[StBernard] Poll shows nation still wants to help Louisiana

[Westley Annis]

WASHINGTON - The media may have shifted its attention to the Middle East and
politicians are thinking about November's elections, but the nation hasn't
forgotten about those still struggling in the aftermath of Hurricane
Katrina, according to a new survey. 

The fear of storm victims is that nearly a year after Katrina devastated the
Gulf Coast, the rest of the country has moved on or, at worst, Americans are
sick of hearing about the region's problems - especially if it means
spending more money. 

But a study released Tuesday by the non-profit Kaiser Family Foundation
suggests that most Americans aren't afflicted with Katrina fatigue and they
still possess a deep reservoir of empathy and a willingness to help. The
survey was released at a forum meant to highlight the shortage of health
professionals in South Louisiana and the obstacles hindering the rebuilding
of the region's medical system. 

Over seven days in mid-June, Kaiser sponsored a telephone survey of 1,217
adults around the nation focusing on peoples' attitudes toward the recovery.
Twenty percent of people said they still think about the disaster "very
often" while another 40 percent said it's on their minds "somewhat often."
More importantly, 70 percent said that people affected by Hurricane Katrina
still had not gotten the help they need. 

As for New Orleans, Americans sense that the situation remains dire: 52
percent said that there is still "major work" to be done to get the city up
and running, and another 30 percent said that the city remains "in crisis." 
Despite billions of dollars in financial assistance sent to the disaster
zone and government reports of waste and fraud, a solid majority of those
surveyed - 56 percent - said that the federal government hasn't done enough
to help state and local governments. 

"It suggests that the public would be receptive to (hurricane-recovery)
initiatives undertaken by politicians in the future," said Drew Altman,
president and CEO of the Kaiser Family Foundation. "It's not that the public
is saying enough is enough. That is surprising at a time of war and at a
time of rising gas prices." 

Rep. Bobby Jindal, R-Kenner, whose district was battered by the storm, said
that the survey results are consistent with the huge outpouring of
assistance from average Americans after the storm. But he said it also
points to a "disconnect" between those generous sentiments and an attitude
in Washington among policymakers and the national media that Katrina is
yesterday's news. 

"What I worry about is it could become a self-fulfilling prophesy," Jindal
said. "If Congress, the national media and the (Bush) administration think
Americans aren't interested, they will move on to something else." 

The survey found marked racial differences in attitudes about the recovery.
African-Americans were more skeptical (84 percent) than white respondents
(67 percent) that storm victims were getting the help they need. Similarly,
75 percent of African-Americans said the federal government has not done
enough. Fifty-three percent of white people felt that way. 

Forty percent of black people surveyed said they thought about Katrina and
its aftermath "often" while 18 percent of white respondents said it was
frequently on their minds. 

Altman said that the disparate racial attitudes were probably formed in the
first days after the storm when news footage showed the vast majority of
those stranded in New Orleans by the flood waters - waving rescue flags on
rooftops and lining up outside the Superdome - were black. 

"It's important to remember the powerful message that sent to
African-Americans in our country," he said. 

Since the disastrous response to Katrina, government officials at all levels
have touted the steps they have taken to avoid a repeat. But according to
the survey, Americans remain skeptical that the country is entirely ready.
When asked about precautions, 10 percent said that the federal government is
"very prepared" for another disaster. Just 7 percent said state and local
officials are. 

(Bill Walsh can be reached at bill.walsh at newhouse.com or (202) 383-7817.)