Monica Potts learns more about coastal cleanup efforts:
In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, Sharon Hanshaw realized the women in her East Biloxi, Mississippi, community needed a political voice to counteract the big developers and casino owners who took the lead in reconstruction efforts. She helped found the group Coastal Women for Change and now serves as its executive director. Hanshaw and other East Biloxi women work to communicate with their local and national political representatives and keep the community informed on what it needs to know to rebuild.
While many homeowners and business owners still haven't recovered nearly five years after the hurricane, the community is bracing for the full impact of the BP oil leak that's spewing millions of gallons of oil into the Gulf of Mexico. The oil will affect communities and fishermen throughout the Gulf region. TAP spoke with Hanshaw about how fishermen, restaurant workers, and landowners are dealing with the environmental tragedy and preparing for the upcoming hurricane season.