Annoying Katrina interview

[lucas]

Thank you. I see your point, but floods everywhere wipe out businesses. Look at the California fires a couple of years ago. And I was in the Edmund, OK tornado in 1985, babysitting, and saw the devestation. I remember Xenia, OH being virtually wiped out by a tornado. Very little aid, and virtually no one cared. There is a little town in WV that was wiped out by a flood last year, also. They received next to nothing in terms of governmental aid, and none from the outside world.

So, yes, Katrina caused more extensive damage, but the whole nation came to the support of the people there. Children sent piggy bank money, the eldrely gave from their limited incomes, and the government has paid a vast fortune. So, I do believe, trauma or not, that gratitude is a good thing. If you make it thru a disaster with your family intact, and people are there to support you, you (generic you) are doing pretty damn well.

Yes, as I said in a previous post, my 80 year old uncle who lives in Slidell had his house and everything he owns blown away in Katrina. He is extremely grateful for any help he received and for the 1 room trailer that he is living in.

 

[Crankyshank]

I'm surprised no one has commented on the part of the OP about the lesson learned was not to save because that was the part that disturbed me the most because it sounds like why bother saving because I can milk the gov't and some kind hearted people.

If anything I have learned to keep some money set aside in case I need to evacuate and rebuild because you can't rely on the gov't and you can't rely on insurance.

 

[noodleknitter]

Yes, as I said in a previous post, my 80 year old uncle who lives in Slidell had his house and everything he owns blown away in Katrina. He is extremely grateful for any help he received and for the 1 room trailer that he is living in.

Slightly off topic, but do you think his gratitude is linked to his age? I'm not asking that well, but I know that people who have lived thru the depression, the dust bowl, wars, etc., seem to have a strong sense of being thankful for what they have, even if it is just a bit.

I hope that I didn't sound as though those that were affected by Katrina were less worthy than the other disasters I wrote about. It is just my opinion that trauma is trauma, and we have a choice in life as to how we deal with it. Life is just plain hard, a lot of the time.

Crankyshank, that concept is just plain scary. We keep cash on hand, as well as in savings, because we honestly don't know when/why it will be needed by us or someone we care for.

 

[Holly]

I'm surprised no one has commented on the part of the OP about the lesson learned was not to save because that was the part that disturbed me the most because it sounds like why bother saving because I can milk the gov't and some kind hearted people.

If anything I have learned to keep some money set aside in case I need to evacuate and rebuild because you can't rely on the gov't and you can't rely on insurance.

That is a good point, Jenn. The majority of Americans have little or no savings. I read an interesting article a while back called something like "One Paycheck away from the Dumpster", which focused on the fact that in the event of job loss, crisis, illness, etc., most people could only financially make it for a week.

It's not only the poor, this phenomenon is true for people who are earning 100,000 dollars and more per year.

Americans just don't save. We aren't encouraged to save. Which is why, had a hurricane of that magnitude hit a more financially affluent area, the outcome could have been similar.

By the way, I like your quote. I just read I and Thou and A Land of Two Peoples in the Spring.

 

[mickeyfan2]

I'm surprised no one has commented on the part of the OP about the lesson learned was not to save because that was the part that disturbed me the most because it sounds like why bother saving because I can milk the gov't and some kind hearted people.

If anything I have learned to keep some money set aside in case I need to evacuate and rebuild because you can't rely on the gov't and you can't rely on insurance.

I agree. I would be a massive saver if I lost everything.

 

[TigerKat]

I know this is a discussion forum where people express their opinions on many subjects. But I, personally am sick of the bickering. One year ago today, my family was on the road to Texas, with no idea of what was ahead of us. We could not return until October to a devastated city. I also lost my father due to Katrina.

I will be spending today and tomorrow, the anniversary of the most horrific day in my life, praying for the lives lost and praising God for saving the rest of us.

 

[lucas]

I know this is a discussion forum where people express their opinions on many subjects. But I, personally am sick of the bickering. One year ago today, my family was on the road to Texas, with no idea of what was ahead of us. We could not return until October to a devastated city. I also lost my father due to Katrina.

