The hurricane season may be fading, but life in Louisiana is still a disaster

World-famous chef Austin Leslie may be an unofficial Katrina victim. He was rescued from his roof in New Orleans, moved to the Convention Center, then moved to Dallas, then Arkansas, and then Atlanta, where he died. We are left to draw our own conclusions.

According to Governor Kathleen Blanco, several Louisiana parishes are in danger of financial collapse.

The Louisiana sugar cane industry has suffered a $200 million loss. One farmer reports that he still has four feet of water in part of his field. Both equipment and crops were destroyed by Katrina and Rita, and one of the state's sugar refineries was also destroyed.

New Orleans' West End, a popular lakefront area known for its seafood restaurants, no longer exists.

The Red Cross opened a new center in Kenner and announced to the public its approximate location. When asked to be more specific, Red Cross officials refused because they "don't want too many people to find it."

On a more personal note, I was turned down for Disaster Unemployment Insurance for no reason at all (none is written on the rejection), but I do have until September 25 to appeal.