ohio that helped me tear out sheetrock and remove all of the contents from my home.
Thanks to the group from New Jersey and Canada that helped my disabled brother rebuild his home.
Thanks to the group from Ohio that used their heavy equipment to remove the large oak trees from my Moms property.
Thanks to the Mennonites and Amish for repairing my roof when I could get no help from the "on your side" insurance company. They were from Pennsylvania, Ohio, & Kentucky.
Thanks to the group from California that rebuilt my Uncles Church and home.
Thanks to the Baptist Group from Michigan that helped me dispose of debris that was piled up on my driveway(about 2 dumptruck loads).
Thanks to the Covenant Relief from Kansas City Missouri that are helping my neighbors.
Thanks to Basketball star Karl Malone that brought a crew and heavy equipment to help with the cleanup.
Thanks to all for their moral support and monetary donations.

Add our thanks to those others for continuing the news of Waveland & Bay St Louis. We lost our home on Tahiti St in Bay St Louis, but so did all our neighbors. Unfortunately we also lost our next-door neighbor who had remained with her pets. We are so much more fortunate than so many, since we have a home also in Hattiesburg which only suffered minor damage from Katrina. We also have a small guest house here where a colleague who lost her home and possessions on the coast is living. At this time we have great difficulty emotionaly visiting Bay St Louis and Waveland. I can't help standing there, so depressed,weeping for all those who have lost so much and suffered so deeply. I know that GOD will bless them and see them through this, but I also know it will be years before things are restored. Therefore please keep up your great work, alerting the nation to their plight.

I grew up in the New Orleans area and we were lucky enough to have a wonderful summer "camp" in Waveland, just down the street from my grandparents "camp" on Water Street. My dad built ours himself out of second hand supplies he got from a church that had just been torn down. The "camps" were given names and ours was called "The Thing" because my mom loved the tall pine trees and so my dad built the house around it. There were three pine trees growing through the roof of that little one bedroom house. There were lots of screened in porches where we kids slept and lots of love and wonderful memories there. My oldest brother inherited the house and was planning to live there with his fiancee. They were to be married 9 days after Katrina and I had my ticket to go there for the special day to share it with them. They had just finished adding several rooms and a second bathroom, putting a new tin roof on and lots of other things to make it a real home. My brother was so proud and couldn't wait for me to see it. It's gone now. He lost his home, his vehicle, his job, everything. It is devasting. They were married right before Xmas at his son's house, so at least they have each other. I can't tell you how it touches me that you have picked our beautiful small Waveland to focus on. Thank you with all my heart.

the comment from David Jensen...hit's home...this man...is a true AMERICAN!!!...i don't move as fast as i uses't to either...but i still know how to do my job....hats off David...ya'll better find a place for this man to stay.....or i feel Mississippi....will miss out on his skills and knolage

David Jensen -

I've sent you an email with the info you need - if for some reason, you do not receive the email, go to the following site and click on "Volunteer Resources"
www.baystlouis.us

Thank you so much for caring about these two (once beautiful) and always charming cities. My hometown of Waveland, MS is facing a real crisis. I just read an article in the Sun Herald, our local Gulf Coast newspaper, and it says the leaders are going to do a study to see if they should merge to become one city! Dear God, I cannot imagine my hometown being anything other than Waveland! To think Waveland could be forced to have to drop the "Wave" and become "Bay" land?! One part of me thinks that is so silly! The other part of me sees the grim reality we are facing after the wrath of Katrina. People cannot conceive the level of devastation unless you have seen it with your very own eyes! I would love to know where our famous fellow Mississippian (Oprah) is? She came once (in the very beginning when the Katrina story was "hot") and left, never to be seen again! She never popped a tent or brought the Gulf Coast relief. Trust me, I was there every weekend helping any way I could and picking through the muck and mud for pieces of my childhood. I never saw her and/or any of her people (Angel Network). I just don't understand how someone in her position (not to mention being raised in Mississippi) would not chose to have more of a presence in her homestate? I feel (in many ways) she has let her homestate of Mississippi down. I challenged her to come to the Gulf Coast (without the cameras) and roll up her sleeves and get dirty with the rest of us. She has never taken me up on that offer. I was always a fan of Oprah until now. Why is her southern heart not calling her home to help? Oprah always says, "Do what you can." Well, I truly believe she is not doing all that she can. I pray someone out there (who has the financial resources) will adopt either Waveland and/or Bay St. Louis, MS. I absolutely love these two towns and they were such a joy to be raised in. Please, someone help us! Don't let these two towns (each with their own unique charm and history) have to become ONE! Thanks for reading and again... Anyone who can save the day, "Please step up to the plate!" WE NEED YOU! And, I thank you (ahead of time) from the bottom of my big southern heart! God, if you are listening... We deserve a second chance when it comes to making wonderful memories with our family and friends, as well as just feeling like we have a comfortable, charming place to call home once again.

To the Residents of Bay St. Louis,

I was fortunate to visit your community back in the fall of 2002. I was visiting my daughter and 10 month old granddaughter for the first time. They lived in apartments on Montaziulin Ave (I don't know if I spelled that right, or if the the apts. survived the storm )at that time , but they have long since moved.

We would go for walks down to Main Street and visit the quaint shops that lined the street,(which reminds me of one of our small beach communites at Crescent Beach ,White Rock,BC Canada).

One evening we had coffee in the specialty coffee shop, I was admiring the classic car pictures on the wall and had just missed your classic car show, as I am a fan of classic cars.

When my first saw the Gulf of Mexico , my husband and I ran( like a couple of fools, down the sandy white beach and couldn't beleive how warm the water is.

I have my memories and pictures of our week long visit and will never forget warmth of your town's hospitaliy. We can only imagine the hardships but we do plan on returning to visit in the future and will see Bay St. Louis again as we remember it.

How about Wave St. Louis! And Gulfloxi or Biloport! Be creative folks! Nobody wants to change the town names. The mayor of neither town is going to allow their proper town to be dissolved. Just get on with the "rising " part and help those people get their lives back to normal. I lived in Waveland and went to school in Bay St. Louis. The idea of joining is just silly, not worth thinking about.

It was nice to finally get to read about Ms. and the problems they have had to endure. Keep up the good work. Would like to see somethings on Long Beach I lived on 3rd Street which was 3 blocks from the beach the house is no more. I have all the sympathy for New Orleans but they are not the only people who lost their homes and their memories, but memories can't be taken from you they are always in your heart.

I THINK GOD DOES THINGS FOR A REASON.WHEN THERE IS A CATASTROPHY PEOPLE TEND TO UNITE AND BE OF SERVICE TO ONE ANOTHER , AND YOU SEE THE TRUE MEANING OF BROTHERLY LOVE.