Cans of filtered drinking water given out by the National Guard, Slidell, La
I've been trapped here in NYC now for too long. I've been torn, trying to raise money by working nonstop, to make up for the almost two months of work I lost after Katrina hit and I started this project, the save-my-family project. But I really just want to be back in the Gulf, documenting what's happening right now, in the alternate universe, in the K-Hole. Every dollar I make here flows back there. Every laugh here makes me feel slightly guilty. I'm not torturing myself. I just have trouble enjoying myself when there's so much unfinished business. I know, it's not very New Orleans of me. I need to get in touch with that part of me again, the harder things get, the harder I should laugh.
Some very good news that might help: the FEMAman my mom met with over Thanksgiving really came through on his promise to help her out, and she received some aid, after all. Not the rebuilding grant, but a disbursement for the ruined contents of her home. I'm very pleased and greatly relieved to announce that we were finally able to locate a FEMAman who could actually deliver some relief, and, thankfully, pigs did not fly out of my ass as I had predicted.
8 comments:
I am happy to hear your family has gotten something out of FEMA. I think your blog has helped in more ways than you know. My family in Mississippi are still waiting to hear from FEMA. I also feel the guilt as you, that I should be there helping however I have a school age daughter here in Texas. To all of those who think the Gulf Coast is doing OK, go there, look around and see the people living in tents with ther blue roofs because the tents leak. Where is the local grocery store, how far do the smaller towns have to go to get mail. Where is the phone service, and other utilities. Yes, there are jobs there, not enough time on in the days off to meet basic living conditions much less stand in line for building supplies and getting the work done. THE Gulf Coast residents are in need of help of all kinds. The elderly are in most cases in worst shape of all. THey are to old to work, and contractors are ripping them off. What choice do they have?
This is where you have to start making the calls and letters to congress - price gouging is a crime - and these no bid contracts are still there, even if FEMA said they aren't.
WL - have someone you know there start handing out form letters to be sent to their original and current gov't reps - with a stamped envelope if you can afford it. That'll get their attention, but with so few being able to stand up for themselves - someone needs to invest $50 in paper, envelopes, stamps and a couple hours time to get this started.
I'm as invested in this as I can manage. I don't make $700/mo on disability and it's all going toward the Hancock County effort - as is my time. I'll help anyone who wants to get started for their own part of the region, but I can't do it all. Email me at onedndylyon@aol.com if you want help getting started.
Leslie
i just got an email about countacting ongress re New Orleans, go to this page and email eamail email, and modify it to include the gulf coast too, of course, whatever you need. here is the link:
http://www.demaction.org/dia/organizations/ovno/campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=1682&t=campaigns.dwt
Progress. Any progress is good. You're ahead of a great many people.
And don't be hard on yourself. You do need to get back in touch with yourself.
Je m'ennuie de les vieux Cajins.
"...thankfully, pigs did not fly out of my ass as I had predicted."
You gotta admit -- THAT would have made one hell of a picture.
Thankfully, my family's home was not hit hard enough to be too hurt by FEMA's neglect. Based on what I've heard from family and friends who needed that help (and some that really didn't need it), a positive response from FEMA was a totally random occurrence. Glad to hear your mom was one of the lucky ones.
You've gotta laugh. I learned that a long time ago, as I explore here:
http://wetbankguide.blogspot.com/2005/12/laughter-disaster-at-humming-bird.html
It's a dark path to coping, but it leads ultimately to the idea that the world is not tragic, but tragi-comic. If you can't find the comedy in the tragedy, you will either become insane or born again.
Once you find the thing that makes you laugh in everything you see around you, you are already on the path.
Check out this video made by Kennard Jackley with footage of homes being washed away by the storm surge in his neighborhood near the lake in Slidell, LA. I can't believe this guy could make humorous comments during this frightening event! It is hard not to laugh at his narration and be overwhelmed by sadness viewing the destructive forces in action.
An 11 minute excerpt of of 2.5 hour video is on PBS.com
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/storm/view/special.html
Choupique
I've been looking back at a lot of the blogs that commented on katrina just afterwads and for a few months , now almost a year on what do you think? Have you views changed??
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