About this blog
From Sept. 22-27, the posts in this blog about Rita's evacuation and devastation were reported and photographed by Bob Sullivan and Andrew Locke. Sullivan, 37, is MSNBC.com's technology and consumer fraud reporter. Locke, 34, in charge of MSNBC.com's editorial strategy, was on his second hurricane blog tour.
From Sept. 18-22, the posts in this blog, examining Katrina's impact on the environment, were reported and photographed by Miguel Llanos and David Friedman. Llanos, 45, is MSNBC.com's environmental reporter. Photojournalist Friedman, 35, is a multimedia producer at MSNBC.com.
From Sept. 10-16, the posts in this blog were reported and photographed by Kari Huus and Jim Seida. Huus, 43, has been a journalist for 20 years and a reporter with MSNBC.com since 1996. Seida, 39, has been a media editor with the Web site since 1996.
From Sept. 2-9, the posts in this blog were reported and photographed by Mike Brunker, left, and Andrew Locke. A journalist for 25 years, Brunker, 49, is MSNBC.com's West Coast news editor. Locke, 34, has been a journalist for 17 years and is currently in charge of MSNBC.com's editorial media strategy.


A very special shelter in Covington, La.
TRACKBACKS
You just HAVE to find Miss Kitty! Good luck!
Amy (Sent Sep 8, 2005 10:54:34 AM)
THANK YOU for searching for this precious life- I have been praying for Miss Kitty and crying since I read this story. PLEASE DON'T GIVE UP ON HER!!
Love Laura in SC
Laura Bagwell (Sent Sep 8, 2005 11:21:37 AM)
I am anxious to know what happens to miss Kitty. You guys are doing a great job ... one that many of us wish we could help with. How can I help?
Beth Wallace, Atlanta GA (Sent Sep 8, 2005 11:21:43 AM)
the gov. let us down
gene miller laporte,in.46350 (Sent Sep 8, 2005 11:34:08 AM)
Don't give up on Miss Kitty. Let us know when she finds you.
Trish
P Lyons, Warwick, RI (Sent Sep 8, 2005 11:38:26 AM)
Pets give us unconditional love. We must all recognize that we not only love them but they love us. Don't give up the search for Miss Kitty and all the other displaced cats and dogs. Our thoughts are with the survivors, human and otherwise.
Rich Meyers, KC, MO (Sent Sep 8, 2005 11:40:09 AM)
I HAD READ ABOUT A ANIMAL SHELTER ON YOUR WEBSITE THAT MIGHT POSSIBLE HAVE MISS KITTY HAVE YOU CHECK THIS OUT YET? THE SITE EVEN HAD A PICTURE OF THE CAT
THAT THEY HAD RESCUED. PLEASE KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK
AND HOPE YOU CAN FIND MISS KITTY
SANDRA SANDERS,GORDO,AL (Sent Sep 8, 2005 11:42:39 AM)
Please let us know the outcome of Miss Kitty. We can only hope and pray it will be a happy one for Mr. Harris.
Sheila Procida, Delran, NJ (Sent Sep 8, 2005 11:43:01 AM)
Please plan to sleep in your vehicle from now on so that you won't take any more rooms away from people who have lost their homes. You have a comfortable home to go back to when you're done playing.
Kathy Ann, Auburn, Maine (Sent Sep 8, 2005 11:45:37 AM)
Being a cat owner myself...my prayers are with all the people and beloved pets who have been separated from each other. Praying that you find Miss Kitty...
Diana, Gig Harbor, WA (Sent Sep 8, 2005 11:48:05 AM)
Miss Kitty sounds like a savvy cat so I'm expecting her to turn up. The gov. of LA did not drop the ball. She had the whole state to oversee. She looks exhausted in all the pictures I've seen. Maybe Bush will offer her his ranch to recup 6 months down the road.
Jean Little, LaFayette, GA (Sent Sep 8, 2005 11:49:07 AM)
To help out with the animals, make a donation to the local SBCA or the US humaine society. My heart goes out to all those people and animals that have been hurt. Our prayers (and some cash) are with you all.
Wendy, Vista CA (Sent Sep 8, 2005 11:50:24 AM)
Please find out if the debit cards are being distributed in the smaller places you're in. How much red tape is assocatied with it?
And thanks guys for trying to find poor Miss Kitty.
