Hurricane Katrina was &045; we hope &045; a once-in-a-lifetime storm. And now she is changing lives and communities &045; not just in New Orleans and on the coast, but here at home.

By some estimates, the Miss-Lou is home to 5,000 to 6,000 new residents, most of whom had little choice about where they would land once they fled New Orleans and the coast.

No one knows how long it will be before people can return home; some are already planning to make Natchez home.

We have challenges ahead as we try to adjust to the changes.

But the Miss-Lou’s challenges pale in comparison to evacuees who have lost homes, businesses, perhaps even neighbors.

This change is long-term, and all of us need to realize that. So all of us need to work together to make the transition smooth.

If there is any silver lining in this storm, it might be how Katrina can change our small community &045; and how we can rise to meet the challenges she has forced upon us.

Schools are working to accommodate new students, and real estate agents are hitting the streets to find housing and other property.

Volunteers in shelters are trying to create as many comforts of daily life as they can.

Local officials are opening the city’s doors to businesses that have been displaced by the storm, which could bring jobs for our now growing population.

All week, our area has been an oasis &045; the only county south of Jackson with any power; one of the only places with food, gas and water.

And we must continue to be an oasis for hundreds of new residents, who need our support as they rebuild their lives, most likely right here in our community.