Having once lived in Gulfport and Bay St.Louis, it still saddens me when I see that all of the 'Old Hang Outs' are gone. I worked at the Grand Casino in Biloxi, and I have many fond memories of life in Gulfport and Biloxi. (The Isle of Capri used to have the best seafood brunch in town).My apartment building on Beach Blvd. is now only a concrete slab. I hope to return soon and help with the rebuilding. But I will always have a sense of loss when I see a familiar area or landmark. Shine on Gold Coast. I miss you!

To bad that after one year still so much is to be desired especially after the government promised this time to appropriate the funds under the direct supervision of not one but multiple overseers,(e.g. indepependent cpa-firms). It hurds me to see al this especially with my background being Dutch (born and lived there for 23 years) and now living here for about 20 years, see article on msn.com go cheaper go Dutch this weekend. for e.g. for one month of iraq war contributions (10 billion dollars) we could have fixed the new levee system for New Orleans for protection to a hurricane 5 type, not 3 like they thought it would be ending up only type 1 protection.
Why is it that we always help the rest of the world and put ourselves last on the list?
I am a general contractor myself and wished that i could leave everything I got here just so I could help the people in waveland and Gulfcoast in general,
Time will heal every wound my grandmother would always say, only this one keeps being ripped open, there fore it will keep on hurting!!!!!!!

I wish that someone would report on what would happen to the rest of this country if New Orleans and the Mississippi coast is not built back. What will happen if ALL the people in both these places move? You should be very cautious when you make half baked comments like this. I know there is someone out there reading these posts that can set us straight on the real issue --- how would not rebuilding after this hurricane effect the rest of the country?

As a resident of the Gulf Coast, I would just like to say thank you for finally portraying another party of the hurricane-ravaged Gulf Coast other than New Orleans. The media has constantly focused on New Orleans, leaving many other cities and states out of the eye of the camera. They are not the only place that is loved down here, and are certainly not the only ones who are hurting. Local government plays a HUGE roll in clean up and hurricane preparation. Maybe people will see what other places are doing now. Instead of pointing fingers, they are trying to rebuild their lives. Thanks for giving them a moment in the spotlight. Just because the rest of the country is just now starting to understand the extreme long-term damage of hurricanes, doesn't mean that the Gulf Coast/Atlantic Coast residents haven't dealt with it for years. We just don't wait around for others to help us. You can look at Florida, Alabama, Miss, and South Carolina (maybe, don't know) and see how differently hurricanes are handled in these areas-- as opposed to LA. It's mind-blowing.

Thank you for posting the photos! So much has been accomplished since I was there just before the holidays last year! It's wonderful to see leaves sprout on the trees - I feared they were all dead.

Please know you are all in our thoughts - not just at this one year anniversary - but all year long. We continue to badger (it IS Wisconsin, after all) our politicians and tell our friends and family that things are NOT all right/back to normal for you. We will never forget your spirit and determination - and will use it to inspire others into action.

Thank you again for sharing your lives with us-

The storm took 1800 lives. The people who survived will never forget this tragedy. How many of them need counseling but have not recieved it. How many have had to endure shame, humiliation and unnecessary grief from racists who will not allow them to live in their neighborhoods? How many have had to endure terror from gang members/thugs, determined to hold on to a battered "hood"? Where is the help they need? Why is Mayor Nagin criticized and ostracized by the media? Why? Why? Why? And the main question is: Where is our PRESIDENT AND WHY IS HE NOT FIGHTING CONGRESS TO HELP HIS CITIZENS!!!!! WHY???

I would like to know if what I have heard in the wake of the levee destroying New Orleans (not the hurricane) is actually true. There have been reports that the real estate prices have increased and that many of the people may not be able to return because they can not afford to.

