Officials told television station KBTV 4 that contractors were scarce and they told homeowners to get onto a list as soon as possible.

The demand for contractors and other labor remains strong in Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas, but there are a number of things to consider before hopping in your truck and heading south.

The main problem is a lack of housing. Many?EUR??,,????'??+if not most?EUR??,,????'??+workers are camping out without water or electricity. Most toilet facilities are the portable, chemical variety.

?EUR??,,????'??It?EUR??,,????'???s pretty ugly,?EUR??,,????'?? Davey Tree supervisor Jack Swayze said after a recent visit to New Orleans. ?EUR??,,????'??Every Wall Mart or big shopping center parking lot looks like a refugee camp.?EUR??,,????'??

Plenty of websites have popped up to link contractors with jobs and contracts. Users should beware?EUR??,,????'??+some sites ask for money to advertise services. Many other sites provide information. One way to start is to type ?EUR??,,????'??contractors needed?EUR??,,????'?? and ?EUR??,,????'??Louisiana?EUR??,,????'?? (or ?EUR??,,????'??Texas?EUR??,,????'?? or ?EUR??,,????'??Mississippi?EUR??,,????'??) into a Google search.

Contractors in Texas told the TV station that Rita will impact the construction industry for months to come.