shine,{cool name by the way}....I don't think I would like it in Cinncinnati....belive i'll stay here too.....if we all move there they will be over run with us rednecks....they better be careful of what they ask for!!!

In April, on our way back from seeing our son in Fort Rucker, AL., we drove hwy 90 along the Miss. coast. The destruction is unbelievable,,,miles and miles of it,,,and the sad part is,,after 8 months,,the destruction is still there. people are living in trailers amongst debris from torn up buildings and homes. and WHY !!! C'mon,,,,,this is America,,NO EXCUSE FOR THIS HAPPENING,,,,let's not turn our backs on our Miss. friends and pretend all is well now. what can I do to help???

I have a teacher from south Lousisiana. She moved to North Louisiana after Her houses was hit from the hurricane. She no longer has a house to live in and she has been away from her husband for a while.

Mr. Conrad of Ohio, in regards to your comment that the destruction of Katrina is not the government's problem...The Corp of Engineers dug the MRGO ship channel that politely dumped at least 25 ft of water into my parish, and those levees that gave way...the gov't built those too. Your tone sounds as though me and 64,000 people from my parish deserved to drown and have our homes, family, neighbors, pets, culture and livelihoods ripped away from us. I have been in two tornados since Katrina here in TN, while I sat in the closet as the house shook all I could think was please don't let this mass destruction happen again. The next morning the first thing I did was donate $$ to help those in TN whose houses blew away that day. No matter where you are mother nature will eventually let loose her wrath on each and every one of us. How callous of you to decide that no one deserves help. I'd like to hear you make that statement if you go home today and find 4 ft of marsh mud in your kitchen and a water line in your attic.
In closing, I want to thank every person that has given your time, money, empathy, prayer and vote to help all of who lost so much in Katrina. Every little bit helps, reagrdless of what Mr. Conrad thinks.

I just read many of these comments for the first time, and I was sad to see that so many people are fighting one another. (Ie. LA vs MS) People with these attitudes are preventing recovery and healing for all Katrina victims. I lost everything I own in New Orleans, and I don't sit around complaining and waiting for others to help me. Are we still one United States of America? I wonder ?

You know, even in Meridian we can still see the effects of a powerhouse that blew through. But we will all stand firm and proud as fellow humans and we will recover even if we have to endure another pounding!

I would like to take this time to thank all the people across the country for there hard work and dedication in helping everyone on the Gulf Coast durning this trying time. I have never in my life seen such destruction. Please pray for the GulfCoast Coast.

TO ALL WHO LOST THERE HOMES AND FAMILY MEMBERS TO THE HURRACAINE I GIVE MY PRAYS TO YOU ALL. I HAVE FAMILY MEMEBERS THAT STAY IN MISSISSIPPI AND THEY WENT THROUGH THE SAME THING YALL IS GOING THROUGH. I HOPE THE BEST FOR YALL AND AS GOD TOLD ME TO TELL YALL IT WILL BE OK. HE WILL HELP FIX IT ALL AND DO WHAT IS RIGHT FOR YOU AND BUILD YALL HOMES BACK AS QUICK AS POSSIBLE. I WISH YALL THE BEST AND DON'T FORGET I AM PRAYING FOR YALL DEEPLY.

When I was a child, our home was destroyed by a tornado. Being a family of 5 of limited means, we too lived in tents on our property for 8 months while a new home was built. Our insurance partially covered our losses, but like everyone else, didn't make us whole again (in a material sense). While it was a disaster for my family, there was not one bit of assistance other than family and friends to help us recover from this. People who have suffered similar experiences from disasters are not suprised that people in the gulf area are still in tents and trailers. It is not the government's responsibility to make each individual whole again. It takes a long time to rebuild one, a dozen, or a thousand homes. The enormity of Katrina will take years to overcome. But the reality is that FEMA is there for short term, emergency aid - not to provide for months and years. Those of us who have survived and rebuilt for ourselves after equal disaster to our families suggest you waste no more energy looking for government assistance and get on with the task of moving forward, no matter how long or hard it is. No, the tornado that devastated my family's home did not wipe out an entire area of the nation like Katrina. But the bottom line to me and others like me is this: we lost exactly what you did: everything we had.

It has been a long 8 months since that terrible day when I tearfully watched with my mother and brother as the water kept coming into my parents home and praying that it would stop soon. My dad is legally blind and bedridden and I was holding up his head to keep him from going under the water, which thankfully stopped at 5 feet. By the grace of God we are all safe. My brother is working very hard to rebuild the home my parents had spent 50 years of their life in while he is also having to rebuild much of his own home as well. My son, daughter-in-law and two grandchildren also lost everything they owned and are trying to rebuild. Four generations of my family have called the Mississippi Gulf Coast home. With the advent of another hurricane season fast approaching, we are all praying that the coast will be spared the wrath of another Katrina. Don't know that we could endure another one, emotionally or financially.

