[StBernard] The Poor Victims of Hurricane Katrina

[Westley Annis]

The POOR Victims of Katrina
By Patrick Dettwiller

	Unfortunately, the Press is, once again, portraying
an incomplete view of a major tragedy to the Nation.

	The latest story is how the “hardest hit are the
poor.”  However, I will like to give you the picture
of another, extremely devastated group: The
Middle-Class.

	While the face of Katrina was the thousands left in
the city without help or food, where were America’s
hardworking taxpayers?  Most of them evacuated, some
were left behind to care for the poor, but all were
losing everything they had!

	To help clarify this tragedy, I will like to tell the
story of St. Bernard Parish.  As the nation was given
images of people exposed to the elements at the
Convention Center, images of those enduring the agony
and fear of the Superdome Shelter, or images of
looting for non-food items, the press questioned
whether there was discrimination.  What was missing
were images and information on St. Bernard – a
primarily white, middle-class suburb.

	St. Bernard Parish had the misfortune of being
destroyed by a tidal surge that crested the levees of
the Mississippi River Gulf Outlet; a man-made Shipping
Channel that residents had pleaded the U.S. Army Corp
of Engineers to close and fill-in for over 20 years. 
As Local Officials, Police, Fire, and Citizens were
busy trying to “Save Their Own,” the Press and Federal
Aid were nowhere to be found.  Luckily most had
evacuated!  But, as a matter of insult, the Royal
Canadian Mounties arrived to help in Search and
Rescue, prior to any U.S. Officials.  An effort to
become Canada’s Most-Southern Province will begin
soon!

	However, other tragedies were taking place for the
Refuges who did evacuate.  Yes, we are refuges, not
displaced citizens – this is not the time to be PC! 
Many of us were being informed we were losing our jobs
(luckily I was not); many of us were not able to get
food or clothes from Red Cross Shelters because we
were not staying in the shelters; and now, many of us
are having to rent homes while continuing to pay
mortgages on homes that have been destroyed.  To add
insult to injury, if these homes are deemed to have
been destroyed by flood rather than a Hurricane,
rental assistance will not be available to insurance
holders – however, many of us do not know if this
determination will be made as were are dealing with
another tragedy – waiting!

As I look at the outcome of the storm – my home
destroyed, my brother’s home and all of his in-law’s
homes destroyed, my other brother’s home and all of
his in-laws homes destroyed, my parents home
destroyed, my sister’s home and all of her in-laws
homes destroyed, my uncle’s home and business
destroyed, my aunt’s home destroyed, my cousin’s home
destroyed, my other cousin’s home destroyed, another
cousin’s home destroyed, all my neighbors destroyed,
all my kid’s schools destroyed, the park the community
built together destroyed, I am truly thankful that we
are all safe.  But, I guess the Press was right, “the
Hardest Hit are the Poor.”  I just did not realize I
was amongst them.

To Take the Words of the St. Bernard Port Authority,
“Think Positive St. Bernard, We Do!