Should Katrina victims get compensation?

Question

Honestly what good would that do, why should someone who lived in a one bedroom home, with a 1982 honda be given enough money to buy a new 4 bedroom home, and a 2007 new car, while my dad works his a.ss off to pay taxes, taxes that will go to them to buy all this and we can't afford a brand new 4 bedroom home and a 2007 car. What sense does that make?

Answer 1

I live in the first suburb outside of downtown New Orleans, and I will gladly answer your question, since I am qualified by the fact that I am a Hurricane Katrina victim/survivor.

Do not worry, we are not being "compensated" as many think-- You remember how we were promised 2,000 dollars to help us out after the hurricane? I received 1,000 dollars, not the promised 2,000 dollars, which was fine with me. My neighbors, who have two young children received 1,000 dollars total. Our landlord had NO insurance at all, and so in order to have a roof over my head, myself and my roommate had to fork out over 5,000 dollars of our own money to fix up our place (we lost our entire downstairs, including all appliances in the kitchen and laundry room and livingroom). We put in the kitchen cabinets ourselves, as well as did the majority of the gutting and putting up the new walls.

I have worked since three and a half weeks after Katrina (when we were able to get back into our rental-- a townhouse), most days 10 to 16 hours a day, came home and worked on rebuilding our townhouse. Plus I attend the University of New Orleans FULL TIME, so most days, between work and school, and rebuilding, I was getting two to four hours of sleep.

Now, let me educate you on WHY the Federal Government is responsible for rebuilding New Orleans. Our levee system was built by the Army Corp of Engineers, which is a Federal agency. The levees are considered Federal property. The Federal agency, the Army Corp of Engineers, was responsible for the maintainance of the Federal property (the levees). After Katrina, it was found that the pilings and walls were down in the group less than 1/3 of what they were REQUIRED to drive them in. They wanted to save money back then, so they used cheaper materials, and drove them less than 1/3 of their required depths into the ground.

I have lived here for four years, and for four years, I have listened to the news reporters, the New Orleans officials, and even citizens have been contacting the Army Corp of Engineers about concerns dealing with the levees. Experts in geology and engineering have been telling the Army Corp of Engineers and other Federal agencies that the gound has been settling, causing the levees to to sink. Every expert, from around the world, who had investigated BEFORE Katrina agreed that the levees had not been properly maintained, and would not hold for a big storm. They said a good 50 to 100 million dollars could possibly make them safer. The Federal Government did not want to put that kind of money into it at that time (while there were billions of dollars going into "pork" projects that the legislators wanted to keep for themselves).

One levee actually had water seeping through it two years BEFORE Katrina hit, and the Federal agencies had been notified.

Now, if I have an huge above ground pool and it breaks and floods your house, I myself (with help from my insurance) would be responsible for putting your house back in the condition that it was before the pool broke. It was my pool which was the cause of your damage, and therefore I am responsible for your repairs.

Likewise- It was Federal property, Federal levees, built and "maintained" (or lack thereof) by a Federal agency that failed and caused damage to New Orleans and surrounding areas. So therefore, it is the Federal Government's responsibility to ensure that people have what they had before Katrina hit.

Now, I am not saying that there are not MANY people misusing the situation for their gain (an ex-friend of mine (ex friend since I reported him) did not even live in this area at the time but was at an out of town college, with all of his posessions-- he lost nothing in Katrina) received 10,000 dollars from FEMA because he had registered using his mom's address, in one of the hardest hit areas down here), not to mention the people from all around the country who have never been to New Orleans claiming to be victims and getting FEMA money, and of course we have the many people who were poor and had basically nothing before Katrina who now feel like they have an opportunity to have a nice life without having to work for it... These things happen after EVERY disaster (this same thing happened after the September 11th Trade Center attacks). But do not get angry that my neighbor who lost his brand new (three weeks was all he had it) 2005 minivan (they have children), since his was submerged under 10 feet of water. Do not get mad that I hoped for (and did not get) the washer and dryer to replace the ones I lost due to the flooding.

The Federal Government decided to save 50 million dollars when building and not maintaining the levees, and the consequences of that choice is that it is now going to cost billions and billions of dollars to fix their mistake.

Should we be compensated? We should be compensated for what we lost due to the Federal Government's neglect of the levees. I myself have forked out over 5,000 dollars on a rental (which has since had the rent almost doubled, since that is what landlords are doing down here now) for something which could have been prevented, and was mistakes made by the Federal Government. I do not want compensated, but rather I want only what I had before Katrina. I spent six months living in a bedroom and using my upstairs bathroom as a kitchen (with a crock pot and MRE's (Meals Ready to Eat- the Military Rations food) since my stove was destroyed), and dealing with no police (that is right, for about six months, when looters would break into the homes in my neighborhood, I would call police and be told that "we are not able to take reports at this time"), having to buy bottled water, and having no fire protection, no nothing. Work, school and rebuilding-- for one year I have endured this, around the clock-- I almost forget what a good nights sleep is like. All I am asking for is to have exactly what I did the day before Katrina hit. But while many abuse the system, I had to rebuild out of my own pocket.

I feel angry that there are people who want to make me feel guilty for asking for compensation for a situation that was caused by someone else's negligence (the Federal Government's negligence). All I want is my education and what I had before Katrina. And I am angry that Katrina has brought out the worst in people.

