I feel very strongly that all Americans are giving and working as much as they can to help the survivors of this horrible natural disaster. I am ashamed of some of the comments that have been expressed about how "slow" help is in coming. The rescuers have traveled long and are working tirelessly to help and the image that is being painted is one which lacks gratitude or thankfulness. This disaster took out geographically what seems equal to Spain,France, and Italian coast lines. We are the United States but geographically that is a large mass of land. We are here to help each other and support each other. I am glad you printed information about people working so hard to get back on their feet! It is a shame that the insurance companies are playing such games with them. I pray Habitat for Humanity will help this family first! They should reward those who are working so hard not the ones looking for a free handout.

I have relatives and friends in Mississippi who live in Picayune, Purvis, Poplarville and Hattiesburg. How were these cities affected? Are there survivors who have been evacuated?Anxious

In this day and age of report the bad stuff never report the good or the different like the old historic homes are gone which is a shame and something to be upset about because history is gone..maybe they will want to build a walmart on it. it's all about building things that can bring in lots of tax revenue not about history or families or having a home..look at the eminent domain supreme court ruling.. let the malls and developers win to heck with our own history, family history and US and local history that our children will sadly only read about in maybe school or books that they might pick up at the library or hear at thanksgiving dinner when the elders talk of it.

Pascagoula, Ocean Springs, Gautier....all these small but wonderful cities on the Mississippi Gulf Coast- This was my home for 15 years, I have just relocated to Baton Rouge- My heart is breaking for everyone from Baton Rouge to Gulf Shores. From New Orleans East, a large part of our heritage and history has been erased.

As a former resident of Pascagoula, I too have been surprised by the lack of national coverage of the eastern Gulf Coast of Mississippi. I have been getting my Pascagoula news from the Mississippi Press Register online. According to today's paper, 80% of Pascagoula homes have been damaged or destroyed and aid has been slow to arrive. My parents have not been able to get in touch with friends due to the phone lines still being down. Pascagoula residents, as all the hurricane victims, are in our prayers.

Check out the complete and total devastation of waveland and bay st. louis. My neighborhood (the cedar point are of bay st louis) has been obliterated -- hundreds of homes reduced to rubble including mine - and I haven't seen that in the news at all.

i really feel bad for those ppl and my heart gose out to you, we all need to remember we are american and we need to help each and everyone. i have a nephew who in the army that got send to Mississippi to help out, and i know they are doing there part

My uncle lives in Pascagoula, and I finally reached him on Sunday, 9-4-05. He almost lost everything in his home. He told me that there is a roof with four walls, but everything else is destroyed or gone. he has lived in this house for over 40 years. He was in very good spirits, for what he and others there have been through. He said pascagoula was hit hard, and almost unidentifable. Sounds every bit as bad as Gulfport area, but you don't hear much about the Pascagoula area. It was a long week not knowing or hearing anything from the media in this area. There was news from about every other city in MS AL and LA. Many people in Pascagoula have lost everything. Hang in there, help is on the way.

Please help these people. What are they to do? I have friends who live in Ocean Springs and both worked on Casino Boats that are now destroyed. What about those with nothing? What about the children? What is the long term solution to helping these folks get on the right track?

I would like to know if Arnold A. "Skip" Walker and family are doing ok in Pascagoula. I am a friend from American Samoa.

I lived in Gautier for a year back in 79 when Frederick hit. I hate to imagine what these poor people are having to deal with. My heart goes out to each and every one.

Try to get the people first and not the animals. The people need to get saved.

My dad and stepmother moved to Gautier 2 weeks before Camille hit and all the lost on their newly purchased home was a tree and an antenae. They lived behind the cresote painting business near SInging River Pottery. My dad is now deceased and my stepmother is here in GA. I would like to know how that area of Gautier faired. Please write me at lesmurphy@cox.net. Right now my daughter is working in the Gulfport area with the Air National Guard. Thanks

I was very upset that we haven't heard that much about other areas that are suffering from this storm except Louisiana. What about the other vast area that was hit and is still hurting. Their homes were destroyed and their lives were disrupted. I don't understand why we don't have more stories like this. It's not fair that Louisiana is getting all this attentiona and tons of other Americans are suffering too. I would like to see more stories and aid go to other areas as well.
Karen

I would love for people to talk about communities other than New Orleans.

