Blog #9 – Katrina
This video just shows startling images. It’s a good way to start getting one to think about what exactly happened during hurricane Katrina and the levees being broken. I, personally could never image how horrible this experience could be for each person who had to experience this tragedy.
The quote below, I realize is long, but it really captures the severity of Katrina from an actual victim. The reason I didn’t change the spelling was because I felt it made an impact on how education and poverty may have played a factor in this terrible situation.
“I live in New Orleans. If you dnt believe me check my facebook. But I remember this so vividly. We were all in shock. People were looting and shooting. New Orleans was crumbling in front of me. I though the world was coming to an end. People were commiting sucide in front of me. To everyone who says Katrina wasn’t tht bad, they r lieing. Take from me, a Katrina surviver. Katrina was the most depressing part off my life.” – LSUBRAVESFAN13
Although hurricane Katrina was a natural disaster, the levees that collapsed after were not. The scandals and schemes that occurred after hurricane Katrina also were not. However they were ALL disastrous. A population of individuals born and raised in the same area makes up the majority of people who were stuck without help. Why is it that it took 5 days for the government to finally step up and help out? “The government could no longer be relied on to provide even the most basic kind of social aid – the very purpose for which it was designed” – Jordan Flaherty. This quote reminds me of the video we watched in class the other day which made multiple points but one main one that still haunts my mind. If this disaster happened somewhere else our government would have been there within days to show their support. Could this be because it would be on a national stance, which would give us, America, a “good name,” whereas Katrina no other countries were involved.
This storm left a huge impact not only on the city but on the individuals living there. I’d get upset if I lost $20 I couldn’t begin to imagine how much these people lost. The people who were hit by hurricane Katrina and who were near enough to the levees lost their homes, their family, their friends, literally every materialistic item they had. This video really shows the impact this storm left on individuals.
As one woman points out they are all citizens who pay taxes. We are all citizens of the United States who pay our taxes. We all have to stop and think if this was us, our family, and our friends how would we have liked the government to step in. The government was allowed to use physical force to keep the people in line. After 5 days of no food, no water, no shelter of course looters and violence are going to take place. These individuals are human; they are simply trying to survive. Haven’t you ever heard of the fight or flight psychoanalysis? The victims of hurricane Katrina didn’t have the resources to leave or flight as we might say so they resorted to the next possibility, to fight. Fight for their survival, for their families’ survival.
This is an educational video about the levees and how exactly they broke.
Hurricane Katrina has really shown a sad but true light on the United States, the government should have been there to help this U.S. Citizens, to evacuate and to rebuild but their lack of effort has left New Orleans were it still is today. This article below I found because my Aunt and I were talking about the hurricane and how shocking it still is today. She opened my eyes about even more than I even new about. These victims are getting treated like we have no laws or regulations; they are being treated as if they aren’t even human. This story below goes into detail about all the insurance scandals that have been taking place after all the damage was done. One neighbors insurance may only cover water damage, so they insurance company claims most of the destruction of his house was wind. Whereas the neighbor next door may only have wind insurance but his insurance company is claiming his house damage was from the water. These individuals are receiving between 11-45 cents on the dollar for their houses.
Was it really a natural disaster? yes, obviously the hurricane was natural but was the impact and consequences of that hurricane natural? How did policies, invisibility, poverty make it an unnatural disaster?
ReplyDeleteGood use of visual representations of the occurences and aftermath of the event. I was wondering if you think this is a prime example that natural disasters are not equal oppporunity occurences? Also, how did the bush administrations actions provide evidence that New Orleans was a place of privatization, militarization, and corporatization?
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