how sad that our govrnment has FAILED these people so miserably. After nearly 2 years they still have nothing! How many billions have been spent to accomplish this embarassingly small change? I pray for God's mercy on them - the government has none!

none of those photos look too terribly hopeful. i would lean towards memories. sadly.

These photos reflect failures. Yes, the federal government has been and is an abject failure here. However, the local governments except the county board have also failed miserably...money wasted, no rebuilding, etc. A large part of the failure now however rests on us, the citizenry. Many people have opposed everything that would have generated progress...they think that somehow the fanciful delusions of the governor's commission will happen or that somehow magically our towns will reappear the way they were. Thanks to "ashamed California" for your concern, but a lot of the responsibility for failure is now local.

Most insurance companies still reported profits the last two years...Insurance companies refused to pay on most of the claims....Now it cost 2,000 to 3,000 dollars for homeowners insurance anywhere in the six most southern costal counties on the coast...Thats the main reason the coast hasn't been on a better pace when it comes to rebuilding..

Those are memories - not hope. It is appaling how little our own government has done to assist it's own people (and how much it has spent to do so little). How can the USA devote billions to foreign aid and wars but cannot rebuilt one area in its own country?

Having once been a resident of NOLA, I hope the government doesn't waste tax money by attempting to rebuild what's nothing more than an open sewer. Spend the money to help people relocate somewhere else!

It absolutley disgusting that George Bush spends all of out taxes else where but can't help our own which is what are taxes are designed for. Our country should always come first as it is our money that supports it. I am truly appalled

The grant promises from the federal government are a joke. My wife and I were "awarded" a decent amount that would have gone a long way to rebuild our lives and yet, not one cent has been received due to the restrictions put on the grant that has made it virtually impossible to receive the money. I honestly believe the government puts the restrictiions on the awards in order to avoid actually paying out the funds. That way they can say they have set aside billions for rebuilding, when in fact very little is used. After so many months of trying we have given up. Mississippi can be reclaimed by the Gulf of Mexico as far as I am concerned.

Having lived in Miami during Hurricane Andrew (then the costliest natural disaster in US history), these pictures don't even tell 5% of the story. In many places where Andrew ravaged, families picked up and left, taking their insurance and government monies with them, and settling somewhere else.

Was the government to blame for these "failures"? No. the only thing we saw was people taking the easy (and smart) road, and getting out of "Dodge", heading toward somewhere where they could establish themselves anew. those that reamined were able to rebuild.

don't blame the federal government for not "jumping" into action. it takes time to mobilize federal forces. 90% of the blame here should be thrown on the local and state governments, for not mobilizing before and after the storm.

These Photos are very picturesque and they play on your emotions. Some places like these have been abandoned for a better place and a better life. Lets see pictures of the progress that has been made and quit blaming the government for every failure that has ever occurred. Some folks didn't do anything for themselves before Katrina and are doing the same now. We are not a perfect country and we need to help ourselves a little too. A hand up not a hand out.

It's heart-broken to see my family struggle to get back into their homes in New Orleans. The older family members have pensions and Social Security so they can watch and supervise as their homes and lives are re-built. The younger ones have to find trailers to live in, jobs, and get their kids into decent schools. I hope one day, the government will wake up and see the need to help these people. Maybe money will come in once the campaigns start

Chuck, you blame the problems on the locals but you leave the county supervisors out??? They're the ones making the most money out of this whole deal.
My insurance is now equal to what I was paying for a mortgage before the storm. People cannot afford to pay this along with the price of housing.
The other problem is the increase in housing cost. People are asking double what homes are worth for 2 reasons. 1-There are so few available and 2-People still owe mortgages on homes they can't afford to repair. People have to try and get their money out of the house before they can do anything.
There is a lot of blame to go around, and deservedly so, but we shouldn't place it all on our neighbors. We all want progress to be made, but with the cost to do anything, the risk is probably not worth the reward.
We cannot let the insurance companies off on this one. The state politicians are blowing their own horn for saving me $500 on my wind and hail next year. $500? My policy will still cost me over $3000 a year! And that is just for $200,000 worth of coverage. When you add in my flood and my homeowners, I'm paying over $4000 a year in insurance. Many would say to switch insurance companies, but that's not possible. No one wants to write a new policy, so you're stuck with your previous company. These are some steep prices for a state with a median income of just over $40,000 a household.
We cannot just accept the fact that we, the ones who were screwed the most by the insurance companies, are going to be the ones to bail them out. The prices being charged are absurd, but we have no choice.
And to all of you whose answer is to move, I ask you, have you ever fought for anything? These are our homes, our towns and our families. Our jobs are here and our lives are here. This is what you call HOME. I will fight to make my town normal again. I hate to think that many people have this same mentality. I do not think you would have the same answer if it happened to your home.

