There was never any question whether to rebuild the parts of Florida destroyed by no less than 4 hurricanes last year. Why the question of whether to rebuild New Orleans? Perhaps the relationship between the Governor and President? And why not improve the levees in New Orleans? There should be no question of not only rebuilding but securing and making them stronger. Let's hope the decision are not based on the age old problem of race.

Please, please, please continue to keep the city of New Orleans and the Gulf Coast region in the news. This tragedy has fallen off the nation's radar and New Orleans is slowly dying. EVERY American should be outraged that American citizens DIED of dehydration and exposure on interstate overpasses during the days following Katrina.

My wife, daughter, and I live in Maryland now with my sister. We lived in Lakeview and have no idea when we will ever be able to not only return, but begin the process of rebuilding our now gutted house.
It is EXTREMELY important that people continue to give this story the proper time it deserves. I thought that I was beginning to feel "better," but I actually feel worse than I did days after the storm. I continue to do a good job "faking it." Getting some reasurrance from the Federal government that the levees will be properly rebuilt would be a start.

ninth ward should be returned as a flood plan. each property owener should be given $400,000 w/benifits and start thier lives someplace else.no one should be living 26 feet below sealevel. isreal did the same thing to gaza setlers and then came beggin to us to pay for it.[2 billion was asked for]. whats goog enough for gaza jews is good enough for ninth ward americans.

Dear Brian Williams and reporting team: For those of us who call the Gulf coast home--either in present or past tense--thank you, thank you, thank you for your tenacity, straight talk, and real grit in getting the story out about the year of the hurricanes, their aftermath, the tragedy of our national myopia. Please don't stop focusing on this important story, the greater story of our global climatic crisis, and the real story of the unfocused, clueless political machine that denies the reality we face together. The people of the entire Gulf Coast, from the Keys to Corpus Christi, deserve our compassion, respect and unwavering attention. Although watching the Nightly News has become unbearable at times, we watch nonetheless because of your clear resolve to report the stories that matter. Thank you again.

Good job on keeping this story on the front line. I for one feel that the media is responsible for FEMA extending their deadline for booting people out of hotels and such.

Once again - great job.

I currently live in Baton Rouge. My parents and I evacuated from New Orleans on August 27th. We have a home (not liveable at the moment) that we can return to in the city's University section, and will probably live elsewhere, until that home is ready again. Our summer home in Pass Christian, MS, was blown away, like so much on the Gulf Coast and in New Orleans East, St.Bernard Parish, Plaquemines Parish, and the Lower 9th Ward. The city looks like a war zone. Its return to "normalcy" will be a long time coming. All of us who hope to return will try to bring some sense of normalcy back, as we return to work and to reconnect with family and friends.

I feel so sorry for those people who want to go home to Louisana and to Mississippi. They have nothing to go home to. I've heard they have jobs down there but no places for the employees to live. I WISH I oould get my 18 foot trailer down there for some family to live in. We also have camp stoves that could be used for cooking and a roll away bed that oculd be used to sleep on. The trailer is just sitting on a piece of vacation property here in Washington State and isn't used until the summer months. However, WISHING doesn't do it for these people though.
I have a sister-in-law and nephew who lived in Bay St. Louis. They lost everything but their lives. June is currently living in east Texas with her other son. June has received her insurance money for her house, belongings and their cars but she says she does not intend to ever go back. Joel has already gone back. He is staying with a friend and is working the school at Bay.

Dear Martin,
Thanks ever so much for your sincere,compassionate reporting. I live in Chicago but grew up on the Gulf
Coast and what is most shocking and painful to me is the seeming indifference of our elected officials to the death of an American city. Wow, it doesn't feel like the country I thought was America.