Considering the fact that New Orleans only sustained flooding due to the levees breaking and these towns were literally blown away, I think that for once a report is focusing on the appropriate area. Yes, New Orleans was affected; however, the damage that they received was nothing in comparison to what Pearlington, Waveland, Clearmont Harbor, Bay St. Louis, Pass Christian, Long Beach, Gulfport, Biloxi, MS and yes even Mobile, Alabama received. Homes and business were literally either blown or washed away by storm surge (you know the big wall of water that came in with Katrina) areas 30 miles inland received 17 ft of water. Yes, New Orleans was affected by Katrina, however, the majority of the damage occurred on the MS Gulf Coast. Interestingly enough no one is making a fuss over the fact that New Orleans was given millions of dollars in grant money to fix the levees over the course of several years and instead of fixing the levees they spent the money on water fountains. Come on people wake up and smell the corruption. Also, New Orleans is now going into bankruptcy, hello, one of the largest cities in the Nation why are they filing bankruptcy. Sounds like some politicians got a little too greedy.

For Frank in CA:

I'm no expert, but here's my attempt to answer your question for Mississippi.

Let's say that every property that was unlivable after the storm became part of a national park - that's roughly 130,000 houses and associated property. I'm not sure of the percentage, but let's say that makes up 50% of the houses on the coast. There is not enough land in the towns and counties for these people to relocate within their same local tax-base, so they would have to move elsewhere. That means that the three coastal counties and associated cities would lose 50% of their tax base. And they would lose 50% of their retail stores and small businesses.

And who would pay off the 130,000 mortgages? And pay for the equity in those homes? And what about the commercial properties? What about the Wal-Marts that have to move because the communities can't support them?

The major employers that can't relocate (like shipyards, oil refineries, etc) still need the same number of employees. So if half of their labor force lives 50 miles inland, there would need to be new highways built or maybe a light rail system. Both of which take time and money.

And how much money would you save? The bridges still need to be rebuilt. The debris still needs to be cleared. But now you need to rebuild smaller schools on the coast for the smaller population AND build larger schools inland for the relocated population. And libraries, court houses, etc. FEMA trailers would still be needed because you could not rebuild houses overnight, they would just be located further inland. (Moving the major industries would be a huge expense - I'd hate to estimate that cost.)

And what is the likelihood of another storm like Katrina to hit the exact same place? The coast had the bad luck to be hit with Camille and Katrina, but there's nothing magic about the area that made these storms hit Waveland instead of Mobile or anywhere else for that matter. Just bad luck.

So why stop with Mississippi? Let's be proactive and make everyone in Texas, Louisiana, Alabama, and Florida who are at an elevation less than 20' above sea level relocate. Do it now and you can plan for it and save money in the long run.

And what about the tsunamis and earthquakes? Let's move all those people too.

What is being done is that better codes and higher elevation requirements are being put into place on the coast. Build back but build better - that will save money in the long run.

And an unrelated comment - green houses in attics? LOL.

I just wanted to say that I'm glad to see pictures of the MS gulf coast up in reference to katrina. It seems that the gulf coast is forgotten when compared to new orleans, with little or no press. I lived in ocean springs before katrina and lost my house due to the storm surge and know many more who lost everything as well and are rebuilding from scratch. It's frustrating sometimes when it seems your tragedy is overlooked.

With the one year anniversary of the storm there is so much on tv and yes here on the internet. Mostly TV shows New Orleans and their suffering after the storm. Yes, MS had water come thru and go away quickly but we have our stories of those who stayed.

I would really like to see on national news the stories of the people living in this area trying to survive and save people in a surge of water 20 feet or more. What about the people clinging to trees, floating on their sofa, the ones south of the tracks all along the coast whose house gave way with them in it or it. I want those stories on TV!!!

Also, I hope the guys in the service (national guard or whoever they were) know what a difference they made in our lives. The daily ice line was more bareable due to their kindness, the information they provided, the smiles and jokes they tried to make when tears were in our eyes. I so wish I could see each and everyone of you personally to tell you how you helped us in our minds and in our hearts just knowing you were there.

Also GA Power, you cleaned our streets as you repaired the lines, we offered you food and water and you took so little but gave so much. You were angels and amazed us too!