Rebuilding lives and what you live in have to go together. People will survive if they are given hope and the will to improve. Looking to the government for help only works when they feel the same pain. When the two parties meet for president race they make them have it in the worst area of new orleens.

The problem wasnt the federal government.The people were warned to leave,they knew for years the levees wouldn't hold against a storm like this.The buses that they had to move people sat empty.Then when it happens,they expect the federal government to instantly star trek beam in food and water for 200000 people,it just can't happen instantly and no one seeme to want to admit that.

There just aren't huge stores of food and water sitting there waiting to be moved into the city.It took time to drive and fly it there,and then when it did get there you had citizens shooting at the troops and helicopters that were trying to deliver it.I wish people would get off the governments back,it was not totally George Bush's fault which is the popular thing to blame everything from a runny nose to Katrina's aftermath on.

Maybe the millions spent on downtown New Orleans so that they could have the Saints play again and have Mardi Gras on time should have been put into the neighborhoods.

Carol Johnson, many, many people in Bay St. Louis and Waveland ARE working to help themselves. Please remember that "God helps those who help themselves" was Benjamin Franklin, not the Bible. This could be any of us due to any number of things, and I have been blessed to meet a lot of people down in BSL and Waveland due to work in the area. They have a fighting spirit that won't quit, and they are working very hard to build new lives as the old are completely gone.

Is it the government's responsibility to fix every problem created by nature or man's ignorance. Bad weather happens on the gulf coast in flood plains.

When you move every couple of years (not by your choice) and all you have is your mother, father, and brother as the constant things in your life, that is HOME.

Federal government gives the money to local governments and does things on their say... so put the blame where blame is due...

look at all the natural disasters in our country's past, what did the feds do for all of those victims in the past? not much. why is this so different?

Its a sad sad thing, very tragic. But it was an act of God that brought this hurricane about, a natural disaster plain and simple, so quit trying so hard to place blame with every breath. If any humans should be blamed its the insurance companies, not government.

You want the area to hold a future? Pick up that hammer and nail and build the future and quit looking for someone to blame.

If you want the government to pay for damages caused by natural disaster, maybe you should consider a different form of government. Unfortunately, in a capitalist society, the government doesn't bear the responsibility for the living costs of its citizens. We should be grateful for anything we get from the government, because our lifestyles force them to focus their attention into endeavors that can generate income. In order to rebuild NO, as a society we would have to make many sacrifices, starting with the way we drive our cars. The government simply cannot afford not to spend their funds fighting wars in the Middle East, because by God if the oil stops flowing to the US, the whole country would be in an uproar. I agree completely with whoever it was that said the responsibility for rebuilding rests with the citizenry. No matter how much we want to criticize the government we must all be willing to face the truth that all of the actions the government takes are in order to facilitate the extravagent lifestyles that we as a society demand. If you want to spend money to help the populous when it is in need, we need to consider what sort of government is designed to do such a thing (ahem..socialism..communism...ahem) Unfortunately there isn't enough money for us all to drive shiney new cars and live in beautiful homes and still be able to spend billions of dollars to aid displaced victims of natural disasters. My sympathies for the people of new orleans, but if you want to point the finger of blame, point it at your fellow americans and yourselves. The government only does what it thinks the population demands, because thats how elected officials become elected. The congress and presidency are, after all, a reflection of the needs and desires of the society which they serve. That is the beauty of democracy and the ugly truth about the american populous.

i must also say Kudos to the ones who are staying behind and picking up that hammer and nail and rebuilding. Kudos to the ones who are fighting the money hungry corrupt insurance companies. They should be the ones getting the direct help.

Remember these images when you go to vote next election........

Honestly, if the US government would have accepted even HALF of the foreign aid that was offered, things would be a heck of a lot better there than they are now. Millions of dollars in cash and oil were turned down by the government for no good reason other than pride, and now the money that was offered has been spent on causes within the countries who were willing to provide aid. Unfortunately, it is a huge loss to those people who needed the help...