Claudia Anderson (Sent Sep 8, 2005 11:51:41 AM)
Thank you for looking for Miss Kitty. You are greatly appreciated and making a tremendous difference.
Jennifer Natick, MA (Sent Sep 8, 2005 11:56:10 AM)
Little is reported about the Utility Companies that are in the Hurricane ravaged areas. These men and women are working long hours in harsh conditions, as we all know, bringing a vital component back in helping to re-build these areas. I feel they deserve recognition and praise along with the Red Cross, Military, etc.. Thank you for mentioning the Utility workers in your story.
Tracy, Georgia (Sent Sep 8, 2005 11:57:34 AM)
Please keep looking for Miss Kitty
jan, san francisco, ca. (Sent Sep 8, 2005 11:58:20 AM)
Please, please keep us advised about Miss Kitty! She's probably hiding and watching as people look for her. She has to be terrified! Keep up your good work - you're doing a great job.
Pat Baker - 938 L Street - Alexander City, AL 35010 (Sent Sep 8, 2005 11:59:21 AM)
My Prayers are with Mr Harris in hopes you find Miss Kitty, it's a very moving story.
Kimberlee Wilcher Winfield Ks. (Sent Sep 8, 2005 11:59:50 AM)
Don't give up on Miss Kitty! Animals do not have a chance with out people.
Kathleen Wilson, Omaha, NE (Sent Sep 8, 2005 12:07:00 PM)
oh gosh what a moving story...Pls find Ms Kitty...how horrible it must have been to have to have left her behind...
jinnie pekarski, indianapolis, IN (Sent Sep 8, 2005 12:07:34 PM)
What a loyal pet! And your efforts are admireable! Praying that you will find Miss Kitty. I have just put down my 15 year old cat upon my vet's recommendation that his kidneys had failed. I do not think,a 16 year old cat under the stress of losing his owner and unable to continue his pre-Katrina lifestyle, could survive this long. Thanks
Luke in South Carolina (Sent Sep 8, 2005 12:08:19 PM)
I can't belive America could not get buses before the hurricane hit , to rescue the poor who had no means of leaving. I don't want to hear they didn't want to leave, they had no options. I bet there were hundreds who wanted out.
Jen Hays Las Vegas, Nv (Sent Sep 8, 2005 12:09:18 PM)
The forced evacuations are being stepped up. As each house is searched, it is marked with one color spray paint for dead people inside, another for people rescued. I wonder if the law enforcement and military personnel could be convinced to add a new color to indicate animals inside to aid animal rescuers. Also, like the sites available to notify rescuers of last known locations of loved ones, could a site be set up to list locations of pets? This would not only aid rescuers of pets, but would encourage holdouts to evacuate if they knew they could put ID tags on their pets, leave them with food and water, and know they will be rescued.
Eve Fuerth (Sent Sep 8, 2005 12:13:02 PM)
Dear Mike & Andrew,
Thank you for giving us yet another perspective and way to be connected with what the survivors are facing.
I sense it is important for the rest of our Nation to be as "connected" as possible to our compatriots who are experiencing this crisis first-hand.
As my 11-year old daughter said after the very first reports began coming following Katrina’s battering, "Mom, I think this is meant to be a big wake up call for our country." Indeed, my little prophetic child is turning out to be correct: More and more as each day passes and the broader scope of the fallout is becoming known at so many levels.
A suggestion... I don't think that "refugee" is the best descriptor... see below. Thanks.
Refugee: one that flees; especially: a person who flees to a foreign country or power to escape danger or persecution.
Perhaps use "displaced" or "survivors"… yes???
You guys stay safe and healthy!! Thanks, again.
Heidi
Heidi W., Helena, Montana (Sent Sep 8, 2005 12:19:56 PM)
You've got to be kidding me! You guys are taking up precious hotel rooms looking for a cat? There are people in these areas that have nowhere to go and the fact that journalists doing nothing more than looking for a cat are taking up what shelter is available absolutely discusses me. All of you journalist should get out of these areas and get out of the rescuer's way so they can do their jobs. I know this comment won't get posted since the only ones that have been posted are positive feedback about looking for a cat, but I hope the journalist feels guilty reading this.
Robert, Atlanta, GA (Sent Sep 8, 2005 12:21:52 PM)
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