 "Photo: Amber Whittaker")
Southern hospitality is alive and well in Mississippi, at least according to an annual generosity index ranking states' donations compared to per capita income.
Mississippi has ranked No. 1 in the index for eight years, the most recent index being 2004, even though it is the poorest state in the nation.
The per capita income of Mississippi is $24,650, ranking 51 for the 50 states and District of Columbia.
John Rushing, a retired Columbus, Miss., resident, said he's not surprised by the index at all.
"Shoot, we're Southerners, you know?" he said. "People will come to your aid in this state. They always have for me."
His wife said Mississippi is the poorest state "because everyone gives (their money) away, unless they're just trying to buy their way into heaven. People really are giving down here. They'd give you the coat off their back," she said.
Other residents agree Mississippi is brimming with southern hospitality.
Regina Spiers a Gulfport, Miss., resident, lost everything when her trailer floated away.
"You name it; we lost it," she said. "I couldn't believe this was something I'd live to see. If you think of what it looked like before, it's like someone flipped the switch on you."
During the storm, Spiers hitchhiked out of town with her daughter, four backpacks of clothes, and one bottle of water each. A motorist pulled over, and Spiers explained the situation.
"We'll help you," Spiers said the man told her. "The only thing I ask you is please be quiet. My baby's sleeping."
She spent two nights at Gulf Port High School, then Outback Steak House paid for her gas and arranged for her to get home.
Organizations such as Red Cross, Salvation Army, Goodwill and churches went into action after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita devastated the Gulf Coast.
Lois Keigler's husband was in New Orleans when the storm hit and was missing for three weeks.
Red Cross and Salvation Army came through for the couple, she said smiling. The organizations helped find her husband in Austin and arranged for the two to be reunited.
Keigler, a resident herself, said Mississippi residents will "open their hearts to anybody."
Michael Petro, a stock broker for Edward Jones Investments, said the destitution of Mississippi makes the state so charitable.
"When you're at a certain economic level, which so much of this state is, you understand and appreciate things much more than a lot of people would otherwise," he said. "They feel when somebody else doesn't have more than most. People in this state will give you everything they have."
Petro lost his Gulfport home in a tidal surge during Hurricane Katrina.
"After being put in this situation, being someone who had the ability to give, it is so much harder to receive than it is to give," he said.
The state of Louisiana is ranked fourth in the generosity index. The per capita income is $27,581, making it the 43rd richest state.
In St. Bernard Parish, La., Melissa Babin knows people who died because they stayed behind, some by choice and others because they couldn't leave.
She wants to start a fund in the community to help pay to get people out when danger looms.
Friends and family are still trying to find each other, she said.
"I found one of my friends because they spray-painted their new cell phone number on their house," she said.
Texas, ranking at 12 on the index, has a per capita income of $30,222.
This places Texas 33rd in wealth.
Some of the residents in the coastal town of Sabine Pass would like to see donations spent on opening local stores.
Since Tammie's Olde Tyme Diner is the only business open, Tammie Blood would like to see a grocery store open, especially with gas.
The nearest gas station is 45 minutes away. Tourists coming from the beach look for gas in town but are turned away. Residents have a journey to get gas just to mow their lawn.
Her sister, Kristi Heid, principal of Sabine Pass School, said she'd like to see the school auditorium fixed.
She'd also like to see the churches and elderly taken care of.
Because most elderly have a fixed income and no insurance, she'd like to see small houses built they can afford.
Heid doesn't know what is going to happen now, but she hopes things can get back to normal soon.
"I can't give you the end because we're living it," she said.
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