Katrina Victims: Justice is Coming

Katrina-damaged cars piled up at Orleans-St. Bernard Parish line.

While politicians make speeches and the Government stonewalls in court, Hurricane Katrina victims are moving forward rebuilding their homes and neighborhoods destroyed by the catastrophic flooding during Hurricane Katrina. The Catch-22 here is that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers admits that the drowning of America’s 35th largest city was caused by the defective hurricane protection system that it built and operated. But the feds have not paid a penny of compensation to the over 300,000 homeowners and tenants who have filed claims.

“We will rebuild without, or in spite of, our government,” proclaims Polly Boudreaux, St. Bernard Parish Council member, whose home was destroyed from Hurricane Katrina flooding. “We are Americans!”

Every single home in St. Bernard was destroyed or made inhabitable, displacing 67,000 residents and drowning several hundred who could not escape the 12 to 20 feet of flood waters. Only about 20% have returned, forced to live in formaldehyde-laced FEMA trailers (often 6 or more people) or makeshift accommodations.

A fortunate few have been able to rebuild their homes. While some Louisiana Road Home money has trickled down to a fraction of the eligible claimants, much of the restoration work has been spearheaded and financed by thousands of volunteers. Many of these Good Samaritans have been recruited by faith-based organizations, churches, the Salvation Army, and Habitat for Humanity.

St. Bernard Parish in the wake of Katrina flooding.

One noteworthy group is the St. Bernard Project. Founded in March 2006 when four volunteers who came to St. Bernard Parish to do volunteer work, the St. Bernard Project was launched to stimulate donations of money and labor to rebuild homes. Nearly about 100 homes have been reclaimed—it takes about eight to ten weeks for a team to build a home. Over 100 volunteers a week are joyfully busy sawing wood, hammering nails, and painting.

While Shell Oil and General Electric are generous financial backers, most of the money comes from small donations by generous Americans around the nation. Government investment is almost non-existent.

Co-founder Zack Rosenburg, a trial lawyer from Washington, D.C., moved there in June 2006 and immediately went to work dry walling houses. “Since the Government won’t honor the social compact with the citizens,” he says, “we the people—like high school kids from Kansas—must do it ourselves.” From this acorn of hope a stand of resolute oaks is growing. For an inspiring video interview with this remarkable man, go to http://video.aol.com/video-detail/st.bernard-project/20173886.