I continue to struggle (I am still working, and going to school and the townhouse is now finished- a year after the storm) but I am proud of the fact that 1,000 dollars was all I received from the Federal Government. I have a nice place due to the fact that I didnt wait for help, but rather jumped right in and rebuilt without help. I worked for what I have now, and will continue to do so.

I hope that answers your question.

Answer 2

I understand how you feel, however people have lost loved ones, treasured possessions, and other things that can not be replaced. The money for homes and cars is just a little something to ease the pain of loosing their loved ones, and possessions that they have lost. The money will allow them to not have to worry about where they are going to lay their head, or where their next meal is going to come from, or how and when they are going to get to work. Your father, along with me are paying taxes for people who are on public assistance, and sometimes there are poeple on it who or JUICING the system!!! These KATRINA victims are not. They really need the help. How can you be so heartless? What if you were in the same situation? You would need the help? Wouldn't you?

Answer 3

They should but many won't as of today many insurance claims have been thrown out and insurance does not exist in New Orleans and some parts of Mississippi. They still paring mortgages and car notes on something they don't have. there trying to say that since it was a natural disaster they won't pay but natural disaster was not Katrina. Katrina was a regular hurrican like many before what casue all the devastation was a man made problem. Personally, I feel that the correct protocol was not taken. Many residents of New Orleans did not have power up to 10 hours before the storm so how could one possibly evacuate. Also, it was not the hurricane that caused all the disaster it was the lack of responsibility of the engineer who waited 40 + years to adhere to the codes and upkeep of the levees. When the levees broke that's when all hell broke loose. That's why people blame the govt. Do you believe if the Statue of liberty needed upkeep or maintenance it will be ignored for 30 + years or even the White House. i don't think so? Ignoring the levees was just the political agenda of the big time builders to rebuild New Orleans as a Casino district. they were just awaiting something to destroy and clear as many poor and minorities as they could without paying them off to move. Gentrification, look it up!!

Imagine your 16 year old cousin picked up for a possible suspect for vandalism on Aug. 28, 2005 just because he fit the description of a young black male with a red t-shirt and blue jeans. He sat in a holding cell for 48 hours. Due to all the drama with Katrina he was not given the phone call nor did he get evacuated. As the water grew him and other whom were stopped or detained by the police just set in a cell while the water was rising. They all drowned many were not even convicted nor did they committ crimes (runaways, profiled suspects) See the media left out so many things and you have the audacity to say its whining many people died slow and painfully, watching there lives pass by why the water rose. Our gov't who say the work for all people have their political agendas and the caliber of people whom made up New Orleans did not make their agenda!! And Katrina was an aid in whipping out what they see as the bottom percentage!!

I'M NOT A VICTIM BUT I HAVE COMPASSION FOR OTHER MANY OF MY FRIENDS AND THERE FAMILY STAYED WITH ME FOR MONTHS WHILE THEY TRY TO PIECE THERE LIVES BACK TOGETHER JUST IMAGINE YOUR LIFE ON A BLACK BOARD FULLED THEN ITS ALL ERASED AWAY!! HOW WOULD YOU FEEL??

Answer 4

I agree. Compensation for what??? No one made the storm and forced it to hit land at that location. These people chose to live there and just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. Every year a dozen storms come off the Gulf and people still move into the area. It's great that the Government offers to assist them to get their lives back on track but only to the level of what they had before. Unfortunately alot of do-gooder groups make alot of money in situations like this.

Answer 5

I don't tend to view things in terms of black and white, but the more I hear about this, the more I am beginning to think that people's reactions to this are heavily influenced by the race of those affected by Katrina (namely, black). I can't help but think that if the hurricane had destroyed a city with a predominantly white population, the call would have gone up across the country to help the poor, hard-working people of that city. However, since those affected by Katrina were mostly black, the same old sterotypes of blacks as lazy welfare mothers crying "racism" every other minute come into play.

Answer 6

Oh come on, they aren't giving them that much money. If you are talking about an actual person, give them 8 months and they will be selling the house because they can't afford it and the bank will be coming to take the car back. Hurricane Katrina victims have suffered enough.

Answer 7

Insurance companies should pay out the claims and stop finding any little clause in the policies to deny claims. For the people who did not buy insurance, they should be eligible for public aid and other government funding to help them. I do not think the pay out is as inflated as you claim. Should we help the suffering people of this country? Heck yes. Better than spending billions to support other nations' killing sprees. Our current administration is not too concerned with the people at home. Pretty scary.

Answer 8

Nope, they didn't even get the worse of the storm, why isn't the REST of the gulf coast still floundering around the way NO is? Because the demorats have controlled NO for so long it can't function even at the local level without the feds telling them what to do.

Answer 9

None of them might desire to have gained something from the government! typhoon Katrina sufferers had a number of warning to get out. 9/11 sufferers have been in basically interior the incorrect place on the incorrect time. inspite of the undeniable fact that, they have been in an workplace construction, so i might assume that maximum of them had coverage policies. So, none of them might desire to be receiving funds from the government.

Answer 10

Beyond the limits of their insurance policies? Uhm - no-not by the federal government. Those who were not evacuated (not those who refused to leave) should however be entitled to sue their local and state government for their miserable failure. But in all honesty--what good would it do?

Answer 11

The last time I checked it was a natural disaster, so I don't think God will pay anything.