TBO.com News

Along Katrina's Path, Revisited

Published: Dec 19, 2005

Hurricane Katrina essentially scrubbed the Mississippi beach town of Pass Christian off the map.

Debris in neighboring Gulf Coast towns remains untouched since Katrina roared ashore less than four months ago.

By many accounts, New Orleans is worse. Rotting bodies still are being recovered among rats, ruin and debris. Hundreds of bodies — some of them small children — have yet to be identified.

Tens of thousands of displaced residents haven’t returned. A few of the storied bars, restaurants and attractions have reopened, but most remain closed.

Thieves have ransacked old homes and buildings, stealing artifacts that gave New Orleans much of its character.

Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff described the aftermath and the New Orleans flooding as “probably the worst catastrophe, or set of catastrophes’’ in the country’s history.

Two Tampa Tribune journalists will return to the Gulf Coast over the holiday season to places we visited after the storm, and to other communities that warrant exploration.

In the next two weeks, the Tribune will provide a mix of stories, photos, video and audio about the Katrina recovery. TBO coverage starts today, Tribune coverage on Thursday.

Keyword: On The Road, to read the reporter’s online journal and to view a photo Web log.