Katrina-related Help and Communication

I think one of the most signifcant (yet underreported) things about getting help to the New Olreans area is lack of phone access. The local area code - 504 - has had problems for WEEKS. It's ok if you have that area code and call out. Not so good if you're calling in. And I can't believe this problem has gone on for weeks. I can't believe it's not talked about much as part of the relief efforts. Part of the sense of disconnection that I've heard New Orleans evacuees describe is not knowing what's happening back in the city. This communications failure feeds into it. How much more assistance could be deployed if phones from the local area code worked? And it has been weeks since Katrina has struck. Cell phones from the New Orleans area code appear to have this problem even when the phone owner is from a distant place, far away from the Gulf Coast damage.