The damage is so bad in some spots, picking up the pieces could take months or even years.

RTV6's Jennifer Carmack and photographer Shea Goodpaster have seen the devastation first-hand from Slidell.

Interstate 10, a major thoroughfare in and out of New Orleans, remained shut down Tuesday in Katrina's wake.

A storm surge covered the road and everything alongside it. Once the water receded, the breadth of the damage became more apparent.

"There were homes that were totally destroyed and were no longer on the lots," St. Tammany Parrish Sheriff Jack Strain said. "Apartment complexes, with multiple housing units are no longer there. They are totally gone."

Sections of the bridge that connected New Orleans with communities to the north are missing.

In nearby Covington, roads remained completely impassable.

"We were hit pretty bad. All of the electrical lines were down. Phone lines are down. Trees are down," Roxie Kolbe said. "I'm looking for food, water, ice and family members. We can't find them."

Others were lining up to get gas. Only one station in the area had it, and people were getting whatever they could.

Many only have a few possessions left. There were stern warnings for looters on some businesses, threatening that they would be shot.

Search and rescue crews were looking for several people who were still reported missing in Slidell.