To Rob, Excuse me but I lived in Louisiana for 30 years and during that time every election time the poicitians campaigned that they would "FIX THE LEVEES", however, after they were elected they never did one thing to repair the levees. This is the government! The buses sitting empty an not being used to transport the residents to safety belong to the government! When other countries have earthquakes, sunamies, droughts, flooding, or whatever - the US government always comes up with food, water and clothing to send instantly! We cannot expect the same for the people of our own country? GOD HELP US IF WE FEEL THEY ARE ASKING TOO MUCH IN SUCH A DESPERATE TIME! They are only asking to be treated fairly, with respect and loving care and to be treat as Citizens of our beautiful country, the United States of America. I will pray for you too!

As a survivor of Andrew, some 14 years ago, I can empathize with your plight. It’s true; many people did sell-off and leave, just as I believe many from New Orleans will do too. After Andrew we had no federal funding unless you were poverty stricken.
FIMA was a joke and would only supply a 2 person trailer for a family of 5 or more.
Unlike Katrina, Insurance companies paid but our wonderful legislators allowed payments to be made to any company willing to do the work, without any local or State licensing. Now, many of us are dealing with those mistakes as we try to sell and leave Florida because insurance is 500% more than what it was back then. Open permits and poor construction plague many of us now. Yes, 15 years later, Miami-Dade County is just finishing up publishing open permits. Try to sell your house when you have a 14 year old open permit on a system that has been twice replaced or a roof that was replaced 6 years ago. Miami-Dade wants you to hire a structural engineer to prove the newer roof is newer than the one you have an open permit for at a cost of almost $3,000. This on top of the almost $800 per month I have to pay for insurance that probably want have sufficient funds in it’s till for the next Andrew. $800, that’s $200 more than my Mortgage.

Learn from our mistakes in Miami – POST Andrew

Hi, It is sad, heart breaking that us the USA goverment is dead in red ink to help these people and others in USA. Love Dean

My friend lost everything in Kitrina. She had a home, a kennel and three acres, all now gone. Did she sit around waiting for a gov't handout? No. She spent the 6 months alloted in a hotel in Alabama and then relocated to a place in Mississippi where she is starting over again. Get a grip and get off your freeloading asses and get a job. Oh, my friend actually evacuated when she was told too. That would probably make the difference.

Sad that U.S. taxpayers' $$$ went to the bombing, invasion, occupation, and rebuilding of Iraq instead of to the victims of disasters here in America.

To Carol Johnson - would you have wanted to live in one of the lovely FEMA provided trailers? They were nothing more than construction trailers at best and the feds paid $60000 each for them, what a joke! You could buy a double wide for less than that on the open market! How can you say they have no culpability in the fact that the area still looks the same, do you work for FEMA or some other federal agency?

Since JFK we have elected leaders who have promised more and more every year from the Federal Government with the result that it is now "Jack of all trades and master of none". A bureaucracy that large can only get in the way - not get things done. Rebuilding should be a local responsibility. Perhaps in the most at-risk areas, the empty homesites should be bought by the State and made into a park and left as a buffer against the next storm rather than being rebuilt. I'm not sure I would want to rebuild in those areas knowing another Katrina can and will happen in the future.

I don't live on the coast, but we do have areas in our State that are known to flood from time-to-time. I would not build my house on a known flood plain and expect the rest of the country to bail me out when the flood eventually occured.

I do believe, however, that the insurance companies should be made to meet their responsibilities to the homeowners in the area who had policies in force when Katrina came through.

You build a house on sand, and you're surprised when the ocean washes it away? There should never have been such rampant building in New Orleans. God willing, these fools will have learned from the mistakes of the past, and never build there again.

I see a lot of people saying it's the governments fault that nothing has been done. The President and Congress sent in $62.3 BILLION dollars. The check was written. Where did the money go? Don't get me wrong, the disaster and initial response by FEMA was terrible and they should be ashamed. Everyone wants to point out whats wrong with everything but if we want to really fix the problem then we must do it ourselves. We can not nor should not expect the government to handle everything.

This is unacceptable. We should let the politicians know this when we vote.

To BETH: (1) They were NOT construction trailers. It's OK if you don't know the difference, but don't pretend you do. (2) They did NOT paid $60,000 apiece for them. This is Basic Research 101. (3) A double-wide would only eat up twice the land in this "temporary housing" situation. Temporary. Get it? Don't get me wrong - FEMA is the inbred moron cousing of the IRS - all idiots. But their plan was not as flawed as some would believe.