I will be spending today and tomorrow, the anniversary of the most horrific day in my life, praying for the lives lost and praising God for saving the rest of us.

My thoughts are with you and all the people of New Orleans. I am so sorry for all that you and your family have been through.

 

[mickeyfan2]

I also lost my father due to Katrina.

So sorry to hear about your loss of your father. May this year be far kinder to you than last year.

 

[Holly]

I know this is a discussion forum where people express their opinions on many subjects. But I, personally am sick of the bickering. One year ago today, my family was on the road to Texas, with no idea of what was ahead of us. We could not return until October to a devastated city. I also lost my father due to Katrina.

I will be spending today and tomorrow, the anniversary of the most horrific day in my life, praying for the lives lost and praising God for saving the rest of us.

I'm sorry, TigerKat.

 

[lucas]

Slightly off topic, but do you think his gratitude is linked to his age? I'm not asking that well, but I know that people who have lived thru the depression, the dust bowl, wars, etc., seem to have a strong sense of being thankful for what they have, even if it is just a bit.

I hope that I didn't sound as though those that were affected by Katrina were less worthy than the other disasters I wrote about. It is just my opinion that trauma is trauma, and we have a choice in life as to how we deal with it. Life is just plain hard, a lot of the time.

Crankyshank, that concept is just plain scary. We keep cash on hand, as well as in savings, because we honestly don't know when/why it will be needed by us or someone we care for.

It just breaks my heart for all that he has gone through. He is grateful for the help he received and I am grateful he is alive and has a trailer to live in.

 

[Marie17]

What a disgrace it is to see all the "whining" being done by those who gave money. I gave money and still do to this day - just yesterday I sent another $100 to help the charities on the Gulf Coast in Mississippi and Louisiana.

Some people in America need to wake up and realize some things. Just because the government has "sent money" doesn't mean it actually has been received by the ordinary individual. Block money in Louisiana is still in "red-tape". Insurance companies haven't paid out on every claim and most people are now realizing all the "exclusions" in the policy even WHEN you had total coverage for replacement including flood insurance. Replacement coverages were paid based on "prior to Katrina" rates for roof replacement whereas that cost has actually more than doubled since Katrina. The city of New Orleans is trying to get all the debris removed and the cars removed - except some problems have arisen - only so many people work for the city and some of their money still hasn't been "released and approved" for by the government. Some (approximately 30-40%) citizens have not COME back to the city. Deadlines have been set and afterwards the city would "legally" be able to go onto personal property to "gut" & "remove hazardous contents" afterwards. Guess what - lots of legal types are a little up in arms about the government taking over personal property. Threats of lawsuits against the city if the government takes over the property or sells it due to its "blightedness" are spoke of frequently. They have to have certain laws on the books to be able to do this and I believe they are biding their time until the guidelines for taking over a property kicks in. Notices have been posted all over the place regarding individuals rights and their deadline to have their personal property taken care and CLEANED UP.

The people that have come back are TRYING to get their houses cleaned up and have made tremendous improvements. The houses you see on TV in the next few days are those that do not have their occupants there. If anyone has ever done any home improvements on their house knows it is definitely not overnight or even within a couple weeks that you are back to normal. The houses in the New Orleans area (I think it is somewhere in the range of 60-80% of the houses had water in them) had to be basically gutted out completely (at least the first floor) down to the 2x4s and slab. Contractors can only do so much work and the competition to get one was hard at first and many are still waiting for someone to be able to "re-build" their house.

I would like to remind everyone that it was NOT just one class or race of people that was affected by Hurricane Katrina and its deluge of water (both in Mississippi (surge) and Louisiana(levees breaking). The neighborhood of Lakeview in New Orleans, LA was a very nice and somewhat affluent neighborhood - guess what it also had water up to the rooftops and people that had to get up in their attics to get rescued. The city of Biloxi, Gulfport & Pass Christian were devastated and the mansions on the coast are all in practical purposes - gone.

