Oprah Tues, Feb. 21, 2006
 

I missed the show, but have heard much about it from others. Sounds like she did a great job covering current conditions in Mississippi and Louisiana even this long after Hurricane Katrina. I hope to see this show in reruns soon. If you saw it, PLEASE share what you were impressed by or what moved you most. Thanks!

I'm not sure if you can get it where you are, but they replay her shows at l:30am on our local station.

I saw part of the show and was amazed that in a country like America, we can leave people living in those conditions. There was a tent city. No plumbing, just porta-potties. Hundreds of families living like that when down the road sat hundreds of empty trailers FEMA had sent, but NOT given to anyone to use!!! Almost six months have gone by and the area is still devastated. People across the country are not aware of the conditions down there. Mississippi and New Orleans still need a LOT of help!!!

Do not worry Bush will send Cheney down there to take care of things...sort of a hunting trip.

There are many places in the deep South that are not close to normal and still leveled for the most part that are outside of NO in Feb. 2006.

Our town in IL has adopted Farley, AL and have it just about half rebuilt, although it will lose population from before Katrina. Individuals can do much more than bureaucratics and politicos can.

Many of the misplaced people were multi-generational locals who literally do not have solid land to return to in or near NO.

From what I read, before anything there needs to be a solid engineering plan put into place- not exactly comparable- but similar to that used in Holland. Nothing like the levees in use now.

It will cost immense amounts of money and there will have to be some kind of protection for those funds, so that they do not get sucked up in the local corruption: Re the phantom police force and the buses never used, with phantom maintenance workers and drivers.

Our Bayou people are all gone now, but some of them literally never went to school, never had seen a doctor, never had seen the inside of a dentist's office- and far more I could relate. This is BEFORE Katrina. The problem is complex beyond a storm. But the least they could do is fix the flooding problem or not allow people to live there- period, IMHO.

It is doable if the money, will and graft are all at the right levels.

There are just as bad spots in all of our big cities too. I've seen places that would do well to have a port-a-potty on the stairs landings.

it's so sad that it seems like the government is doing nothing but tying itself up in red tape. There's a real lack of leadership in this country, starting at the very top.

Because this is such a huge natural disaster (square miles and population wise), we are seeing how many holes there are in federal programs like the Army Corps of Engineers, FEMA and all sorts of emergency aid in our country. Unfortunately, not much has been changed in those areas in decades. It amazes me the amount of money that is now being spent because of this disaster, yet even back in the 70s, 80s & 90s southern Louisiana and New Orleans needed and requested improved levee systems. I'm sure the Mississippi Gulf Coast was doing the same. Prevention could have saved this country millions. And now, sadly, this situation is quickly being forgotten and these areas desperately need the policy makers to stay on task! We all need to contact our state's legislators to remember the stricken Gulf south, and change policies to protect all of us in case our area experiences a natural disaster in the near future!

Not just now with this administration at all, this has been happening with NO and most of Louisana since the days of Huey Long. To have the actualities and physical reality of those levees the way that they were/ are/ have been for a half century or more- and consider them "fine" as status quo is more than a large negative, going back to- at minimum- the last 5 or 6 presidencies. The USA Army Corps of Engineers are no dumbies they have been saying so for 60 years at least, that I have read.

Farther- since post Civil War. And political pull, corrupt power entities and graft have been rampant in that area since those days. They've sucked up most of the pork barrel funds, including the pay for police that were never really "hired" and have made any easy alterations to the port or delta nearly impossible over time within their own agendas/controls. They tend to block federal programs on a kind of "states' rights" platform that keeps all the power at home with the homeboys.

Tourists just see the party side of NO and aren't seeing the contexts of this entire society or it's troubled, troubled history. There aren't going to be any quick fixes and there haven't been in the last 100 years.

It's far more than a problem of leadership. Most activists don't want a historic lesson, just quick solutions. There are no quick solutions to poverty, poverty pockets most anywhere, and here the problems are multipled by environment. There's more rhetoric than action in any of the activist or politco agendas.

It reminds me greatly of Sam Kinison's (sp.?) comedy routine where he screams over and over at the people in the Sahara and constant other arrid famine regions in Africa, "Just walk and go get food somewhere else. Food doesn't grow here anymore".

And it isn't funny- it's heartbreaking.

