In news reports throughout the country, the top story on every station and newspaper is the devastation in Louisiana, Alabama and Mississippi. Hurricane Katrina, a category five, hit Aug. 29, leaving an unknown number of people missing or dead and thousands more homeless.

It’s been more than 13 years since the United States has been hit with a category-five hurricane. Andrew in 1992 hit the Florida coast.

Two other hurricanes, Camille in 1969 and the “Labor Day Hurricane” in 1935, caused damage to the Gulf Coast. Katrina now joins the list of those hurricanes.

Two of the major cities, New Orleans and Gulfport, Miss., were the hardest hit, with New Orleans more than 80 percent underwater. As of now, the city is still underwater, and there is no sign of the water receding.

With that, according to a current article on MSNBC’s Web site, the water has been tested, and sewage and bacteria haunt the residents, who refuse to leave.

Mississippi and Texas reported deaths because of the bacteria Katrina brought to the shore.

Those people who have decided to stay behind have now been ordered to evacuate by the governor of Louisiana.

Since 9-11, the people of the United States have come together to fight and show their pride.

But, after a year or so, Americans drifted back into their private lives, putting the past behind them. They show their support and then move on. You could say everyone jumps on the bandwagon.

It seems people come together to support the nation when there is a national disaster or tragedy.

With what has happened down in the Gulf Coast, people are uniting once again, collecting money and other items to help the people in the affected cities. This includes Southern’s clubs and groups are combining their efforts.

People only tend to care about the nation when something bad happens. In this case, the gap between 9-11 and what has now happened, people overlook the current affairs of the nation. If we come together as one group to fight for what we believe in, we should continue and not stop when the event has subsided.

Also, events have even been overlooked in the media. While watching CNN, the reporters were covering the latest news on Katrina, they flipped over to the death of Chief Justice William Rehnquist for a few minutes and then moved back over to the hurricane coverage. They may have covered it, but it did not seem they spent enough time honoring the death of Rehnquist or covering the nominations for the next chief justice.

Universities, high schools and elementary schools have opened their doors to allow students to continue their educations.

University President Julio León announced Sept. 1 Southern will accept students and will waive out-of-state tuition and late enrollment fees.

We need to not look over what has happened in the past week. Even if you have just a few dollars to spare, it all goes to a wonderful cause.

During this time of need, the people living on the Gulf Coast need more than money and items, they need prayers and a little hope.