Just remember - God helps those who help themselves.
Don't keep waiting for someone to come in and do it all for you. Pride is something that will make you smile even when you have accomplished "one small thing."

Gary, we don't expect FEMA to provide "for years". We do expect, as US citizens and taxpayers, to be entitled to the minimum basic needs to live. Like a FEMA trailer. I know that in the towns of Bay St Louis and Waveland Mississippi, we are not sitting aroung waiting on handouts from anyone! We are working to take care of ourselves, rebuild our homes, and our towns.
I know that it was a very difficult time for you, as a child, to witness the destruction of your home and then live 8 months in a tent. My ten year old daughter is going through the same thing, except we are in a FEMA trailer. It is not my intent to belittle your experience, at all. But the scope of devastation here on the Mississippi Gulf Coast is incomprehensible.
First of all, in the town of Waveland, nearly 95% of the homes were completely wiped out or substantially damaged. Out of a population of approximately 6700, there are now only about 3000 people. Most of us are concentrating on rebuilding/repairing our homes. The waiting list for electricians, plumbers, etc. is long! About a thousand building permits have been issued in Waveland, but there are not enough materials and labor to go around. Hence, we do as much as we can on our own. We also have been helped enormously by volunteer groups. We would not make it without them!
In addition to losing our homes, we lost most of our businesses, as well. The fallout is that many people no longer have employment! No job, no income, no means to rebuild. Were it not for the SBA, it would be very difficult for me to afford to repair my home. It is one of the few still standing south of the tracks in Waveland. While our businesses are coming back, it is a slow process and we are still in need of gas stations and grocery stores!
Bottom line, Gary, you did not lose exactly what you did! We lost our homes, our business, our jobs. Some of us lost friends, family, neighbors and pets; either because they have moved away or they died in the storm.
Ditto to you Sharon L. We aren't sitting on our duffs waiting for someone to do it for us! Many of us who do have employment, spend our days at work and our evenings building/repairing our homes and businesses!

Sooner rather than later, I hope the area takes another direct hit. It's the only way to prevent further disruption, further development of infrastructure in an area prone to hurricanes. There are some places human beings do not belong. The Gulf is not all that pretty anyway, so why does everyone think they should have a beach front view? Rebuild inland and protect the natural beach areas as nature preserves and public parks where anyone can have access to the sand and surf for daytime or camping overnight, but leave the buildings off of it. It defies logic to think redevelopment on the same spot is the answer. It is utter arrogance for people to think they can beat nature. We are subject to it's whim, not masters of the Universe.

I have long been a proud resident of Mississippi. Serving in the US Marine Corps has carried me far from the Mississippi soil; however, my pride in this great state and its people remain. Mississippians can be counted on to work hard, complain little, and open their hearts and homes to anyone in need. I am proud of your diligence in reestablishing your lives across the Gulf Coast. God Bless Each One of You!

I spent eight of the best years of my life on the Mississippi Gulf Coast and cannot imagine the changes that this devastating storm brought. However, I know two things - one, it will come back better and more beautiful than ever! The people of the Gulf Coast are caring, generous, hardworking, and kind. They have every reason to be proud of their home state. Two, Dan in Brownsville doesn't know squat about that part of the state. If he did, he would know that it is a heck of a lot more attractive than Brownsville which has to be the armpit of the Universe! The Gulf Coast beaches were cleared and built by man, and they will be reclaimed and rebuilt by man - there are no "natural beach areas" with sand and surf. The beaches in Biloxi and Gulfport sit on the edge of a Gulf that mimics a giant bathtub. The Barrier Islands, such as Ship Island, prevent the wave action. Sand has to be trucked in. No surf - ergo no natural sand created by waves. Yes, there are natural marsh areas, but they do not offer the beach grasses and sand that allow for nesting of certain endangered birds. Those grasses were planted by men. Please, Dan, keep your uninformed opinions to yourself or learn the real story behind the Mississippi beaches. Of course, in Brownsville, you have no beaches that might erode, no mountains or hills that might slide, no rivers that might overflow, and nothing that warrants a view.

Dan from the bullseye known as Brownsville opines:

Sooner rather than later, I hope the area takes another direct hit. It's the only way to prevent further disruption, further development of infrastructure in an area prone to hurricanes. There are some places human beings do not belong. The Gulf is not all that pretty anyway, so why does everyone think they should have a beach front view? Rebuild inland and protect the natural beach areas as nature preserves and public parks where anyone can have access to the sand and surf for daytime or camping overnight, but leave the buildings off of it. It defies logic to think redevelopment on the same spot is the answer. It is utter arrogance for people to think they can beat nature. We are subject to it's whim, not masters of the Universe.

