[StBernard] Three years later, Katrina still spreads her misery

[Westley Annis]

Three years later, Katrina still spreads her misery

Carolina Kidwell-Bozeman
Teen Democrat 

OnAug. 29, 2005, one of the five deadliest hurricanes in the United States
hit New Orleans. More than 1,800 people were killed because of Katrina and
the succeeding floods.

When people think of the effects on Louisiana, they most often think of New
Orleans and not its suburb, St. Bernard Parish. St. Bernard Parish, La., as
of 2000, had a population of 67,229; it fell to 25,489 because of Katrina.
Parts of the parish received 5 to 12 feet of standing water, leaving most of
the parish flooded. For more than two months subsequent to Katrina, St.
Bernard remained without electricity, water and sewer service. After the
storm, it was declared by parish president Henry Rodriguez that the homes of
the parish were "unlivable." Three years later many of these homes are still
unlivable.

Not only in the suburbs of New Orleans are the homes still "unlivable," but
also within the city itself people are living in tents. Tent City - contrary
to what Bill O'Reilly says - does exist. It is located under the Claiborne
Avenue overpass near Canal Street. What looks to be about 100 tents sit
under the overpass, the home to hundreds of Katrina victims, most of whom
have been living there for more than a year.

City Hall officials said that by the month's end police and social workers
would be dismantling Tent City and moving the homeless residents to one
large tent in Central City, where they will be kept away from drugs and
alcohol. That was in January. Now, a good four months later, no such thing
has happened.

Tent City may be a danger to the city of New Orleans, but this is only
because the city has made it so. With no one helping these people to pick up
the pieces of their lives that Katrina scattered, they have no other hope
than to make a life for themselves under the overpass.

Three years later, the reality of Katrina's damage is still very much
evident. There are thousands of people still missing their homes, families,
lives. These people don't just need the money to rebuild their homes, but
someone to listen. The joy that the victims of Katrina get when they talk to
you, knowing that someone really cares about them, is palpable.

During Leon County Schools' spring break, I visited Louisiana myself. The
devastation from the storm can still be seen as far inland as Interstate 10.
Gaping holes in the landscape exist where trees used to dot the highway
shoulders, billboards are still ripped down, and most hotels and suburbs are
desolate. There is a lot of work to be done.

The French Quarter has revived itself completely since the storm, leaving
the tourists who come to visit New Orleans thinking, "Wow, New Orleans has
really made a nice turnaround since Katrina." But it hasn't. And it still
needs your help.

Through programs such as Habitat for Humanity's Camp Hope, where room and
board is just $25 a day, you can stay and volunteer and listen to the
survivors' stories. Helping rebuild these homes and parishes is helping
rebuild the inhabitants' lives. It's something that benefits everyone, and
something that we need even more of in this world.