I was so heartbroken for the people of New Orleans over their treatment after Katrina. I can only imagine what these families have gone through. My only thought is: Why were the people of Grand Forks and East Grand Forks, ND able to recover and rebuild their city so quickly after the horendous floods they endured in '97? I find it amazing that Cancun can recover and rebuild their city in less than 1 year after the hurricane that ripped their city apart. (I am guessing that not many residents or business people in Cancun had hurricane insurance).These people did not spend endless hours blaming someone else for their problems or complaining about what was not being done for them. They did not sit around and wait for someone to give them a handout. They got down to business and fought to regain their lives and their livelyhood. I have watched the waters rise, filled sandbags for hours on end only to see my city destroyed - not once but twice. But we pulled together and didn't wait for anyone.

Not the governments fault, this is what you get for living below sea level. There was enough notice to evacuate. I have more sympathy for someone who has lost everything in a tornado than a hurricane.

Rob, the article and pictures are about Mississippi not Louisiana - Mississippi didn't have levees - these were coastal beach front towns. In your defense of the federal government you have proven that you are just as ignorant about the situation as our leaders were. You should take the time to educate yourself before speaking so verbosely.

to Kate DePauw,

This site is about the Mississippi Gulf Coast, not New Orleans.

And we have some of the highest elevation on the whole Gulf Coast. Much of Bay St. Louis is on a ridge, over 20 feet above sea level. In comparison, the average elevation of Miami is 6ft. The storm was unprecedented in 300 years of this town's history, not to mention the country's.

When we who call this place home are derided for putting ourselves in harm's way, for our efforts to rebuild, it adds insult to injury. Get real.

The most appropriate comment for the entire situation is the God has to be ashamed of us all for the outcome of such a vital situation. If we cant repair the damage we have here in the great US of A, we will never win or prosper to the fullest. If we did win or prosper from all the sin we commit and judgement we put down upon ourselves and others, it would go against what the Lord and Savior I know as Jesus Christ died for as well as the teachings left behind by Chirst and his followers. We owe Jesus and God our creator much more than we give. Remember people we MUST start at home (USA and our individual homes) as a united family (country). At this critical time in our history, we still can not achieive what most terrorists have which is UNITY in a cause no matter what it is. If we all could stick TOGETHER as a whole we would have a better chance. A lesson is to be learned from that. The amount of people we kill or towns we crush will never beat the UNITY of the people we encounter. In the end of it all we ALL will be judged.

The government is helping thousands relocate every month--it is called FEMA rent assistance. The President just extended the rent assistance. I live in LA and got no rent assistance. I got a job, what is wrong with other people going to work?

The government has no responsibility what so ever to rebuild these peoples lives. They have the responsibility to rebuild themselves,since when do we look towards washington to rebuild our personal lives.

How shameful the governor of New Orleans didn't really take action for katrina... :[

Maybe we should look at some of the positive things that have happened here on the gulf coast of Mississippi, specifically in our ability to provide necessary health care to the residents and refugees with existing community health centers, temporary clinics and especially the hundreds of volunteer health workers who have worked in this area. Despite the threat and very real possibility of disease outbreaks, we have been able to contain these except for the upper respiratory Katrina Cough and more recently, the increased mental health problems. We are quick to criticize shortcomings but I believe that health care, as thrown together as it was, has been excellent under the circumstances.

I feel like the pictures above are showing hope and memories. Hope that the families will return and memories that they were once there. Look at all of you blaming everyone, except yourselves, or the fact that things happen because God wants them to happen. Just be thankful your safe and alive. You don't need material things when you have God. Look at the people that did not surive, even though now they are hopefully in a better place, it was God's will. Pick yourselves up, go to church and PRAY! In doing that, your lives will better. This is just what Satan would want.

I live in Biloxi, I don't think the government has failed us, insurance companies--yes. The pictures are only showing memories, i see rebuilding everday here and hancock county. We have to be responsible for ourselves just as we choose to live here, we choose the dangers of living here. I am tired of hearing about the poor people of N.O. They didn't have a hurricane they had a flood.

Having been on a mission trip to Biloxi 19 months after the devastation, if the insurance companies had of paid like they were suppose to, there would be more rebuilding, also rip-off artists came in and immediately took the money and ran leaving a half finished job, roofs still have blue tarps, local building supply companies have donated immense amounts of materials to help out, churches are down to half their previous populations. Why do you think the government should do something? Some are still waiting with open hands while others and began rebuilding bit by bit. It will take another 5 years before any progress is seen. Also there are more volunteers needed to help the people in the Biloxi area to rebuild. The Casinos are rebuilding fast and so are the hi-rises which are going up. Go down and help these people because they need it and don't expect the government to solve every one's problem. Government isn't the answer, people with a heart for others are needed in this area.

