Hurricane Katrina, the aftermath and the federal response
A major American city has become a toxic soup bowl with corpses floating in it. We’d better figure out what went wrong and correct it. That, to me, is a non-partisan issue.
I am going to try to find a charity that helps the survivors rebuild their lives and keeps my money out of some shyster’s pocket and maybe adopt a homeless New Orleans dog. Also, I will insist that the government I elected tell me why this occurred and why it will not happen again. If they don’t, I will work to elect someone who will.
Harry Grainger, Englewood
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It was not the president’s vacation, the war in Iraq or an oil industry plot to increase profits that caused Hurricane Katrina and its tragic aftermath. It was a natural disaster, followed by an inert city and state government unable to implement its own disaster preparedness plan.
When you see a burglar on your property, do you call the FBI or do you call the local police? FEMA, whatever its shortcomings, is not chartered to be a first responder. Even the city of New Orleans’ own plans call for FEMA to assist with shelter and provisions, not evacuations. We can, and should, question the wisdom of that now.
Lost in the finger-pointing is the acknowledgement that seeking to make political hay from the sufferings of others will get us nowhere, least of all improved response time to future disasters.
Elisabeth Duran, Centennial
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Recently I was watching a BBC News report on Typhoon Nabi, which was then smashing into the southern islands of Japan. The video was taken during the typhoon, with 120 mph winds and lashing torrents of rain. There, in the picture, was an amphibious vessel with military personnel rescuing people from a building. You could see the force of the wind and the strength of the downpour, and here was the military during the storm. They were rescuing people while the storm was going on, not after the storm, and certainly not four days later.
Judith Emerson, Steamboat Springs
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Re: “After N.O., jobs and uncertainty,” Sept. 8 Cindy Rodríguez column.
New Orleans evacuee Larry Granger found a job two days after landing in Denver. There are many who could learn a lot from this man. Did Granger complain about what happened to him? No, he was just happy to be alive and with his fiancée. Did he go on national TV, curse the president, cry out to the government and ask what are you going to do for me now? No, he went out and helped himself and found a job.
That someone went out and found a job instead of sponging off the government or waiting for a handout just floored me. How many people in this state alone have been on unemployment for years because working at Wal-Mart, as Granger is doing, would be beneath them?
Thank you, Mr. Granger, for showing me that not everyone is out there expecting the rest of the world to help them.
Brian Brandfas, Parker
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Re: “President’s mother: Many poor evacuees better off now,” Sept. 7 news story.
For years, George W. Bush has claimed that the American occupation has vastly improved the lives of Iraqis. Considering the chaos that Iraq has been plunged into and the daily deeds of mayhem and destruction, I never understood how he came up with that optimistic assessment. But with Barbara Bush’s assertion that Hurricane Katrina has improved the lives of victims evacuated to the Houston Astrodome, it’s clear that the nut doesn’t fall far from the bush. Indeed, W has done for Iraq what Katrina has done for New Orleans – and is proud of the achievement.
Mark Feder, Denver
