Thursday, February 16, 2006
"...one of the most difficult and traumatic experiences of my life"
---Michael Chertoff, US Head of Homeland Security, in his testimony to Congress about Hurricane Katrina.
Really? Mr. Chertoff? Hurricane Katrina was one of the most difficult and traumatic experiences of your life? I'd like to know more about that, because most of the people I know would say the same thing about Hurricane Katrina. Maybe you could compare notes with them. I have a feeling that the reasons that they would give are different than yours.
They would say it because their parents died in the aftermath of the storm.
They would say it because their house was flooded with 6 feet of water and they now live entirely in the 2nd floor of their house, while the bottom is being renovated.
They would say it because the hurricane destroyed all of the pictures of their children from when they were first born, up until their senior photos, and those are all irreplacable. Nevermind that their furniture, clothing, and car are gone.
They would say it because it caused their families to live in separate cities around the country for the first time ever, and they don't know if they will ever all be in the same place more than a few days a year.
They would say it because they lost their jobs, when the company they were working for didn't get any federal assistance in the immediate aftermath of the storm, and were then turned down for their SBA loan.
They would say it because they have been paying the mortgage for an uninhabitable building for just about 6 months now, while paying rent on another dwelling and waiting for a FEMA trailer.
They would say it because a loved one has committed suicide in the aftermath of the storm, which is happening at a rather alarming rate. Even those who haven't lost loved ones in this manner have lost countless loved ones to moving out of the area.
They would say it because all of the plans they had laid out for their lives, and the little square of real estate that they had finally paid off and planned to live on the rest of their lives may now never be redeveloped as a neighborhood.
I can tell you that the above has happened to multiple people that I know well, and several fall under more than one of those examples.
So, Mr. Chertoff, I wonder if you might want to reconsider your words. Or, better yet, come and spend a week with the people of New Orleans. Listen to their struggles. Let them tell you how difficult it is to get assistance from FEMA and the SBA. Let them tell you how long they have waited on hold. Walk in their shoes for just a week Mr. Chertoff, and I have a feeling that Hurricane Katrina blowing in and shaking up your politically appointed job and making you look like an incompetent executive will become the 2nd most difficult and traumatic experience of your life. Live the aftermath for a while, and see explaining the government's response to these individuals isn't your new number 1.
Really? Mr. Chertoff? Hurricane Katrina was one of the most difficult and traumatic experiences of your life? I'd like to know more about that, because most of the people I know would say the same thing about Hurricane Katrina. Maybe you could compare notes with them. I have a feeling that the reasons that they would give are different than yours.
They would say it because their parents died in the aftermath of the storm.
They would say it because their house was flooded with 6 feet of water and they now live entirely in the 2nd floor of their house, while the bottom is being renovated.
They would say it because the hurricane destroyed all of the pictures of their children from when they were first born, up until their senior photos, and those are all irreplacable. Nevermind that their furniture, clothing, and car are gone.
They would say it because it caused their families to live in separate cities around the country for the first time ever, and they don't know if they will ever all be in the same place more than a few days a year.
They would say it because they lost their jobs, when the company they were working for didn't get any federal assistance in the immediate aftermath of the storm, and were then turned down for their SBA loan.
They would say it because they have been paying the mortgage for an uninhabitable building for just about 6 months now, while paying rent on another dwelling and waiting for a FEMA trailer.
They would say it because a loved one has committed suicide in the aftermath of the storm, which is happening at a rather alarming rate. Even those who haven't lost loved ones in this manner have lost countless loved ones to moving out of the area.
They would say it because all of the plans they had laid out for their lives, and the little square of real estate that they had finally paid off and planned to live on the rest of their lives may now never be redeveloped as a neighborhood.
I can tell you that the above has happened to multiple people that I know well, and several fall under more than one of those examples.
So, Mr. Chertoff, I wonder if you might want to reconsider your words. Or, better yet, come and spend a week with the people of New Orleans. Listen to their struggles. Let them tell you how difficult it is to get assistance from FEMA and the SBA. Let them tell you how long they have waited on hold. Walk in their shoes for just a week Mr. Chertoff, and I have a feeling that Hurricane Katrina blowing in and shaking up your politically appointed job and making you look like an incompetent executive will become the 2nd most difficult and traumatic experience of your life. Live the aftermath for a while, and see explaining the government's response to these individuals isn't your new number 1.
# posted by Jude Boudreaux @ 2/16/2006 01:13:00 PM 
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Chertoff wouldn't last a week in New Orleans. One way or the other.
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# posted by 
: 5:59 PM, February 16, 2006
: 5:59 PM, February 16, 2006 
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