2008 Woodie Awards
Katrina exposes problems
Chris Auclair
Issue date: 4/13/06 Section: Opinion
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Recently, my friend Allison traveled to an obscure place, far south of Boston, where the people live in poverty and suffer at the whim of an indifferent government.
That place is Mississippi, and, unfortunately, it has been left behind by Washington.
Allison surrendered a portion of her spring break to aid in the reconstruction efforts underway throughout the Gulf Coast and to help rebuild what was damaged by Hurricane Katrina.
When she came back, she described the minimal progress made towards reconstruction and the lack of government assistance.
"It still looks like the storm just happened, so I can only imagine what it looked like when it really did first happen," she told me.
She reported that the walls of buildings were spray-painted with numbers indicating the amount of bodies found inside. She said the largest number she saw was 16.
There were deserted neighborhoods and debris scattered everywhere, boats washed miles inland and clothing tangled in tree branches.
A man told her the body count, which was recently reported at about 1,600, only included those carrying identification.
The rest, apparently, were not worthy of the official tally.
It is hard to believe any of this could happen in a country that prides itself on a high standard of living and a well-organized, responsive military.
Hurricane Katrina continues to get news coverage, and the public responds to stories about life after the disaster: the accounts of struggle, triumph and hope, especially when they concern New Orleans.
But seven months later, the nation has returned to business as usual. There has since been little regard for that slice of coastline whose inhabitants experienced one of the worst natural disasters in our history.
Not only was the federal government completely aware of the danger posed by Katrina before it occurred, the relief was botched by inadequate planning.
Errors in communication and incompetence in the emergency and relief arrangements left many displaced civilians stranded without food, clean water, shelter or a way to leave.
That place is Mississippi, and, unfortunately, it has been left behind by Washington.
Allison surrendered a portion of her spring break to aid in the reconstruction efforts underway throughout the Gulf Coast and to help rebuild what was damaged by Hurricane Katrina.
When she came back, she described the minimal progress made towards reconstruction and the lack of government assistance.
"It still looks like the storm just happened, so I can only imagine what it looked like when it really did first happen," she told me.
She reported that the walls of buildings were spray-painted with numbers indicating the amount of bodies found inside. She said the largest number she saw was 16.
There were deserted neighborhoods and debris scattered everywhere, boats washed miles inland and clothing tangled in tree branches.
A man told her the body count, which was recently reported at about 1,600, only included those carrying identification.
The rest, apparently, were not worthy of the official tally.
It is hard to believe any of this could happen in a country that prides itself on a high standard of living and a well-organized, responsive military.
Hurricane Katrina continues to get news coverage, and the public responds to stories about life after the disaster: the accounts of struggle, triumph and hope, especially when they concern New Orleans.
But seven months later, the nation has returned to business as usual. There has since been little regard for that slice of coastline whose inhabitants experienced one of the worst natural disasters in our history.
Not only was the federal government completely aware of the danger posed by Katrina before it occurred, the relief was botched by inadequate planning.
Errors in communication and incompetence in the emergency and relief arrangements left many displaced civilians stranded without food, clean water, shelter or a way to leave.
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