The water surge, the house and the rebuilding

Hey Chalm,
Your house is beautiful! Thank you SO much for sharing your videos. You have been through SO much. I'm so sorry for that.

Your rebuilding your home is not the norm then for St. Bernard, is it? Did FEMA help out with that or was it all your and your insurance company's burden to bear?

The reason I ask is that as part of Emergency Mgmt planning for WA State, we've been studying the response (and lack there of) to Katrina. I'm also understanding that most of the physicians left the area and never came back. Is that true? I'm also hearing that there is a huge need for mental health practitioners to deal with the aftermath. My daughter has a friend who was "placed" here in WA state with her husband and two young kids. I guess in St. Bernard they had a nice home, good life, etc. Here they lived in a one room shack and had no one. Her young husband killed himself because he couldn't cope with what happened to him and his family. So now, she is alone with her two babies, in a state where she knows no one really. It is so sad. I'm sure that this story repeats itself around the country, don't you think?

And then I read that the FEMA-provided trailers are uninhabitable! I'm just so disgusted with how the whole situation was handled. I'd love to hear your thoughts on that.

Thanks again for sharing your story. I feel like I've learned more from you than from all the meetings/classes I've attended.
God Bless you honey,
Okie

All i remember is sometime the first week after the storm, when we got to the house in Plaquemine. Everyone was told to file with FEMA. To call this #. We had 26 people in this one house and i remember the phone being passed from one to the other, becuase it was impossible to get them on the phone and somene in the house actually got through. Everyone in that house was from St. Bernard. The majority of us living on the same street here. We were all turned down by FEMA. They said they found that our property did not suffer damages capable of receiving benefits from the federal government. In other words, they gave us the finger.

Home owners insurance did not pay out except for the roof. They said it was all flood damage, that the wind came after the water surge. Which in the video you can see that is not true. So Home Owners, not matter who with, made it law that they would only pay above the water level. And our water level was the eaves of the roof.

If you had flood insurnace, you got paid full minus your deductible. We were one of the lucky ones, we had it. So many didnt. I remember reading somewhere that out of the 26,000 homes in St. Bernard Parish, only about 15% had flood insurnace. Thats why so many havent been able to do anything to their homes. Alot of the money to fix this house came out of our own pockets cause we had flood insurance from the late 60's standards, which was barely anything at all. Many people rebuild there homes as they make money at their regular jobs. You save a little, then buy your doors for the house. You save a little, then you buy your lighting fixtures, etc.

FEMA and Home Owners both are flakes are far as i am concerned.

We did have a hospital down here. But its since been demolished and we now have to travel at least 45 - 50 to the nearest one. There is a small medical clinic in trailers in the Walmart parking lot. Thats been there since i think around early summer of 2006. From what i hear there is only one doctor there. And thats the parish coroner. Sweet , eh. Dr. Bertucci.

I have heard that the parish govt. has been trying to get federal money to build another hospital down here or to get a company to open one of their hospitals here. The parish is willing to give the land up for this to happen. But, as of now, federal govt. says no and i dont think any companies have taken this seriously.

There is a need for doctors and nurses, anyone and everyone in the medical field down here since the storm. Something like 85% left and did not come back. Thats speaking of the entire New Orleans Metro Area. Which includes, New Orleans, Jefferson, St. Bernard and Plaquemines Parishes. Most hospitals in the city arent even reopened.

Tell your daughters friend, 'da parish hasnt forgotten her. It's in her and always will be. She is the heart of da parish. And hopefully one day, like so many many others, they will be able to come home. Please give her my condolences. I know the scenerio she went through with her husband. I've experienced it myself with family and friends. It's still going on and down here its gotten really bad. People are so sick and tired that they either burn a house down (150 arson fires of homes just last month in St. Bernard) or they put themselves out and let themselves go. I, myself, go through the motions almost daily of suicide. What you see each day you look out your window seems it will never change. Going on 2 1/2 years and its still the same. I promised someone i would post some pics of houses on my street. Of neighbors who came back and of those who've not. I will do that as soon as i can. Charging batteries as i speak for digital camera.

If your daughters friend would like me to try and contact someone for her down here, by placing a note on a house or anything at all, just let me know. I've done it a million times. Its sometimes the only way of finding those we once were always with.

Yes, i lived in a FEMA trailer for over a year. Both me and my cat. A few months ago it came out about the awful smell in it, that burned your eyes and made you cough (the Katrina cough). It was all caused from the formeldahyde they used in building those tin cans. I kept my windows open as much as possible and left the a/c or a fan on. I and my cat became immune to it. At least i thought. Two months after moving out of the trailer, the cough i had went away. But my cat died due to catching pneumonia and her diabetes went through the roof. I was tested two monts after being out of the trailer and had a low level of it in my system and had to take some medicine for a few weeks. It kills me, becuase i was told the day i signed that contract to move in that the burning smell was nothing to be worried about. ********. I've left that behind me. There are class action lawsuits going on cause of that, but i've decided not to join in on any. I dont want to deal with that anymore.

