While we are emotionally devastated for our residents, visitors and businesses that Hurricane Katrina wreaked so much havoc and tragedy on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, we will rebuild our lives and are going forward already.

All of the libraries and schools that were devastated in the hurricane are suffering for the books that they need to get to children and I am very proud to be apart of this to restore it.

The objective is to raise the profile of the city to its residents and visitors.

There has never been a hurricane here. The residents don't know the threat from the wind. There's a certain disbelief,

Our thoughts and prayers go out to everyone whose lives have been touched by this tragedy. We are devastated. We will continue to do everything possible to assist our guests and their family members.

On Friday night, I was notified by one of my residents that a hurricane was coming. By morning, everyone was crying, asking me what's going on and what to do. Ms. Darby -- the dorm parent who I report to -- asked me to announce that the school was to be evacuated by 4 o'clock.