I would just like to say that the people who have remained in these hurricane ravished areas are true hereos.They have been going through an absolute nightmare. Your government, however, should be ashamed of themselves. They have all kinds of money for foreign countries, they should try keeping more at home.

Day by day, week by week, slow signs of progress all around. Yes it will be a long tough road back - but they will make it. The Gulf Coast is is need of laborers, people who don't mind rolling up their sleeves to assist. They wouldn't be where they are today if not for the religious groups and other good samaritans. God bless each and every one of you...until my return this month.

dang good article. precise and to the point

when a scar heals it is tougher than the rest of your skin!!! Heal well MISSISSIPPI

I liked the story for the most part, but why did you have to end it with such gross visual? For myself and my coworker, we wish you could illustrate our pain with a little less gruesome description.

The description was very aptly put. Was the storm not grueseome enough? I appreciated the allegory.

i just returned from volunteering with habitat for humanity in st bernards parish in la--believe me, that area has not recovered. there are maybe 10-15 businesses reopened out of 25,000 and most of them except walgreens and home depot are operating out of trailers in front of their destroyed businesses. there are piles of debris as high as the houses it came out of rotting in the street instead of in the houses. the whole 9th ward looks like the hurricane has just hit yesterday., people have fema trailers but they arent connected to electricity. it is absolutely incomprehensible and unbelievable what it is still like down there and its a shame that the news gives the same spin on the recovery of the area as bush does.

I have been to Biloxi, Mississippi twice as a volunteer since January. From January to my return in March, the difference was incredible- it looked less like a disaster zone and more like a living city beginning to recover.
I hope to return soon, and see all the progress that has been made.
The people of the Gulf Coast are an inspiration- I have never experienced so much hope and determination in the face of what is such a long journey back to "normal".

Wow, how short sighted some people are. To think that in that short amount of time,("It's afair bit of time, eight months.")everything should be back to normal. We had a tornado blow through here several YEARS ago and you can still see exactly where it went.
Time will make the signs less visible and will eventually make people forget that big ones blow through here from time to time. I just hope that next time they don't ask me or the government(That is NOT their responsibility) to help, because they should have learned from this one.

Beth and Andy thanks for the pat on the back. We need it to keep going and it is much appreicated.

Nikki you are right about St Bernard. Lots of us in Bay St Louis and Waveland have connections there.
We all have hard times, it is just different in each area.

Many of us stay for very good reasons and leaving we would loose jobs and what little we do own with our property or home that we can repair. I know people from St Bernard that cannot afford to buy a new home and it is still cheaper to try to repair their flooded home for their family. The goal for many is just to get the family together with a bit more room.

What we need is understanding and it is great to hear that.

Everyone talks about rebuilding after Katrina, but how can most people rebuild when Homeowners Insurance has gone so high. People who want to come home can't afford the insurances. How bad does it have to get before someone at the state or national level notices?

It seems as if, community by community, the Gulf Coast is breaking the grip of disaster that ravaged the lives of so many. But the job's far from complete and will take thousands more volunteers, many more dollars, and an ocean of sweat to put back together the world that was torn apart last fall. And the rivalries identified in the article prove a basic fact of life: that social evolution will soon distinguish those who want to move on and flourish from others who want to wait for someone else to rebuild for them.

To S. Conrad ... then I would suggest you stop eating seafood and bananas and everything else that is brought in by ship ... and stop driving your car as oil imports are brought in by ship ... and resign yourself to having no US Navy or Coast Guard as most of their ships are built on the coast ...

If you do all of this, then there will be no need to ask you for any help at all ... but make DAMN sure you ask for no help from anyone in the country next time your area is destroyed by a tornado .... after all, you should have learned from the last one!

Please don't forget that Southern Mobile County in Alabama was hit pretty hard. We have about 1000 homeless children living in trailers, and we thank God daily for the help from the faith-based organizations who seem to be the only ones who remember Alabama was hit too by Katrina.

I think you guys are great down there ...good work ..I was just woundering if the Clition /Bush Bennifit Fund has helped anyone there. or did they take the money and run .mmmmm? PS i'm truly not trying to flame anyone about this question.

