How do you feel about the behavior of New Orlenians during the Katrina crisis? Want to go to New Orleans?
461287
They were WARNED that they MUST evacuate.  Busses were running full time to get people out, yet so many refused to leave.  Some were on the news dancing in the streets of the French Quarter as the storm approached.  After the storm, they all ran for the Superdome, and there were not enough supplies for the additional people, so that screwed the people who originally went to be sheltered there.  Something else angers me: The National Guard gets blamed for not responding, but the storm was over Tuesday, and TV cameras broadcast National Guard at the airport on Thursday.  This pretty enlisted female told the reporter that they arrived Wednesday, and were setting up relief.\n\nThen cops are out there looting Wal Mart (caught on video).  It would have been one thing if they were getting food, but, well you know the rest of the story.  \n\nPeople cry for the idiots in New Orleans (no, the ones who evacuated are NOT idiots), while Rita pretty much levelled some towns in Southwest Louisiana.  Places where there were towns were now just a bunch of cement foundations.  One person found their house a few miles away.  Nobody even talks about these people--Mississippi gets more attention.
290714
1)More visibility to the weaknesses of the current Administration; 2)Perception that the socio economic classes were hit "more" equally in MS than LA 3) New Orleans looked at as major tourist industry... my question would be How much money is being spent in each place? Who is it going to? and What is being done? So far, from what I've seen there's a whole lot of nothing going on in either place, except to try to make Bourbon Street presentable for Mardi Gras (only 6 months after the disaster)
592391
I was at home in New Orleans. I live on the second floor of my building, so I didn't get flooded, but the whole neighborhood did.  I never realized just how loud a hurricane could be. Katrina is the fourth one I've stayed for, and it was the noisiest.  The worst moment was when the siding ripped off and slammed against the windows, then the laundry room roof blew off.
386917
The people of new orleans were ignored by their local and state governments. President Bush declared it a disaster before the huricane hit, allowing the local government to use anything it could think of to evacuate at the federal governments expence. The city and the state left busses that could be used for evacuations below sea level, told an Amtrac Train executive that they did not need an empty train to use for evacuations two days before Katrina hit. The people were treated badly, but it was by their local elected officials who did not want to use the help they were given, and did not specify afterward what kind of help they needed. It is actually against the law for the federal government to step in and take over, the Constitution of the United States" does not let them do it.
915814
EASY ! I got kicked out of Catholic school in 7th grade (Bad kid), my mother taught at the school too, ( I know), I don't go to church much, I always felt like I was abandon by my religion, as I looked back as a child, I could still see the nun Expelling me out the door. That doesn't mean I didn't learn anything, or that I'm not a good person, I know that Catholic school and the church are a bit "Jacked up".\n\n  If someone is without food, I always feed them, I've taken homeless people w/me into deli's and bought them lunch.\n\n  I have gotten out at red lights, and given my coat to someone that was cold in the street and didn't have one.\n\nIf someone is hurt or injured that I don't even know, I always try to help.\n\n  I saved a boy from drowning last year, ----> my biggest accomplishment EVER ! and I was proud to do it ! Snatched him right from the "Grim Reapers" arm's ....."GOTCHA" ! I clamped down on this kid like a "Hydraulic Vice" and saved him.\n\n  Practice random acts of kindness to strangers, I still think I'm a good Christian, even though they closed the doors on me but, I have to say this, I got these traits from my MOTHER'S GOOD UPBRINGING, NOT THE CHURCH'S BELIEF'S !
198034
I was deployed to Louisiana with the National Guard for two months after Hurricane Katrina. I had the distinct displeasure of meeting Mayor Nagin on a couple of ocassions. The man is an incompetent, racist boob.\n\nTrue leaders find solutions for their people NO MATTER WHAT THE CIRCUMSTANCES ARE. All Mayor Nagin did was whine and complain. He had no real plan of action to help his people.\n\nHe deserves neither the office nor the title of Mayor.
93169
It's a waste of our tax dollars. New Orleans is 60-65 feet below sea level. And is basically an island in a sense (picture a bowl in a bath tub full of water). Not to mention this is not the first time they had this storm. I feel no pitty for most of them down there. Nor do I support the fact my tax dollars are being wasted in New Orleans.\nI really think New Orleans and the the state it resides in. Should pay back money from tax payers over a period of time. Why you may ask? Because Stupidity is not an excuse.
623146
yes, and they will be rebuilding homes in New Orleans and other affected areas for years to come.\n\nmany people were put into temporary housing of one form or another, but as it was temporary,  many of these people are going to have to find other alternatives since it will take so long to recover the lost homes and businesses affected by Katrina.
1135379
It messed up Saint barnard parish, and orleans parish....  It turned new orleans into a lake.  We had bukue people become homeless.  alot of people lost homes, it took out one bridge that connects over lake pontchatrain....  And traffic sucked for months....  Give me your email, and Ill send you a few pics  Oh and we got every lazy bumb that didnt want to work....  Beleive me now there is no excuse for "I cant find work"  Oh yea Minwage, went up from 5.15 to 8.50- 9 an hour  (cause nobody wanted to work, since they had fema money)
1074777
It's not entirely about politicians, though I agree that they do play a role. First of all, the majority of people affected by hurricane Katrina were poor and black. What is the race and economic status of most of the flood victims? Many of the people in New Orleans could not afford or didn't have opportunity to leave town. It is much easier to escape a flood than 100+ winds, flying debris, combined with flooding. I agree that Mayor Nagin should have done more to help people evacuate, but hindsight is always 20/20. I don't think he had any malacious plans, but he certainly didn't handle the situation properly. It is not a north vs. south thing so let's not make it about that. We are all citizens of the same country. Let's focus on helping those in need and not making controversy and comparisons where they are not needed.
