http://www.airamericaradio.com/katrina/voicemailinfo.html

I think the cell phones and stuff like that for refugees are nice but of secondary importance to stuff needed for immediate survival.  

Cell service is being restored rather quickly though.  Yes, towers are out, but there are mobile base stations ("cell on wheels") deployed to the area.  

Comms are much less of a problem than food, water, basic hygiene, etc.  And all those stem from what looks more and more like beyond simple incompetence and well into malevolent obstructionism on the part of Bushco, to make sure that this thing unfolds as badly as it possibly can.