It is truly amazing how everything comes back to blaming George Bush, as per Sharon's post. When it comes to federal support and what truly needs to be done to help those in need, too many individuals have installed too many hurdles to get to the funding because too many people are simply greedy, meaning those in charge of the distributing the funds want to keep all for themselves. It should be our congress and senate representatives at the federal level that need to be held responsible - those that represent the people and oversee the committees responsible for this as well as those put in charge of overseeing the various relief programs.

Excuse me Jim D., but I do remember millions of dollars being donated towards Katrina, so what happened to that money? Oh wait, was this money also used on weapons of mass destruction? The government does have a responsibility on helping these people out. We contribute enough on taxes and donations to be able to help victims out in situatins like this. How are they suppose to re-build their lives when everything they had is gone? This is George Bush's fault. He is the leader of our country and our leader has not taken control over this situation. Cannot wait until 2008! Question: Remind me again how he won the second election? :)-

FAILURE! Thats the grade America should give Pres. Bush at the end of his term. The commander in chief should have mobilized all resources needed to get the job done after the Katrina's disaster. "FEMA", what a joke.

For those who had the courage to stay and rebuild, much respect! On Election Day, make your vote be heard.

I think I will move to Miami, put down $10 big on a $500,000 condo, buy a boat and live large. When the next Andrew wipes me out, I will expect all of you to make me whole by way of Uncle Sam. Thank You All in advance.

The federal government is always jumping to help someone else and not it's own people. They want everyone else in other countries to think they are something they are not, when we the people know that they are faking the funk. They are only worried about what goes in their pockets and not the people's pockets. They are a sorry excuse for a government.

Why does everyone expect the Government to take care of them? No one wants to be responsible for themselves anymore. If you want the government to take care of you, move to a socialist country. I'm sure the FEMA trailers are not a castle, but again, why should the government provide you with a 2,000 sq foot home. No incentive to move on and rebuild what you had if they did. I agree that the insurance companies should pay. And yes, your premiums should be higher if you choose to live in a flood zone, tornado zone, hurricane zone. The US of A is still the best country to live in, even though our many freedoms are slowly being taken away from us by our leaders who want to "protect" us. Again, the mentality that we can not take care of ourselves. Many volunteers have given of their time to help down there. Why don't we report on the good that's happening? Just typical of our mainstream media. We only hear their side of the story. The sad thing is so many people believe them.

during the depression my grandfather left his family behind to find work by travling the trains from state to state. my mother grew up on a farm with no running water in the house. both my parents gave up a lot to give to their four children. all of us kids know we could not rely on others for help. we are self sufficient and have all gone through our hard times. what are people made of these days? yes there are situations where some people have suffered, and have losses - but the one thing about being an American is that you have the right to be free. Freedom takes works and time. Freedom it hard. Freedom is not a handout, it is a hand up. I am hoping that since two years have passed these people who have suffered, those who have losed, are thankful that they are here today, thankful that they have the freedom to get back on their feet. and i am hoping that they are not just waiting for something good to happen to them. they need to make good happen......

What an interesting collection of photos your editorial staff chose to include. You couldn't find one rebuilt building to photograph? One group of volunteers framing a church or children playing at a rebuilt school? Those were quite obviuosly "hopless" photos, that as you can see from the thread thus far, DON'T conjur up images of "parties" to be had in the future (since the rusty metal folding chair was supposed to make us envision that - yeah right). Why did you even include HOPE in the title? That obviously was not the impression you were trying to leave us with. Or was it to make us feel more even more despair and hopelessness, yet?

I live in New Orleans, LA. This city is coming back... For all of you that do not believe this... come visit. The problem is the actual speed of the recovery. Not many intelligent people hold political positions in this city. The pictures above sugar coat the situation... Take some pictures of the 9th ward and the rack of drug dealers on the streets ready to take you out if you make them feel uncomfortable. Similar to my mayor who made an analogy of this city to a chocolate milk shake... Give me a break... just flat out stupid.. no excuses. Whatever... we'll see. I'm just tired of looking at all of this devastation.

It will definitely take time to rebuild especially after such widespread destruction. Unfortunately 2 years is not long in the grand scope of things. No one should expect the government or some insurance company to come through for even a majority of Katrina's victims. I remember the fires in Laguna Beach in the early 90's. A large chunk of the community on the hillside burned down. Minor comparably to Kartina, but there are still empty burned out lots there today. Most homes were not rebuilt even 5 years later. You never can be prepared enough for something of this scale!

