Progress still slow in New Orleans
06/04/2008 16:39
Progress still slow in New Orleans
Posted By BY CECILIA NASMITH
http://www.northumberlandtoday.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1057222
Long-term devastating effects from Hurricane Katrina are still being felt in the southern United States, even as we approach its third anniversary, Northumberland Habitat For Humanity executive director Cathy Lyons said.
Interviewed following her return from the fourth build in Katrinaaffected areas in which Northumberland volunteers have participated, Ms. Lyons said progress in Mississippi is continuing steadily. As for progress in New Orleans, that's another story.
Ms. Lyons and local volunteers first went to the New Orleans area in April 2006, and again in December that year. A build in Biloxi, Mississippi, took place in October 2007, and Ms. Lyons has just returned from the 25th annual Carter Work Project -- the yearly project in which Habitat's most prominent volunteers and supporters, former presidential couple Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter, will be participating.
Formerly known as the Jimmy Carter Project, Ms. Lyons said, it has been renamed the Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter Project -- or, as it is more commonly known, the Carter Work Project -- to honour the former first lady's participation and support every step of the way. It's a move of which Ms. Lyons highly approves.
This year, the Carter Project took place along the Gulf Coast between Houston, Texas, and Gulfport, Mississippi. Team Canada was in Louisiana, with 45 members from across the country.
As they drove around, they found that certain areas (including parts of Slidell) still have no electricity or phone service. However, asked how progress is coming in New Orleans, Ms. Lyons is not as pessimistic as she once was. Even since she was down last fall, she is seeing more activity and efforts -- especially in St. Bernard Parish.
The man now in charge of recovery efforts there is a former Marine who asked for that assignment. He says that the state's Democratic senator had some pull when it came to naming a new head of the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA). He agreed to the Republican nominee in exchange for significant advancements in aid.
Ms. Lyons also speculates that efforts were made to put on a good face in anticipation of the Carter Project.
"We were working on two houses, and the homeowners were out every day working for us. We even saw Michael Harris," she said.
Mr. Harris was the musician for whom Northumberland volunteers were erecting a home in Musician's Village in December 2006. He happened upon them at work and personally thanked all of them -- before going up on the porch to offer an additional heart-felt thanks.
"The first night we arrived, they had arranged a picnic dinner. There was a gospel choir in the bandshell and there, playing bass, was our Mike Harris," Ms. Lyons said.
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Mr. Harris is still grateful for the work of the Canadian volunteers and was glad to speak with members of Team Canada.
"He said, 'It still is remarkable to me that I can say, 'I'm going home'," she reported.
Overall, the west end of the city is in reasonable shape, though the east end was more badly damaged and still needs help.
Of the pre-Katrina population of 454,863, at least one-third are still displaced, she learned. Almost 6,000 FEMA trailers remain for emergency housing, and Mayor Ray Nagin is thinking of legislating them out of existence by the time Katrina's third anniversary rolls around on August 29.
As much as the emergency housing is still needed, the trailers are far from a desirable solution. Improper fitting on their mountings has resulted in leakage and mould problems in some. There is also the concern presented by the formaldehyde used in their construction. As more people
are forced out of these trailers, the tent city
under the I-10 highway continues to grow.
Even for those less pressed by money worries, rental accommodation is scarce, and
contractors are too busy for ready
availability.
And in relatively better-off Mississippi, longer-term effects are coming to light. Ms. Lyons spoke with one person whose insurance premiums rose to $6,000 a year from $1,200. And the loss of high-assessment beachfront homes means those homes left to carry the tax burden are getting hit harder in order to make it up.
"I still look at things and think, 'It's not moving fast enough.' It's still volunteers, churches and not-for-profits doing the work," she said.
Ms. Lyons maintained a diplomatic, friendly demeanour while on the job but, out of earshot, she found herself using one word that sums up the post- Katrina situation almost three years on: atrocity.
- - -
I still look at things and think, 'It's not moving fast enough'. It's still volunteers, churches and not-for-profits doing the work.
