I just wanted you to know that there is one person whom perception of the news media in general has significantly changed by watching how truly dedicated to your work you all are. To go into the eye of the storm and reconnect loved ones is an amazing and a commendable gift. Good luck to you all and thank you so much for sharing the truth about what is going on down there.

its hard to start over but what doesnt kill you will only make you stronger.just thank god your alive and keep going.Things happen for a reason,and maybe these things will help you for better you dont see it now but you will later on in life.

I work in Orange beach, al and we can use a mechiac. Marine type. We could also provide living area for a couple if needed and a job.

Be sure to focus in your writing just who is involved in the rebuilding of these wonderful cities, that provide so much of our historical pride. I wonder how the Haliburton Corp. has been awarded the six month reconstruction contract that will certainly use up the 10.5 billion in US $, over awards being given to La and Miss construction companies who would be providing employment for its own citizens. If these people had the skills to build the casinos and hotels and superdomes prior to devistation, why not provide them with legitimate employment to rebuild their cities. Keep us informed as to on this issue.

We spent the first night after Ivan hit Pensacola in shock and total silence. I have never had total silence in my life since moving to Pensacola over twenty years ago. If was not until the third night that we heard the caravans of help coming into our city all thru the night. That was the most beautiful sound of all! I know to the victims of Katrina, HELP seemed to not get to them in time. I just thank God that we live in a country where HELP is on it's way, even if it is slow! Hang in there, your homes and communities will be rebuilt just like mine.

The information you are providing is both interesting as well as devistating. In Canada, we have all been touched deeply by this horrendous event and you should all know that we are finding ways to help. Please let these poor people know that their northern cousins are thinking about them

It was a good idea to have the news organizations imbedded with the military during the invasion of Iraq. Next time something like this happens, maybe FEMA should be imbedded with the news organizations.

We have hundreds of refugee kids in our Pensacola schools this morning, and more on the way. From those of us here in Hurricane Alley, our hearts go out to the Gulf Coast. We're here for you.

And news crews are free to crash on my couch. Just park the big truck out front.

It is very depressing what hurricane katrina has done to so many people, they are us citizens, not refugees. these are us citizens. our federal goverment should be helping faster. but i also pray for our goverment and all victims of this horrific situation that it will make our nation stronger. i will help where i can also.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to all the Gulf Coast. It's a real shame that our government failed us again. All the tax payers money spent on Homeland Security still did not help us. I feel the U.S. is not able to handle another disaster or terroist attack. It was being broadcast before Katrina hit New Orleans that a hurricane could wipe out the city, why didn't the city government declare Marshall Law and get everyone out of there before the hurricane hit? They had several days to evacuate even the poorest of people. One lady who arrived in Missouri said she rather face a tornado, well with a tornado you only have minutes of notice. Both the state and local government needs to be accounted for, for not reacting sooner. God Bless everyone who lived through the hurricane and those who are helping.

Thanks on your reporting, news! it so important during a disaster but reporters are not the focus here. My daughter on the First Responders Force, after days of no rest, no bath or hot food finally got a chance to bathe, travel over an hour to a Cracker Barrel Resturant. Because there were 14 in their party a reporter and group decided they should not have to wait for those ahead of them in line and decided to bully her way ahead of the First Responders, saying she should not have to wait and demanded to be seated before them. The receptionist said NO but the reporter would not take "NO" for an answer! The militaty respectfull reinforced the "NO" answer and all were seated before the important and indignant reporter and her group. This is exactly what is going on all over the devistated area. Lets call this the return of the Carpet Baggers to the South.
There are many stories to tell and all are not pretty and things will get a lot uglier before it gets better.