Bush was very slow in taking charge,,seems other countries are much more important to him! So many died,,and yet he waited day's to do anything. In his view if we were " somethere else" he would've been on top of it. It all figures,,,Bush and other places,,,nothing new .

these pictures are excellent, however... Where are all the stories on the news? Sure, MSNBC can publish pictures on the internet, but how often do you see stories about the Mississippi Gulf Coast on the news? its New Orleans this, New Orleans that.. Mississippi has taken the backseat to New Orleans. I'm glad that our residents on the coast are too humble to complain... Much has been done, but there's much left to do. Mississippians are sadly forgotten to New Orleans.. Why cant this be changed? Why are we being ignored?

I have a question, what took so long for help to arrive? Whether the residents were in NO, or the towns in MS, there should have been help the very next day. How can we sit around and watch as our own citizens suffer in such extreme measures. Its a mystery how we can travel to the other side of the world and provide food, shelter, and medical attention to victims of devastation but our own people in our own country is left to fiend for themsleves. I appreciate the photos on the progress of certain areas but what about the other areas where it still look the same as it did in the days of Katrina? Media is only showing what they want to be saw. Its time for America to open their eyes and see what is really going on.

Look at it from this point of view. Entire countries have had to rebuild after this kind of catastrophy. Honduras with Hurricane Mitch for example, is not even near to the progress that N.O. has seen. We have to remember that N.O. experienced a high level disaster and the United States, as powerful as it is, isn't immune to situations like Katrina. I'm sure the government is doind everything they can to get things done, but they're aren't God, they're a group of humans like the rest of us and they can't pull miracles out of a hat. Everyone needs to be especially patient tenacious and hardworking, because some of that progress is also the victims' share. Where there is a will there is a way. Things won't be solved in a matter of months, it may actually take years. For those that are so urged to get things done, help out a little more, find other ways to meet your objective instead of pointing fingers and bad mouthing the government and the country you live in. Even if the government is doing a poor job, DO YOUR PART and be glad you did it. Also, the show a little more of the progress the hard hit areas have made. I sense that the general public is leaning to one because they are shown more of one side than both. So, what is being done?

I have posted a handful of times trying to be polite and stick up for my fellow neighbors when these ignorant people come and post what they would do and what we should do, but I have now had it. I just got through watching some videos recapping last year. (Which I was unable to view because I lost EVERYTHING I OWN) I'm reliving the feeling and helplessness that we all faced in the days after the storm. I want everyone of you who thinks that they know what it's like, to do a search for the video of Harvey Jackson on CNN. Walk in his shoes for just a second, I know you can't handle it. On yahoo video right now is a video of the Gulf Coast before, during and after the storm. Spend some time viewing and go and hug your children and thank GOD that you never had to endure the pain that we have felt. We are rebuilding, we are coming back and I can promise you that you wouldn't have made it this far. All the money in the world isn't going to help us. There are doctors and lawyers living in trailers still. I waited in line for ice and water with the rich and the poor. I had insurance and I did quite well. (To all of my neighbors who have been screwed, I apoligize, I just got lucky) But I still live in a damn trailer. I work my ass of both at work and trying to get into a home. My family does not deserve to live like this and we are fighting like hell to get out of here. To all of you who have all of the answers, please mind your own damn buisness. We have made it through the hard part and we will finish this damn race even though we had no intentions of running it.
To all of my neighbors, arguing with these idiots really isn't worth the raise in blood pressure. As much as it sucks to relive those days immediatly after the storm, please spend some time looking at some of these videos. You will all realize how far we have come and what a good job we have all done. Lets take care of our families and neighbors first and forget about these ignorant low life people who feel the need to belittle all that we have done. They have no idea what our lives have been like, nor do they want to.
For the rest of you who offer kind words, we cannot thank you enough. If it weren't for your help and prayers I don't know how we would have made it.

Hey, I got it!!!! We just change our states name to Lebonon and the Feds. money will pour in!!! Or maybe call it Iraq.......Afganistan?.........Shoot I don't know...But I do know American tax dollars are passed out pretty freely to third world countrys whose people HATE our guts!

Another reason nothing is being done in New Orleans:
Only 50 percent of the population has returned. that should answer a lot. there's no one doing the work. Why blame the federal government when the people won't even go back to rebuild their own lives? People have to do it for themselves. If my family is in danger, and if my family does not have a home, I sure as heck am not going to wait for the president to rebuild my home. that would be really stupid. Their own mayor just stands around and places blame everywhere. Forget the federal government, where's the outrage over the state and local government? Where's the outrage that people are not coming back to rebuild their own homes?