While i do care for these people and wish them the best, I need/want to find out about other communities. I have family in Central MS and still haven't heard a word. There is the choctaw Reservation in MS and I don't know how they faired.

These are questions I would love to find answers to. i can't call anyone b/c the phone circuits remain busy.

Has anyone heard about Charenton, LA, and what effects Katrina had on this small town. Anxious.

I was wondering if Richard Terry Lyons of Mobile Alabama or Pascagoula Mississippi was in the storm? Are you O.K.?

There were many people waiting patiently but they don't show that, there were many people who were well prepared but they dont show that, there were many people who trusted the authorities and evacuated but they don't show them, there were mayors who had a plan to evacuate every citizen but they don't interview them and on and on. The squeaky people get the camera and there is plenty of curb appeal in civil unrest whether it is justified or not. They may have waited to get their help but at least there was help. If I have to be in a disaster I'd rather be on American soil just like those in Mississippi, Louisiana and Alabama and if I had a further say in the matter, I'd hope I was living in an area with a plan and a leader who leads with-out making excuses and passing blame. I pray for the survivors and may God Bless them and give them strength, faith, courage to persevere and the ability to forgive those who they feel failed in coming to their aid.

I am doing what I can by donating money to the Red Cross. I hope this gets to the people who need it and can give them a little relief. Please know that myself and all my friends and family are praying for you, that relief will come and help you.

I can't imagine being in the situation that the hurricane survivors are in. I don't know if I could be strong enough.

Please know that many are doing what we can. We are thinking of you and praying for you every day. God bless you all!

I am appauled at the lack of coverage for Pascagoula, Wiggins, Hattiesburg, and other small towns in Mississippi! I understand that NOLA is under water, but, if no one see how devastated the rest of the hurricane area really is, then they are going to get short changed in the relief (and are getting the short end currently!). I have family in Pascagoula, and Hattiesburg. I can tell you that my family has said that they have not seen FEMA in Hattiesburg and that when our mayor (Dupree) asked Haley Barbour for help with security, Barbour told Mayor Dupree that he hoped we get it worked out! I am more than appauled!! I used to love NOLA, but I am to the point of writing them off! Nagin should have done more and should have shown his face A LOT SOONER!! Nagin and the Govenor should have asked for evacuation help sooner! NOt just food and shelter etc!! They had to ask for the help before the government would step in! Quit pointing the finger at Bush and remember that everytime you point a finger at someone, there are 3 pointing back at yourself!! UUUGGGG!! I cant talk about it without getting all worked up! My prayers are with everyone in Mississippi!

I agree with a lot of you when you say there needs to be more information on the other areas hit by the storm. My heart goes out to all that this storm has hit.

I am on a longarm chat forum and know of many quilting guilds and we are all working very hard making quilts to send and hope that this helps some. I know many don't have homes to go back to and others have a lot of hard work cleaning and restoring what they do have. None of this will be easy and I know that many prayers are going out for all and help is on its way in many different forms.
God bless you all.

My prayers go out to all of those involved in this horrible disaster. I am from Utah, and my next-door neighbor has family that lives in Mississippi and they too were affected by the hurricane. Our neighborhood raised food, water, clothing, and anything else helpful, afterwhich my neighbor along with a brother and sister, who is a nurse, drove there to help in the aftermath. It is amazing how many people were devastated, but so many people are volunteering their time and efforts to the relief of the south. God bless all those involved.

Please know that America hasn't forgotten about the little towns in Mississippi which were effected just as much if not more than New Orleans. We pray for you all and hope that relief finds its way there soon. I too am donating to the Red Cross and am going to be a volunteer for them.
Never give up hope. Remember that hope is brighter than any star when the night is dark. God Bless all of the survivors of this horrible devestation.

If anyone knows anything about A.B. and Carolyn Cannon from Mobile, Ala. Please contact the Simmons Family in Tenn. at tramar47@hotmail.com ...very concerned of their safety.