there is a mighty oak standing and a flag flyin'....2 generations of memories...i know what i would do...ya'll know too

It would be a shame for that area to go commercial. It was so beautiful. However, I can understand if it is your choice to move on.

Shame on the city, county, state if hotels and/or condos are built here. That would be creating the likelihood of so much more disaster for those foolish/naive enough to buy them.

Going commerical would be a shame, but living the devastation and the heartbreak again would be disasterous. My feelings would be to make this beautiful area a monument and the government buy out all the residents, give them a home away from home.
maybe not a beauitful but at least safe from hurricanes.

Looking at the 360-degree panoramic display, Woody's oak tree isn't the only one standing. Makes sense to me to return the neighborhood to what it was.

What is it with MSNBC and technology. They insist on using Flash everywhere. And not very intelligently. What the heck does putting series of still shots into a movie format do for you? The sound doesn't correlate with the pictures. And more flash animation in the banner.

Take a page from the Beeb, and learn how to use technology to enhance a story, not detract from it.

My friend,the tree is not the deep roots that hold that ground together, it's the heart of your faimily .God does these things for a reason,good and bad. Good luck with whatever you do.

Don't let the republicans get a hold of it they will want to cut it down!!! Calling it progress!

"They will not build and someone else have occupancy, they will not plant and someone else do the eating. Like the days of a tree will the days of my people be."
A prophesy for our time from Isaiah 65:22

Stand tall, like your mighty oak. Don't let anyone come there and cut it down so they can build tiny cardboard lego block looking houses and name the street after the tree they just cut down to build them. I saw it happen to Florida - don't let it happen to the upper gulf coast. That is such a special area (as if I have to tell you) and too many areas have already been destroyed by developers that just don't care about anything but their bankroll.
You just keep being strong Woody! You have your health, your family, and that Oak to watch over. Then again, it may be watching over you and yours.

Don't let the Democrats get a hold of it, or they'll spend millions trying to save one tree, calling it "helping the poor."

Looks amazingly similar to the Survivor Tree at the Oklahoma City National Memorial.

but if the democrats get ahold of it it will take a specail commitee to figure out what it is and spned a billion dollars to protect it

"....he wants, the neighborhood like it used to be...." Ironically, I live in Covington, LA, to which this family and tens of thousands of other people who lost homes have moved, and I would love to have back the neighborhood I lost to Katrina, too. As long-term Covington residents repair damage from many thousands of old trees down, and try to recover income (my sales of handmade items have been so low since Katrina that I'm living on a bank loan and food stamps while I develop and launch a website), the rates on all of our utility services have risen, and property values and rents have gone off the chart, because of demand for housing from newcomers with FEMA and/or insurance money. Years ago I moved into the place where I live when it was almost unrentable due to a housing glut, and my rent has been kept low because of my taking care of the house and property for a landlord who didn't have time to tend them. My rent has just gone up 20%--demand for housing is high now, the landlord says... In a town where we might have seen 2 traffic accidents a year in the past, we're more likely to see 2 a week now---car insurance rates will no doubt rise, too. And families clustered together in our small grocery stores complain loudly and incessantly to each other about the length of checkout lines, unlike the place they had to move from, they say---more irony: lines in stores were negligible before the population doubled overnight. A town where people spoke to people we didn't know at the post office, stores, etc., we speak now and aren't responded to by people who just walk on by or look away. Wonder how long it will take for Covington to become one of those places where people don't speak to people they don't know.... Will I stay? I don't know. It's a beautiful area where bald eagles have become more abundant in recent years, due to intense conservation efforts, but politicos are rushing to approve huge developments that will change the landscape drastically and forever--one shopping center will have 2 of the Walton's gigantic box stores as bookends, a 100 acre footprint that water fowl have called home--while we're too busy rebuilding our lives and overwhelmed by the population explosion to stop them. Despite having worked for almost 4.5 decades, I don't qualify for FEMA assistance or most other programs. Neither does a friend in the neighborhood who just paid her newly inflated rent with the last of her savings....and no other rentals to move to around here that will be better. Yep, we'd *all* like our neighborhoods back like they used to be. But since that can't be, those of us providing safe haven to people who lost their homes would surely like the new folks to realize what it's cost us and what we've given up to bring them into our neighborhoods....