The truth is that we have fewer poor people in the USA than in most countries worldwide. Poor to this level anyway. And those who are do have rights- and can not be controlled like the million pawns that were moved out of the now flooded river dam projects in China, for example, and given not one iota for their lost land. And all the empathy in the world doesn't do as much as one person helping them to get started in a place or near "their" place with a person to person approach.

Most of these people will have to learn to live in an environment that is different from the one in which they came.

It is not easy, nor always solved by money being throw at it. It's as complex as Civil War, Black migration, and lots of related roots that formed this population.

First, fix the damn levees, or engineer a system that works or don't let people live there. That's what the Federal Gov. CAN do. It would be about as popular as Abe Lincoln's absolute dictates to the Southern states in 1860.
Strong leadership there, allright- and he knew what the response would be.

I watched Oprah. Her shows are good reminders but I feel that it makes people think/believe that they have done something to be sympathetic, or empathetic, or give money. They get self-righteous like they have all the definitive solutions. This one would make Solomon's head spin.

Sorry for the lecture. I just spoke with an evacuee and she doesn't want to "change" any part of her own lifestyle. It also has to work both ways. In the long run, helping ourselves too. Life is change.

Did Oprah herself even go down there???

JJ5, you forgot to mention the millions of dollars FEMA is throwing at contractors . . . many of whom were never approved for disaster recovery services and many more who never completed their job and still got paid. That has nothing to do with Louisiana/Mississippi gool ole boy politics, or whatever you'd like to call it. That's federal, and that's my tax dollar, too!

Mr. Traveler, I am not a regular viewer of Oprah's show, but I've heard she visited early on after the hurricane. Today's show is about the subdivision in Houston for which she raised money (and continues to solicit contributions) to build for Katrina victims. That is wonderful, too, but what about those people still living in horrid conditions in Mississippi at ground zero? Who will step up for them?

Oh, don't worry..once Trent gets his hair cut and makes certain those casinos are up and running he'll tend to the unfortunates.

The solutions aren't going to be one of argumentativeness and blame. Wasted energy as far as I'm concerned. Any big bureaucracy loses tons of money between the source and the intended output. I'm a cynic about big government and big government agencies in tota. The tax dollars lost on other things are sometimes worse than FEMA's. FEMA is a mix-muck of purposes to begin with. Organized committee "decisions" mostly with political ties making the job inroad, and we all know what committee compromises lead to. What is the quote, "A camel is a horse put together by a committee."

In just one other program I have personal knowledge of, most- more than 1/2 of millions and millions - slanted for the Head Start program in Chicago went to Blackstone Rangers/Nation's purchase of buildings, cars and self- appointed jobs. After a couple of years the program itself was little more than lists of "phantom" names on Federal quota requirement forms ready to hand in-receiprents actually being the desk sitters at 26th and Calif. and the gangs who took the bulk of the federal funds. This has been going on since Lyndon Johnson, BayouGal, no recent doings.

I hear from medics who access the area that Louisanna has been worse.

I saw it, too. The biggest eye-opener to me was the endless number of new trailers sitting on the FEMA lot, going nowhere, while people live in contaminated filth just down the road. I also saw a news report recently about hundreds and hundreds of FEMA mobile homes which FEMA has declared 'uninhabitable' simply because they have sunk into the muddy lot. They are "uninhabitable" compared to the poor elderly woman's apartment without a roof and without electricity and plumbing, where she's lived since the storm? What a bureaucratic waste!
I was also moved by the school teacher/ parent and her family who now are on food stamps, and have to keep paying the mortgage on their family home which no longer exists.
I'm glad Oprah publicized what a sad state the entire Gulf is still in. We have all forgotten them. Let's all contribute what we can to help-- money, time, labor...

JJ5, if you reread all my posts on this thread, you surely will see that I have no argument here, only concern. I live in the affected area, and I experienced, and continue to experience, many personal and physical losses due to Katrina, and wanted to hear about Oprah's show. And yes, I was alive when LBJ was in office, so I know the history, too. I was adding to your soapbox, not contesting it. My concern is for people, not politics, but right now we need politics to help our people.

I am a nurse, but I still don't understand what your statement about medics means. I physically see the damage and experience the emotional upset on a daily basis. If you have visited here since Katrina, then I think you most certainly understand where I am coming from and realize that NO ONE here wants to argue . . .we want practical solutions, and a dose of kindness never hurts.

Thanks for the review of the show, Maureen B. I hope it reruns soon so I can see it, and I hope many eyes are opened by it.

