STILL NEEDING HELP - HANCOCK CO. MISSISSIPPI

Latest news from: KATRINA VOLUNTEERS - HANCOCK CO., MS

CHRISTMAS IS COMING - HELP IS NEEDED - 62 Days Until Christmas:
There will be a toy distribution at our facility in early December.
If your family is in need of assistance contact: (601) 795-9979.
We will need assistance organizing the Christmas toy give-away.
If you would like to adopt a child in Hancock County for Christmas, or an entire family - we critically need your assistance.



We are needing the following help from local volunteers:
Assistance for intakes at the office on Thursdays from 1-4pm
Assistance mowing lawns for elderly citizens on fixed incomes who can not mow the lawns themselves.
We need assistance finishing homes for elderly and disabled in Harrison, Hancock, Pearl River County, and Stone County.
Small jobs both skilled and unskilled. You can make a difference in someones life today.



We are looking for:
* To purchase a used riding lawnmower
* Donation of Propane stove
* Donation of Fridge
* Donation of Freezer
* Donation of leftover building supplies
* Looking for volunteers to visit "shut-ins" and isolated elderly residents
* Looking for volunteers to assist getting clients to appointments who can not drive or do not have a vehicle

OBAMA ON KATRINA RESPONSE

"UNCONSCIONABLE INEPTITUDE"

Finally someone with enough guts to call it what it is, has been, and continues to be!! Obama vows to mend Bush’s broken Katrina promises.

In addition, the article states that Senator David Vitter re-stated his position on the response to the storm by saying that “On the Friday morning after Katrina, I said publicly that I would grade the initial government response at all levels – local, state, and federal – an F. I stand by that assessment," . . . "I look forward to working with President Obama to continue the reforms I have been working on at the federal level from the reform of FEMA and immediate response protocols to ongoing recovery work, certainly including vital corps projects to provide a much higher level of protection."

The White House website vowed “President Barack Obama will partner with the people of the Gulf Coast to rebuild now, stronger than ever.”

I was always taught to say what you mean and mean what you say. We all can only hope this will be true of our new president.

A PERSONAL RANT

This goes for the greed-driven developers, the whims of city "leaders" and "supervisors," the short-sightedness of state and local government, the decisions of HUD and Haley relative to the port expansion, the re-zoners and the deciders who want to make it impossible for the little person to have a home whether rental or MEMA . . . this goes especially for Waveland and Bay St. Louis city leaders:

It's been nearly 3 years and 4 months . . .

You want to be REAL leaders of the community??? You want to make a REAL difference?

If you want true positive effect, how about getting down to reality instead of pie-in-the-sky casinos and condos.
How about helping ALL people of the coastal neighborhoods by giving them fair and equitable zoning that allows them to rebuild their homes, rent a fair and equitable house or apartment, or allows them to own a MEMA cottage (which is NOT a TRAILER!!).
How about helping those who must rent have fair housing to rent!
How about requiring anyone who wants to build condos and casinos to include a certain percentage of rental property in their projects that will allow those of lesser means to have a home! (Remember those initial days of Haley's SMART CODE dreams??)
How about pitching a good ole southern hissy fit over the fact that people of lesser means than those owning a fancy town home built by some outsiders don't have a place to call home or are about to be forced to move their MEMA cottage to a "trailer" park because construction of their home and rebuilding has been stalled and stalled!
How about getting your greedy narrow-minded heads out of your collective selfish asses!

I think it's time that people stand up to the nuts in charge. I'm not a gun-loving person by any means, but I think if I were in a position where someone was about to MAKE me move my cottage because my house wasn't completed by some ridiculous dead line, it would be time for a fence and then a gun and I would dare you to step foot on my land! This isn't necessarily a literal interpretation of "standing up," I'm just trying to make a point.

CASINOS - HOW MANY MORE?

ASTUTE VULTURES OVER MS GULF COAST
astute - being able to assess situations or people and turn this to one’s advantage : an astute businessman.

It appears that south Diamondhead, MS hasn't gone through enough trouble with the on-going devastating effects of Katrina.

