The Forgotten Coast

One thing I have realized since publishing my piece on Biloxi in December is just how little attention the Gulf Coast devastation has received compared to New Orleans. While the situation in the big city is terrible, at least the eyes of the nation are somewhat on it. Media attention has been fairly heavy. Mississippi is another story. When I went back to Biloxi at New Year's, it became clear that the recovery there is going to take many years, and there are few resources in place to help. Except for the small grassroots group I wrote about, and several small church groups, there appeared to be few organizations committed to the region. the Red Cross and Salvation Army were long gone. FEMA is a mess. The city and state governments seemed overwhelmed. The locals were starting to organize and I've since heard that some long-term recovery meetings have started. But I remain concerned that no real effort is being launched at anywhere near the scale needed to help this area recover. The Gulf Coast is simply wrecked. Big businesses are recovering, expecially casinos, but small businesses face a challenge. And, as always, it is the poorest who are in the worst straits. It's impossible to visit this scene of destruction and not feel outrage at the inequalities of race and class in America. This may be the richest and most powerful nation on earth, but it cannot take care of its own. It may wage war in Iraq but it can't help its own citizens rebuild lives in Biloxi. Many well-meaning Americans would be shocked and embarassed by what is happening (or not happening) in Mississippi -- if they knew about it. But with so little media attention, and virtually no national political leadership expressing interest, this has already become a forgotten tragedy just six months after Katrina and Rita hit.