Katrina's damage

The smart folks at Think Progress put into perspective how this week's hurricane is hitting low-income residents.

"I know they’re saying 'Get out of town,' but I don’t have any way to get out," said Hattie Johns, 74. "If you don’t have no money, you can't go."

The aftermath will be even harsher for the working poor who find themselves out of a job. Mississippi's gaming industry, worth $2.7 billion annually, employees 14,000 people.

"The loss of tax revenue to the state is going to be immense and immediate," gaming attorney Dan McDaniel tells the Clarion-Ledger.