Jobless Rate in Gulf Coast Likely to Surge Fri 11:01PM ET - AP The jobless rate in the hurricane-ravaged Gulf Coast is expected to spike to 25 percent or higher, and when the long rebuilding process begins it's likely the same people the economy had left behind before the storm -- the unemployed and working poor -- will have the most trouble getting back on their feet.
There seem to be a lot of companies stepping up to help out. SBC will spend up yo 4 million a month to help folks with free phone calls at the Astro Dome.