Posted by Mark Silva at 10:23 am CDT
The first anniversary of Hurricane Katrina has come and gone, but survivors of the storm aren’t planning to let Washington forget them for another year.
“Women of the Storm’’ - more than 100 women whose families, businesses and lives were changed by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, plan to hoist “blue-tarp umbrellas’’ in Washington on Wednesday - as the first anniversary of Rita nears. The blue-tarps represent the roofs still covered with temporary protection along a coast still recovering a year later.
These survivors are keeping count of the senators and members of Congress who have visited the coast since the storms - and those who have not. Nearly half the Senate - 45 senators - and most of the House - 329 members still have not yet seen “first-hand the challenges posed by one of the worst disasters ever to strike American soil,’’ the group notes.
They have an agenda for Congress to consider, however, as the costs for building the levees around New Orleans and other needs exceed what the government already has committed to the recovery (more than $100 billion) : Sharing some of the revenue that the federal government collects from oil and gas production off the Gulf coast - an estimated $7.5 billion a year, most of that coming from Louisiana’s waters. The state receives none of that.
Sens. Mary Landrieu, (D-La.) and David Vitter (R-La.) plan a news conference with members of the House delegation outside the Capitol on Wednesday and then dispatches teams of storm survivors to visit members of Congress in their offices.
This is not the first time that Women of the Storm have “stormed’’ the Capitol, as they like to put it. That was Jan. 30. And it won’t be the last time.
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Comments
The cost of Katrina would have been a lot less if the administration had heeded the report put out in early 2001 by FEMA that said there were three disasters likely to hit the US. 1..a terrorist attack on American soil.
2..A flood in New Orleans. 3...A quake in the Bay area.
Even after the first prediction came true...they ignored this report. Thats negligence in my mind.
Posted by: bill r. | September 18, 2006 10:32 AM
The people of New Orleans need what our Government promised them.Or maybe they will go like J Dennis Hastert want no one left because it will not be rebuilt
Posted by: Dale Peters | September 18, 2006 11:02 AM
Let's see--"women of the storm" want all Senators and House members to "visit" Louisiana. These "visits" will be paid for by the taxpayer, and thus drain the money that can be used to help rebuild New Orleans.
If you can see any logic in all this, you should apply for the job of Tribune reporter.
Posted by: Bruce | September 18, 2006 11:33 AM
Bruce...First off...any visit to New Orleans would generate income to New Orleans during their visit. I believe they feel its kinda hard to see the full scope of the disaster from...oh say Alaska. I didn't hear you mention the cost of Bush flying all over to get out the word how people of religion understand his war on terrorism.
Posted by: bill r. | September 18, 2006 11:51 AM
Ahh Bruce, you can always find a way to attack the messenger. Don't you have any other comments or are you waiting for the RNC talking points?
Posted by: Janet | September 18, 2006 12:20 PM
Bruce,
If we weren't in Iraq,fighting Dubya's,and the Neo-Cons phoney war,we would easily have the money to cover the cost of reconstruction of the Gulf Coast,secure our ports system,and put more man power on our borders.
The Mayor of New Orleans is an idiot,and if you combine him with another idiot (George W. Bush,it's easy to see why things are not getting done in New Orleans.
Bruce, as a Republican,are you more moderate,or are you one of the hard core Neo-Cons,who want to bomb other countries who don't believe as we do into oblivion,and to torture prisoners, because they themselves have never served our country,and their children will not have to serve our country,so therefore these wars won't have any effect on them ??????
From your posts,I tend to believe that you are a Neo-Con,just like the others on here....CHICKENHAWKS.....
Posted by: John E. | September 18, 2006 12:27 PM
Ok, so we fix New Orleans. Then another hurricane comes and floods the city again. As long as it is a coastal city, UNDER sea level, it will need to be rebuilt. I think it is time to look at some longer term solutions to PREVENT future floods, not continually rebuilding.
Posted by: Rob S | September 18, 2006 2:43 PM
If Mark Silva reports on a supposedly nonpartisan group, chances are that group has Democrat Party connections. What Mark Silva didn't report about "women of the storm"--the group's founder, Anne Milling, was a big-bucks John Kerry donor; the group's listed spokesperson (per its website), Kip Patrick, works for the PR company of LA's Democrat Lt. Governor, Mitch Landrieu; and that one of the group's prominent leaders is Verna Landrieu, the mother of Dem Senator Mary Landrieu.
Funny how the article doesn't mention these "Inconvenient Truths", truths which, since the group is lobbying for federal money, should be dislcosed to Tribune readers.
Posted by: Bruce | September 18, 2006 2:46 PM
As far as New Orleans being below sea level and not being rebuilt, let's see how people feel the next time tornadoes knock down some midwestern city. You live in the path of tornadoes, so you take the risk, right?
What needs to happen is rebuilding and better protection. As the local saying goes, "We need 5 to survive." The levees need to withstand catagory five hurricanes to be useful. Otherwise, it will be rebuild after another major storm.
It's a beautiful city (and my native town). Let's not let it die because of gross negligence.
Posted by: B. Thomas | September 18, 2006 3:05 PM
Bruce...your right...we must have atleast 30 yrs history on everyone who they mention in the article...as well as what is their favorite food, political affiliation, dress or pants size, and were they loved as a child. Funny but I don't remember the whitehouse telling us ole rocky was a past cndidate ..did you?
Posted by: bill r. | September 18, 2006 3:09 PM
B. Thomas,
Yes, we live in torando alley. My inlaws lost 1/2 of their property to the storm that hit Springfield in March. Cities in the mid-west work toward building more storm resistent buildings.
My point is the same one you made. As long as nothing is done, New Orleans will be rebuilding itself throughout history. If it is level 5 levees you need, then build them. What will the cost to build them compare to the damage New Orleans has suffered in its history.
Posted by: Rob S | September 18, 2006 3:12 PM
Bruce,
That damn evil liberal media,will they ever stop reporting on FEMA's Republican leadership...failure,George W.Bush,and the neo-con Republicans phoney pre-Iraq war intelligence.....failure....George W.Bush,and the neo-con Republicans "stay the course" plan for Iraq stability......failure.......???? I could go on,and on Bruce,but if you're looking for "good news" from George W. Bush,and the neo-con Republicans you'll just have to push yourself away from the computer,and turn on Fox News,....there you will find 24/7 Republican cheerleading,and maybe even some personal appearances from the "Yale Cheerleader" himself.
Posted by: John E. | September 18, 2006 3:25 PM