Beyond Katrina

Electricians Needed in NOLA

Common Ground Collective in New Orleans is calling for electricians to help with Katrina recovery:

One of our kids and community centers needs some major electrical work so that we can make it fully operational. We are looking for licensed electricians from any state to help. We are currently not serving the children of one community to the best of our abilities due to the electrical problems. If you can help please contact us by email at jameze@riseup.net

Cynicism in New Orleans

New Orleanians - and supporters - are coming across a bit cynical these days. Not that I blame these folks for the prevailing mood. What's happening  - or should I say not happening - in New Orleans is an abomination and an embarrassment to this nation - said on July 5th, the day after our  quintessential national, "national holiday".

Here is a post  that is indicative of the mood in NOLA from committed blogger Chris Martel of Metroblogging New Orleans - Martel is sounding a wee bit nastier these days, but heck the folks who are sticking it out in NOLA not only have a right but a responsibility to be angry. Ten months post-Katrina the devastation goes on for miles, the debris clean-up has hardly begun and folks are hurting financially, emotionally, and spiritually. Quite frankly, the conditions here are shocking. While the flood waters have receded the city of New Orleans is still drowning in its trauma and its sorrow. For another glance at the state of the union here in Louisiana, see this article from Reuters, Katrina shocks New Orleans visitors 10 months on

Okay, so I am asking the media to please NOT go away. Traffic has decreased significantly on this blog since June 1 - the start of the new hurricane season, but I don't give a damn. Oops, once again my southern sensibilities seem to be going out the window in face of my anger and my desire to take a stand.  Never mind, I've worked a long time to shed the persona of the polite southern belle. As long as I have one reader coming back to the blog, I'll practice in-your-face blogging. Continued awareness is what is needed - it's become my cause.

You see, the devastation  in New Orleans - and indeed the Gulf Coast -  isn't just about New Orleans. It's a lesson in the nature of disaster, itself. It's about how we the people - leaders and citizens, alike - embrace, respond, and rise to the occasion in the face of  significant crisis and disasters on our own soil - whether that disaster is a terrorist attack in New York, an earthquake in San Francisco,  or a flooded city in the deep south. 

Having said this, mostly what the folks in New Orleans, and along the Louisiana and Mississippi Gulf Coasts need right now  is simply to not be forgotten. I am therefore saying to journalists  if your readership has gone away, if there is less interest in Katrina recovery these days, then get them back. You have no idea how your trailblazing, passionate, committed, truth telling voices are so needed here and so appreciated by the folks impacted by this disaster. Write on!

Tour Buses Banned from Ninth Ward

Source: www.wafb.com

When the levee along the Industrial Canal broke during Katrina, it devastated the lower Ninth Ward of New Orleans. It's been more than four months since the storm, but there is still a massive amount of trash in the Ninth Ward area.

Because of that, the New Orleans City Council voted last Thursday to ban those paid bus tours through the lower Ninth Ward.

The council says buses and vans moving through the area would only complicate efforts to clean up and restore services there.

So far, the Gray Line Hurricane Katrina bus tour has been a big hit. Tickets for the initial run last week sold out, and the tour was so successful that Gray Line officials decided to add a second bus to the somewhat controversial tour.

The bus takes riders past the Superdome, the convention center and neighborhoods damaged by Hurricane Katrina. Adults ride for $35 and kids ride for $28. $3 of every ticket goes toward a Katrina-related charity.

Tourists Flock to See Katrina Damage

WWL-TV -- In a small corner of the world rocked by Hurricane Katrina, hundreds of people got to see the world differently now. They see it through a camera lens or a car window, up close for the first time.

In a city fighting to preserve one of its top industries, Lakeview has become a new destination for tourists in New Orleans. It seems to be a pilgrimage for many to go to the hardest hit areas. Some hope all the attention brings help.

"This is heart-wrenching is what it is; to actually see it for yourself in three dimensions,” said Morgan City resident Chris Price.

Read the Story

Unexplainable Katrina Watermelons Being Tested

Last week I posted that Watermelons are growing in areas devastated by Hurricane Katrina, and no one seems to be able to explain why. The story of the Katrina melons has now sparked the interest of some biologists, who are curious about just what might be inside.  Gary Ross is one biologist who made the trip to investigate the melons. Read the Story

A Poignant Blog

Tim, a "nameless" blogger from New Orleans posted some very kind comments here and at The Healing Journey Blog. He is the author of a very poignant blog which in my estimation totally captures the depth of feeling that encircles New Orleans right now. I have added Tim's feed to my blog roll (right sidebar) so that visitors here might also encounter Tim's blog.