As for as those being interviewed stating they didn't want to save money in the future - I can sort of understand. Those that do have the savings for rebuilding are spending just about all of it on that process - even if you had coverage for flood and replacement on your homeowners. So many people that we know have spent everything they have just to get back to Louisiana and be back home. Insurances and "government" money don't always pay. I just love the headline I saw the other day regarding every Louisiana homeowner will be eligible to receive $150,000 for their property - YEAH. Except that they forgot to mention that if you have insurance on that property and they paid a claim it gets really murky. If you didn't have flood insurance - guess what it gets really murky and the best possible case would be 60% less based on proven assessment prior to Katrina (tax roles and assessed value). They forgot to mention that NO ONE has been able to receive that money to date - you can put a "reservation" in to pick-up the federal paperwork to receive it once the program is actually approved of and qualifies from HUD and is passed by Congress. YES, this is the same money that has been approved of already but like just about all money sent to Louisiana - it is quickly reported that it has been spent but hasn't really yet.

Well, off the soap box I guess. I am glad that I personally do not have to live my life there in Louisiana and Mississippi at this current time. I do however have more sympathy and companssion for all the people that choose to stay where their home is - all my family is on the Gulf Coast and I know that every one of them has been affected in some way. They are forever grateful for their lives and for all the compassion that has been bestowed upon them BUT they truly wish that sometimes a less biased report on the situation would be given.

 

[DisneyDotty]

The way I look at it is simple--when I give to a cause (whether it be hurricane relief or other charities), I'm only responsible for my attitude in giving. If my attitude is kind-hearted concern for others, then I don't worry a bit about the attitude of the recipient. That is for them to worry about. I would hate to become so jaded by the attitudes of a few that it kept me from giving generously the next time there is a need.

Amen!
This is exactly what I meant to say a few pages back. Cynicism is such a depressing way to live...

 

[Marie17]

As for those that scammed - they weren't just from New Orleans. They had prisoners getting money. They had Red Cross volunteers who also scammed some items too. If someone is looking to scam - they will find a way and LOTS of scammers come out after any disaster and will defraud the system or the residents that were affected by the disaster. Most people (I believe) play by the rules and do not take things when they do not need them.

Again, I only hope that people will remember we are talking about "people" and all people need to be treated with compassion and dignity.

 

[noodleknitter]

Marie17, those are some very good points. I think that one of the problems is that it "seems" that life is getting back to "normal" down there if you watch the news, etc. I was just with a friend who is from Louissiana (grew up there) who was talking with her sister today. Her sister was telling her about two elderly women who live in a less populated area, whose house was flooded, and car was flooded. Their furniture was ruined, and so they were sleeping on a pile of clothes on the floor. They had electricity, but no water. But they felt themselves lucky to have a home.

OTOH, for those who gave so much, and when it was difficult, I see why you feel offended, by greed and dishonesty and lack of gratitude. I don't think that it is a disgrace to feel brushed off by the people you worked so hard to help. Nor do I see it as "whining" to state your disatisfation for the way your money has been handled.

Most of life isn't black and white, and neither is this.

 

[Ms Marigny]

What a disgrace it is to see all the "whining" being done by those who gave money. I gave money and still do to this day - just yesterday I sent another $100 to help the charities on the Gulf Coast in Mississippi and Louisiana.

Some people in America need to wake up and realize some things. Just because the government has "sent money" doesn't mean it actually has been received by the ordinary individual. Block money in Louisiana is still in "red-tape". Insurance companies haven't paid out on every claim and most people are now realizing all the "exclusions" in the policy even WHEN you had total coverage for replacement including flood insurance. Replacement coverages were paid based on "prior to Katrina" rates for roof replacement whereas that cost has actually more than doubled since Katrina. The city of New Orleans is trying to get all the debris removed and the cars removed - except some problems have arisen - only so many people work for the city and some of their money still hasn't been "released and approved" for by the government. Some (approximately 30-40%) citizens have not COME back to the city. Deadlines have been set and afterwards the city would "legally" be able to go onto personal property to "gut" & "remove hazardous contents" afterwards. Guess what - lots of legal types are a little up in arms about the government taking over personal property. Threats of lawsuits against the city if the government takes over the property or sells it due to its "blightedness" are spoke of frequently. They have to have certain laws on the books to be able to do this and I believe they are biding their time until the guidelines for taking over a property kicks in. Notices have been posted all over the place regarding individuals rights and their deadline to have their personal property taken care and CLEANED UP.