The local community Kings of Zoning and Re-Zoning have made it plain that they care nothing for the local person who lost everything and is now having to deal with their neighborhood being made available to out-of-state casino/hotel/spa/la-dee-da developers! The City "Fathers" and the developers (of course) claim that casinos are just what the coast needs more of in order to supply "jobs" and of course more tax revenue. What about supplying some housing for those who STILL don't have a home???

The thing that stinks the most about the south Diamondhead issue is the attitude. The Colorado-based developer, Jacobs Entertainment Inc., has magically acquired a majority of the shares in property known as Harbor House and is now planning to make it into "single-owned town homes, not rentals." According to the Bay St. Louis newspaper, The Sea Coast Echo, "Jacobs officials said that Hurricane Katrina caused several changes to the area including blight, crime, and less residency." What an astute observation! I guess rezoning land to build casinos for tourists and condos for purchase should take care of that little matter! And this is supposed to be a "positive effect" on the community . . .

MAGIC WAND MENTALITY :: PROMISES AFTER KATRINA

"BIGGER & BETTER" - PROMISES TO KATRINA VICTIMS HAVE FALLEN SHORT

THE MAGIC WAND MENTALITY:

Immediately following Katrina's enormously devastating landfall along the Mississippi Gulf coast, statements were made by government officials of all sorts, statements which sounded like they were providing hope of a fair and timely recovery and rebuilding process to ALL who had lost so much. Those statements and seemingly promises for all were projected in bold, loud, official voices for all of the country to hear. Where are those voices now?

IS MISSISSIPPI BUILDING BACK BETTER THAN BEFORE? – The August 2008 Steps Coalition Report Card

STEPS COALITION – Mission Statement : The Steps Coalition is to promote an equitable recovery and healthy, just, and sustainable communities in South Mississippi.

The Coalition shares these INTERCONNECTED VALUES:
AFFORDABLE HOUSING, COMMUNITY PRESERVATION, ECONOMIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE, HUMAN RIGHTS.

KATRINA RELIEF : VOLUNTEER - DONATE

KATRINA RELIEF – a disaster relief operation in Hancock County, Mississippi.


Recycling Left Over Construction Supplies

There are approximately 12,000 damaged homes in Hancock County - if after the construction was complete on 30% of those homes they found they had a left over 2x4 and they donated that piece of lumber to a volunteer construction camp - we would have 3,600 2x4's to build approximately fourteen more homes.

If you have any left over building supplies - sheetrock, lumber, shingles, plumbing and electrical supplies, paint, paint brushes, rollers, nails, screws - we desperately need those and any other construction items to help others build their homes. Call us at:
(228) 466-4630.


CONTACT:
Kathleen Johnson, Director of Katrina Relief, Director of Field Operations of the Waveland Citizens Fund a registered 501 (c) 3 non profit / Located at 700 Tabor St., Waveland, MS 39576

Email: KathleenJohnson@ReliefVolunteers.com

Phone: (228) 466-4630
Fax: (228) 466-4638
Cell: (228) 344-8616

THE THING ABOUT IT IS . . .

Dream For Sale. Live Oaks in fog on Front Beach in Ocean Springs.


Below this post you can see that I have posted a few images of Waveland – "south of the tracks."

The thing about it is, that those images are indeed a few. And those "few" are like breath and air within fog.

Look at the pictures. Multiply those by hundreds, and by hundreds again. And then multiply those by blocks, more blocks, neighborhoods, and more neighborhoods.

Then add to that equation the idea of miles x miles to get square miles. Picture in your head, if you can, the whole coast of Mississippi and then go inland all the way to Hattiesburg, Laurel, and Meridian. Even though the damage was not as severe the further inland you go, does not negate that damage was done and can still be seen to this very day. We have miles and miles of downed trees and standing dead trees along the highways from the coast to Meridian. The scars are deep and imbedded in the earth.

There are still "blue roofs" in Laurel. Some houses will never be repaired or rebuilt. Some people will never have their homes back, or the lives that they knew.

I am still dumbfounded by the depth and breadth of Katrina's destructive power. Everytime I visit the coast, I become speechless for days after. The massive change to the Gulf Coast's environment is sickening.

