Mrs. Miller a second grade teacher welcomed us to Cherokee Elementary School and points out the two foot waterline in the hallway. Cherokee was luckier than other school. Many schools are so water damaged that they may never be rebuilt and in some other towns the school is no longer standing.

The school was able secure funding for new computers and upgraded technology. Students use Accelerated Reading and Accelerated Math software to supplement their studies.

The homes of every family in this school district were flooded and most of the teachers had no home to go to. Some teachers and families camped out on the foundation slab of their homes.

This recessed area was filled with flood water for two months after Hurricane Katrina. It stank really bad.

Notice the bottom shelves of the library are bare. Books that were on the higher shelves were spared damage. Cherokee has yet to replace the damaged books.

Mrs. York, a third grade teacher in California joined me for the trip. Her students also collected sweatshirts and donated them to the children of Cherokee Elementary

In the background you can see some backpacks and school supplies that were donated by Hatfield Elementary Students last fall. Kids are still using them today.

The Mississippi coast was hit harder than New Orleans. The storm surge and 140 mile per hour wind left this home completely gutted. Many homes were ripped off their foundation.

The bottom floor of some buildings were completely wiped out leaving the top floors intact.

All that is left of this McDonalds and gas station is the broken golden arches sign.

For this building all that was left was the metal frame.

There used to be three homes closer to the road but now the house in the back has the water front view.

People are still living in trailers and tents sometimes setting up in local baseball fields.