So… what happened to Recovery – FEMA – the Government???
Well... in regards to these questions... That's why I'm here. I'm listening to the communities stories about how and why they have to do it on their own. Basically, the federal government has abandoned them. The amount of money the Bush administration spends in 1 month in Iraq would be enough to rebuild about 75% of the city. Most people have not returned, because they don't have the resources to do what the council is asking - to clear and gut their houses themselves. Many have been advised not to take out flood insurance, so of course... they have no funds and literally have to start from scratch.
If u don't gut and clear out your home and all the debris by the 31 August, you will be fined - pretty much half the cost of the house. So most people have packed up and left. Some people have FEMA trailers and are camping outside their homes and rebuilding them. Others are in FEMA trailer parks scattered across town.
I could go on and on about this. U can read it on www.nola.com the Times Picanyue is the local paper. There is at least 2-6 murders each month so they sent down more national guard last week and the murder rate has dropped by 30%. Last night a woman was killed in a FEMA trailer park.
It's CHAOS here. I just went to common ground relief (set up by an ex-black panther Malik) where I will be working and researching (informal interviews with people etc...) for 10 days on the 1st of Aug... I'm living in an abandoned elementary school with 300 other volunteers and residents. All the windows are broken, all the lockers are bashed in, the tables and chairs are smashed, there is a makeshift toilet and shower facility... it's like walking into iraq... I swear... there are just rundown, broken down, burnt out cars and houses everywhere. THere's a an 8pm curfew and 5 resident crack houses selling loads of drugs within a 4-6 block radius of the temporary housing facility.
I'm not going to write anymore cos I'm scaring the shit out of everyone. But, it's the reality here. I've NEVER EVER seen or been in anything like this in my entire life... and I thought I'd been to some crazy places.
If u don't gut and clear out your home and all the debris by the 31 August, you will be fined - pretty much half the cost of the house. So most people have packed up and left. Some people have FEMA trailers and are camping outside their homes and rebuilding them. Others are in FEMA trailer parks scattered across town.
I could go on and on about this. U can read it on www.nola.com the Times Picanyue is the local paper. There is at least 2-6 murders each month so they sent down more national guard last week and the murder rate has dropped by 30%. Last night a woman was killed in a FEMA trailer park.
It's CHAOS here. I just went to common ground relief (set up by an ex-black panther Malik) where I will be working and researching (informal interviews with people etc...) for 10 days on the 1st of Aug... I'm living in an abandoned elementary school with 300 other volunteers and residents. All the windows are broken, all the lockers are bashed in, the tables and chairs are smashed, there is a makeshift toilet and shower facility... it's like walking into iraq... I swear... there are just rundown, broken down, burnt out cars and houses everywhere. THere's a an 8pm curfew and 5 resident crack houses selling loads of drugs within a 4-6 block radius of the temporary housing facility.
I'm not going to write anymore cos I'm scaring the shit out of everyone. But, it's the reality here. I've NEVER EVER seen or been in anything like this in my entire life... and I thought I'd been to some crazy places.
posted by littlemissdisaster @ 3:13 PM
2 comments
2 Comments:
You are right... it is a warzone down here. And people do not realize that this is just one front in what is about to become a large scale invasion from the sea. Coastal communities everywhere face catastrophic flooding. Many homes, many lives, many cultures will be lost.
The worst part about that right now there is very little we can do. Sea level rise is a reality, so are stronger hurricane, typhoons, cyclones, northeasters, and every other type of destructive storm.
At this point, it almost a given that New Orleans will be lost within our lifetimes.
You are right... it is a warzone down here. And people do not realize that this is just one front in what is about to become a large scale invasion from the sea. Coastal communities everywhere face catastrophic flooding and premanant inundation. Many homes, many lives, many cultures will be lost.
Unfortunately, there is very little we can do. Sea level rise is a reality, so are stronger hurricane, typhoons, cyclones, northeasters, and every other type of destructive storm. Many areas face the same subsidence issues as Louisiana.
It is almost a given that New Orleans will be lost within our lifetimes. All we can hope for is an orderly, just, and fair evacuation and permanent relocation that minimizes the inevitable negative health impacts associated with displacement.
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