FEMA SLOWS COAST'S REBUILD + The $600 MILLION MAN - A DEBACLE

Moody's Court - a beautiful past.


Still in Katrina daze. Entrance to St. Michael's. This face expresses best my feelings about the recovery/rebuilding issues that have not been dealt with in a timely, respectful, and caring manner by the powers that be.


Well, well, well, what else did we really expect from FEMA? It's been 2 years and 5 months since Katrina obliterated the Gulf Coast and less than 1/4th. of the 10,833 public rebuilding projects are finished. Given the fact that FEMA was initially headed up by an idiot who was given the job by another idiot who moved the agency into the so-called "homeland security" department, what else, indeed, should we expect? It's all a joke, and a very bad one. It's a bad dream I wish we all could wake up from.

For one thing, FEMA's little penny counters are haggling with Long Beach Mayor Billy Skellie about paying for the overtime that the fire and police departments had to work in those initial days and weeks after Katrina hit. Pathetic! FEMA isn't "satisfied" with the first responders' time sheets. Now let me see. . . umm, there's someone over there in a tree waiting for help and there is a body on a rooftop which is smashed on the ground and we have no communications, or food, or water, and the offices were gutted and filled with someone else's debris. . . umm where did I put my time sheet? And I can't find a pencil. Ahh, FEMA.

On top of that, many people are in limbo. People are still in trailers . . . with formaldehyde !!! For Pete's sake! Now that's a real pretty picture of America and what we are "supposed" to stand for. Seems to me most of the people running this country, and those who vote them in again and again just don't give a flying rat's ass about anything but themselves, money, and Iraq.

Then you have our illustrious Gov. Barbour who diverts $600 million from the HUD grant monies for AFFORDABLE HOUSING to expand the port at Gulfport! WHAT???

This expansion will encompass 210-acres which will include a new shipping terminal and channel (to be expected I imagine), BUT it will also include "three new casinos and as many as 3,000 hotel rooms." Now it seems to me, since there was separate money to rebuild the lost bridges, there should have been money in a separate package for repairing the port. And especially so if it included, of all things, casinos and hotels! You tell me why HUD money should pay for casinos and hotels?? I'm waiting . . .

To no avail, Maxine Waters, D-Calif., urged HUD Secretary Alphonso Jackson to oppose the diversion plan (thank you Rep. Waters). However, Jackson said there was "specific congressional language" that kept him from denying Barbour's request. Word is, that ain't especially true. Waters stated her concern: "I am suspicious that Barbour receives favored treatment with this administration. He kind of gets his way." Duh! NSS!!

In my humble opinion, this is an outrage! But then again, "what's good for business ___" you fill in the blanks, I'm too ill over it all. I need to clear my head of this debacle so I'm going to the coast to Mardi Gras and . . . laissez bon temps roulez . . . until I return to blog again. Oh, and I won't be staying in a condo or casino!
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Some Tiny FEMA Stats to mull over –
Rebuilding on the Mississippi Gulf Coast:

Total large projects: 2,564

Total large projects closed: 731

Total small projects: 8,269

Total small projects closed: 1,693

Total projects: 10,833

Total closed: 2,424

Source: FEMA

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Clarion Ledger - FEMA Slowing Coast Building


$600 Million Dollar Port Deal


Clarion Ledger

St. Michael's Catholic Church, gutted by Katrina. Beach Blvd., Biloxi – Nov. 2007.

LIST OF NEEDS IN WAVELAND - Recovery has critical needs

Waveland -
FEMA trailers still around - Nov. 2007
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Waveland
Infrastructure - Nov. 2007
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The question from the student at Penn State was "What do the residents need"? And, more importantly, what is it that they can transport?

1. Used tools for the Disaster Relief Organizations on the ground. We have more tools lost and broken in a day than we can afford to replace. If the donating home owners would go thru their garages and send every "extra" tool they have - it would help. Extra hammers, screw drivers, drills, drill bits, chisels, scrapers, brooms, shovels, sledge hammers, and that extra $88.00 dollar crimping tool (both 1/2" and 3/4") for that new fangled plumbing that works so well down here. And all those extra "fittings" you bought but never worked and you threw them in the garage - we can use each and every one of them.

