Replies to '08/29 Hurricane Katrina: One Year Later, Part 2'

I live in Louisiana; you need to visit New Orleans before you make a state like that.  We are not talking about a little spot of mold here and there; we are talking about huge spots of mold covering walls and floor that go through to the next room and cannot be removed no matter what you try and how you try to remove it.  The first time I was able to enter New Orleans (6 wks after Katrina), the water was waist deep (it had gone down since Katrina); the next time I was there it was  knee deep.   These people are working (some are working 2 and 3 jobs (trying to make enough to put food on their tables and pay utilities and buy clothes; to replace all the clothes they lost).  They also have to find a way to get to work, either by finding an old car to buy that works since all the cars were destroyed by the water or by bus (there are some buses running now; for awhile there wasn't any bus service).  Also, they have children they have to get to school and help them with homework.  Many of these people lost their jobs because many Vendors lost their business and are still out of business and will not go back into business or still trying to get back into business or now just getting back into business; so many (most) of these people had to find new jobs and many of still looking for a job or jobs to get by or having to travel out of town to near by towns to work (they don't have time to weed and try to get rid of mold that is not removablee; the government is not taking care of them.  Many New Orleans residents still do not have electricity or water; that includes the rich; that also includes businesses; there are traffic lights and street lights that still don't work (even those that are very close to the French Quarters).  If you have the time and money you need to visit and see for yourself if you don't believe me.  The people of New Orleans need our prayers and our help; their Mayor isn't much help.

 I am not from the states, I am from Canada, and extremely thankful for it every day that I watch US news. I watched the devestation of Katrina and do sympathize with all of the lives destroyed. I can however, wonder the same questions as you, I do not understand why they are still in those trailers, waiting for someone to get them out. If they are working, why not get out yourself, move away and start over? I am not saying that it would be easy to leave your home, the place you have built your life, but I definelty would be getting myself out and starting over elsewhere, I would not be building a new home, and starting over from scratch in the same area, to risk losing it all again. And I too, do not think that the government is only to blame, but I saw all of those people living in the dome, and wondered where was Bush? With all of these troops over in Iraq, what about all of your people? If Bush was not so busy fighting "his" war, maybe more would of been done. And after a year, you would think that more would of been acomplished, this was not the first disaster to strike and the pieces seemed to be picked up faster from all the others. I hope that all those affected find peace and get their lives back, and many seem to have gotten back on their feet, but they didnt wait for someone to do it for them.