There is no room at the inn, exactly because every reporter in the United States is down along the coast looking for "an angle". It is truely revolting. Why dont you pick up a chain saw and get to work, instead of taking up badly needed hotel space? I watched in disgust as reporters flew over people just to show thier suffering while critizising military helecopters for doing the same thing. While Bush gets hung out to dry, the folks in the press get a free pass. Who was it, after all, that said over and over just after the hurricane, that "New Orleans had dodged a bullet"? If FEMA and others where counting on reporters for accurate informaiton about how to respond, they didnt get it from the media right after the storm. The media very much needs to acess how they have covered this story. I would propose to you that they have not just been nutrual, but have been harmful in this whole thing.

I can understand the human need to rubber neck this disaster, however, with all these news crews, journilists and adventure seekers looking for the "Big Story" have any of them considered the resources they are using up in the area? I hope that this traveling blogger can find a way to make themselves more usefull than just telling an interesting story about how rough it is for them to find a place to sleep in a disaster area.

My prayers to all of you in each of the states that had their lives turned upsided-down by Katrina.
People DO want to help you, and are doing so each day.

GOD BLESS EVERYONE THERE AND INVOLVED IN THE EFFORT

I just want everyone to know that we here in Pennsylvania have all of you in our prayers. I know there are many people taking monetary collections to aid the flood victims, and that various organizations are opening their doors for some victims. Hopefully you can start a new life here. Please know, that you are not forgotten.
Prayers, prayers and more prayers.

Just wanted to tell you how much I appreciate all your efforts in bringing the most up to date information to us regarding the people of this trajedy.

I agree with Edward.
The tone of this article has no place in the current crisis. Is the editor completely out of touch, or does he really think we are concerned about whether or not the media has hotel rooms? We are talking about people hanging onto survival by a thread.
Furthermore, the term "outcast" seems distasteful, inappropriate, insensitive, and remote.

i hpoe others will get through this and move on with teir lives its hard i know but it would be alot better. i really am sorry for the people who lost thier live and for the ones who lost thier homes.

You should be ashamed of yourselves. If you can get gas and food and travel to the affected area you should be doing somthing to help instead of worring about your own comforts. My parents survived Hugo in Charleston by neighbors pulling together. They lived out of the city and received no help from outside because all the help went to Charleston. Downtown Chas. has power within 2 days. Summerville(25 miles inland) went over 2 weeks. Pick up supplies and distribute them and quit whinning.

I was in New Orleans in April of 2005, and fell in love with the city and the people!! My heart goes out to each and every person involved. I do agree that the government should have done something earlier than what they did...but they are doing something about it NOW!! And my commendations to each and every state that has open their borders to the evacuwee's!!! This situation will only make us stronger as a unified country. God bless our country!!

If you are looking for sympathy for your tragic journey, forget it. There are stricken people in the New Orleans/Biloxi area that would have been pleased to spend the night in the front seat of your van.

My granson and son-in-law live in Nachaz Mississippi
and would really appriciate some news as to how hard that area was hit I do know that they have no electricity or running water but that was Thursday last week. If anyone has more info please write.
thank you and god bless

Even after reading all the reports and seeing all the coverage on TV, I still cannot imagine what all these poor souls have gone through and are still going through. I can empathize with the folks in New Orleans who were told to evacuate and didn't- even though I have a decent job and a car, I still live paycheck to paycheck and couldn't afford to just "up and go". I think a lot of people across this country haven't a clue about living like that! I will do what little I can to help and I know countless others like me will too, and together we will help those folks heal.

The City of New Orleans needs to wipe out as much as possible and raise the city to at least sea level.

Some will cry and moan the loss of history. No, it is the loss of previous generation's stupidity.

Everyone knows the city is well below sea level, yet they have done nothing except build levees. How did the levees hold up? Can you say swimming pool? Or perhaps cesspool?

Bulldoze what can be and fill in the city with dirt with the levees becoming retaining walls to hold the dirt. Each skyscraper can have a "moat" around it and its own pump. Eliminate the poor leadership of the last 200+ years and fix the city, no more bandages.

Bourbon Street is a joke and the poor sections are nothing. The rich sections aren't under water.

Fix it, don't just delay the next flood.