Get one thing straight. One mile inland wouldn't have
saved anyone. Good Lord, I've seen Brownsville as a
direct target on NHC forecasts way more than Waveland in 10+ years of observation. I live more
than a mile and a half from the beach and got water.
I don't have beachfront.

You HOPE that we get hit again? You HOPE? Really?
Wow. You wish an entire population of a region of
the US harm, even death, just to prove an ill-
conceived point?

In the words of someone famous - "Instant Karma's
gonna get you..."

Dan, when I look out at the Gulf, it's still beautiful.

My question is what was given to the folk's of South Fla when Andrew came through. When we went down to clean up after that Hurican there where plenty of people with out housing and the governement did not supply with anything like what they are having to give out now. What make this any different?

Why, don't you show, the behind the scenes, blight, that the poor of New Orleans and Gulf Port, have to deal with. Like your star spangled heros's with hard hats that are illegal aliens? Claiming that they are taking jobs, no American will take.
Those, relocated to Houston, and Dallas, would love to have those jobs, but where do they live, while this construction is underway? In the trailer house's parked 350 miles away, by FEMA? Let's show the whole story, let's talk about how dislocated "refugees" are being denied the opportunity to participate. And why, they are unable to participate.

thank you jesus , we praise your holy name and send you the honor and glory for the many blessings you have given us , and we pray to our heavenly father in your name , for forgiveness for all our sins and iniquites, and we ask father that you continue to bless our country with your grace , in jesus holy name we pray , thank you !

Dan from Brownsville TX says that he hopes the area
gets "another direct hit." I would like to ask him
how many people he would like to see die, or how
many lives he would like to see disrupted, or how
many bankruptcies he would like to see enacted.

I understand his point - we don't need beachfront
views. However, wishing further destruction by
a similar storm isn't really the way to do it.

I will say that much of the area is moving
back from the beach, even north of the interstate.
Diamondhead real estate is booming, as is Picayune's
and much of Pearl River County. I hope Dan
investigates this trends a bit more and sees that
many are indeed moving back away from the coast, and
that perhaps he would then see fit to remove the
curse he seems to want to place over us.

I would also be interested in hearing if Mr. Dan has
similar advice for those who live in Florida (4
hurricanes in 2004, at least 3 in 2005), Georgia,
the Carolinas and Virginia, or even his home state
of Texas. I'm guessing not.

Dan in Brownsville - I don't agree with your idea totally. If your plan was followed then it would have to be applied to ALL waterfront areas regardless of the body of water. Rivers are prone to flooding so bye-bye Brownsville, St. Louis, etc. Bye-bye Miami, San Diego, New York, etc.
To the others who think the people of the Gulf coast are all sitting on their duffs waiting for a handout, it's great to be all high & mighty when it isn't you. My daughter & her husband are working hard to rebuild their home in Slidell. They are several miles from the water but that didn't stop 3 1/2 ft of water from coming into their home and trees coming down from the wind smashing holes in the roof. Trying to get TRUSTWORTHY & RELIABLE contractors & subs is extremely difficult. My son-in-law finally has the family auto repair business up & running but can't get insurance until it is fenced. Can't get a fence because none of the fencing companies will return their calls. It is a vicious circle. The home owner's insurance & the flood insurance companies are at war as to what was damaged by falling water & what was damaged by rising water. Meanwhile they are stuck in the middle.

maybe Dan is one of those people that would like to see the beach front properties sold because he would like to cash in on some of them. Well Dan get in line these people have most likely been approached by every resort,resturant and casino in the business.I think everyone should leave them alone and let them rebuild the way they want too.How would you like for them to tell you go to mexico and live Dan.

My apologies to all the residents of BSL, Waveland, etc. for suggesting that others have suffered through disasters also. The attitude that comes through in your responses is that no matter what happened anywhere else, WE are suffering more than you did. Just for my part, this attitude is what is making a lot people have negative opinions about gulf coast assistance at this point. I have traveled through the gulf area since Katrina and it is indeed total devastation. But seems like a lot of responses to others stories and opinions are filled with such scathing sarcasm and bitterness. Please don't belittle others situations to make yourself the winner in the "disaster" competition. Loss is all relative to your own experience.

Thanks to all the people that are helping and praying for all of us that live in the areas that Katrina destroyed. To those that are mean sprited and hateful of nature, we really don't care what you think and what goes round comes round!