2. Along with that the extra box of nails, screws, and odds nuts and bolts. We are always scrounging for that special nut or bolt and do not want to run to the hardware store.

3. Paint supplies - desperate need. Paint brushes , rollers, tarps, extender handles. Used or new - we can use them.

4. Paint - I am starting to run short of paint. I either need another donation or someone to pay for $50.00 per pallet shipping fee so I can get more down here. We have given away hundreds of gallons of paint over the last year. It is a desperate need.

5. Ladders - always a critical need for more ladders

6. Saw horses - never enough of them onsite.

7. Cleaning supplies - desperate need for chlorox always.

8. Drinking water - desperate need for bottled water

9. Tarps - because of the rain and supplies being delivered to new home sites we never have enough tarps to cover the loads. Critical need.

10. Rope. No matter how much rope I buy - I always seem to be sending it down the road with a client when they stop to pick up something we have donated to them. I never seem to get the ropes ! back - and I never push the issue. But I could sure use a box load of that yellow rope you can buy at Lowes or Home Depot.

11. #2 Phillips driving bits - we use them for sheetrock. We never have enough and wear them out faster than we can replace them. Not only the #2's but a few sets of driving bits. It is something that wears out because of the extreme use here.

12. Nails: 16d, 8d both cement coated and galvanized. And nails for our air guns - both coil type and the regular. We use Passload and Bostich. They are expensive and we never seem to have enough.

13. Utility knives - it does not matter how many dozen I buy they wear out or are lost in transport somewhere to and from the warehouse to the home. We buy them by the dozen.

14. Extension cords - never enough.

15. Canvas tote bags - we use them to pack our extension cords in. WE desperately need more. It can be the tote bags or used backpacks the kids discarded from last year?

16. Big pots and pans for the kit! chen. We never seem to have enough "big" pots and pans in our kitchen when cooking for the volunteers. Could use a half dozen more.

17. Newspaper - yes plain old newspaper. We need it for starting the fire here at the volunteer house. Never have enough. We also use it for covering up and picking up paint and other spills on the job and in the warehouse.

18. Home Depot Cards, Lowes Card, Gas Cards - always welcome for those unexpected expenses when out on the job. No matter how hard you plan - there is always that "one more thing".

19. Bar oil for the chain saw. Oil for the trucks and cars. If you have extra in your garage your not using - we can use it.

20. Laundry soap - its expensive and we are always in need of it.

21. Toilet paper and paper towels - never enough.

22. Tie down straps - we need heavy duty tie down straps.

23. Ink cartridges for our printers. Every ! DRO in town needs printer cartridges for their printers. If you have e xtra in your drawers that were the "wrong" type - send them here and we will find someone with that printer.

24. Copy paper - never enough

25. File folders - we never have enough

26. Hanging file folders - never enough

27. Pens - I can never find a pen in this office. With the client load we have they disapear at a rapid rate. The clients fill out the forms and accidently put the pen in their pocket. Its just one of those inventory items we can not control.

28. 4 x 4 index cards, sticky notes, and three ring file folders

29. Dish washing detergent. We use it for washing dishes and for mold abatement out in the field.

30. Used lap tops - this environment is tough on computers.

31. Light bulbs - never enough. Everytime we work on a house - we have to round up a light bulb supply.

32. Used lawnmowers and weed whips - we wear out our lawn mowers and wee! d whips. In the spring and summer we mow an extraordinary amount of peoples yards here. If you updated to a bigger and spiffier lawnmower we would be thrilled to take your working used lawnmower. If we can not use it at the time - we have a mile of people we can donate them to.

33. Rakes, shovels, picks, and sledgehammers - we just plain wear them out or the handles break. It costs more to replace the handle than to buy a new one.

