Katrina wiped out the Gulf Coast and NOLA 2 years ago today. I remember seeing on tv the images of people stranded on rooftops and bridges, the neighborhood rescues of people from flooded out homes and businesses, and the nothingness that the devastation left behind. I can recall the nausea I felt and the heartache, but most vividly the anger I felt at the various "officials" who stood around patting themselves on the back while they did nothing to save those who were suffering.
Dubya is in NOLA today to give what will most likely be some stultifying speeches about how much money the Feds have thrown at the huge problems that resulted from the levee break, and he'll probably pose for some very staged photos. Half the city still hasn't returned, mostly because they don't have the resources, and city and state officials are so caught up in bureaucracy they haven't done anything real yet to provide services to returning citizens.
As a Southerner I know well about racism, economic disadvantage, and neglect. Had Katrina happened elsewhere, to a more affluent city, to a "whiter" city, I don't think it would still be languishing in bureaucratic hell, while marsh weeds grow over now-vacant homes in the Lower 9th Ward and residents who have returned face a daily uphill battle just to survive. I also know how strong Southerners can be when it comes to horrible situations like Katrina, but personal perseverance only takes one so far. Why have 2 years passed and half of the Crescent City is still a wasteland?
