As more information becomes available, and the magnitude of the storm's impact becomes even more apparent, it becomes clear that this recovery will be lengthy.
Sentiment: NEGATIVE
While natural disasters capture headlines and national attention short-term, the work of recovery and rebuilding is long-term.
Nearly two weeks have passed since Hurricane Katrina made landfall along the Gulf Coast, and while we are still dealing with the tremendous devastation - and will be for quite some time - we are also seeing increased signs of recovery and help in our region.
Sometimes when you're in the storm, it's harder and maybe when it's over, then you can look back on it.
Disasters are usually a good time to re-examine what we've done so far, what mistakes we've made, and what improvements should come next.
A perfect storm is in the making: financial uncertainty, economic downturn, government cuts, rising unemployment and a future that looks less clear the more we try to fathom it.
In retrospect there were failures enough to go around. There were failures before the storm and failures after the storm.
The larger the disaster, the more necessary it is to have the government as the principal driver of recovery.
The most important thing about recovery is to pass the message on.
We are facing a storm that most of us have long feared.
The more violent the storm, the quicker it passes.