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We stayed at a B&B Auld's Sweet Olives the first two nights in the city.

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Inside was a tribute to Mardi Gras.

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Our host, David, had been king of a floatilla one year.

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The neighborhood where we stayed was 75 percent vacant after the hurricane.

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Piles of trash and rubble all over the streets.

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Ellen and Dianne drerssed in red riding thru the city in their "sharp" red car.

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A view of the roof tops covered with tarp to protect damaged roofs.

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Henry Charlot took us to lunch at this local restaurant, we spoke to its owner.

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Mike Sarios telling us what happened to his home, family and business.

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Mike tells us about his frustrations and plans for the future.

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Nextdoor the praline shop remains closed due to lack of tourist business.

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Repair and construction, signs of hope about businesses soon to reopen.

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Destruction from the winds of the hurricane. Several businesses are shut down.

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Another view of the same devistation.

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A home that lost the front walls. The rest of house is in tact.

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More views of the house.

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Five months later, still left in the same condition from the storm.

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More devistation in a business area that is partially operational.

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Coming to work everyday, one is reminded of what still needs to be done.

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Me and Mark Lewis, our sponsor from the Louisiana Technology Council.

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Dianne, Mark and I meeting to get connected to council's businesses owners.

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Broken windows and signs of support.

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More destruction still unrepaired.

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Mardi Gras is a symbol of normalicy.

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Shell is back in business.

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The Superdome will reopen for business February 24th.

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A sample of much of the repair happening around the city.

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Another back in business sign.

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Still other businesses are not open and may never reopen.

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Idea Village and what they are about.

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The Idea Village logo.

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Tim Williamson, of Idea Village with client Anthony, Dianne, Henry and I.

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Outdoor market.

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Lots of goods, very few customers.

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Husband and wife trying to survive in a difficult time. Friends are hepling.

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Putting things away, hoping for a better day tomorrow.

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The city has not lost its snese of humor.

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King cake, a staple of Mardi Gras season. Who will find the baby?

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One of approximatley 25 percent of restaurants that are back in business.

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It is hard to get help, so Wendy's is trying bonuses.

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Residents hanging out outside the French Quarter.

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Some of the history. Remember the beginnings of this city.

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A tourist attraction with no tourists to appreciate it.

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Information about the attraction.

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Mardi Gras decorations in our hotel. It was hard to find a room in the city.

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Dianne, Ellen, Gaye Frederic, deputy of Jefferson Par. Econ. Develop. Comm.

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Meeting with 5 business owners at Idea Village.

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Talking about what type of help they need to both keep going and growing.

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Business owners show and tell us their stories.

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Artist Joan has made these signs and wants to sell them to store owners.

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Joan displays her series all of which have a river going through them.

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A local artists portrays the devistation of the hurricane.

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Joan and her partner move to NO and open their art studio in July.

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Work space.

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Discussing and planning.

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Taking care of the business part of running an art studio.

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Construction and repair.

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Words of encouragement and support.

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Dianne and Katy at her jewlery shop. Business is down 50 percent less tourists.

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It is time to go virtual to make up for lost business.

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Cool idea for shoe repair.

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So we wear them out sometimes.

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Another business owner that would like our help.

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Meyers is a fourth generation family business.

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Hats everywhere.

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Mom and dad are working longer hours to make up for the loss of help.

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Sam's grandfather started Meyers by a handshake with the Stetson salesman.

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Mom and son Mike, brother Paul was off, who are taking over the family business.

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A customer who lost his hats along with all their belogings in the flooding.

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If the hat fits, buy it!

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Sam tells the story of how the French baret became a private lable for Meyers.

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A drive through the 9th ward to see the devistation with our own eyes.

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The rubble can be seen for miles and miles.

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Not much has been cleared and there are no cleaning crews in sight.

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Homes, its contents and cars are spread all over.

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It is hard to look at but it is impossible to ignore.

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Down trees have increased the damage.

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The entire infrastructure of area is destroyed.

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You think you have seen it all.

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You think where are the families and how are they managing?

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It's not a pretty picture.

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No one will be stopping at this sign.

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The shoes, dishes, toys are reminders of the lives destroyed and disrupted.

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There is design among the ruins.

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More stuff that represents the lives of those that lived here.

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Household belongs in piles waiting to be cleaned up.

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The houses are still almost standing.

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There is help.

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Food and supplies for the people in the area.

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Surviors of the 9th ward getting their rations.

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Warm blankets, clothes and food for surviors thanks to dedicated volunteers.

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Some people are living in tents in the outskirts of the 9th ward.

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Tents are being used while govn't. trailers wait to be inhabited - red tape.

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Tech council reached businesses that wanted to know more and get assistance.

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Entrepreneurs sharing stories and resources.

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Barbara, a courageous business owner tells of many disasters she has survived .

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Joe, founder of a technology that could be effective in floods, other disasters.

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Lee Pryor is writing a book on Business Lesson Learned from Katrina.

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Untarnished parts of the city.

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Signs welcoming congregants back home.

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Remnents of the evacuation.

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There is life and beauty among the ruins.

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A haven to get away from the heartache.

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Parts of the Garden District that were visibly unscathed.

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There is still some of the charm of the city left.

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Life goes on.

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Signs of Mardi Gras are all over the city. It is sign of hope and normalacy.