[StBernard] Condemned

[Westley Annis]

NO THE PEOPLE FROM BETSY DID NOT WAIT.  THEY HAD NO INSURANCE TO COVER THEIR
LOSES AND HAD NO OTHER CHOICE, BUT TO REBUILD AND HOPE THAT IT WOULD NEVER
HAPPEN AGAIN, BUT IT DID

UNLIKE MY PARENTS, I HAVE A CHOICE... I CHOOSE NOT TO REBUILD IN AN AREA
THAT I BELIEVE IS NOT SAFE FROM HURRICANES, CRIME AND AIR POLUTION AND
QUESTIONABLE GOVERNMENT PRACTICES.

I HEAR QUITE OFTEN IN MY BUSINESS, WORKING WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE REBUILDING,
THAT NO PLACE IS SAFE .  I AGREE EVERY PLACE YOU LIVE HAS CERTAIN RISKS FOR
NATURAL PERILS, BUT

ST. BERNARD HAS 2 STRIKES AGAINST IT.  SWIMMING OUT OF MY HOME AS A 10 YEAR
OLD IN FOUR AND ONE HALF FEET OF WATER WAS SOMETHING , BUT PUTING ALL MY
TIME, EFFORT, MONEY AND REMAINING YEARS OF MY LIFE INTO  ST. BERNARD, I
BELIEVE IS EVEN WORSE.

I BLAME NO ONE FOR MAKING  THE  DECESION TO GO BACK TO ST. BERNARD OR TO
FLEE.
WE ALL HAVE TO DO WHAT WE FEEL IS BEST FOR US.  I MISS SOME ASPECTS OF THE
AREA IN WHICH I HAVE SPENT MOST OF MY LIFE, BUT I AM SURE WHEN A STORM
ENTERS THE GULF I WILL NOT MISS LIVING IN ST. BERNARD.

I CONSIDER MYSELF AN ADULT.

I HAVE NEVER EXPECTED ANYTHING FROM ANY ONE  FOR NOTHING.

I  DO, HOWEVER, HAVE A PROBLEM PUTTING TIME, ENERGY AND MONEY INTO A
PROPERTY I AM NOT SURE IS WORTH REBUILDING. I HAVE NO PLANS TO LIVE IN OUR
FORMER HOME ( A HOME WE WERE VERY HAPPY IN) .  THE NEIGHBORHOOD SHOWS NO
SIGNS OF REBUILDING AND MOST PEOPLE MY AGE ARE NOT GOING BACK.  SO HOW CAN I
MAKE A LIFE IN AN AREA WITH SO MANY
UNCERTAINS???? IF YOU CAN MORE POWER TO YOU.   I CAN'T.

SO YOU SEE THE FREE GUTTING OPTION WAS PERFECT FOR US...NO COST.. AND TIME
T0 SEE HOW THE PARISH OFFICIALS WERE GOING TO "RESTRUCTURE THE PARISH" SO WE
COULD MAKE AN INFORMED DECISION ABOUT THE ECONOMIC FUTURE OF OUR FORMER
HOME.

SO HERE WE ARE NOW AND NO RESTRUCTURE PLAN AND NO FREE GUTTING AND STILL NO
DECESION ABOUT THE ECONOMIC FUTURE OF OUR FORMER HOME.



GJS