The people that have come back are TRYING to get their houses cleaned up and have made tremendous improvements. The houses you see on TV in the next few days are those that do not have their occupants there. If anyone has ever done any home improvements on their house knows it is definitely not overnight or even within a couple weeks that you are back to normal. The houses in the New Orleans area (I think it is somewhere in the range of 60-80% of the houses had water in them) had to be basically gutted out completely (at least the first floor) down to the 2x4s and slab. Contractors can only do so much work and the competition to get one was hard at first and many are still waiting for someone to be able to "re-build" their house.

I would like to remind everyone that it was NOT just one class or race of people that was affected by Hurricane Katrina and its deluge of water (both in Mississippi (surge) and Louisiana(levees breaking). The neighborhood of Lakeview in New Orleans, LA was a very nice and somewhat affluent neighborhood - guess what it also had water up to the rooftops and people that had to get up in their attics to get rescued. The city of Biloxi, Gulfport & Pass Christian were devastated and the mansions on the coast are all in practical purposes - gone.

As for as those being interviewed stating they didn't want to save money in the future - I can sort of understand. Those that do have the savings for rebuilding are spending just about all of it on that process - even if you had coverage for flood and replacement on your homeowners. So many people that we know have spent everything they have just to get back to Louisiana and be back home. Insurances and "government" money don't always pay. I just love the headline I saw the other day regarding every Louisiana homeowner will be eligible to receive $150,000 for their property - YEAH. Except that they forgot to mention that if you have insurance on that property and they paid a claim it gets really murky. If you didn't have flood insurance - guess what it gets really murky and the best possible case would be 60% less based on proven assessment prior to Katrina (tax roles and assessed value). They forgot to mention that NO ONE has been able to receive that money to date - you can put a "reservation" in to pick-up the federal paperwork to receive it once the program is actually approved of and qualifies from HUD and is passed by Congress. YES, this is the same money that has been approved of already but like just about all money sent to Louisiana - it is quickly reported that it has been spent but hasn't really yet.

Well, off the soap box I guess. I am glad that I personally do not have to live my life there in Louisiana and Mississippi at this current time. I do however have more sympathy and companssion for all the people that choose to stay where their home is - all my family is on the Gulf Coast and I know that every one of them has been affected in some way. They are forever grateful for their lives and for all the compassion that has been bestowed upon them BUT they truly wish that sometimes a less biased report on the situation would be given.

Thank you so much for typing this- I couldn't have said it any better myself. I am going through much of what you mentioned here (savings all gone to pay difference for what insurance actually paid for, enormous cost of temporary housing, etc.) It has cost us a fortune to rebuild and move back here. But I am utterly thankful to those who did make it possible through their generosity. The media just doesn't portray things as they really are.

 

[DaisyD]

OTOH, for those who gave so much, and when it was difficult, I see why you feel offended, by greed and dishonesty and lack of gratitude. I don't think that it is a disgrace to feel brushed off by the people you worked so hard to help. Nor do I see it as "whining" to state your disatisfation for the way your money has been handled.

Most of life isn't black and white, and neither is this.