Guess I am just confused here...why doesn't the federal government fix the levees and move out those trailers?
If the President wanted it done, it would get done...
Why don't Republicans feel the buck stops with the President?
I don't want my tax dollars wasted anymore than anyone else, but I'd certainly rather have them used helping out people in the Katrina situation than in the Middle East, where there's been amounts of graft that make any fraud from Katrina look like pennies...

Practical solutions may involve changes that seem unkind. Kindness helps but it won't solve some of these base root problems that stem from long term history.

I am not being unkind to any evacuee or victim of disaster, just helping people realistically access their choices- and entering Neverland is not going to be on the list. You said I did not include this or that. There's a lot I did not include, because people want to take rote political sides/stances in NO. Those people who are in power there are not particularly on "their" side, but they don't understand that complexity.

Those standing trailers are no different than the whole cooked turkeys we have been throwing out for 20 plus years for our "hot" school lunches. The kids don't WANT turkey.

Sorry, I just can't see that you are going to get answers for this through lots more government.

JJ5, I guess we'll just have to agree to disagree. I personally think it's sad you'd compare people without homes yet still paying substantial mortgages to throwing out turkeys. I think a visit here would change your tune. I hope your area is spared any natural or manmade disasters, ours has not been so fortunate. I think you just want to argue about something and I'm not biting any longer.

MrTraveler,

To answer your question, Oprah has been at the forefront of delivering goods and services to the Katrina victims by the truckloads, she's also spearheaded a home building campaign for them. In fact, on today's show, the families will move into the homes provided by her angel network and all of the wonderful people who contributed to it: http://www2.oprah.com/uyl/katrina/ho...mes_main.jhtml

She is one of the few people who continually discuss how the victims have been marginalized and overlooked.

I didn't see the show, but I have family that has been relocated (how's that for a term) because of Katrina.

My aunt was offered a FEMA trailer to be set up in the driveway of her damaged home (basement flooded, about 3-4 feet of water in first floor). But she turned it down for now because she would be on a generator and wouldn't have hookups for water/sewer. Too much for her to deal with at her age. She is living several hundred miles away right now and would like to return. What the insurance company is offering her is a joke. No way is it anywhere near the damage amount. Lost everything in basement and first floor. House needs to be re-wired, re-whatever else, plus needs new appliances, furniture, everything.

Cousin did take the FEMA trailer because he is rehabbing his condo in town. But, the entire area might be turned into a park. Who knows what will happen. FEMA trailer, though better than a tent, isn't the best solution. At least his neighborhood has had utility groups come through and made hookups availalble.

Also, it's hard to find licensed workers (electicians, plumbers, etc.) because they have been hired by the corporate buildings. The workers like having a long-term job and I don't blame them for taking it. Maybe even some of the large companies are offering housing. If you have those skills the people of NO will welcome you.

It is a long, long road the people of the area will have to go through. I still can't decide what is worse -- a flooded out house that still stands, or no house at all.

Local tv news was in Waveland, Mississippi earlier this week. Emergency services (police, fire) are working out of trailers with donated equipment. Town lost all cars, computers, radios, etc. in the storm. Workers living in tents but vow to stay on the job. Worst crime they say is dealing with the transient workers.

Thanks, Renee. I am glad you had an accurate answer to that question.

As a resident of the Katrina ravaged area, I am grateful to any and all that keep this in the press until folks who need help and would receive help, get it. I did NOT want politics to enter into this discussion, nor did I introduce that topic, but I guess it'd be difficult to keep it out.

Ncgrrl, thanks for bringing out so many more important points. There is no easy solution, but people in the most devastated areas still need help. Wouldn't every American citizen want to know the country was behind them to recover if a disaster occurred at your house, just like the country came together for 9/11? As bad as 9/11 was, at least they had the full support of citizens and government alike. The deep south has seen a lot of fighting and name calling at every level, and somehow the PEOPLE are being forgotten in the mix.

On a different note, I was impressed with the work churches have done in the affected area.

I took a group down in January and worked through Christus Victor Lutheran Church in Ocean Springs, MS.I am not Lutheran, I have no ties- I was really impressed that a church of 250 has organized and mobilized forces and is now running an off site clothing/food/personal supplies warehouse, a free medical clinic and was feeding, and housing 282 volunteers the week I was there.
We mucked out houses, cleared debris, rebuilt fences.

People were incredibly kind, and grateful.

Some of the college kids I took are now doing power point presentations about the extensive damage that remains after 5 months.Before our trip we had no idea that it went on for miles and miles.

