ROCKEY IN THE NEWS TODAY, January 17, 2007:

Today Rockey Vaccarella was on Fox News Network with Neil Cavuto to discuss the current situation in the New Orleans region in respect to the progress of the rebuilding effort. Rocky's interview was live on FOX NEWS across America today at 3:30pm CST from the WVUE Television studios in New Orleans, Louisiana. Rockey told Cavuto that he is concerned that the rebuilding is moving slowly and that his mission is to continue to remind America that the job is not finished and not to forget the people of the New Orleans area and Gulf Coast region. Rockey also told the FOX News Anchor that President Bush and him discussed the 110 billion dollars that was sent to help the people in need during their August meeting in the Oval Office. The President told Rockey that the money sent to the region was the largest sum of money ever spent on American soil to help people affected by a natural disaster. Rockey's new documentary film FORGOTTEN ON THE BAYOU: Rockey's Mission to the White House is complete and takes the audience behind the scenes of his struggle to survive Katrina and his personal mission to deliver his message of hope to the President of the United States and the American people. The film's producers are now seeking distribution. The film is represented by David Garber of Lantern Lane Entertainment in Calabasas, California.

While my husband and I are admitted "news junkies" and follow current events avidly, last night after seeing Brian Williams' hour-long "After Katrina" show, I FINALLY GOT IT! Thank you for your honesty and true journalism. The NBC crew covering the aftermath was outstanding.

I watched the Brian Williams Dateline Special-The Long Road Back. Watching the video and listening to Brian Williams really broke my heart. You never truly see the whole picture when it's happening. I must agree with Brian about where was the government after Katrina had hit. When Brian and his crew left the superdom and it was apparently okay for them to get out and see the destruction where was the relief people with food & water. We can send aid to other countries within a day of destruction but when Katrina hit it took them 5 days to get relief to these people. While I don't agree with some of things the people of New Orleans did by looting peoples houses. I can understand why they looted stores to get food, water, diapers, clothes anything to help them survive. I think the most touching thing I saw on the special was when his camera man told his story of what he was seeing. I may offend some people by saying this but I still feel that Mayor Nagin didn't do enough to help the people of New Orleans.

I agree that among the heros of “Katrina” we should remember the courage of the national guard troops sent to rescue the people of New Orleans. However, we must never forget to honor the courage of that cities citizens forgotten, five days, by an administration and a nation, who found a way to survive. I fear that we most quickly forget those, also courageous, who were ignored and died. We must remember those people, primarily African-American, poor or both who lost their lives. In the future we must listen and attend to the issues and concerns as viewed by minorities, the poor or both, before they die. Their message has as much merit as does that of the powerful, it just does not have as frequent access to the media. Thank you, Brian Williams for using your voice tonight, for them, and me, so they are heard and I don't forget. I would ask you ask yourself, why those person you spoke for tonight are so rarely heard? I have asked myself that same question and have only one answer money and power. In closing thank you for reminding me I have the ability to turn a deaf ear and not hear to their voice, but I must force myself to listen. I hope this report reminds us all we MUST hear and join with their voices in the face of certain inequities. It is the responsibility of the people of this nation, beginning with me, to never again let the heartless lead.

Katrina, the aftermath. To say that blacks are the victims because they are black is bs. the storm didnt pick blacks as a target. To say that the nation doesnt recognize the poverty and the response was slow because of who the people were is more bs. crybabies, all crybabies. Get it together and realize we are all human. If the hurricane had hit Houston, who would have been affected? Ill tell you, whites, blacks, hispanics, asians. I say suck it up. Those people werent prisoners in New Orleans, they chose to live where they live and have for generations. If you want to blame someone, blame the State. They didnt inspect the levys, didnt really care until there was a disaster. Try looking at all the help that was provided and stop looking at the negative. It is just one more chance for people to say you owe me, i dont work, pay taxes, but you,(the Government) sure owe me.

The story tonight on The Long Road Back was very touching to an ex-New Orleanian. However I think that, like many others, it was biased to focus on the heartbreak experienced by the African-American population of New Orleans. You should make certain that everyone understands that Katrina did not only affect the "majority" population in New Orleans, it also affected the "minority" population. The white population of New Orleans also lost friends, family, homes, and jobs. Please try to understand and convey to your viewers that ALL who lived in New Orleans and the surrounding areas were impacted by this storm: some more, some less, but no one was left untouched.

Thank you to Brian Williams. We should never forgot those who have been affected by Katrina. These people were left in the Super Dome too long without water or food. What took so long? Where were we when these people needed us the most. My heart goes out to all of the Katrina victims.

Thank goodness for Mark Potter and Campbell Brown, who were the only faces on NBC Nightly News to realize that the entire southern third of Mississippi took a bit of a hit a year ago today, just like New Orleans. New Orleans continues to be the squeaky wheel receiving the grease. Mississippi is just quietly buildng back. Guess that's not newsworthy.

Thank you for not letting this story fade away. It will take years for my native Louisiana and the entire Gulf Coast to recover. The correspondents have done a terrific job. Keep up the good work.

Brian--thanks so much to you and everyone else who puts the time and effort into this blog. I started watching your show again, and it is 100% due to this blog. It's so interesting to watch it knowing what has gone on behind the scenes.

Thanks again.

Enjoyed your broadcast last night especially the updates on the ongoing hurricane recovery.Having grown up in Baton Rouge,the interest in that region is always there and know that the Gulf Coast will recover. You're doing a great job and come across as one of the most personable and down to earth anchors around.

I am so thankful to Carl Quintanilla and Martin Savidge for letting us know the "people stories". My sister's home in Lake Arthur, LA was badly damaged during Hurricane Rita. She is sleeping on an air mattress in her home right now waiting for a trailer which will be long in coming since FEMA still hasn't helped a majority of the Hurricane Katrina victims. Living so far away from my sister was difficult but hearing the reports from the scene gave me some comfort. Thanks to all of you!

We have all seen Carl and Martin in the past in handsome suits and serious demeanor, from all over the world. They have never done better work, nor looked more at home than as blue-collar journalists. They have made the nation aware of the plight of these small communities. These stories have resonated with much of America. As it is sometimes said in your trade, this story has legs....long legs. Please stay with it. The Teams deserve accolades and major awards.