34. Parts to repair our wheel barrows - handles and tires.

33. And we need you - the volunteer. This relief effort can not function without more volunteers coming down here. We are in desperate need of both skilled and unskilled volunteers. Both short term and long term. If you are retired and would like to work here in the office or in the field - we would be thrilled to have you come stay with us. We have housing available (albeit primitive) or RV spots. Just give us a call and we would be glad t! o answer any questions.

We need you come to answer the phone - give the office staff a break
We need you to come and assist us in the field hauling material
We need you to run errands in the field
We need you to come and frame up that house
We need you to come and move that sheetrock up to the first floor now a house nine feet in the air
We need you to come and put a roof on that house and the next one
We need you to come tape and texture
We need you to come help us pour the concrete for the pilons
We need you to wash out the wheel barrow when its done
We need you to put the wheelbarrow back in the truck and take it back to the warehouse
We need you to sweep the floor in the warehouse
We need you to help fix the meals for the volunteers
We need you to help mow that yard for the 86 year old that lost her house and now all she has is a slab and all those weeds and she lives in Texas somewhere, or New Hampshire - but she loves that y! ard and remembers it as it was
We need you to come and help the long term volunteers who are worn and and tired after two years plus
We just need you - we have so far to go and 400,000 home were destroyed or damaged and we are barely 20% completed
And, if you come, could you please bring some supplies - wisdom and all that energy we so desperately need.



Sincerely thanking you Penn State for asking!

Kathleen Johnson
Katrina Relief
WAVELAND CITIZENS FUND

KATRINA - Two Years and Counting for Rebuilding

KATRINA - Two Years and Counting is posted on The Local Voice website in my column section called, Local Chaos.
Please check it out.

Katrina made landfall on the coast of Mississippi the morning of August 29, 2005. 
At 10:00 a.m. Hurricane Katrina made its third landfall near Pearlington, MS and Slidell, LA with sustained winds of 120 mph. 

Katrina - NOAA images:



Also at 10:00 a.m.,
while at a Medicare event in Arizona, President Bush said,
"I want to thank the governors of the affected regions for mobilizing assets prior to the arrival of the storm to help citizens avoid this devastating storm."

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Aug. 28 at 12:19 GMT
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Aug. 27 at 20:21 GMT
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Aug. 26 at 16:00 GMT

MODULAR HOMES for the COAST

This is a copy of a letter I sent to the Biloxi Sun Herald

I am writing in reference to the July 31st. story, "County rejects modular home."

MODULAR homes are NOT MOBILE homes. Modular and Mobile are two different words with totally different meanings.

I would like to challenge all of those posting negative remarks in the comment section of the story and all CITY "LEADERS" to go to "GOOGLE" then click "Images," then type in "Modular Homes." DO YOUR RESEARCH. Educate yourselves instead of causing more problems than is necessary. Then create some guidelines as pertains to DESIGN and STYLE and let modular homes be included in site built neighborhoods.

I am in agreement that Mobile housing/TRAILERS should NOT be put into a neighborhood of site built housing. TRAILERS are cheap boxes made with cheap products which decrease in value.

Modular homes are an important piece of the puzzle for accomplishing the rebuilding of homes along the coast. There are many, many types of designs and styles of architecture for modular homes and THAT is where to begin in solving the issues of Modular Homes in site built neighborhoods. People just need to pick the style that blends with the environment.

As for covenants??? Katrina has changed the coast in ways that those covenants nor their creators could have forseen. NEW IDEAS are what is needed now. What's wrong with getting yourselves up to date and educated and then make changes in those outdated covenants to include MODULAR HOMES?

Now, quit bickering!

Katrina's DOUBLE EYEWALL

Dr. Keith Blackwell is a hurricane expert and professor at the University of South Alabama. His research has focused on Katrina having two eyewalls and explains how this is responsible for such devastation all along the Mississippi Gulf Coast.

Microwave satellite technology is the latest way to look inside of a hurricane's storm clouds and Dr. Blackwell used this incredible technology to study Katrina. This amazing way of being able to look down through the hurricane's clouds and to see the actions of the eyewall's developement led him to discover a second and extremely potent eyewall. This second eyewall extended the severe hurricane winds much farther out from the storm’s actual center.