In my opinion, it's a combination of both thoughts here that need to take place. The government should be willing to help out and not just in words, but in action. The organizations designed to protect us, help us, should actually really help us. And the people should be willing to work at rebuilding, and able to rebuild or relocate if that's more suitable to you.

While I don't share the ferver of Q. Jones in the religious tones of their post, I do agree with this: "If we all could stick TOGETHER as a whole we would have a better chance."

It is far too easy to point fingers than it is to pick up, dust yourself off, and try to find a new route. It will never be the same again there. But that's ok, it SHOULDN'T. Pick up, dust off (as best as possible) and move on.

On the same token, those put in power should help where they can. Not because they "have" to but because we matter to them as voters, taxpayers, HUMAN BEINGS.

It's sad to see the failings of the government, the insurance agencies, and the human nature which seems to be quite broken in regards to this. Greed has run rampant both in people and government/insurance agenices and it is truly sad.

The obvious best wish is for this to never have happened. The reality is that it did, and in its wake maybe somehow some good change will eventually come out of it...if we all work together to make it happen.

My prayers, hopes, and intentions continually go out to those in need as well as to those who just do not understand.

FINALLY!! A news organization writes an article about Katrina that focuses on Mississippi rather than just New Orleans. Yes, the damage to New Orleans is unreal, but the forgotten Mississippi lives are just as important. I'm proud of the way so many Mississippi residents (my immediate family included) have joined together to rebuild this beautiful area with little help from the government or media. Let's focus on helping Mississippi rebuild for a change!!

Let's not sit around and wait for a government to aid. We can all contribute through humanitarian efforts. With an avergae of roughly 300,000,000 humans in the US, if we all gave $5.00 we could make a huge dent in Katrina clean-up.
$1,500,000,000.

Citizens need to realize that when a person is elected as a Governor, Mayor, President, etc... that the one elected will appoint a plethora of leaders, commission members, etc... Bush appointed the FEMA director who created a bureaucratic nightmare regarding Hurricane Katrina.
I personally know a FEMA employee who attempted to fraudulently collect approx. $4000 for herself during the Katrina tragedy AND WAS ALLOWED TO KEEP HER POSITION IN THE FRAUD DIVISION OF WITH FEMA!

I volunteered last June through Habitat for Humanity and helped build a house in Waveland. I plan to go back. There is a HUGE need down there and a very well organized means to help through HFH. Won't you all consider volunteering. I think there is at least 5 more years of steady help needed.

As a resident of the New Orleans area, we got flooded-- I myself lost my downstairs and everything in it, including religious items, memories, photos, appliances, etc. I came back to my rental (my landlord had no insurance) gutted the downstairs myself, and then waited, while myself, my roommate and our three cats lived in two small bedrooms and a bathroom upstairs. We waited six months before any repairs were begun, and in the meantime, we got jobs- housecleaning, babysitting, anything we could get, AND we volunteered with gutting homes, and helping others for free.
In our area, so much needs done, especially in the Lower 9th ward. While Jesse Jackson and the Mayor of New Orleans has their march in the 9th Ward complaining about the government not doing anything, I do not see any citizens or Jesse Jackson himself taking rakes and shovels and removing the debris from the destroyed homes. I do not see them doing anything but ranting and raving and seeking money so others can do the work. It takes no money to move debris from your property to an abandoned piece of property down the street. It takes WORK.
I agree with so many others, that at least in the New Orleans area, many are waiting for money and playing the blame game- those with destroyed homes should (if they are physically able) clean up their property so that when monies do come in, they can be ready to rebuild, instead of sitting and waiting. If they are still out of the area, then neighbors should care enough about the neighborhood to do it to help others.
I see no reason why the government should pay rent for evacuees until at least 2008, when if they are in another part of the country, they could be working and surviving until they can take care of their property. In the meantime, instead of being victims of Katrina they need to be Survivors of Katrina.

Bottom line is this: Yes, the Government failed us in a big way (not Bush himself, but the entire Federal, State, and Local government systems) but even more so, we victims/survivors of Katrina failed ourselves the most. What ever happened to neighbor helping neighbor? That is what America was built on. Neighbor helping neighbor. Too bad that concept is lost in todays society.

