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Every day is now noted locally as "how many days Post-Katrina." I am writing
this as we begin the 5th week 'post-Katrina,' as we adjust to our new world
and
what
it
really
means. Today, a newspaper article on the Baton Rouge Advocate sports page, of
all places, speculated on the region-wide grieving process that we are involved
in. It is the first place in the media that I've seen such a concept acknowledged.
Baton Rouge, where I live, was brushed by both Katrina and Rita, yet escaped the worst of both storms. Although many people sustained substantial property damage, in my yard Katrina stripped branches from the trees and a few shingles from the roof. It took several weeks for our huge Katrina branch pile to be collected. The smaller Rita stick pile (there weren't so many large branches left to blow down) is still there. Given what others have gone through, I feel guilty for even wishing they would come and pick it up.
Baton Rouge has a yard waste recycler - I learned that the city expanded their contract so that, in this parish at least, post-hurricane tree waste will be composted. In Bogalusa, tree waste is being chipped and burned in the boilers at International Paper. In other areas, the DEQ/EPA plan is to burn tree waste and other debris.
People are heading back in to New Orleans, in spite of concerns about toxic chemicals, bacteria, and fuel oil in the sludge that coats many areas, as well as air pollution and hazards from debris. It's not clear to me, here in Baton Rouge, how many people are staying in New Orleans, though, or just "looking and leaving". The traffic is still just as bad. Here, the media are turning their thoughts to the local shelters, how many people remain in them, and what will become of them now. Many people evacuated from Katrina remain in the River Center shelter downtown and in shelters set up by local churches. This weekend, the animal shelter closed, and remaining pets were sent home with their owners, adopted out, placed in foster homes, or (I heard) shipped out of state.
In some ways, people have adapted so seamlessly to incredible changes in their lives. On August 28, I doubt the people of New Orleans would have believed they would be out of their homes and their city for this length of time. Darryl, my colleague, and his wife left with clothes enough for three days. Yet so many of them, faced with an extended exile, have found places to stay, things to do, have put their kids in schools wherever they are, moved their business, bought a house, got a new job - they have responded to changing conditions with amazing speed and resiliency.
This week, though, I think the question of the long-term is very much emerging.
Our La. Senators have offered the "Pelican" bill, a wish list of every bad
project that the corporations and their politicians failed to push through
for the past 20 years. The Mayor of New Orleans has appointed a 'commission'--no
one can seem to get a complete list of the appointees--and the Governor has
appointed one as well--with no environmental representation. So we want
to rebuild - but the question is, what will it look like? Whose ideas will
get listened to? What groups will get to participate in the discussion? Will
we make changes to lessen the impact of future disasters? Will we re-examine
our relationship with nature, restore our coastal wetlands, and re-think how
development occurs on beaches, floodplains, and in low-lying areas? Can we
resist the pressure to go with the same-old, same-old - same old lobbyists,
same old developers, same old politicians, same old casinos, same old chemical
plants, same old policies, same old short-term-profit based practices?
Will Louisiana and the Gulf Coast turn the destruction of Katrina and Rita into opportunity for economic and environmental well-being for all - rich and poor alike? Stay tuned!
Maura Wood is the Sierra Club's Senior Representative in Louisiana.
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Photo: Louie Miller/Sierra Club collection; all rights reserved.
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