In the article, one person says "There isn't that much more dry land. Where are people going to live?"

Answer: Somewhere else than that town. Rebuilding in flood zones (or "wet" land as opposed to "dry" land) is just asking for the same thing to happen again. I, for one, am not prepared to have to pay the bill - again - through the subsidies for the flood insurance program and rescue/relief just because someone wants to live in a place and the only way they can do that is to put the house in a flood zone (again.)

I agree with the comment made by Kim in Comlumbia,MD. I live in Florida and we too have had our share of hurricanes and there are people here who are still waiting for FEMA to do something for them (it has been 2 years!). We personally have insurance so we were able to rebuild and move on. I know some can get caught with between times and it makes life hard but we are a free nation with the ability to proceed as we can. It is not the federal govenment's responsibility to be sure you have a home, it is your own. Six out of the seven siblings in my husband's family lost their homes in Bay St. Louis including my disabled mother-in-law so I can totally sympathize with the situation. We harbored many for severl months but you must take your own personal devistations and build them into pillars of strength for the future. That is how we have rebuilt this country for hundreds of years. I am sure the people devistated by the Civil War did not recieve federal money to rebuild. They relied on their neighbors,communities and THEMSELVES. I applaud Ms. Wells for pursuing Habitat for Humanity. It shows inner strength to commit to the time and sweat of her brow to more on.

OK, I'm not going to rebuild. I'm moving to California and live with that person that seems to think they know how it should be done. By the way, hope they know where I can get a job, family, new friends and 46 years of memories! Oh and do you have a house that I can afford to buy? I've been to your area in Calif. and I know that the house I had here will cost me $600,000 out there.

I do not believe that anyone is saying that the government should support all who choose to live in dangerous areas. What is being said is that if you know you're in danger...move! And if our government can help other countries in need, why can't that money be put to better use in our own country? I am very tired of providing, through my taxes, for other counties and then hearing governmental crying because the US is not respected abroad. And why is that? Because they can see what Bush can't? No one wants a hand out...it destroys human dignity. But a hand-up preserves it. HFM is providing a hand-up, and for this they should commended and supported. Our government and the insurance companies should be replaced.

Sitting at your computer and "mouthing off" about what you think about the people that live on the coast of ANY state and how stupid they are for rebuilding doesn't help anyone. I'd like to see what you say about your own situation when things turn bad for you. Being in the middle of disaster is a lot different than being in you closed minded little world.

Gee pam, fresno. If I'm thinking correctly you live on {or very close to} a fault line...But it's home! Is'nt it! Bless ya.

Eveylyn: The expression on your face says it all. How wonderful for you. Congrats and much happiness!

Evelyn: I just re-read this post and am embarrassed to admit that the first time around, I somehow missed the fact that your new home won't be ready to move into because city water and sewer lines end about 7 houses away and it's not known when the town will extend them but it could be months, because "there are so many undone and half-done projects in Bay St. Louis and Waveland."

I hope this can be straightened out soon so you can move in and bring your grand-daughter home to a new house.

Everybody: I get the impression, reading between the lines, because it doesn't say why the town hasn't been able to extend water and sewer lines, or why the "undone and half-done projects" in Bay St. Louis and Waveland have not been completed, that the communities lack the money to get these done.

It's great to hear about Habitat and other volunteer groups building houses, and Mississippians working together self-reliantly to clean up and rebuild, but there are certain circumstances where this is not enough, where more help is obviously needed--which seems to be the case regarding the water and sewer lines.

Don't be ashamed to ask the federal government for help. This is a government which, for example, has been spending $2 billion a WEEK in Iraq. Surely if it has that kind of money, it can help communities in Mississippi (and Louisiana and elsewhere in the storm zone, for that matter) rebuild. I'd rather see my taxes help fellow Americans rebuild what Louisiana Sen Mary Landrieu calls "America's Energy Coast" than see them go overseas.

Asking for help when you need it isn't "whining" or otherwise a sign of weakness. And you've already been working very hard, so it's not "sitting around and waiting for a hand-out." What you need is a hand UP. There are times when asking for help just has to be done--because you won't be able to accomplish--or complete in a timely manner--what needs to be done all by yourself.

Pay no attention to those so-called human beings who complain about their taxes subsidizing rebuilding on the Gulf Coast because of the danger of storms and say you should move. It's home--and practically every part of the country has some sort of danger associated with it. My area far from the coast sounds as if it would be peaceful, but the New Madrid Fault System runs right through it. At least with hurricanes you get some warning. But I love it here so I wouldn't move. If we wanted to avoid danger, where could we live?