Article ID# 1057222
Posted By BY CECILIA NASMITH
http://www.northumberlandtoday.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1057222
Long-term devastating effects from Hurricane Katrina are still being felt in the southern United States, even as we approach its third anniversary, Northumberland Habitat For Humanity executive director Cathy Lyons said.
Interviewed following her return from the fourth build in Katrinaaffected areas in which Northumberland volunteers have participated, Ms. Lyons said progress in Mississippi is continuing steadily. As for progress in New Orleans, that's another story.
Ms. Lyons and local volunteers first went to the New Orleans area in April 2006, and again in December that year. A build in Biloxi, Mississippi, took place in October 2007, and Ms. Lyons has just returned from the 25th annual Carter Work Project -- the yearly project in which Habitat's most prominent volunteers and supporters, former presidential couple Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter, will be participating.
Formerly known as the Jimmy Carter Project, Ms. Lyons said, it has been renamed the Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter Project -- or, as it is more commonly known, the Carter Work Project -- to honour the former first lady's participation and support every step of the way. It's a move of which Ms. Lyons highly approves.
This year, the Carter Project took place along the Gulf Coast between Houston, Texas, and Gulfport, Mississippi. Team Canada was in Louisiana, with 45 members from across the country.
As they drove around, they found that certain areas (including parts of Slidell) still have no electricity or phone service. However, asked how progress is coming in New Orleans, Ms. Lyons is not as pessimistic as she once was. Even since she was down last fall, she is seeing more activity and efforts -- especially in St. Bernard Parish.
The man now in charge of recovery efforts there is a former Marine who asked for that assignment. He says that the state's Democratic senator had some pull when it came to naming a new head of the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA). He agreed to the Republican nominee in exchange for significant advancements in aid.
Ms. Lyons also speculates that efforts were made to put on a good face in anticipation of the Carter Project.
"We were working on two houses, and the homeowners were out every day working for us. We even saw Michael Harris," she said.
Mr. Harris was the musician for whom Northumberland volunteers were erecting a home in Musician's Village in December 2006. He happened upon them at work and personally thanked all of them -- before going up on the porch to offer an additional heart-felt thanks.
"The first night we arrived, they had arranged a picnic dinner. There was a gospel choir in the bandshell and there, playing bass, was our Mike Harris," Ms. Lyons said.
Advertisement
Mr. Harris is still grateful for the work of the Canadian volunteers and was glad to speak with members of Team Canada.
"He said, 'It still is remarkable to me that I can say, 'I'm going home'," she reported.
Overall, the west end of the city is in reasonable shape, though the east end was more badly damaged and still needs help.
Of the pre-Katrina population of 454,863, at least one-third are still displaced, she learned. Almost 6,000 FEMA trailers remain for emergency housing, and Mayor Ray Nagin is thinking of legislating them out of existence by the time Katrina's third anniversary rolls around on August 29.
As much as the emergency housing is still needed, the trailers are far from a desirable solution. Improper fitting on their mountings has resulted in leakage and mould problems in some. There is also the concern presented by the formaldehyde used in their construction. As more people
are forced out of these trailers, the tent city
under the I-10 highway continues to grow.
Even for those less pressed by money worries, rental accommodation is scarce, and
contractors are too busy for ready
availability.
And in relatively better-off Mississippi, longer-term effects are coming to light. Ms. Lyons spoke with one person whose insurance premiums rose to $6,000 a year from $1,200. And the loss of high-assessment beachfront homes means those homes left to carry the tax burden are getting hit harder in order to make it up.
"I still look at things and think, 'It's not moving fast enough.' It's still volunteers, churches and not-for-profits doing the work," she said.
Ms. Lyons maintained a diplomatic, friendly demeanour while on the job but, out of earshot, she found herself using one word that sums up the post- Katrina situation almost three years on: atrocity.
- - -
I still look at things and think, 'It's not moving fast enough'. It's still volunteers, churches and not-for-profits doing the work.
Article ID# 1057222