ITA! We have already donated thousands of dollars to the victims of Katrina and plan on continuing the giving. I don't have a problem with it as I know, by actually meeting many of them, that all are not like the ingrates interviewed. I can still state my dissatisfaction about all the "whining" going on by certain people who think the world is owed to them. I don't know how some people are raised but I was taught to count on only myself and certainly not look for government handouts. Some of those I've seen interviewed are only looking for everything they can get and it is just plain sad. They aren't going to save anymore? What a crock! I would be saving every penny I have so that I can take care of myself! I can't believe my ears when I hear all the complaining certain folks are doing. Unfortunately the TV focuses on the fools and ignores the good people out there making a real living and getting their lives back together. I truly wish there was a way to make sure that those people never get a penny of the money I donate but since that is impossible I will just have to pray it goes in the right hands.

 

[ilovejack02]

Lets see you've lost everything are in a strange city and now they are separating your family. I don't think I'd be thrilled.

I can understand the sentiment of why have anything too. They lost everything and many aren't back in their homes yet. What good did those material things do them? Many of them probably had no bank accounts etc, not uncommon in lower economic areas. It's a different life than we can understand and I'd rather say thank you for what I have then judge them for what they don't.

Many i can tell you for sure didnt have bank accounts. Its very hard to explain how SOME (alot...) but NOT ALL people in N.O. lived. It was a city with a huge poverty problem. In many cases some of the folks have lived off the system for generation after generation... LOTS of them think they are entitled to have things handed to them because that is how it has been forever. It is hard for people outside of Louisiana to understand it , heck i live here and dont understand it , but i guess I just accept it because I am used to it. What I can tell you is there are lots and lots of wonderful people out there who are very grateful for what help they have been given. I made friends with some wonderful people that i now consider to be my family.
The problems that N.O. has with some of their population has been created by the Louisiana and New Orleans itself. The education system was HORIBLE (prob the worst in the country) and the handouts were plenty. What is nice about N.O. is the history, the food, the culture and the sense of family. I hope that it is going to come back a newer and better New Orleans.. but that some of the things that only New Orleans had remain the same.

LOL did that make any sense at all..

 

[Tiggeroo]

I hope that it is going to come back a newer and better New Orleans.. but that some of the things that only New Orleans had remain the same.

LOL did that make any sense at all..

again I don't want a thanks or shows of gratitude. That would be ridiculous. The best way to thank those who gave is to bring your town back to life. I grew up in a family where several branches had been on gov't assistance for a long time. In all of these branches children from this generation have worked hard to pull out of this life. They are the generation who in three more generations it will be clear they have born the hardest load. But their grandchildren will thank them for it. I suppose this is what made me more sensitive to the things I was hearing.

 

[ssleblanc]

Peope from the 9th Ward weren't the only ones wasting money.

A DISer posted that FEMA helped her family. If I'm not mistaken, they were given money as well as foodstamps. They then took a trip to WDW.

Since they had APs and had been planning the trip before the Katrina, they "needed" the trip.

(I am not trying to single out one particular post or poster - but this one kind of summarized some of the things I thought I as I read through this thread).

Yes, there were some people who wasted some (or even all) of the money that was given to them. I was personally affected and most of the people I know come from New Orleans (since I do too). I do not know one person who abused the help, and I know TONS who didn't accept any.

I have homeowner's insurance and flood insurance. My house was flooded. My homeowner's policy that covers "living expenses" for displacement does not cover displacement caused by damage they don't cover (such as flood insurance). The flood insurance policies are written by FEMA and have NO provisions for "displacement" (place to live while the insuranced house can't be lived in). If your house burns down, your insurance company pays a hotel and even some food costs (since eating out is more expensive than cooking and most hotels have no kitchen for cooking). If your house floods, the flood insurance does not cover this - and there is no provision to add it (it isn't just a part of the insurance you opt out of, it just doesn't exist). The policy SPECIFICALLY states to apply for assistance from FEMA. And because most of my house damage (the tree on my roof wasn't enough damage to make the displacement assistance from the homeowner's insurance apply) was flood, I have to accept assistance from FEMA. Mine is in the form of a 25' trailer in my front yard, a 2' x 1' cabinet to store our food and plates/etc in, a tiny little kitchen with no working oven. It is a very hard life right now for a family of 4. But I'm greatful that I have a place for my kids to sit and do homework, and for us to eat a meal together as a family.