Marla what doe's the depession have to do with a natural disaster? It's to bad you think the people on the Mississippi coast are looking for a hand out. Freedom is ? What doe's Freedom have to do with a natural disaster? You write,"since two years... Marla after 10 years we'll still be talking about how much more need's to be done.Trust me Mississippian's are a proud hard working God fearing people as you will find on this planet.I was born and raised in NoCal,but can say I am a Mississippian with great pride.Read what you want .Believe what you will,but take this to heart We aren't looking for hand out's just hands to hold the boards while we nail them.9 out of 10 of these people that lost EVERYTHING would give there last dollar to YOU for no other reason then you ask.That is what you need to pray for [not hope for] because that's what make's life worth living.Take a nice vacation to see us.Pick up a board with us. God Bless You and God Bless America.

I agree with Marla from California,but I also think that there were alot of mistakes made early on by the government at All levels.But despite all that, it is 2 years later and when will it ever be time to say,"ok its time to move on"?At the same time,I know its heartbreaking,I've witnessed the destruction in person,up close and personally,walked through whole neighborhoods reduced to rubble,I cried for days afterwards.But there has to be a day when you say enough is enough,and start to try to start over,you just have to,however hard it may be,whatever it takes.
I always tell my children,if you think you have it bad,just look at some of these children in these 3rd world countries,their biggest problem of the day is if they will eat today,or if they will get sick and die from the water they drink,not,will I have cable or a/c tonight.I just think peoples priorities are mixed up,we,as a society,have lived a certain way for so long,we cant concieve of living any other way,but like another poster kindly pointed out,at least we are living.If everyone who read this story,or even everyone who knows about whats going on down there would just take two weeks out of their busy lives and go volunteer,help rebuild a church,a store,some homes,anything,imagine what could be accomplished with all that elbow grease?Amazing things can happen when people pull togeather,whole civilations have fallen to natural disaster,famine,even war,but it is always the undying human spirit that rebuilds them.

I happened upon this website moments ago and am completely shocked and disappointed after reading some of the comments from people all over the country. Please know that most of us work everyday to recover from this storm...in addition to making a living, raising children, etc.,etc. Rebuilding is moving at a snail's pace because:(1)Insurance companies are refusing to pay money they owe to people who have been paying premiums for years. (2)The people who have lived here for generations (seven in my family's case)are waiting to see if they can afford the high insurance premiums.(3)It is almost impossible to find competent, ethical workers to rebuild or repair our homes.(4)The construction workers from out of town have no place to stay because there is no housing.
To the gentlemen who is going to move into his $500,000. condo: My 80 year old parents paid $20,000 for my childhood home 45 years, worked hard and paid their insurance premiums on the house that before Katrina could have been sold for a "million". However, it was their HOME. They didn't receive one penny from ANYONE. Where do you suggest my humble, elderly parents (and the thousands of other elderly people who were born in all our wonderful communities) relocate? We are not people "living large," and we don't want the out-of-town developers
who do live large to come here and destroy what makes our small towns special. We are people whose families chose this place generations ago.
I will be forever humbled by the wonderful people from all over the country who volunteered (and continue to) after the storm. It's such a shame to see the negative postings from people who have no idea what it's like to lose every piece of your history. Thanks to those who do understand.

Dear Kate, of Michigan State University, which has a Geography Department:

Buy a map, or take a class.

Thank you

Jeez. More of this crap. A new story on MSNBC and the flood-plain-on-a-fault-line-living graveyard whistlers are at it again, thinking that we're going through their pockets, yowling and caterwauling en masse for all Coastal Mississippi residents to get the heck out (usually while they point to New Orleans on a map). Get a clue, or a life. Either help, or leave us the hell alone.

I can't believe how ignorant some people are about the actual events that occurred surrounding Katrina. But I guess you can't blame them b/c the media coverage has been horribly misdirected toward New Orleans which simply had a bad storm and a flood. Food and water could have been waiting after the storm and it would only take the government to negotiate with Wal-Mart to do so. Wal-Mart has huge distribution centers everywhere, and they could have been utilized by the government if FEMA would have just been able to think outside the box. Also, shame on the insurance companies for basically forcing every to wonder why they even have insurance. If an insurance agency isn't going to be around in the event of an accident, or in this case a natural disaster, then they should lose their ability to sell insurance.

The slides shown above are from Bay St. Louis/Waveland, MS two towns approximately 60 miles from New Orleans. This is where the eye of Katrina hit, and homes that would 300+ years old and had gone through numerous hurricanes where wiped off their foundations. There was NOTHING for about a mile inland more than 10 miles along the coast. It is truly sad what has happened, but I think the best thing any of us not from the area can do is volunteer. I helped the Hancock County Chamber just over a year ago, and fell in love with the people and their spirit. The area is also beautiful, has GREAT FOOD, and I would recommend it as a vacation spot to anyone.

