August 2007

Not one negative issue was raised as hundreds in Flora turned out to voice support for a proposed federal research lab. MPB's Scott Phillips was at the hearing last night and has this report.

Over the past two years we.ve heard both tales of desperation and triumph from Katrina survivors. But have you ever stopped to wonder what it would be like to live in a FEMA trailer? As the deadline to find alternative housing draws near, MPB.s Erika Celeste takes a look back at what life has been like for one FEMA trailer community in Biloxi.

Manufactured housing includes travel trailers, mobile homes and prefabricated dwellings. MPB's Lawayne Childrey examines the inspection process in place to ensure problems that have been found in FEMA supplied trailers are not occurring in the retail market.

While gulf coast citizens are still focused on recovery, a handful of vigils are being held today to remember the victims of the storm. MPB's Scott Phillips has this report.

Most of schools in the three Gulf Coast counties were damaged by Hurricane Katrina. School sessions were delayed for months as portable trailer classrooms were put in place. And in part two of our five part series, MPB.s Gary Michiels reports, two years later, many students are still being taught in those trailers.

Over the last two years, $1.5 billion dollars in private funds from nonprofit, faith-based and corporate giving has gone to recovery from Hurricane Katrina. MPB's Patty Davis reports on two agencies that rely on those funds to accomplish their recovery goals on the Mississippi Gulf Coast.

In the first of our five part series called "Two Years Later, The State of Recovery" ... MPB.s Gary Michel reports on the two biggest obstacles residents along the gulf coast face post-Hurricane Katrina. - rebuilding homes and skyrocketing insurance rates.

Three students died in 2004 when their Alpha Tau Omega fraternity house burnt down at the University of Mississippi. Parents of two of the three students have now filed a law suit as MPB.s Sandra Knispel reports.

A new survey suggests that Gulf Coast survivors of Hurricane Katrina are experiencing increased attempts at suicide and higher rates of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder compared to a year ago. The survey, from Harvard Medical School's Hurricane Katrina Community Advisory Group, cites the slow recovery as a reason for these increases. Kris Jones is Director of Disaster Preparedness and Response for the Mississippi Dept of Mental Health. *Suicide rates among teens are of particular concern to Mental Health Professionals along the coast.