After, over a year, most people don't realize that the effects of Katrina are still being felt everyday by the majority of the people living in Slidell, Louisiana, where the eye of the storm struck directly. Only 40% of homes have been repaired or rebuilt. One reason is that most people didn't have flood insurance, so the homeowners policy only covered what ever damage came from above the roof. And as we know all were flooded.
We drove down several streets and most are still living in FEMA trailers in their front yards of what is left of their homes. There is some rebuilding going on, and others have just abandoned their homes and moved elsewhere. As we drove along we saw cars buried under houses, boats along the road , having been thrown from heavens know where. The garage doors on many homes still bear the markings of when the authorities search for bodies and people needing help. What they did was mark the front of the house or garage door with a big X. On the top of the x, they would write their search team number, such as, say 19, and below they would write the number of bodies found. Some of this is still visible, a daily reminder of Katrina's devastation.
Another thing we could not help but notice was the flying of American flags on these storm wreck homes, same having no walls, but a pole stuck in the ground, with the flag waving proudly. A resilient group of people full of hope and courage. I salute them and am humbled by their strong attitudes.
11 comments:
I too salute hem yheir courage is to be admired.,.,.,.,Jan xx
OMG I didnt realize there was still so much damage left untouched. We will be in New Orleans this weekend for the first time after Katrina. I am anxious about how different things will be. Thanks for posting these pictures and reminding us what they are still going through......WOW!!
hugs
Carrie
A friend of mine from work just got back from visiting there. He said it still had lots of damage, but the French Quarter was still intact. It will take them many years to truly rebuild...they will never fully recover.
Greg
http://journals.aol.com/radar446/PhotoTrek/
It's so sad... all the money donated to hurricane relief, and where did it go? It wouldn't cost that much to tear down a damaged house and replace it with a pre-fab. Fabricated homes look great and go up fast. Plus they cost a ton less than stick built.
Oh Dawn, it is so sad to see people's homes in such a state. A year on, and these people are still suffering. America is such a wealthy country. The government should have done more to help people sooner. These pictures are a sad reminder of the devastation that Nature can leave in her wake.
Kate.
http://journals.aol.co.uk/bobandkate/AnAnalysisofLife/
That is saddening and shocking. Here we are 13 months down the line, and very little (by comparison) has been done. Is this the USA, 2006?
A year on and it still looks so bad.It made me feel sad to think of the poor people trying to live in these conditions. We here in Scotland are always complaining about our weather we have little to complain about. LOve Joan.
Wow! Those pictures broke my heart. I can't believe that it still looks like that there. If extreme makeover can knock down and build a house is 36 hours, I think this should all have been pretty much taken care of by now. I know it has to do with insurance though and that is the sad part. People pay hundreds into their insurance for years and get nothing because of a stupid clause i the policy. I know it happend to me. Take care and Happy travels!!!
I have to confess I had no idea it was still in that state. I'm curious, did you speak with any of them, and, if so, did they express resentment toward the rest of the country for "abandoning" them?
Fred
Just dropping in.
--Granny Mary
Yep still pretty bad down there and they are still finding dead bodies. It's a shame.
Hugs,
Chelle
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