the big easy, part deux.....
It has been a year since Katrina came slamming into the Gulf Coast, leaving behind devastation the likes of which were hard to comprehend. For days we sat by our TV sets to watch the events unfold before our eyes.....as we did on September 11th. It seemed impossible to comprehend the miles of drowned and destroyed towns, as well as the landscape that had wiped away during the destruction of this hurricane, yet it was before us in every news telecast and cable news broadcast. We heard stories of people stranded at the Astrodome, and we saw countless images of other folks trapped on rooftops with signs pleading for help. All the time we wondered in the back of our minds why these people hadn't left. Didn't they know this was the "big one"? We were to find out plenty, and not enough, in the days that followed.
To say our hearts went out to these unfortunate people caught in the path was an understatement.... our hearts bled for them. How could they not? This one storm redefined the term "ultimate natural destruction", and will forever go down in the books as the measure to which all storms going forward are measured by. We did that with the "big ones" of the past: Camille, Andrew and Betsy to name a few. They pale in comparison to Katrina now.
So today we mark the first anniversary of Katrina; which will include a few speeches, pats on the back, and photo ops for the powers that be. And what do we know a year later? Well, we do know that it will still take a long time to put this area back together. That houses were leveled to their foundations, and others that did survive are uninhabitable due to mold and unsanitary conditions, means this project is not something we can clear away as easily as we have done other disasters in the past. This is not something contained to a mile radius..... as it continues on through miles and miles of towns and villages located on the coast, as well as far back inland.
This one storm also came to redefine the charts of insurance coverage. Most insurance companies that you might have been happily paying to for the last 20 years or so are now dropping coverage if you live within 5 miles OF a coast, or raising your rates to astronomical heights.
We also came to find out that people who had no connection to this event used the disadvantage of others to get a piece of the voucher pie that the government issued to the victims. One person was caught spelling her name in a variety of ways in order to receive multiple vouchers. Since there was no real way for the government to check the identity of the people, this practice was easy prey. We also found out that many people who used the vouchers did not do so for the purchase of necessary supplies, but rather for new toys from their wish list.
We know that there are still many displaced folks who still haven't moved back into the region.... as a matter of fact, the phone book for the greater New Orleans area has shrunk to 1/4th of what it previously was. We can't really blame them for being a little leary, after all, one rarely wants to return to the place of fright and ill feelings. For those who called the Gulf Coast their home, and wouldn't let a little hurricane drive them away, have stuck to rebuilding as best they can.... and with whatever help and resources they can get. That takes a lot of guts, a lot of sweat, and a lot of love.
For the folks who used this disaster as personal gain, shame on you for taking advantage of those who truly needed the help. You are a blot on society for your actions. For those who put down their hectic lives and joined in to help out others more needy than yourselves, consider yourself anointed to a higher level human standards. You are the heros, and you will be the folks who bring this lovely piece of real estate back to it's former glory.
And now we wait to see what Ernesto will do......
posted by Ellen at 5:30 PM
13 Comments:
Gosh, I really don't like this time of year!
I hope everyone has a safe hurricane season.
Ellen;
Nice editorial on Katrina. I agree part and parcel to your feelings toward the lack of dignity displayed as a result of this natural disaster. I have worked enough natural disasters and know that it brings out the best and worst in people. some rise to the top and are true leaders while others grapple at the bottom and lurk around feeding off the needy. I am always ashamed to hear how someone can lower themselves to underscore the hard work and dedication of others, but unfortunately that is a real society that exists in this country. And it comes in all walks of life as well....starting at the top. The Mayor of New Orleans is no exception as I listened to his insulting remarks toward NYC and 9/11 this past weekend I couldn't help but think, 'is this person really in charge?' Lets face it, we are an industrious nation and we can do many good things. So why has New Orleans presented itself as a blemish for this long?
Sometimes the answer is buried within the question.
Keep up the good work Ellen.
