What will they do?

[Feralpeg]

While watching the damage coverage after Katrina, I was just overwhelmed. This is so unlike any disaster we've faced in the past. Yes, the damage from Andrew was horrible, but at least the entire city wasn't under water. How many families are going to be able to survive until the places where they work are back up and running? How many businesses will go under? So sad.

I started thinking about what happened after the depression. Maybe the government will need to step in with refugee camps for the displaced families to live. Perhaps they could hire those able to work to start cleanup and rebuilding of the cities so that they will be able to rebuild their lives. I wonder how many people will just move on and never go back to New Orleans or Biloxi.

They say so many have no insurance at all. How will the government be able to just hand out money to these people? I hate to sound harsh, but it sounds like a situation that will draw every lowlife in the country to get a free handout.

I heard last night that, when Katrina made landfall and for awhile after, it had winds equivalent to an F3 tornado only it was 25 miles wide an moved at a very slow speed. It is a wonder anything is still standing.

My heart goes out to all of the people affected by Katrina.

 

[RitaZ.]

Yes, it's overwhelming. I don't know what they are going to do.

 

[Alicnwondrln]

there was something on the news about this earlier
so many without insurance
how will they rebuild there lives?
how who pay for it ?
will the gov have to move them outta state to find jobs and places to live
it is very scary for everyone
as it will probably effect all of us

 

[NMAmy]

I've been wondering the same things, feralpeg, as I've watched the pictures of the devastation. I have a co-worker whose son lives in New Orleans and just bought a house last fall. He knows he's safe (he's staying with his brother in Kentucky) but he's so worried because he's pretty sure his son didn't have flood insurance.

My heart goes out to all those whose lives have been torn apart.

 

[Talking Hands]

I have to agree with you that Katrina was mpre detructive than Andrew. While Andrew had higher winds when it made landfall it was a far smaller and drier storm. The area of destruction was tighter and it didn't hit the entire of Dade County but only the very southern protion. There was little flooding with Andrew except right on the shore. It will take years for the people affected by Katrina to rebuild their lives and many of them will move to other areas as will businesses headquarter in NOLA and Biloxi. The economic toll will be huge. That said, the insured losses may be less than Andrew because flooding is not covered by independent insurance companies but by the federal government and much of the damage is due to flooding.

 

[rascalmom]

I've been wondering the same thing! So much of the community infrastructure is gone or severely damaged: roads, schools, utilities, hospitals. Just being able to get food, water & medication into the survivors is going to be a terrific challange. They are talking now about how they are going to have to start figuring out how to evacuate the Superdome.

I think I would be tempted to just walk away & try to start over somewhere else. The water is still rising - at least with the Tsunami, after the initial devastastion they were able to start clearing & working to rebuild. NO is going have to be drained first. So sad!

 

[safetymom]

I agree this disaster is terrible. It is a shame how many lives were torn apart. I am sure we are going to see the best of some people and it will bring out the worst in a lot of others.

 

[minnie61650]

I agree this disaster is terrible. It is a shame how many lives were torn apart. I am sure we are going to see the best of some people and it will bring out the worst in a lot of others.

ITA with safetymom.
The best in people is what I aways hope for.
Unfortuating I already heard reports of people looting.
Ever since I was child and was told the the story of the little boy in Holland who put his finger in the dike to keep it from giving way I feared for New Orleans.
This is such tragedy. I have no idea how they will ever rebuild that city or long it will take.
My heart pours out to all those families and their loved ones.
Linda