I had voiced my opinion on many ocassions that I did not see how, given the tremendous amount of devastation that Mississippi suffered, and not just along the coast, that Katrina had been just a plain ole cat 3 at landfall. There was just too much catastrophic damage and the varying damage was just too widespread.

This report explains how and why this cat 3 hurricane did what it did, thus creating the biggest natural disaster in America’s history.

For an extraordinaryly interesting read, please download the pdf document at the link below.
"Hurricane Katrina and Double Eyewalls"

JUSTICE OR CHARITY

This is one of the most important articles I have read lately. It is extremely fitting as an example of what is wrong with our country these days.

We supposedly have "Christians" in power in Washington as well as in our own state of Mississippi who purport to believe they are "right" and are doing "good" things for "the people." However, they apparently do not truly believe in the ethical principals stated in this article. It would do them all well to take these truths to heart in order that our country may begin to get back to what it is supposed to stand for – Liberty and Justice for ALL.

Justice or Charity - by Brigitte Frase –Recovering a Sense of Fairness

From the article: " Compassion is too fickle a virtue to base laws and conduct on. Mercy is always strained; it “droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven” perhaps, but unequally, leaving a lot of people to suffer drought.
The concept of justice has fallen on hard times, reduced to a narrow meaning of judgment. It has become synonymous with punishment; we bring criminals to justice, we mete out justice. We (American citizens and the leaders we have chosen, at least since Reagan) are not, as far as I can see, much interested in the greater and more honorable role “justice” has played in philosophy, religion, and public policy—from Plato and Aristotle, through Thomas Aquinas, David Hume, and John Stuart Mill, and continuing in modern times in the work of Simone Weil and John Rawls.
The rich don’t need justice. They are charitable to each other and may on occasion let some loose change trickle down to the deserving poor. The wobbly middle class is out of breath trying not to fall down. And the underclass have only justice, their government’s willingness to play fair, to count on. But, like the poor and black victims of Katrina, they are counted out. After a brief period of hand-wringing rhetorical acknowledgment, they fade back into official nonexistence."

"The first and second reigning Bushes value charity over justice. “A thousand points of light” and faith-based charitable organizations are supposed to take care of the hard up. Not only are there not enough religious and other helping organizations for all the needy and mistreated people out there, there is something fundamentally patronizing in the relationship of helper and helped."

PHASE I and II – HOMEOWNER GRANT PROGRAM

As of February 7, 2007 – PHASE I

* 10,303 Mississippi families have received grants for recovery and rebuilding
* closing packets have been sent to 13,538 households
* administrators expect that about 14,000 homeowners will ultimately qualify for assistance

Under this grant program, recipients legally agree that any rebuilt structure on their property must have:
* flood insurance
* be elevated out of danger
* built to the International Residential Building Code



PHASE II –
* targeted to low and moderate income homeowners regardless of insurance or flood zone status
* approved by HUD shortly before Christmas
* grant notification packets to eligible applicants will be distributed in the first quarter of this year and the financial counseling and closing process will begin at that point

TEMP HOUSING (FEMA trailers) EXTENDED

FEMA recently announced an extension for residents living in FEMA-provided travel trailers and mobile homes. People now have until AUGUST 31, 2007 to find permanent housing. The original deadline was Feb.28.


Currently, approx. 80,000 Mississippians are housed in 29,000 FEMA travel trailers and mobile homes.

MS ALTERNATIVE HOUSING PROGRAM

The Governor's Office is currently finalizing plans and policies for the Mississippi Alternative Housing Program, which is intended to exhibit a better way to deliver emergency housing following major natural disasters like Hurricane Katrina. FEMA will allocate up to $281 million for the construction of three alternative housing units: the Mississippi Cottage, Park Model and Green Mobile.
Approximately 5,000-7,000 FEMA-provided travel trailers located in Hancock, Harrison and Jackson counties will be replaced with the new units. An application process is currently being developed for current travel trailer tenants interested in moving into an alternative model. Informational meetings for potential tenants will be held in late February, and application announcements will be made through local media and the Governor's Office of Recovery and Renewal website.

