Pitt Sees Katrina Damage First Hand, Vows to Help

Stolen baby pictures don't seem as important to Brad Pitt anymore.

On Friday, the actor and new father commented on the devastation in New Orleans he finally got a chance to see for himself. He was dismayed.

"I was not prepared," the Pitt said, describing how he drove for miles and saw street after street of destruction.

Angelina's man was in town to give an update on a project he's promoting - a competition to choose ecologically sound designs for rebuilding neighborhoods. In his comments, Pitt said there was a "big opportunity here" to rebuild the city with energy efficient materials appliances that would improve quality of life, particularly in low-income communities.

The national environmental organization, Global Green USA, is working with Pitt on the design project, as he heads a team of architects, city residents and others who decided Friday on the top five environmentally friendly designs out of more than 100 entries.

"It's impossible to replicate the past," Pitt said, referring to the probable new look of New Orleans. "The original designs are really good. They're really efficient." But, he added, "we can do better."

Fortunately, Pitt was not asked about Jolie or their three children. The news conferene was focused on the issue at hand and what could be done to turn things around in such a damaged area.