In late March, I visited Biloxi, MS for a repeat EMTALA program for their medical staff. Instead of the thriving Casino's and tourist town, I found it difficult to find anything to use as a landmark -- even the hotel I had stayed at before was closed because of damage when a huge barge landed on top of it.

For photos of the current situation on the Gulf Coast as of late March, click on link at bottom paragraph.

I flew into New Orleans, and even that was a challenge. Instead of the dozens of direct flights daily from Chicago's O'Hare Field that United flew before Katrina, there were only two direct flights a day. Very few flights were on the ground at the airport, and very few jetways remained on the concourse where I arrived (and the one I used was damaged) due to storm damage.

At the rental car company, the young man who helped me had been flown in the day before from New York due to the difficulty finding help locally

I took the I-10 loop into the City with the intent to go down to the French Quarter to see how my favorite restaurants had fared, but the dismal site of vacant streets for as far as the eye could see was enough to deter my interest and I kept driving. The area East of town was more visible and the deserted houses and appartment buildings were right up to the road. Very few repairs going on -- very little sign of life.

It was 50 miles before I saw a gas station that was open -- and in that gas station, a convoy of kids on spring break crowded the station with cars, busses, and trailers as they gassed-up to go on into Mississippi to do volunteer work on the clean-up. They were from a church in Colorado. Most of the clean-up activity that one saw along the road and my detour into several small towns was by local residents assisted by church groups from all over the country.

My assessment is that this area will need a lot of help for up to 3 years to regain normal function, but what I saw in New Orleans makes me wonder whether my favorite town will ever recover...it certainly won't be for many years. Much of the flavor of the town will be gone, that is certain.

If you get a chance to help out in the Gulf Coast area, you are still needed.

For photos of the current situation on the Gulf Coast as of late March, click here.