[StBernard] katrina limbo

[Westley Annis]

Well then, by all means, put up a sign that says only the hale and hearty
(and financially comfortable) need return at this point.  If you are
elderly, not working due to age, not degreed with a job at a major maritime
entity, just go some place else please.  You can't borrow the money to
repair your house now while you wait for the R.H. appeal?  Sorry, we can't
wait to tear down your house because we are moving on with or without you.
Sorry about those 30+ years you and your deceased spouse worked and paid
taxes to this place you called home.  You are not in synch with our progress
so stay somewhere else.

In the mean time, we aren't going to worry about all those decayed, rotting
commercial spaces that are dotting the landscape.  Just ignore those as you
drive through Saint Bernard parish.

Jim




	-----------------------------------------------------
	As I had stated, there are always special cases, but how long can
any person
	and their families endure the waiting game of Katrina limbo-waiting
on that
	insurance appeal, waiting on that LRA appeal (I'm one still
appealing LRA),
	waiting on ..... The hard, painful reality is that those in limbo
must ask
	now, not later, what happens to me if the additional money never
comes,
	what' s plan B? Many people I have talked to in this situation don't
want
	to even talk about a plan B, ever hopeful that the circumstances
will change
	for the best outcome. I doubt any friend, family member, or elected
	official can bring them to face preparing for the worst case
scenario, i.e.
	that things don't get better and there is nothing for them at the
end of the
	road home. These elderly, ill, and financially strapped people will
need
	every friend, relative and charitable group to help them because
	government-federal, state, and/or loca l may not be able to. To
some, that's
	how it should be-people more dependent on one another and less on
govt,
	while others feel that govt must step up to the plate. However,
nature isn't
	so kind and these abandoned houses will rot, will mildew, and will
become
	infested with termites if they don't burn down from vandals first.
As we
	know from the storm, nature does not discriminate. The reality is,
as the
	third anniversary approaches, there will still be some very
difficult
	conditions remaining for those who cannot help themselves and have
no one to
	help them. ddk