Rich and Famous Also Affected By Hurricane Katrina

Over the past few days, America and the world have been shocked, saddened, horrified, and outraged at the stories and images flooding network news shows and Internet sites. People have prayed and mourned for the thousands of people who are missing or feared dead, and for once, the plight of the common man has taken the spotlight off the petty plights of celebrities that are routinely splashed across the news. But in this case, some celebrities are sharing the plight of the common man, because they have also been affected by the devastation in New Orleans.

The three celebrities who are arguably the most frequently associated with New Orleans are musicians: Harry Connick, Jr., B.B. King, and Fats Domino. The 77-year old Domino, whose real name is Antoine Domino, was reported as missing when his niece and his agent, Al Embry, were unable to get in touch with him. Late Thursday the New Orleans Times-Picayune displayed a picture of the R&B legend being helped off a boat by rescuers, much to the relief of his family and friends. Blues legend B.B. King has said that he had loved ones in the area whom he has not heard from. "I have some friends and family down in New Orleans, and also on the Gulf coast of Mississippi," King told The Associated Press. "I've tried to call them several times but I can't get through to them so I don't know where they are." Connick, who grew up in New Orleans and talks often about his love for the city, has been wracked with sorry at the tremendous loss of life and property in his hometown. His father, Harry Connick Sr., was the city’s district attorney for 29 years, while his son was fine-tuning his music in jazz bands and clubs in the French Quarter of the city. In a statement on Connick’s website, the musician echoed the feeling of thousands when he said, "It is hard to sit in silence, to watch one’s youth wash away." On NBC’s "Today" show, Connick said that the residents of the Big Easy are "freakishly strong," and he is confident that the city will rebuild, with the same spirit shown by New Yorkers after the 9/11 terror attacks.

Oscar-winning actor Morgan Freeman, whose home in the Mississippi Delta was hit by only rain and high winds, has helped to organize an online auction site for the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund. "We call on anybody who has even the thought (of giving) to get beyond the thought and help these people," Morgan said. Another actor, Patricia Clarkson, is at the Venice Film Festival in Italy, but her mother is a New Orleans councilwoman. Jackie Clarkson has been right beside Mayor Ray Nagin throughout the crisis, and Clarkson says that she was relieved to know where her mother was all along. "She’s all right, otherwise I wouldn’t be here," Clarkson said. Another Louisiana native, Ellen DeGeneres, said that her 82-year old aunt’s home in Pass Christian, Mississippi, had been totally destroyed. DeGeneres told AP Radio, "She has nothing. She grabbed four pictures out of her house. She's lost her entire life."

Soul Asylum lead singer Dave Pirner is anxiously watching news reports of the relief efforts going on in New Orleans, hoping against hope that his house in New Orleans is still standing. Pirner, who was visiting Minneapolis when the hurricane struck, said, "We are, you know, examining our silver lining and being very lucky that we're out of harm's way." Two celebrity rappers have also been affected by Katrina. Rapper Juvenile left New Orleans before the hurricane hit, but he lost his home. However, he counts himself lucky because he knows things could have been much worse. "I am obviously devastated by my personal loss but thank God that I was able to get my family out to safety while many families were not so fortunate," Juvenile said in a statement. "I have lost some friends and to their families I send my deepest condolences." Rapper-producer Master P, also a New Orleans native, told the AP that his father had been missing until recently. His uncle, sister-in-law, father-in-law, and other family members are still unaccounted for. Telling the AP that "it’s just devastating," Master P said that his houses and the houses of his family members are now totally under water. He has created a foundation called Team Rescue, and has helicopters searching for his missing family members.