I would cut the tree. Turn it into a piece of furniture, and use it in my new home. The new home that's not in the path of the next hurricane. The wise man built his house upon the rock. Not in New Orleans. Lab rats learn faster than these people.

Many old oak trees are the only things left after the storm surge and people still say cut it down and make furniture out of it. Something that has survived all those hundreds of years. Really makes you wonder where some peoples heads are at. It seems all we americans want to do is cut it down and make it new. We need to take a lesson form Europeans who have had to clean up and start over many, many more times than any americans alive.

D.Collins,Southeast, Tn. is beautiful country!..."i've been everywhere man"...many places in our wonderfull country...{The U.S.A} are very nice....but home is home ain't it .....would you wanna move from your home?...i think not ...nor do we

We as humans need to realize that as we are being as honest as possible in our comments, that there are still people with attachments to the region and love ones that they have lost. By all means execise your first amendment right but try to be understanding to the plight of those that lived and died through Hurricane Katrina. Do you say that lab rats are smarter than those in tornado ravaged regions? No. Encouragement to rebuild and gather what was lost is extended. Why not in this situation? Would you cut the tree down on your property or build around in as a symbol of hope and faith had this tragic event happened to you? I would. Again, we need not judge the decisions that people make because if you were in their shoes you have no idea what you'd do. The "you" in this post is plural. Those that get offended know that they are utterly wrong and offensive.

People are what's imporant, not things, not houses or towns or things the way they used to be. Our relationships with other people are what matter. Christians know that this world is not our home, we are merely passing through. We should not get too attached to things. We should be attached to God and He will be with us no matter where we are.

Cutting the tree is not the answer. We all live in different areas, were different "diasters" happen, Earthquake,fire,flood, tornadoes, none of us are immune. Lets see, i believe Tenn. is subject to some off these. Maybe you would be the next lab rat I see on tv. anyway the tree is a sign of life. Disasters are life.
Do you know the difference between major and minor is?
Major is when it happens to me, minor is when it happens to you. I was born in this area, It was beautiful. it will be again. This was major. Stand by your tree in Mississippi.Embrace the history, and tell the planning commission to take a hike. Were they there to plan for this storm? Did they protect you? Keep that beautiful live oak. It is a symbol of southern hospitality and pride. Tennesee, you better hope nothing bad happens to you, and your false sense of security.

I believe I was probably a squirrel in my past life because of my love for any tree. If it were my tree,I would tell whatever Government Office said to cut it down to go visit the devil. I would protect that tree with my life. If you would like some help, Just call. I've been looking for reason to visit my daughter and grandsons in LaFayette. Mr.Cruz, I also wish you and your family all the luck with rebuilding home. I'll say a prayer for you and your family. God Bless you and your tree.

yes i see that there is good living people an with the love an the grace of god i hope all who have lost get a little back. i can not even think of the fear of being without a place toocall home too whom eer reads this please know my family are saying a little prayer that comfort comes your way soon.mike in kentucky

DEFFENTLY KEEP THE TREE IT SURVIVED THE STORM AND IT ISNT READY TO BE TAKEN DOWN. FOR YOU ALL GETTING YOUR HOME BACK DEFFENTLY IN THE SAME SPOT ITS MEMORIES OF A LIFE TIME AND MORE.YEATHERE ARE RUINS BUT LETTING THEM TAKE YOUR PROPERTYAND PUT CONDOS OR OTHER HOUSES THERE IS NOT FOR YOU TO ENJOY. DO SOMETHING FOR YOUR SELVES ITS THE ONLY THING SOME PEOPLE HAVE LEFT. ITS GREAT THERE ARE SO MANY STRONG HEARTS OUT THERE THAT SURVIVED THIS MENTALLY AND PHYSICALY ITS AMAZING HOW MANY PEOPLE GOT THROUGH THIS AND ARE STILL GOING DONT GIVE UP ON YOUR DREAM YOU SURVIVED THIS KEEP GOING!

Katrina is not the only destructions america is facing. oppresions and destructions are infecting our country. I ask that all those who beleive in the one and only true God, to have mercy, not on only us but on all the nations. This might be our finall cry. Only The Father knows. Lets for His will be done and remember His son Jesus and not forget all the great things He has done for His Names sake.