I was think of trying to make a stop at this lighthouse so I googled and look what I found... This poor area.

That is truly a shocking history of the damage Katrina did to the Gulf Coast.

And a sad, sad commentary on how America has responded -- or NOT responded.

Thanks, Jim. These pictures really illustrate the incredible damage. I had wondered about the Jefferson Davis house (it's not far from the lighthouse) and whether it withstood the storm. Apparently it survived and is considered to be salvageable; however, Beauvoir, the cottage in which he wrote his memoirs is gone. The historical societies there are just devastated because of the total loss of so many of their beautiful, antebellum houses.

It is a real travesty that the greatest government in the world, unlike many churches, charitable organizations, celebrities, and other individuals, seems unable (to put it nicely) to cope with the situation. So many thousands of people in the areas affected by Katrina continue to suffer and wait for help which does not seem to be forthcoming.