Still months after Katrina... has it really gotten any better?

[MiniMandaRuth]

http://smashface.com/vlog/videos/karmagrrrl20050908.mov



Has it? I know that this is all old footage... but... it makes one wonder...

=(

[Nikki Stone 1]

1. My friend in Lacombe has to move and live in a FEMA trailer

She's going to Covington with her family

[tjwash]

2. It brings a tear to my eye still. I have an extremely soft spot in my...

...heart for New Orleans. The music, the people, the food, the culture. I've gone there so many times, and have quite a few friends out there that were displaced. To see them just completely obliterated like they were, and to hear some people in this very country act like they had it coming, just makes me sick to my stomach still.

[SeattleGirl]

3. MiniManda, check out this thread from GD

These are very recent photos of New Orleans. I would say not a lot has changed.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=364&topic_id=561384&mesg_id=561384

[Maddy McCall]

4. Makes one wonder what?

What do you mean by "Has it really gotten any better?"

Are you asking about people's lives, or homes, or businesses, or what?

[Swamp Rat]

5. Interesting collection of video footage, but the music SUCKS!

I'm not talking about the band per se, but the editor's choice of music. It is completely foreign to the context and meaning of the images... it's not a fucking rock video for caucasian teens to feel better about it. :sarcasm: Even Louis Armstrong's "What a Wonderful World" would be more appropriate. :eyes:

[pitohui]

6. it takes time

yes, there are tiny signs of progress but the destruction of entire cities and towns from pascagoula to cameron was never going to be fixed in only 6 months

many people are awaiting insurance settlements

others are awaiting the new maps from FEMA so they will know how high they have to elevate their homes or if they will be allowed to insure their homes if they rebuild in a given area

many who do have money and approval are awaiting contractors and workers

then you suddenly get money and workers in one place, and there is a little burst of activity while the new roof goes up or the new siding is painted

it is very uneven, in my neighborhood which was wind not water damage, i can now see a majority of homes with new roofs and with significant repairs, although there are still some trailers and lots of extra cars because we have evacuees from less fortunate areas staying with us, but still, for us the progress is slow but steady

now go to st. bernard and people are really in limbo, how can you rebuild until they decide whether or not to shut down MR-GO? so in many neighborhoods it might be that nothing at all has been done while the people wait to get enough money and information to make a decision