Take care, God bless, and stay strong.

Work is slowing here, so if possible I'll be there soon to help Habitat.........Wish me luck!!!And Andrea.......I've seen that look on peoples faces before........It is truly WONDERFUL!

I am just reading these blogs for the first time while researching internet articles on the Katrina Recovery efforts. First of all, congrats to Evelyn on her new home. All kudos to HFH are well deserved, but keep in mind that while HFH has a great mission and successful track record these homes are not the answer to all of the hurricane reconstruction issues, especially in New Orleans. Due to historic preservation of several areas that have been listed as National Historic Neighborhoods the building codes do not allow for tract-style homes. They must meet historic archetectural standards. Also, in some the Lower Ninth Ward, for example, early settlers purchased their property for as little as $250.00 and built their own homes. In Historic Holy Cross over 30% of the owner occupied homes reportedly had no mortgage attached so these folks owned their title. Many families resided in homes that had been passed down from one generation to the next for perhaps 100 years. It may be easy for some to choose relocation over sentiment but for many of these folks these neighborhoods were sacred ground. Many of these neighborhoods were a rarity in America where people of little means could actually own their home, and they were proud of it. Flood insurance and savings accounts are luxuries for the poor and even those with moderate incomes. Just for the record: New Orleans hasn't experienced a disaster scale hurricane since Betsy...40+ years. I would say one might have greater odds of facing a personal disaster as a driver or passenger in a vehicle. Sometimes we don't choose our home; it chooses us (unlike willingly plunking quarters in a slot machine). I have been in NOLA twice since the disaster (in the Lower Ninth Ward)and I didn't hear anyone whining or demanding that the govt bail them out. I did see a lot of people, though, who were in shock and unsure of what they were going to do. For many, their home was all they had. I heard someone compare the Hurricane disaster of 2005 to shoveling snow in Minnisota citing that the people in the Northern States take responsibility for choosing to live in a place that has adverse winters and they don't expect the govt. to shovel their walkways. I find that narrow-mindedness sad and hope that person doesn't wake up some day under an avalanche because that would be a more accurate analogy. I guess you would have to see it for yourself to really understand the magnitude of the affects of Katrina, but I have and I am committed to doing whatever I can. It is too overwhelming when you look at the massive scale of relief that is needed but if you want info on how you can help just one household rebuild their lives in New Orleans go to www.housebyhouse.org or not!

Linda--thanks for the extremely informative, thought-provoking post. I was interested to read that because of historic preservation homes such as Habitat for Humanity's can't be built in parts of New Orleans. Which makes me wonder how those beautiful old neighborhoods will be rebuilt. As a lover of New Orleans I want her to retain her distinct charm and character. But I also wonder what people who can't afford to rebuild to meet historic architectural standards will end up doing. For example those who as you mention had owned homes that had been passed down through generations so they didn't have mortgages. I hope they don't have to give up living on their beloved "sacred ground." For their being forced to relocate could also cause those parts of New Orleans to lose some of their character. (I visited www.housebyhouse.org and I wish you every bit of luck with your efforts. From what I saw it appeared to be geared to groups, but I don't belong to one.)

Also, thanks for pointing out that you didn't hear anyone in New Orleans whining or demanding a bail-out. That's my major beef with some posters I've read--not under this entry where I haven't seen anything that was too bad. But under other reports I've seen people run down Louisiana, especially New Orleans, and the people there, calling them whiners, lazy, etc. (Perhaps to a person clueless as to what was really going on, someone who was in shock like lots of the people you'd seen who wasn't sure what to do after losing their home might look lazy--but I'm sure once they decided what to do, they'd knuckle down and get busy.) I love Louisiana, which is a beautiful state, and wonder why people have to kick her when she's down--and wonder how many of them have actually been to Louisiana. Like Mississippians who I refered to in an above posting, they don't need a hand-out because they're already doing what they can to help themselves, which is difficult considering the magnitude of the disaster--they need a hand UP.

Given any "disaster", the first thing to consider is, am I ok. If so, then how can I now go about getting my life back together. What are my resources, and how can I, yes me help myself. Just think, there might come a time when we are expected to be resourceful as those who first settled this country. But, we have such an advantage. We have much more available to assist us in the "building" process both physically and emotionally. Survival is a basic instinct. Once that is realized, then the process of getting back up and going forward will be easier.