I've done other work trips but have never experienced anything like Katrina.

Oprah's show reinforced what we had seen and learned.

Since we are lifelong residents, we have friends all across southern Mississippi and Louisiana. Everyone in the area will attest that church groups have been the saving grace from the very beginning. A group of lumberjacks came down from New York and stayed at our church for a week right after the storm. They were the first to help us personally, and we see them as our salvation in those beginning days without electricity or water. They cut and stabilized about over 100 yellow pines trees we had down and covering most of our property. They were so dangerous, we had no idea how we'd even get them off our house. Many church groups have come from all over the US to clear out flooded homes, and now groups are roofing and hanging sheetrock. I don't know where any of us would be without the churches in this country. God bless all those volunteers who so graciously gave, and are still giving, of their time and money. Places like St. Bernard, Waveland, Bay St. Louis, the 9th Ward of N.O. and others still need so much help--hopefully new groups will be encouraged to come and help.

It needs to be added that southwest Louisiana was devastated by hurricane Rita and has suffered the same kind of devastion as the Mississippi Gulf coast, however that area is not as populated. They have not recovered, and like ncgrrl's aunt, are having to live hundreds of miles away and do not yet know if they can rebuild or must move away.

Having lived through Hurricane Hugo and how it nearly destroyed my family's home, I can empathize a bit with what these people are going through.

Shock! We had no flood insurance! Our regular homeowners insurance would not pay!

We had to rebuild with a low/no interest rate loan from FEMA.

Yes, my family had to pay again for our home which we owned outright.

It has been almost 17 years that we went through this with the insurance companies so I can't believe no one would have flood insurance.

I guess my point is that it is so easy to blame Bush, the government, and FEMA for what they aren't doing but what about all they can do?

What about some of us taking a little bit of personal responsibility?

Many people did just that.

I have lived for weeks without electricity and running water and yes it does suck. However, I was greatful there was help.

There. My two cents.

I gave as much money as I could to Habitat for Humanity and Mercy Corps, but as a citizen of a first world country (or so I once thought), I expected my government to take care of the infrastructure and basic shelter.
Church people and individuals were amazing, but...
& again, I am to blame for bringing in politics, but I'm just completely befuddled as to why people don't blame the Feds.
Maybe I'm old fashioned and believe that what Franklin Roosevelt did for folks in the depression could be done now for those in the south...but I'm obviously in the minority. Sorry.

Hugo did so much damage to such a lovely area. The southern coasts of Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama were beautiful, too, and I hope they recover as well as your area has, GoTravel. I don't think the question of flood insurance came up before you mentioned it, but since you did maybe you need more facts . . .MANY people here have both flood and homeowners insurance, and have yet to see a dime. Most ins. companies are busy declaring bankruptcy if they have not already done so. Sure, there are laws that say they must pay, but as the saying goes, you can't squeeze blood out of a turnip. As the retired president of the federal flood insurance commission put it on CNN, Congress will have to come up with the money because the flood insurance program is an outdated federally backed program. So in essence, the blood is coming from the government. Also, we've been begging FEMA for years to come in and remap our area . . . we have seen MANY contractors build in low areas that should be considered wetlands. If that had been addressed, a very large percentage of those affected would never have lived in those areas in the first place.

I don't think this should all be a government tab, but the HUGE amount of government waste and mismanagement we are seeing after Katrina is mind boggling. If they just corrected a small percentage of that mess, it would more than pay for new levees and other infrastructure needs. And it's not just federal, it filters all the way down to the lowest levels of local government. I guess it is so obvious with Katrina because it has affected such a large area and such a large population of people--unfortunately some of our nations poorest, and they've gotten a lot of air time. But GoTravel is correct--this is happening all over our country, to the rich, the middle-class, and the poor. There must be some way to strike a balance somewhere in the middle of this and handle these crises better than we are.

JJ5, I took my own advice and reread your posts. I think I agree with most of what you are saying more than disagree.

Thanks for the input, everyone--whether any of us agree or not!

GoTravel, I am not anti-government. I think that the administration has worked very hard and is very limited by programs it inherited, as JJ5 put it, from as far back as Huey Long and LBJ. It's just hard to see so many tax dollars being basically poured down rats holes of mismanagement, outdated programs, and embezzling. I agree that people should be proactive. We certainly have been by taking care of our family, our relatives, and helping our neighbors. And when we get caught up, our priority is to go help another neighborhood that is still in need of assistance. None of us can make it through things like this without each other.