Thanks for posting those striking, sad photos out of Mississippi. My heart bleeds for the owners of those homes who've so obviously lost everything. Looking at the photos, I wonder what became of the people who had lived in what I imagine had been lovely homes and how they're doing today.

It's a depressing national disgrace how recovery in both Mississippi and Louisiana is being neglected by a federal government which seems to think that these states, being the 2 poorest in the nation, don't matter. Perhaps one could expect that from a Republican Administration of basically affluent people with a "let them eat cake" mindset. But doubly shameful and even more depressing is the fact that the mainstream media and the Democratic Party--both of which, were they doing their job right and adhering to their historic principles, would be looking out for the "little guy"--are also, for the most part, ignoring them.

Perhaps Brian Williams should have had the chance to view the photos before moderating last Thursday's Democratic debate. Reason being, I watched all 90 minutes and listened in vain for him to bring up Katrina. You would think the fact that people in Mississippi and Louisiana are still hurting in Katrina's aftermath was a far more substantive issue then Edwards' $400 haircut, hedge funds, or how Hillary Clinton feels about Walmart--but Brian asked about that relative trivia while seemingly living in a pre-Katrina world. And the Democrats--reputedly the party which most stands up for and speaks out for ordinary people's interests--were no better. Except for Obama who said 5 words about New Orleans, which was not enough, nobody had the moral courage to speak out on Katrina themselves. I guess Mississippi and Louisiana not only are being punished by the Democrats for having voted "Red" in the last presidential election, but also, because they've few electoral votes between them, aren't considered worth fighting for. I'm hoping Katrina recovery will come up in the Republican debate this Thursday, but after the Democratic debacle I'm not hopeful.

To its credit, NBC Nightly over the weekend did air a couple of reports about Katrina--both of which prove my point that Katrina (and Rita, Wilma, and other storm) recovery needs to be kept on the front burner as a campaign issue. The first was a "reclaiming our land" protest in New Orleans' Lower 9th, where rebuilding has been very slow because money needed to rebuild has been tied up in red tape. But second, and more important, was the story about the fact that Bush Administration either rejected or squandered Katrina relief from overseas. Most distressing was the fact that rescue craft was turned back at the time that New Orleanians were stranded on their flooded rooftops. It's as if the Bush Administration has cruelly wanted people in Louisiana to die. These stories are but 2 of the reasons politicians and the mainstream media need to get their heads out of the sand and recognize Katrina recovery as a substantive campaign issue.

Try these shoes.

Young couple, she's a nurse, he's an area sales rep.
They have boys 5 and 2 who are settled into a nice day care situation.

The family moved into their brand new home 2 weeks before Katrina. This home is mortgaged and not in a FEMA designated flood zone. Since the down payment took most of the couple's cash, she drives an older reliable car - but he must have a newer one for his job and it is financed. The home in fully insured to the level that the bank required of a borrower.

Father and sons evacuated before the storm. Mom was required by the hospital to stay.

Between the hours of 6 AM and 6 PM on Monday August 29, 2005, the home vanished, the old reliable and paid for car was washed into a different parking lot.

Tuesday morning this family wakes up to a mortgage payment due on a non existant home that is now not insured because they had Hurricane Coverage - but the insurance company says they do not cover rising water. No one ever suggested or required that flood insurance be carried on the house. BUT that would not have mattered anyway. Flood insurance does not become effective until 30 days after the first payment and they had only had the house 14 days.

She still has her job, he still has his job (sort of), the boys have no day care, none of them have more than 3 days of clothing, they only have the cash in their pocket (No banks, No ATM - so it wouldn't matter how much was in their account), there is only one car (and the payment is due), there is no home, bed, kitchen, bathroom, toy, book, medicine, valuable left. AND the mortgage company wants the insurance check signed over to them.

WHAT INSURANCE CHECK.

How would your life be 21 months later?

People like "Saw it Happen" need to be listened to by all presidential candidates and by the mainstream media who cover them. Their heartbreaking plight not only needs to be treated as a substantive campaign issue, but covered regularly by the mainstream media so other Americans don't forget what they're going through. Currently, except for the rare news story, it seems they've not just been forgotten but are being ignored. This needs to change.

The only way you will ever know how things are going here on the Gulf Coast is to be here in "real time". And even then you often get only the view that your mind and emotions want to accept. For those that see only half empty there is nothing wonderful happening. For those of us that go in the other direction and look for the good then there is much to celebrate. Nothing can be changed in one day. Please give it time and stop seeing nothing but destruction. There is much rebuilding going on.