As for the WDW trip - I too considered doing the same thing. Though I had my own money, and my insurance company sent me a small check to cover hotel expenses for the first week (after that they covered nothing). Thanks a lot, that was nice, but I would have to drive 2 states over to find an open hotel room. There was not an open hotel room in Louisiana, the eastern 1/2 of Texas, the lower 1/2 of Arkansas, all of Mississippi for weeks afterwards. So, would it have been so bad to take that offered hotel money and go to Disney with it? If I can't be home (we were not allowed back into our parish - which is like a county - except to go in and view our house and leave by 6 pm - until about 3 weeks after the storm), and if I have to be in a hotel eating in restaurants, why not have that hotel and those restaurants be in WDW, the happiest place on earth? Because I can tell you, I lived in hell for weeks.

I watched 24 hours a day (sleeping in front of the tv), afraid for what our life would become. Afraid of what would happen and what we would have to go back home to. Afraid of who I knew that couldn't leave and may have been in that nearly 3,000 that were dead (at the time they were telling us that as many as 10,000 could be dead). It was scary. And my kids were scared.

Had I not been given a pass to get back in and get back to work when I did, we were starting to plan a trip to WDW. We didn't go. And if we had, it would have been with our money. But at the same time, we had been given money. It helped - I had to dip into my savings less. We had to buy ourselves and our kids a whole new wardrobe.

I am lucky, I know that. I had 2 cars to evacuate in, I had a friend that took us in (though we couldn't stay because there was just not near enough room for all of us - so that sent us out looking for another place to stay). I had savings, my husband and I are both well educated and had good jobs. His job is STILL up in the air - he teaches at a local college, but without students returning, the need for teachers is in question. For now, we are still making it. But our lives were altered forever. We still cry at least 3 or 4 times a week together.

Personally, since I lived through this nightmare, and I don't begrudge anyone for chosing to use their hotel assistance money to stay in an Orlando hotel instead of one in the middle of nowhere.

We watched the HBO/Spike Lee special last week and I highly recommend that anyone who can watch, do so. There were parts I don't agree with, but on a whole, it was very well done. It shows perspective from all walks of life. I think it is a shame that so many other parts of the country are seeing the "bad" and not nearly enough of how this storm affected people from ALL walks of life. I have friends who make a LOT of money, had BEAUTIFUL homes that were completely destroyed (8 to 10 feet of water), and suffered just as much.

I also think that the few bad stories that have gone out there (there were some cases of fraud, but in comparison to the number of people that were helped, it was under 2%). But everyone hears about the 2% of the people who abused it. I am afraid of what that does to us as a country. If you help a community, and hear reports of fraud, why would you want to ever hurt a community in need again? I sure wouldn't. But because I know that it was only a VERY small percentage of the people who were helped that did things like that - I would not want to "punish" the remaining 98% of the community. Punish those few, but keep in mind that there is a huge population of people who are eternally grateful for the help. (I'm one of those).

 

[ilovejack02]

again I don't want a thanks or shows of gratitude. That would be ridiculous. The best way to thank those who gave is to bring your town back to life. I grew up in a family where several branches had been on gov't assistance for a long time. In all of these branches children from this generation have worked hard to pull out of this life. They are the generation who in three more generations it will be clear they have born the hardest load. But their grandchildren will thank them for it. I suppose this is what made me more sensitive to the things I was hearing.

I know you dont and I didnt expect a big slap on the back either. I of course dont mean to say that everyone on govt. assistance stays on it forever even in N.O.... but for some people there it is a way of life and it will stay that way if they can help it. I think when some of these folks rescued and displaced around the country their behavior and attitudes shocked us. BUT they have been through a trama most of us will never understand and that does explain some of their behavior and then they way they have been treated by the Louisiana govt explains the other half. New Orleans is a completely different city.. and their way of life was alot different than the rest of the country. I also think the media enjoys finding people to interview that will shock us.