The state plans to begin placing the new housing on the ground in June 2007. Design specifications for the housing units are currently being refined, and modular builders will receive bidding information for the program within the next few weeks. The Governor's Office will hold a pre-bid conference for interested manufacturers.

In March 2006, Governor Haley Barbour proposed a pilot program to Congress that would provide more temporary housing options for the next major natural disaster and remove Mississippians from the cramped conditions of FEMA travel trailers. Congress appropriated $400 million for the Alternative Housing Pilot Program, which solicited competitive proposals from five Gulf Coast states. Out of 29 proposals submitted from the five states, Mississippi's three proposals were ranked #1, #2 and #5. The state's top two proposals will receive up to $281 million in funding.

INFO and UPDATES - MS Alternative Housing Program

SILENCE IS NOT SO GOLDEN

This is my letter to the Editor of The Sun Herald - Biloxi, MS - sent Feb. 1, 2007 -- as of today, unpublished
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Silence is not so golden –

I am writing in reference to the Editorial – "The president's silence on Katrina speaks volumes."

FINALLY, I thought, someone spoke out on the president's flagrant snubbing of Katrina and to all people affected by her. However, after reading and digesting the piece, I don't see much that was offered by that writer at all.

The editorial mentioned several specifics concerning New Orleans and their legitimate and tremendous problems which seem to be mounting even higher.

Mississippi Gulf Coast communities also have legitimate problems and issues, but the writer gave us the mentioning of only ONE – insurance, and with that, the news about State Farm settling and insurance costs being a reason that businesses (he only names Oreck) are departing our state. He could have Googled two words, Katrina Mississippi, and written a truly beneficial editorial.

Beyond what I've just said, though, is the FACT that Bush did not mention Katrina issues . . . I watched and waited for the words, Katrina Mississippi. That didn't happen and I was infuriated to say the least!

Bush’s so-called State of the Union "speech" was nothing but air. His smirky face and his "doing good" talk made me want to hurl. I was and still am appalled that he left out Katrina and ALL of those affected by her. We ARE a part of “the Union.” Perhaps he feels everyone down here is just fine and dandy since casinos are operating and condo developers are flocking like vultures to every nook and coastal cranny they can sink their greedy claws into.

We have enough problems with people forgetting that individuals and communites STILL NEED volunteers and HELP to rebuild. His failure to talk about Katrina at this time most likely gave those who were listening and didn’t know any better the idea that we are doing fine. His silence on Katrina issues is a huge disservice and an insult.

Bush needs to take a trip to Pearlington. I dare him to flash that smirky smile.

Mary - Biloxi Cemetery - Aug. 30, 2006

As I walked up the sidewalk to the Biloxi cemetery on Hwy. 90, I could not believe my eyes. The destruction to grave sites was unimaginable. Actually, I had not thought about cemeteries in general with relation to the power of Katrina. Some things you just don't think about until you see them. There were grave markers sitting by the sidewalk. Everything was in complete disarray one year after Katrina.

As we drove around, and our time was very limited, I was continually noticing the presence of Mary. I had heard and read stories of how various statues of saints had miraculously survived the surge... touching stories indeed. While walking in the cemetery there were strong feelings of sacredness and hallowed ground. I also felt sadness that this place had not been cleaned up and repaired.

PEARLINGTON IN DIRE NEED SINCE KATRINA

Pearlington –

* * * My trip to Pearlington during Katrina Anniversary week - Aug. 27-31, 2006 ---- http://www.mississippijournal.net/Pearlington.html

::: http://www.pearlingtonms.com/

::: http://www.pearlingtonrelief.blogspot.com/

::: http://pearlington.blogspot.com/2006/08/quiet-in-pearlington.html

::: http://operationeden.blogspot.com/2006/08/restart.html

::: http://www.onehouseatatime.com/ ---- To volunteer to work on a home in Hancock County, contact Glenn Locklin at moonlightpaint@hotmail.com or call 615-496-6981.

::: http://www.pearlingtonreportcard.blogspot.com/ ---- Updated Jan. 4, 2007 - check the list of upcoming trips.