Timeline for New Orleans Return Questioned

[Mattie]

There is an article on comcast.net that outlines the problems and concerns for returning people to New Orleans next week. Interesting reading and food for thought for those that will go back.

Some excerpts below:

Allen said a prime public health concern is the tap water, which in most of the city remains unfit for drinking and bathing. He said he was concerned about the difficulties of communicating the risk of using that water to people who return and might run out of the bottled water they brought along.

"The water that's there is only good for firefighting and flushing," he said.

Another concern, Allen said, was the risk of another storm hitting the region, threatening an already delicate levee system and possibly requiring residents to be evacuated again.

"Something less than a Category 4 storm is going to present significant issues that might require the evacuation of the general population. You want to make sure you have your arms around how you will do that," he said.

Meanwhile, some business owners were being allowed back into the city Saturday to get a head start on opening the rollicking bars, stores and restaurants that keep the good times rolling in New Orleans.

Margaret Richmond stood watching, tears streaming down her face, as members of the 82nd Airborne Division used a crowbar to try to pry open the door of her looted antiques shop on the edge of the city's upscale Garden District.

The store, Decor Splendide, had been looted in the chaotic days after Katrina struck. Antique jewelry, a cement angel with one wing broken off and lamps were lying scattered on the floor. Someone had wedged a piece of metal in the door to jam it closed, hoping to deter other looters.

"What they didn't steal they trashed," Richmond said, gazing through a window of her shop, before the soldiers were able to break open the door. "They got what they could and ruined what they left."

Business owners, facing damage that could take months to repair, said hopes for a quick recovery may be little more than a political dream.

"I don't know why they said people could come back and open their businesses," said Richmond, whose insurance policy will cover the lost merchandise. "You can't reopen this. And even if you could, there are no customers here."

[crazycajuncane]

I wait table at a restaurant here in Lafayette and I get probably 6 or 7 tables a night of New Orleans evacuees / refugees.

The talk this weekend was about letting people back in and people from New Orleans that have been back will tell ya that it's a stupid idea to open the city to that many people this soon.

The main concern from many of them are water contamination and disease. They know the risks. I think they are rushing people back into New Orleans just to cover up all the mess that has gone on. Let's open New Orleans... maybe people won't think it's as bad as they've heard.

Yes, there may be some liveable places, but shouldn't we at least have all the water drained and the bodies recovered before we let 200,000 people back into the city?

Why rush now? They sure in the hell didn't rush to get them out of New Orleans.

[ChaserUK]

yea just saw that on Fox. To be honest it made me think about Rita too. Go and vote on my poll!

[elliotj]

crazycajunjane wrote:

" I think they are rushing people back into New Orleans just to cover up all the mess that has gone on. Let's open New Orleans... maybe people won't think it's as bad as they've heard....

Why rush now? They sure in the hell didn't rush to get them out of New Orleans. "

I don't get much time to visit this board as I have been moving about the country staying with relatives. While many posts I have skimmed captured my attention, this is one to which I am taking the time to respond.

I was 8 years old when Betsy caused much destruction in N.O. My family lived without power and potable water for 3 weeks. Huge oak trees and power lines were down in the entire neighborhood. We boiled water and ate canned good etc. It was not the end of the world. 40 years later, I am more than willing to live under the same or similar conditions. I just want to get back to my home.

I am one of the lucky. I only had 4 feet of water in my home. However, I need to get there to salvage precious family items: bibles; photos; my deceased father's WW2 records; great grandmas jelly dishes and the like.

From what I've heard, the water damage and growing mold is destroying everything. Why would anyone criticize us for wanting to get back to our homes to recover what we can and mitigate damage? I just don't get it. It seems heartless.