Today's update from Kevin Wendt, on the scene in Columbus, Ga., helping put together the Biloxi Sun Herald:

Day 5: Hurricane Katrina is up at newspagedesigner. Great 1A photo by Tim Isbell, and another solid effort by Jared Head on 1A.

Those of us in Columbus, Ga., got a visit from the man himself last night: Bryan Monroe. He's heading back after leading the charge upon arrival Monday in Biloxi. And after days of no sleep or attempting to sleep on the floor, he was still gracious enough to take the group here out for a beer. Awesome.

Three quick notes from his many stories of his time down in Biloxi:

1) For the first two days, the deployment of reporters and figuring out what to cover depended on one thing: gas.

2) While there was some electricity at the paper, those thinking it was an oasis of air conditioning are mistaken. Without water pressure, the air conditioner may run, but there's nothing there to cool it.

3) The menu during the beginning days: Peanut butter & jelly sandwiches, with Saltine crackers for desert.

4) Bryan saw the devastation after Hurricane Andrew. "That one isn't even close to this."

5) The paper is starting to get running water. I'll leave that one alone.

kevin