[StBernard] 'It's Been Hell' In St. Bernard Parish

[Westley Annis]

'It's Been Hell' In St. Bernard Parish
Resident Describes Life In Area Hit By Katrina And Oil Spill

ST. BERNARD PARISH, La., Aug. 29, 2006
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(CBS) St. Bernard Parish, right next to New Orleans, is a largely
blue-collar area that had to face not only Hurricane Katrina a year ago, but
a large oil spill in the storm's aftermath, when a tank at a local refinery
ruptured. 

The Early Show co-anchor Harry Smith went to the parish in the first few
days after the storm, and just went back to see how the people are faring. 

He found very little progress. As Smith put it, St. Bernard "doesn't even
have a McDonald's open." 

Many locals still line up every Tuesday for household essentials given out
by volunteers. 

Smith spoke with a woman torn apart by what floodwaters and oil did to her
home, and her life. Linda Swider doesn't think she'll be able to rebuild.
Smith said she feels "suffocated by red tape" from dealing with different
levels of government. 

"It's been hell," she said. 

But Smith also found a man who is among the few who has been able to start
rebuilding. 

Smith observed that the ones hardest hit are older people without the energy
to fight their way back. 

To watch Smith's complete report, click here.
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/08/29/earlyshow/main1947157.shtml