If there are any other questions you have, send them my way. If i'm capable of answering them i will.

And (((((okie))))thank you for caring so much. I dont know what you know of St. Bernard Parish during and after the storm, but i have some dvd's of friends who stayed and other stuff if you'd like copies. They may help you understand this little blue collar/fishing village a little better.

thanks,
chalmette

Man, that sounds absolutely awful. I do care -- a lot. Since I have been studying your situation for the last two years, I'm considering a visit myself. Right now I'm trying to hook up with a medical team that is planning to come down to do some volunteer helping out. I've had many opportunities to come down with the Red Cross but haven't been able to get out of my own life to do so.

You are in my heart, Chalm. I'm just waiting for the next big earthquake to hit WA state. I think the govt. has really screwed the people of St. Bernard Parish and others in your area. I can't wait until Bush gets out of office. I know it's not smart to discuss politics, but in this case, as we all know, %#@&#! rolls downhill.

I would love to see some of those DVD's.

Hey, try to take care of yourself. Please don't take on the guilt about everyone else's situation. I know that's easier to say, than do, when your whole community and way of life have been taken away. I just want your anxiety to decrease.
(((((Chalm)))))Take good care, hon.
Okie

Oh, that'd be great if you came down here with a team. I'd love to hook up and meet you. I'll give you a personal tour of St Bernard, from Arabi all the way down the road to the End of the World.

Red Cross opened a new place on East Judge Perez, but i never see it open. It may just be the hours that i go pass it.

No, don't say that. We don't want no earthquakes to hit, big or small.

Yes, the govt is a big sore spot for me. I try not to get much into talk about it, because it triggers me most of the time and then my anger gets out of control. But, i do fully agree with you. I remember seeing the president not long after the storm on tv. He was standing right in front of the St. Louis Cathedral at Jackson Square and swore up and down we will rebuild. Those words never rang true from the federal govt. Heck, they made the parish of St. Bernard and the lower 9th ward of New Orleans a spillway. Thats so when another storm comes they can legally blow the levees to save the city of New Orleans. The French Quarter and Uptown area. Money speaks. Gotta shut up now about this, i can feel it coming on.

That's good, just pm me your postal address and i'll get them in the mail to you.

I'm trying not to take on others stresses. It's hard though. When a neighbor daily has something to say, ***** about, or just cry on your shoulder. And talk between anyone down here is usually not the normal talk everywhere else.

Thank you ((((okie)))))

(((((chalmette))))))

(((((((Nowheretorun))))))))) Thank you. I hope you have a good day today and the weather is nice where you are.

chalmette

P.S. To let you all know. I've posted the pics of some of the houses on my street. It's only a few, but some rebuilt, abandoned and some just slabs.

(((Chalmette))))) im sorry i didnt have many words to say except i care and hope all the best or you there.. i know many people here care and wanted to let you know we are trying to help the best we can... here is a link to what Colorado has contributed and i know many other states are all doing what they can still for you...

i know that doesnt make all the pain go away but like others said Chalm, youre strength of spirit is an inspiration to us all...

http://www.colorado.gov/colorado-get..._Response.html

((((((((nowheretorun))))))))) You should see the college kids that come down this way on thier spring breaks to help rebuild. Whenever i see them, i get tears in my eyes. Knowing they could be out having a blast at the beach and here they are putting their blood, sweat and tears into the hearts of people they dont even know.

I have a picture and i have to find it. Its of my Aunt Linda and two students from Colorado. They were high school kids. The day i was gutting my Aunts house they had a group down the street gutting a house. I had found this plague my aunt was hoping to find and when i walked out of the house to give it to her she was talkig to two of these kids. They were so sweet, we all stood there talking and geting to know each other. I asked and the obligized to taking a picture with my aunt. I need to find this pic and show you. Its somewhere. But i wanted you to know this story.

Right now we are seeing the college age kids coming down and during the summers there are alot more people who come down to help. From children to senior citizens. And they are from all over the world.

Its so touching, with tears in my eyes now, knowing the world does care and want to help. To us down here, you are all angels who have lent us your wings to carry on.

love you,
chalmettte

yes, please let me know when you find the pics Chalmette, no hurries tho... rebuilding takes a lot of time.. the house looks great Chalmette... i can see all the love you put there...

i am always gladdened to see our good youth doing these type things for those in need... its really a hopeful and good feeling...

take care always... : )