Hurricane Katrina: One Year Later
It was exactly one year ago that Katrina made landfall as a cateogy 3 hurricane off the coast of New Orleans. The economic and environment damage caused by the hurricane was equally matched by the human tragedy. Especially so, because it evoked responses of almost being in a third world country. The United States had never exepected the extent of damage that Katrina brought in its wake. Government ineptness and gross incompetence made a mockery of many federal agencies especially FEMA due to their lackadisical attitude toward relief and rehabilitation.
The uncovering of racial inequity was a social disaster waiting to happen. Experts opine that this is the case with most of American cities and was only bared in New Orleans due to the storm. Poor people mostly African American could not get out of the city in spite of evacuation orders because of lack of transportation options. Hence the casualties were mostly in that demographic group. Also, they happened to live in the sections of the city that were low-lying and more prone to flooding. The New Orleans disaster was a stark reminder of the social inequities and environmental injustices perpetrated over the years. Probably, it was a timely reminder albeit at the cost of many lives.
The rehabilitation effort hasn’t been exactly commendable as plenty of doubts still persist starting from whether they should rebuild New Orleans at all. But as time passed, the inevitability of rebuilding was gradually accepted only to be replaced by priority of rebuilding including options such as use of sustainable means or exploring alternative funding means. I visited New Orleans just before the storm hit and went back after six months. The battered houses in the lower Ninth Ward still tell the tale of destruction.
A year later, we are in the middle of yet another hurricane season. Hurricane Ernesto just veered off the battered coast of Louisiane only to head toward Florida. But they will be more. The question is, can New Orleans withstand yet another crippling hurricane as it still grapples with recovering from the one that hit an year ago. The city might be recovering as the before-n-after photo essays suggest but the scars still remain in the memories of people; some of whom may never return.