Love Karl
Hi Ellen
Excellent post......insightful comments
Katrina's catastrophic destruction and the aftermath of catastrophic mishandling continues to be a story unfolding in the Canadian media as well as in the States. It is absolutely mind boggling how the government on all levels has choked on their own bureaucracy, though it seems like some areas and other states were able to kickstart their communities and infrastructure,so much more has to be done to resurrect New Orleans and surrounding areas.
One of the more shocking side stories that revealed itself last year during the aftermath was the level of poverty and underlying racial issues that permeated New Orleans.........it was like a dirty secret was finally uncovered......all due to such a horrendous blast from nature.
I see no leaders taking the helm. It's sad.
It's sad that two anniversaries of major disasters in the US are within a couple of weeks of each other. I remember being glued to the television for both. Katrina was worse withreaction-time, and help....natural disasters tend to be (usually). It's so sad to hear that people are still homeless...imagine losing everything. My thoughts are with them.
This anniversary has been heavy on my mind this week too. Wonder if all the re-locatees will ever get back where they were at this rate.
I pray Ernie will leave the loved ones in Florida alone this round!
Sorry I took so long gettin to comment here, still need to read below another day, waiting for time off again (Thurs, Fri- I hope)
BTW, Thankyou for the lovely postcard! very thoughtful and appreciated!
This time last year was very weird for me because I was in the US when all of this was happening, so I had a much different prespective on the events following Katrina on American television than I would have back home on Canadian television. Ironicly, President Bush was in San Diego on the day the leeves broke, and I attended a candle light vigil in protest of his presence there in San Diego and the Iraq war. We had no idea what was to happen in the next few days, and what we should have been protesting, Bush's response to Katrina.
San Diego is a funny place, it has a huge military presence, with the Navy, Army, and Air Force all having huge forces there. But you also have all the liberal Califorinains, its really just a clash of two worlds. And that was very evitent during the vigil. We had many people who yelled bad things at us, and many people that yelled good things at us.
I remember watching Katrina hit the coast on tv, and than things calmed down, and we all thought things were back to normal. And than suddenly, the city was flooded, and the Prez was out on the west coast, and we all wondered what he was doing there. Shouldn't he be somewhere else? And don't even get me started on FEMA. I heard tons of stories of Canadians loading up their cars with water and supplies, and were able to drive down there, right into the destruction area, and give out their supplies. Why couldn't FEMA do this? It just seemed so simple, I couldn't understand why people were still suffering. If I had been President, I would have boarded Air Force 2, the helicopter, and flew down there myself, and took people off of those roof tops. That's the kind of president people want. :)
lee ann~
I can't say as I blame you for feeling a little apprehension this time of year, as any hurricane that comes up through the Gulf means you and I will suffer some of it's effects. I'm quite sure you've experienced all the storms we've been getting the past couple of nights, as it looks like they came through B-ham first. Last nights was a doozie! The thunder was so loud I don't think anyone slept from 4 to 6 am in the state of Georgia.
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karl~
Geez..... great point about looking within. I think you should have written this post, as your words far exceed my thoughts.
By the way, I just got my present in the mail today, and I can't wait to read my new book. What an interesting subject! I did a post on Ellis Island way back in November or December.... and I am anxious to see how well I gathered my facts. Thanks to you all for a lovely present!
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awareness~
As soon as I had heard the news that New Orleans was sunk under water, I knew too much already. I had been there on my honeymoon a million years ago, and witnessed a lot of the poverty first hand. I knew then that this was going to be a project of gigantic porportions to put back together. Humpty Dumpty had a better chance of being re-shelled faster than they will be able to put the coast back together.... and all due to the leaders in charge. Classic case of mismanagement at best from the leaders. They'd rather spend time and money on committees to research the finger pointing than do the actual work to get it done. Sad, sad, sad....
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K.~
I was amazed at how many people immigrated to Atlanta, Houston, and other parts. I guess Katrina really scared them enough to not return. Perhaps most lost everything in the disaster, and a new start was the best thing.