I have family in MS. MS has a long way to go, but people are helping themselves and their neighbors. that makes all the difference.

J.James:

I have a question for you. Have you ever been to an area after a hurricane hit? Have you ever been to NO? You don't just hop in your truck and drive on in after a storm of katrina's magnitude. My dad works for entergy, the power company that supplies most of the area hit by katrina, and it took his crews 2 days just to get from jackson, MS to Natchez because they had to literally cut trees off of the interstate. Look at a map sometime and see that that's not long of a drive, and it's a long way from where the major part of the storm was.

The presdient tried to get the governor of LA to delare an emergency so he could send help. hte president can't just come in with the army...the local gov. has control over that, but the gov. would not delcare an emergency until it was too late. think about that.

In response to a comment:

Just because something is valuable is destroyed, it still does not make sense to rebuild in the same areas that WILL be affected by weather/other natural disaster, especially when the rebuilding comes at the expense of taxpayers. I feel for these people, I have lost everything before and had to start over, but I DIDN'T start again right where the disaster occurred. Relocate those folks, those industries; let those who wish to gamble with their futures rebuild if they want, at their own expense. I'd be happy to help anyone start again, ELSEWHERE; it is not logical or reasonable to expect rebuilding to happen simply because you want it to. Like it or not, these misplaced persons ARE beholden to the rest of the country, and many of us do not want to throw good money away. Rebuilding just doen't make sense.

What a shame on federal government is.

Even though it's been said a thousand times throughout this site - AND right on the front page

THIS SITE IS ABOUT BAY ST LOUIS AND WAVELAND MISSISSIPPI - NOT NEW ORLEANS PEOPLE!!!

You want to read about New Orleans - google Hurricane Katrina and 99.99% of all the sites listed will be about New Orleans. Watch the news - it's all about New Orleans. Can we please have this tiny little corner of the www here without having to hear "What about New Orleans" all the time??

Thank you.

To the person who commented on the upperclass homes being rebuilt while low income homes are not is not the reality. In fact the home pictured on this page is the first I have seen anywhere on the coast to be built beachfront in Mississippi. There have been countless middle class homes built and more affordable housing is available everyday. The situation in New Orleans is exactally oppisite in every respect from Mississippi,in that the mansions were on the water and are all but a few gone,whereas the high ground that did not flood in New Orleans is the older french neighborhoods that were settled first on the only truly buildable land in the city. These areas naturally were more desired and historical and as a result those people were relatively unaffected.It is difficult not being familiar with the dynamics of these two very different areas and how Katrina affected them especially when you only here or see a few postings.

Joe,
Sub Sea? We do have a coastline here. In fact Bay St. Louis is the highest point on the Gulf coast between Galveston and Florida some areas are 30 feet above sea level.

To Joe,

Thank you for showing your willingness to donate to help people relocate, but what you are suggesting is not practical.

You would have to relocate:
All the casinos
Keesler Air Force Base
Stennis
Northrop Grumman Ship Systems (3 shipyards)
Chevron Oil Refinery
All the smaller shipyards (Trinity Yachts, Noble, Chouest, Halter, U.S. Marine)
Ports of Gulfport & Pascagoula
All the businesses that support these businesses
All the people who work at these businesses
(And this is just the businesses that I can think of, and does not include any in New Orleans)

With the exception of Keesler and the casinos, all of these businesses rely on close proximity to water - where do you suggest they move to? 91% of all Americans are at risk for floods, hurricanes, earthquakes, wild fires, tornadoes, or terrorist attacks. (http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1229102-1,00.html)

My new house will be 7' higher than the old one. It will be stronger because I am (hopefully) going to rebuild with ICF. Another storm like Katrina will flood this house with 3' of water, but it will be standing, and it will be repairable. Another storm like Camille should cause only minimal damage. So maybe a storm larger than Katrina is destined to destroy this house sometime in the next 1000 years - I'll take my chances. And by the way, my rebuilding money is coming from my insurance & my own pocket.