fgcvjhlk;

WHY.. or more so, HOW IS IT POSSIBLE that nineteen months after the huricanes, and there are still blue tarped roofs? why is half of the new orleans population STILL displaced. why are there people still waiting for FEMA or inrance companies, or whoever to pull through? more so, why is it that the insurance companies wont take a fucking stand and pay the people for the damages to their homes? sure they were only covered for storm damage, not for flooding, but do they honestly think the flooding would have happened if it weren't for the storms? i cannot even fathom what it would be like to return 'home' and have it just not be there. the convienient store down the street,the grocery store, movie theater, plaza, neighborhood, neighbors...gone. obviously i have not even the slightest idea of what these people have gone through, and are still going through today, it blows my mind.

Number of housing units damaged, destroyed, or inaccessible because of Katrina: 850,791

Amount committed to Katrina relief by the federal government: $85 billion

Number of FEMA trailers occupied in Mississippi: 94,000

FEMA trailers still needed in Mississippi: 9,000

FEMA trailers requested in the New Orleans metro area: 69,706

FEMA trailers occupied in the New Orleans metro area: 31,517

Number of Katrina victims still missing: 1,960

Number of missing victims 20 years old or younger: 245

At least 1836 people lost their lives in Hurricane Katrina.

it makes me feel horrible, i mean physically ill to think abou it all, and i feel depressed and i wish i could do more, and i feel so often i could be doing more than i am, but then i even wonder how much of an impact it is really making? and i'm sure that is just the debbie downer in me, but honestly. the other day my team and i worked on a KaBoom build for national youth service day, and for that we built a playground in Plaquemines Parish, anf the entire community was just FEMA trailers, i mean hundreds of FEMA trailres. and it was really great that we made a place for the kids to play... but in all honesty.. is that really helping them? i mean, once we put in the playground the kids, as well as the familes will begin to fel a sense of community, and maybe even a feeling of home, but what happens when the FEMA trailers get pulled? all the families who were unable to rebuild or make permanent arrangements are just left? displaced again? and with what... a playground? gfjhbkl; bah. its so hard, and frustrating. [as a sidenote, i absolutely loved the KaBoom build, and i believe it is a great organization, as well as a fantastic experience... but i can't help but ask myself these questions.]


annnd i've been asking them a lot lately.
oh well, just a vent. i guess.

anywayyyyyy.

transition week [aka summercamp!] is now over. good times. but we are now at our next project in Lake Charles, Louisiana. we are working with Partners in Prayer and Service and United Way, and staying at the South West Louisiana Volunteer Housing Facility..it's basically a five star hotel compared to where i was, but i'd be lying if i said i didn't miss Camp Hope, and some people staying there. (: anyhow, it's going to be ineteresting, cos we are basically living and working the the same place.. and there isn't much of a downtown scene.. so basically i'm feeling some cabin fever may take place. oy. lets hope not. we are starting off by doing assessments, them moving to the rebuilding phase. i have a feeling it may be like what i did in alabama, but im crossing my fingers it won't be. we'll see. tomorrow i'm going out and doing chainsaw work, followed by repainting the showers cos the other team painted them with water based paint. good times. (:


so much going on, but as usual, my a.d.d. has set in. more later.
hope all is well.
miss you all. <3