Still dealing with Katrina. - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

tecoyah · 06-17-2007, 02:55 AM

While I realize the devastation Katrina caused, and understand the difficulty/money involved with the aftermath, some things are simply unforgivable and can only be attributed to a Government failure of dramatic proportions.
It almost seems as if the priority once claimed for recovery and rebuilding has fallen off the Radar completely. Things like this do not say much for our society as a whole, and what it DOES say about the administrations ability to actually care for the most needy in this country is not good:

Quote:

100 Katrina Victims Still Await Burial

Nearly two years after Hurricane Katrina devastated much of New Orleans, 100 bodies of victims remain housed in a warehouse near the Superdome.

CNN reports that 70 of those bodies have been identified, but relatives are simply "too poor" or otherwise unable to claim them. The names of the other 30 victims are still unknown.

http://thegate.nationaljournal.com/2...still_awai.php

dksuddeth · 06-17-2007, 03:13 AM

wouldn't this be more the responsibility of the mayor? or at most, the governor?

tecoyah · 06-17-2007, 03:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dksuddeth

wouldn't this be more the responsibility of the mayor? or at most, the governor?

Only if you decide (as many have it seems), that FEMA and federal assistance in the "worst natural disaster" the U.S has seen do not carry any responsibility toward rebuilding and repairing a damaged region of the country. If you can honestly tell me you consider the Katrina aftermath to be a Local Government Issue.....I will just leave it at that and accept your interpretation of Disaster Management for what it is.

host · 06-17-2007, 10:29 PM

FEMA offers "ONA" assistance for burial expenses, paying 75 percent of the expense, with the state paying 25 percent, after applicants for aid in any area declared a disaster by presidential declaration, are determined to be "too poor" to qualify for a loan from the SBA.....

On the day that CNN ran the "100 bodies still unclaimed" story, June 11, there were no comments posted.
http://www.cnn.com/CNN/Programs/ande...esting-in.html

42 comments were however, posted in reaction to a June 11 report about vandalized FEMA Katrina disaster relief trailers, IMO, an indicator of what folks react strongly to....and what they don't.....
http://www.cnn.com/CNN/Programs/ande...s-trashed.html

Rekna · 06-18-2007, 07:35 AM

The state offered to bury them a long time ago. The mayor said no. The coroner refuses to let the bodies be buried because he wants to build a multi-million dollar memorial and bury the bodies there.

I love Bush bashing as much as the next but this is not the Administrations fault.

seretogis · 06-18-2007, 08:05 AM

Well, from the link above I got a bit of a smaller number, though it is just as ridiculous:

Quote:

Dr. Frank Minyard, New Orleans' coroner, has so far raised $250,000 of the $400,000 he says is needed to break ground on a mausoleum for the unclaimed bodies. For now, those 100 people rest in numbered plastic-wrapped coffins inside the unmarked warehouse.

Why is a mausoleum necessary, and why is FEMA at fault for not providing (at least) $400,000 to bury bodies 100 people when it costs on average $2500 for a typical burial? As much as I dislike federal organizations, I don't see why FEMA or "the Bush administration" would be at fault here.

ubertuber · 06-18-2007, 01:54 PM

In New Orleans, people are often buried in mausoleums because the land is below sea level. There is an aversion to burying people in cemetaries that flood regularly. That's a long standing custom there.

seretogis · 06-18-2007, 02:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ubertuber

In New Orleans, people are often buried in mausoleums because the land is below sea level. There is an aversion to burying people in cemetaries that flood regularly. That's a long standing custom there.

Good point. In that case I recommend the even cheaper option of cremation.

06-17-2007, 03:13 AM	#2 (permalink)
dksuddeth Junkie Location: bedford, tx	wouldn't this be more the responsibility of the mayor? or at most, the governor? __________________ "no amount of force can control a free man, a man whose mind is free. No, not the rack, not fission bombs, not anything. You cannot conquer a free man; the most you can do is kill him."

06-18-2007, 01:54 PM	#7 (permalink)
ubertuber spudly Location: Ellay	In New Orleans, people are often buried in mausoleums because the land is below sea level. There is an aversion to burying people in cemetaries that flood regularly. That's a long standing custom there. __________________ Cogito ergo spud -- I think, therefore I yam

06-17-2007, 10:29 PM	#4 (permalink)
host Banned	FEMA offers "ONA" assistance for burial expenses, paying 75 percent of the expense, with the state paying 25 percent, after applicants for aid in any area declared a disaster by presidential declaration, are determined to be "too poor" to qualify for a loan from the SBA..... On the day that CNN ran the "100 bodies still unclaimed" story, June 11, there were no comments posted. http://www.cnn.com/CNN/Programs/ande...esting-in.html 42 comments were however, posted in reaction to a June 11 report about vandalized FEMA Katrina disaster relief trailers, IMO, an indicator of what folks react strongly to....and what they don't..... http://www.cnn.com/CNN/Programs/ande...s-trashed.html

06-18-2007, 07:35 AM	#5 (permalink)
Rekna Junkie	The state offered to bury them a long time ago. The mayor said no. The coroner refuses to let the bodies be buried because he wants to build a multi-million dollar memorial and bury the bodies there. I love Bush bashing as much as the next but this is not the Administrations fault.