I think an interesting consistency is the rebuilding and hope seen in the Mississippi Gulf Coast vs. the despair seen in LA. I know there are many exceptions, but Gov. Barbor was right on when he said that Mississippians are all about "hitching up their britches and getting back to work!" The highest winds and highest surges were on the MS side, but we're not sitting around waiting for help. While the help has been overwhelming, especially from religious groups, we're not waiting and whining until it gets here. And regarding those who think it is not the government's responsibility to help the area, we need to keep in mind that it is taxpayer money that pays for FEMA (Federal Emergency Management) - How can we say that the government is not charged with helping after an emergency, but still sink so much money (our money) into an organization named FEMA? It can't be both ways - either we are responsible for our own property, and we keep the money we earn, or we pay higher and higher taxes, but expect federal services in return.

It Amazes me that a country like ours works so backwards. So quick to help everyone else but their own. SHAM ON US! The "IN" thing now with stars and the government is Africa,not to say they don't need the help,but look in your own back yard first. We to need so much help and also have children from youe own country that need good homes.

I am tired of New Orleans getting all the spot light in this disaster. Take a look around Ms. Start at pasgagoula and work your way to the bay of st.louis. There is the real heart break!. There is nothing there!. My uncle who lives in Ocean Springs and he is my hero cause he will not cry about the lack of help. Everyone in Ms Are blessed to be Alive!. New Orleans, Help Ms.

I can relate to the vicums of Katrina. We have had 3 hurricans come through here in a matter of months. None however as sovier. My heart is with those who are still without power and without family members. Stick together and help one another. Its going to take awhile for things to get back to normal as it always does in these casses. But don't let it get you down.

My children lost their home with everything in it. their little boy is 5. The emotional toll is severe.
Uncertainty about the assistance for demolishing their home , preparing the lot to meet specifications for rebuilding prevents them from making plans for the property. Dealing with the house that had 10 ft.
of water with no information about the safety of rebuilding is impossible.

Michael Bush asks if the Clinton/Bush fund for
Katrina victims have helped anyone. My answer
is yes.

Note to Kenny B, I'm tired of New Orleans being in the spotlight too, I wish my city could return to some sense of normalcy. Eight months later, I yearn to be able to move about the city and enjoy it's charm,but alas,we are still rebuilding. No one in New Orleans slights what happened on the MS Gulf Coast or the Alabama Coast, we truly wish NO ONE had to go through this, It's a tragedy all around, the up side is that the MS & ALA Coasts are picking up the pieces,and they will soon be destinations once again, unfortunately for New Orleans, it will take a while longer. In closing, I'd like to thank everyone who decided to donate or contribute to the restoration of these areas, mere words cannot express our gratitude!

To the guy in Cinncinnati, Ohio - how would you like it if ALL the people who live in the areas that Katrina tore apart whould just move up there to your city. You seem to think we are stupid for staying here, do you have enough homes and jobs for all the HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS that you think should just "up and move"? It is not that easy any way you look at it to move because you are living in hurricane, tornado, fire or earthquake zones. Get real!! And I have not asked for any help except for what I am owed by the insurance company.

My heart goes out to all of you along the Gulf Coast. Even after seing all the pictures and video I have trouble absorbing just how much damage occurred. I was stationed in Biloxi in 1955 and 1959. Bay of St. Louis and Pascagoula were particular favorites of mine. In 1959,I and two friends, stopped to help two young ladies fix a flat. We were invited to dinner by the father of one or both girls. He was the head of Ingles Shipyard in Pascagoula (memory?). We have family in Slidel. We have had no trouble in sending aid to them.

I'm totally ashamed about the lack of response by our Federal leaders, irregardless of political affiliation!

You continue to be in our prayers.

I am grateful for those who volunteered their hard work and time to the people of the hurricane disaster zone. I also want to thank China, South Korea, United Arab Emirates, Nigeria, Bahrain, and all other countries who donated to the disaster zones (sorry if I left you out but you know who you all are). I'm originally from Harvey, LA. and it's sad that such a great and spiritual city, New Orleans, is gone, but I believe it will be rebuilt and with more spirit than ever. It's ashame that our country have all this money to give to other countries, yet don't want to give to their own tax paying citizens. I am happier where I live now and don't plan on returning to Louisiana until the state officials get their act together and moralize the city again. Once again, thank you Bush and Clinton, all volunteers, foreign donators, and anyone else who helped....thank you.