About this blog

Andrew Locke and Bob Sullivan

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.

David Friedman and Miguel Llanos

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.

Kari Huus and Jim Seida

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.

Mike Brunker and Andrew Locke mugshot

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.

How you can help

• How to help the victims of Hurricane Rita

• How to help the victims of Hurricane Katrina

Reunion and relief

Posted: Friday, September 9 at 05:09 pm CT by msnbc.com

BATON ROUGE, La. -– Relief.

Not just ours and yours over the anticipated happy ending with Bill Harris and his beloved Miss Kitty, but a new team of reporters who will take over this running account of Katrina’s outcasts and their struggles to set their lives right.

Reporter Kari Huus and media producer Jim Seida, both MSNBC.com veterans, will arrive soon and we will board a red-eye flight for Seattle.

But fear not, we will continue to keep you updated on Harris’ heart-warming tale as it continues to unfold. It is looking as though his reunion with Miss Kitty may occur sooner than expected, so check back later Friday for the latest.

A few final thoughts before we pass the baton to Kari and Jim:

This has been an amazing experience, not just the awesome devastation we’ve seen first-hand, but because so many of the hurricane’s victims have responded to the disaster with determination rather than despair. It’s our hope that you, too, have come away with a fresh appreciation for the resilience of the human spirit.

We also have added to what already was a deep respect for the heroes of this tragedy: the Red Cross, Salvation Army, Southern Baptist Convention and Noah’s Wish volunteers, police officers and firefighters, National Guard troops and state militia members and members of the public who have stepped forward to help in this time when so many are in desperate need, often at great personal sacrifice. Their outpouring of love and concern is making a difference.

And, finally, our heartfelt thanks go out to the readers of Katrinablog who have taken the time to post responses to our reports over the last eight days. Your feedback, words of encouragement and occasional criticisms have made this a very special assignment for both Andrew and me. Never before have we felt so connected to our readers.

Keep the faith!

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COMMENTS

Mike and Andrew, thank you so much for your stories! They have put a face to the tragedy - something we all need to understand how much the help the people in the Gulf need. Also thank you for the story of Miss Kitty. It gives me hope for all of us!

Bless you!

Katie, Milwaukee, WI (Sent Sep 9, 2005 8:24:34 PM)

Mike, Andrew,

Thank you! You captured a whole bundle of human emotions in your determined effort to see a happy ending to this story!

I know animal lovers all over this great nation are thanking you as this note wings its way to you through cyberspace.

Bless the beasts and the children!

Susan Trout (Sent Sep 9, 2005 8:30:46 PM)

Mike; Andrew; thank you SO MUCH for this unique way of sharing individual stories. These are the stories we love to hear but don't always get covered by mainstream media outlets. Its so hard to focus on the devasation and rebuilding when you think of the thousands affected; by giving us individual stories, you enabled all of us to see the devasation up close, and help us realize that even just ONE person CAN make a difference. God bless you; you've earned time off!

Stephanie, Standish, ME (Sent Sep 9, 2005 8:38:22 PM)

I, like most on this site, am starving for information regarding these poor lost animals. My heart breaks every day. My wallet is empty from donations to animal shelters and rescues but I want to know more about what is being done. I am sick with pain from seeing these poor animals dying and not knowing if the photographers are going on their merry way or helping them after the "photo-op". These animals, unlike many humans, had no choice and were forced to stay in this disaster. May God be with them.

Katherine B. Shawnee, KS (Sent Sep 9, 2005 8:52:07 PM)

Thank you Mike and Andrew for your reports, photos and efforts over the past eight days. I'm just overjoyed that Mr. Harris was reunited with Miss Kitty. Thanks to Noah's Wish for their participation as well...my donation was made today!

Gina Watson, Long Beach, CA (Sent Sep 9, 2005 8:52:18 PM)

Mike and Andrew: Thank you for the wonderful job you both did. You both went the extra mile and then some.May God Bless the two of you and may you have some peace and rest. I know the two of you have been thru a lot the last several days. Once again thank you.

vonda lear (Sent Sep 9, 2005 10:24:39 PM)

Thank you Mike and Andrew, for having done such a fine job covering the hurricane aftermath in an up-close and personal way. I followed the story about Miss Kitty with keen interest, and am so happy it has resulted in a reunion. Bless you both for your dedication to bringing a glimpse of what it's like in these remote areas to those of us so far away who care very much!

Trish Cullinan, Salida, CO (Sent Sep 9, 2005 10:47:53 PM)

Just wanted to say, "what a marvelous job everyone is doing out there".
We have been following the Miss Kitty Story and are so impressed with Horace and Donna on the job they have done. It has been one of the most touching stories we have followed. We are all so happy that Bill will have his ct back.
God Bless You All

Kathy Muckleston, Calgary,Alberta,Canada (Sent Sep 10, 2005 2:10:52 AM)

Gold Stars for both of you!!!
If you hadn't been there to report the story & then actually followed it through with all of the updates about Bill & Miss Kitty, no one would know how so many poeple (including your selves) cared & went the extra mile for a man & his cat.
Thank you & your replacements.

Sheryl, Seattle, WA. (Sent Sep 10, 2005 4:13:46 AM)

A ray of sunshine in the darkness! Thanks go to MSNBC for keeping this story alive. I am a new fan, new viewer and new web site visitor because of this wonderful account of a man and his precious cat. If this is indicative of the quality here, I intend to stick around.

Susan, Springfield, IL (Sent Sep 10, 2005 5:17:45 AM)

You two have been so great keeping us updated it's refreashing to have heart felt reports with all the news not just the bad, God be with you both. FYI to Linda in Kansas Snowball anthe little boy have been reunited, I was watching that also.

tonja Miller Stillwater OK (Sent Sep 10, 2005 9:08:36 AM)

Now that Miss Kitty and Bill Harris have been reunited, can anyone give us an update on Snowball and the little boy? The latest on MSNBC indicates "Snowball is now at the Louisiana SPCA in Gonzalez, La., and will be reunited with his owner, U.S. Department of Agriculture veterinarian Terry Conger told the newspaper." Surely we can give this little boy back his beloved pet. Can anyone give us a further update?

SDIngram, Marion, AL (Sent Sep 10, 2005 9:32:01 AM)

thank you from the depths of my heart and soul for keeping the plight of those that depend upon us, the animals, in the forefront of the news. If it were not for you all, the dire plight of these animals would be all but forgotten. Thank you.

AnnieLisa, Bellevue, WA (Sent Sep 10, 2005 10:00:50 AM)

God Bless you for returning Miss Kitty to her owner Bill. It is a wonderful story!!!!!!!! I wonder if they picked up the black lab when they were saving the 74 year-old diabetic. Bless you.

Jo Curran

Jo Curran, Thomaston, ME (Sent Sep 12, 2005 9:48:43 AM)

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