Lost in Paradise

The states surrounding the Gulf of Mexico are under nearly constant bombardment from hurricanes and other violent weather systems-the likes of which much of the areas affected have never seen condensed into such a short period of time. Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, not to mention those from times past such as Hurricane Charley, have struck the United States in ways those not directly affected by the disasters can hardly grasp. A concerned population rose to provide an overwhelming amount of assistance for Hurricane Katrina, partly as a response to failure of our governmental officials to make the decisions they were elected to make. As in any situation of such vulnerability, those who only thought of themselves took full advantage, stealing from systems that were already crippled and corrupt. Robbery, vandalism and attacks were commonplace; involving people of every type of class and significantly the local police. In any sort of disaster, there results a breakdown of civilization. When this happens, new institutions rise to replace the breaks in a system that cannot be repaired.

Cracks in the System

The recent catastrophes to strike the United States and its (largely ignored by mass media) neighboring countries provoked individuals involved to think about their situation. An overall meltdown was the only precipitator large enough to cause the community as a whole to understand certain methods of doing things were inefficient, inadequate, or just not working. The local newspapers in the disaster area have fortunately been able to continue producing, although the majority of their publication ability is limited to the Internet. This has allowed the rest of America a glimpse into the lives of those who are essentially devastated. Voluminous letters to the editor speak of institutions in ruins, calls for help, and people who are feeling gratitude, anger, or a need to express the changes they would like to see in the future. One writer said, in a letter describing the racial divide that has plagued New Orleans for decades, "…Hurricane Katrina became the big equalizer in our city."

People are asking why America can't use its singular super power muscle to overcome disaster. The answer, as they have discovered, is the powerful institutions of the American system are so paper-thin in construction they can't even support their own weight in greed. Like almost every other community, New Orleans suffered from a social support system that was barely functional. Specifically, there were issues of a corrupt police force, neighborhoods mired in poverty, and a degenerated public school system. More complicating, there was the larger problem of racism; despite local diversity that would make any equal opportunity employer blush. Citizens are divided on how to deal with these problems, and these disasters have brought the topics into direct confrontation. Historically, the city has not had success in opening a dialogue between opposing forces primarily because of the nature of the arguments. There is no easy solution to problems such as racism, corruption and under-education.

In one of the richest countries in the world, being able to survive should be possible and living a good life should be expected. Instead, entire populations are finding themselves without the ability to start fresh. It has taken years of hard work and generations of families to create America as we know it, and for those who have been victimized, all this has been lost. As Jeanette Freeman, a victim from Louisiana states, "even the trees, which took centuries to grow, things you take for granted, are gone. There is no grass, there is nothing to look at but blue tarps stretched across dirty houses. It is like living in a third world country. My family wants me to move, but even though I've lost everything, I can't. This is where I'm familiar with, my family, my friends."

She saw homes flattened by Hurricane Katrina, and flooded by Hurricane Rita. With each, more was demolished. Now, the trash and debris is so immense it will take years to remove. Freeman spoke of "refrigerator graves," useless flood-damaged refrigerators full of rotting food that still sit on curbs outside wrecked homes. Part of her, she decided, couldn't understand the enormity of what she had lost. "You really can't comprehend it until you see it," she said. She blames humans for abusing the land, water and air. "Things are changing with our weather. These storms just keep coming and we can't take another one or we'll get wiped off the map."

Picking up the Pieces

When Hurricane Charley hit Florida, mobile homes were supplied by Federal Emergency Management Authority (FEMA) to provide temporary shelter for thousands of homeless people. Fourteen months later in Charlotte County, 500 mobile units remain; housing over 1,000 people who still do not have homes or jobs. They live in cramped quarters and do not attempt to venture out at night, as petty crime is a common occurrence. Struggling to survive and limited by their temporary situation, these people's dreams have screeched to a halt. A similar situation is expected for New Orleans and other stricken areas.

Phones are still inoperable through much of New Orleans, and businesses in all the areas of devastation are in a state of creepingly slow recovery. The landmarks of New Orleans remain primarily intact, including the French Quarter, but engineers have estimated the removal of debris alone will take years. A recent dumping contractor company estimated 200,000 to 400,000 loads of trash and demolition must be transported to area dumps which usually accommodate 80 loads of trash a day. The expenses of performing these jobs are staggering, although the total cost is not estimable.

When catastrophe occurs, permanent damage is an end result, as is total loss. Rebuilding efforts are just that-efforts, not guarantees of "full recovery." Even the wealthiest got poorer when they lost all they had owned. Everything Americans are used to depending upon-such as electricity, phones, gas and emergency assistance-has been compromised. Insurance companies cannot fulfill the numerous claims, and millions of people find their coverage is not what they were led to believe. As has been true with other disasters Americans have faced, over half of their personal losses are not covered by insurance. Societies are built to move at certain equilibrium, and human life pays the price when these mechanisms fail.

American Refugees

A look towards the Middle East can provide some interesting comparison with the ordeals victims of the recent hurricanes are dealing with. Palestine is unique in having the oldest and largest refugee population in the world. Currently, as they are unable to return to their homes, individuals in one of Israel's 59 refugee camps are sustained on $70 per year. These people suffer the lowest living standards of all socio-economic categories used for sociological study.

How do Palestinian refugees tie in to the big picture in New Orleans? A refugee is defined as someone who "lost both their homes and means of livelihood as a result of occupation by another country," according to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency. While the victims of the recent hurricanes have not been subjected to occupation, they have lost both their homes and means of income. The instability of their situation is only held in balance by their ability to receive or self-administer assistance. This is precarious, indeed.

If our "refugees" of the hurricanes remain entrenched in their temporary shelters, and the assistance needed is not provided, then their fellow citizens will absorb the cost of their stay. We are still paying for Hurricane Charley, despite the enormous wealth this country has, and the new problems it faces will not fade away any easier. It will be only a matter of time before our country forgets, letting its citizens in need fall by the wayside. Just as Florida's citizens continue to wait for aid that may never come in their lifetimes, so will people in Louisiana and other places where so much disaster has occurred. The rising numbers of those "lost in paradise" must not be ignored.

Written By Faye Spinniken

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