248650
Let us all remember that we have never had a Natural Disaster of these porportions before.  People not evacuating when they were told to is a big part of the problem.  People will need to go home to New Orleans to rebuild they can not do it from the different states they have landed in.  Many do not plan to return, yet they have left homes behind.  In order to rebuild you have to demolish what is there, without owners being involved it may take some time before the demolition can happen.  Two things should have been learned from this disaster and that is the Government always needs to be ready for something of the porportions that they have never seen.  Also that responsible citizens should have left with the first notice's of evacuation.  You have a City that was built below the level of the sea on the sea and you were waiting for this kind of thing to happen. Experts knew that the dykes and retaining walls would not stand up to more than a category 3 storm and the citizens knew it as well, people just choose not to believe it would actually happen to them, which is natural in these circumstances, but not the best choices to make.  There may have been the most impoverished people in this country living in New Orleans, yet they should have had enough notice to get out and not choose to stay there.  It was the lack of people leaving the area that caused the police and National Guard to have to stay there to try to keep order when those effeorts could have been directed to other places.  There still has to be major decisions as to what the new New Orleans will be.  Is it going to be the city of almost a half a million or will it be a remnant of it's former self.  Until we know what we are rebuilding there can be no blaming the government because it isn't done.  Yes we had poor government response, but we also had poor cooperation from the citizens at the sametime.  The government will always bear the brunt of the blame for this, however it should be up to the citizens of New Orleans where we go from here and not the rest of the country.\n\nAs some things never change Mardi Gras is going on as usual, if you want to help the economy of their city this would be the time to go there and help their economy.
986576
How about doing a search on Hurricane Katrina.  the issues there were huge\n\ngood luck
610045
hello, i am from louisiana, 30 minutes south of new orleans. i am not exactly sure what the answer is. you are probably talking about the 9th ward (which is one of the hardest hit areas), it is not one of the best neighborhoods and that could be why they do not want to rebuild. i heard something about it becomming a rich neighborhood. but honestly who would want to rebuild there. the entire area is protected by a levee. the other area that was hard hit was chalmette, the entire parish flooded and the water was up to the roofs of the homes. i personally would not live in an area protected by a levee. also i am sure that most of the people in the 9th ward area can not afford to rebuild. the insurance companies aren't exactly being fair. i hope i helped you understand a little bit better, if not feel free to contact me.
286290
They were screwed before it happened, while it was happening, and now even the worst, after it happened. They say 3% of the people will receive aid; because 75% have already left the area. Their land is being repossessed as we speak; because they can't live there and pay for the mortgages that have lapsed. The land will be resold. FEMA sent out over 5000 letters last week to recover funds they say they paid out to fraudulent victims of the hurricane. They are charging the money back to the victims. You can find the Article at the New York Times, PBS FRONTLINE, and I am sure many others. The Republicans are glad the African Americans are gone from there, and they don't mind saying it openly.
584494
#1 The city of New Orleans was allocted the $$ years ago to fix the lEVEE's. Their corrupt goverment spent it elsewhere.\nThe mayor did a crappy job during Katrina. He should of had the city evacuated. He had plenty of notice. We all knew! The governor was too busy crying about it. Literally crying and then when all was said and done she blamed who else? The President of course. But as the mayor said it will be a chocolate city again! I wouldn't live there if you paid my rent and fed me!
37848
How could you possibly say no? Would your city be worth rebuilding? Political corruption? You think New Orleans is the only city that has run into a few issues? Dare we look into the corruption of our own cities? Or are we just lucky enough to have not been hit by a natural disaster so that we don't have our city plastered all over the media? \n\nFolks........forget what you see on the media. Please think of the people that live there. Forget how the media portrayed some of the people. Reactions during a disaster are not our common behaviors. Survival instincts kick in. \n\nYes.....it is MORE than worth rebuilding. And we should be coming together to do it...not righteously condemning a city which we all know is symbolic of much of America these days. \n\n*steps off soap box*
102294
yes, sadly, it did. and i feel your pain. my husband and i were having troubles before the storm. after the storm, the situation that was causing us problems didn't get any better, so 5 days after katrina hit, my husband left me. i should say that the on going arguement was about my daughter. she is involved in an interacial relationship and my husband is a biggot. he didn't want me to see my daughter after the storm. he had seen his family. he knew they were ok. i just wanted to see my daughter. she's 22. long story short. i packed up my 3 suits of clothes and hopped a plane for obx,nc. been here a little over 4 months now. new life. new job. new home. new friends. sure miss some of the old stuff. how bout you? if you need to talk to someone who knows what you're going through, you can email me at Clepine64@yahoo.com. i'll give you the details if you email. ok. good luck with whatever you decide to do with your life. i've tried to make this my new beginning. maybe you can too. keep the faith.