It is sad to think that many could not or would not move away due to their financial circumstances, but sadder that the government does not have a handle on the situation at all still.
Funny though, most of the casinos are up and running, and they are hoping that many people will come down to put some revenue back into the area. I think I should go and wear some fancy shoes to dance with! LOL!
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snaggle~
I hope your folks do not suffer any effects of Ernie either, and I'm sure you brace yourself for all the storms that come through. I will add your folks to my prayer list, and hope with you for their safety through this season, sweetie!
So glad to hear the postcard made it's way to the Cape. I brought home some brochures of the area (including some historical facts) that I thoought you might be interested in, and will mail them off so you can see more pictures of the lovely landscape.
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wes~
Yay to our Canadian neighbors... always there when we find ourselves in the thick of things. I've said it before, I'll say it again: America is a Canadian wanna-be. Only too bad we took the wrong road somewhere along the line. I will always remember how well Canada took care of our citizens during our 9/11 situation. Your country deserves the highest honor our country can give for being heros.
Very ironic that you should be in San Diego protesting Bushco at the time of the storm. You really did see first hand how slow our government is at protecting it's citizens. Sadly, we are used to it more and more each day. A year later, and there is still much work to do, and barely a mention about it.
American news is a fickle business, only leading stories that bleed, and dumping them off when their usefulness of curiousity wears off.
And if you were the kind of President that jumped into Air Force Two and flew immediately to the Gulf to get people off rooftops, I would volunteer to work for your administration. I admire a man who knows how to take charge in a chaotic situation!
This is such a fantastic post. Your descriptive nature flows so easily and it is a tribute Katrina.
Ernest did not turn into a hurricane but there is John coming at its heels . May N.O. be spared !
skye~
Thanks, sweetie! I really think that Mike Althouse did a much better job with his post about Katrina (click onto his blog from my sidebar to read), and I dashed this post off much too fast. I am glad you liked it though!
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john~
Yup, they are calling Ernesto a fake hurricane.... but that might be a bit premature for the folks on the upper East Coast still. It hasn't quite finished yet.
As for John... well, lucky you to have a nice storm in your name. I was kind of hoping they would use my name this year, but Ernesto won out in the "E" catagory. Shoot!
Only kidding, of course! I am very concerned for any folks who get caught up in these weather glitches, and hope our government has learned a trick or two from Katrina.
Ernesto hit North Carolina this round, n is supposed to turn inland a bit before we get the remnants up here.
Haven't seen any damage reports yet.
Oh ya, Wes n Ellen, I rememver Bush was on vacation the day the levees broke, n didn't cut it short until 2 days had passed- I was so angry knowing about the lack of drinking water still on day three- I was doing 24 hour news cruising the air-waves that week.
Only one of many, many, blunders of this administration. Mr. Brown went down for that one.
snaggle~
I immediately thought of you and the Cape as soon as the cone of Ernesto headed into the Atlantic. Look at Katrina before she hit the Gulf. She was pretty mild-mannered in the scope of things when she first came through Florida, then did all that damage to the Gulf shores. Several of the hurricanes that came through Florida in 2004 then headed out to the Atlantic, doubled back. And Atlanta actually had 4 hurricanes that hit us that year.... when we never have any. Whenever they are on the Atlantic side, we a relitively safe from any aftermath. When they whip up through the Gulf, we are in the path to get a lot of rain and fallout.
As for the incompetance of the government, FEMA, Brown, and Bushco.... it all goes without saying. I perused the internet today in my spare time, and was surprised by the accounts that never made it into the papers or on the news services. A lot of drinking water was shipped into the parrishes around New Orleans, but was turned away by the US Govt officials down there. Even the Coast Guard got into the action of helping out, but was also turned away. Imagine that? It made me sick to my stomach to think about it. I can imagine if Bush's home in Texas were in serious danger, they'd have all kinds of people DNCing the area.
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