Premature Twins Need Miracle at New Orleans Hospital

With Christmas just around the corner, it's time to turn our attention to those who are hoping for a Christmas miracle. A pair of twins are going into their first Christmas, but instead of being home, they are fighting for their lives in a New Orleans hospital.

David and Kim Ronquille tried to have children for four years. Whem Kim became pregnant in June, they thought their prayers were answered. But the babies came just 26 and a half weeks into her pregnancy. Now the two, Madison and Jacob, are fighting for their tiny lives.

"They're both in NICU with bleeds and lungs unable to breathe. They need blood and platelets every day," explained Kim Ronquille.

West Jefferson Hospital has been caring for the duo since they arrived November 26th. Between the two a blood transfusion has to be performed... daily. "They have to poke their little feet and get blood out of their foot to run the tests. Depending on how often they have to do that, because they are so small they don't hold a lot of blood, and if they have to do that two or three times a day, they have to transfuse."

The prognosis is not encouraging, but Kim is optimistic. She says the daily grind of almost constant ups and downs is wearing her down. "Some days are better, some days are worse. Some days they do good, some days they don't. One does better than the other. It's hard to be happy and sad at the same time. Worrying and being excited at the same time."

Kim says they won't be out of the woods until they hopefully get home in March. The Ronquilles are asking for any help they can get for the little ones.

Blood donations are especially important. If you want to make a blood donation, please go to a blood center near you. Also, a fund has been set up at Hibernia bank. Just ask for the Ronquille twins account.

Reporter:  Jim Shannon

Source: www.wafb.com

Study: Majority of Baton Rouge residents aided evacuees

During the first frantic weeks after Hurricane Katrina, it seemed just about everyone in Baton Rouge had evacuees staying in their homes.

Now a group of LSU sociology professors has put a number to it: 50 percent of East Baton Rouge Parish households have offered sanctuary to friends, family or complete strangers since the storm.

The group also found that 60 percent of East Baton Rouge residents reported doing volunteer work after Katrina, which struck Aug. 29. Most said they volunteered more than once, and most did so with faith-based organizations.

Those are some of the findings of surveys by LSU Professors Frederick Weil, Edward Shihadeh and Matthew Lee. About 1,300 people were surveyed between Sept. 27 and Nov. 29. CONTINUE

Donations to The Louisiana Disaster Recovery Foundation

The Louisiana Disaster Recovery Foundation has been established in order to help provide assistance to our citizens in need through a network of Louisiana charities, non-profit and governmental agencies, including clearinghouses like the Louisiana VOAD (Volunteer Organizations Active in Disaster). The Foundation is also designed to support long-term family restoration and recovery by focusing on education, housing, health care, legal assistance and jobs for Louisiana families whose lives have been altered by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

By postal mail, please make donations payable to Louisiana Disaster Recovery Foundation, Inc. and mail to:

Louisiana Disaster Recovery Foundation, Inc.
Fed. Tax ID No. 20-3399944
c/o Division of Administration
P.O. Box 94095
Baton Rouge, LA 70804-9095

If you care to make an online, electronic donation, please click here:

The Louisiana Disaster Recovery Foundation is now accepting donations. Please click the Make Donation button to donate now. Thanks for your contribution.

The Louisiana Disaster Recovery Foundation qualifies for nonprofit status and exemption under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, as approved by the IRS.

To make a donation by telephone please call:
877-HELP-LA-1
(877-435-7521).

Callers outside the U.S., please dial 678-813-4209

America's Wetland: Campaign to Save Coastal Louisiana

Dec 22, 2005
Petition drive begins to support La.'s push for oil and gas funds

Louisiana officials launched a petition drive Wednesday in their ongoing bid to persuade Congress to give coastal states more federal oil and gas money from offshore drilling. The state's share of those dollars would be an annual stream of cash used to help repair Louisiana's eroding coastline, which serves as a natural buffer to storm surge, and to beef up other types of protection against hurricanes. . . . MORE