WASHINGTON, DC -- In an effort to help support Gulf Coast families rebuilding from Hurricane Katrina, U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) today traveled to Louisiana to get a firsthand look at neighborhoods still struggling to cope in the wake of the disaster. Reed visited the Lakeview, Gentilly, and 9th Ward neighborhoods of New Orleans as well as Chalmette in St. Bernard Parish and Jackson Barracks, where the Louisiana National Guard is headquartered.The people of the Gulf Coast are tough and resilient. Clearly there are still difficult days ahead for New Orleans, for Louisiana, and those working so hard, trying to help, said Senator Reed. The devastation is widespread and the environmental damage is alarming. But what impressed me most was the courage and determination of the people to repair the damage and rebuild their lives.While on the ground, Senator Reed met with leaders from the Louisiana National Guard who briefed him on the recovery effort and the rebuilding process.It is important that we learn lessons from Hurricane Katrina. At the national, state, and local levels we must evaluate how we plan, mitigate, and respond to hurricanes and floods, said Reed. Federal and state officials need to do a better job of coordinating evacuation efforts before a big storm hits and provide people with shelter and security until they can safely return to their homes.Senator Reed also met with leaders from the Louisiana Recovery Authority and the Bring Back New Orleans Commission. Reed was informed that more than 125,000 small and medium sized businesses along the Gulf Coast were affected by Hurricane Katrina. According to the local chambers of commerce in the region, as many as two thirds of their members have not resumed operations. Senator Mary Landrieu (D-LA) has been a tireless advocate for the people of Louisiana. I will continue working with Senator Landrieu and our colleagues in Washington, DC to provide more resources to help these businesses come back, said Reed. Small businesses are the engines of real economic recovery in the Gulf Coast, but weve got to give them the keys to succeed.