Editorial Comment: An ill wind named Katrina, and suddenly our priorities are shifted
Like everyone else, we watched the horrifying images: Fellow Americans plunged into abject misery, homes and buildings blown off the face of the earth and, of course, the painfully lethargic first response to people in desperate need. Yes, every one of those victims deserves our attention and, more importantly, our help. But in our tiny corner of the world we paid particularly close attention to the industry folks who call the Gulf Coast home. In all honesty, business was not the focus of our inquiries. It was already evident that floor covering would not be a top priority for people whose lives had been shattered like a wine glass slammed against the pavement.