It is almost two years since Hurricane Katrina, why are there people still living in FEMA trailers?

Question

What happened to all the relief efforts and monies donated?

Answer 1

I live in Hattiesburg, MS, and Hurricane Katrina hit us just as hard as it hit any other city. I see many people here who still live in FEMA trailers, because they have no where else to go. Many of them did not have home owner's insurance, and the trailer is all they have. Additionally, some have only a concrete slab left where their homes used to be. Many are being swindled by their home owner's insurance companies, and many still are waiting for monetary rewards to have something as simple as the roofs on their homes fixed. I know this because I was one of the people who waited almost a year just to have "minor" roof work done. So many insurance companies did not step up to the plate and handle things the way they should have, and things are still not being handled in some cases. I personally know of someone that is a single mother with five kids all under ten who does not have any hope but to live in a FEMA trailer. When Hurricane Katrina cam through and times got hard, her husband ran off to Vegas with another woman and left her to fend for herself and the kids. So I can really understand why some people are still in FEMA trailers.

However, there are some that are just using it as an excuse to not find a place to live, because they are single, have no kids to support, and like the idea of not having to pay insurance on a home that they probably think will be taken out by another storm in the future. To those type of people, I say: "shame on you!" BUT... The big question is this: "Why rush to find somewhere of your own to live when there is no place available?" Hattiesburg is so full of people from other cities that it is virtually impossible to find a place to live on a minimum wage salary.

So, to the people in FEMA trailers who are in them for an honest reason, I pray that God works something out for you. BUT... For those who in them to just use the system, you will be found out eventually.

Toodles,
P. Evelyn P.

Answer 2

Well, as ashamed as I am to say it, a lot of people just don't feel like picking their lives back up and getting something done. Many people have gotten out of their trailers (something that is promptly followed by much celebrating by friends and family), but many have not.

A big problem is that houses were knocked down (wow! Never knew that!), but as obvious as this sounds, that's the root of the problem. A few thousand houses unlivable, and the few livable ones are either occupied or their prices are WAY jacked up because they didn't flood or get tornado'd.

There are some that have rebuilt, but dirty contractors are ripping people off, financial problems haven't been taken care of, and there's a whole mess of other problems.

It's a big problem down here, but I think we'll get through it.

Answer 3

Alot of the people who lost their homes from Katrina- lost everything ELSE- too. And living ANYPLACE in this Country- is expensive. Sure many of those people got help from the Red Cross, or Low Interest Loans from the Government. But much of THAT money went towards just keeping people ALIVE & employed... -It STILL doesn't cover the expense of rent or buying a house. And A LOT of that money- just plain "diappeared" into the pockets of the Officials who were SUPPOSED to be handing it out! It all was a very SAD, & shamefull situation... :(

Answer 4

Honestly I think if my house fell down, and I had to clean up the lot, and rebuild a house from scratch, mostly by myself...I could see it taking that long easily. Especially if the person has to work full time and work on the house when they get home, and they have to buy lumber and materials a little at a time with each paycheck.
I don't believe the are living off of taxpayer dollars myself. ALL this money you think was showered all over them probably was a couple of thousand dollars or something. Do you know what it takes to build a house?

Answer 5

Lets face it. If they wanted to work or rebuild a life, they would.
To those people Free stuff and a FEMA trailer is most likely a life of luxury compared to what they had before Katrina.
Now they dont want to go back to the struggle of day to day living again. They have not even attempted to create a new life or move on.

Answer 6

how long does it take to find a job?.... 10 years!!!! oh my goodness, they got a lot more than most people get when their home gets flooded. and 2 years is way too much time, its obvious the people that are still living it up on taxpayer dollars are doing it because of lazyness... in most cases... the guy before me summed it up pretty good.I know its terrible to lose your home, i had a very unstable childhood and rarely ever stayed in one place... but you don't sit on your butt for 2-10 years waiting for taxpayers to pay everything for you, you start working at mcdonalds, and when you're not working you look for a better job, keep putting in applications, or get a second job until you can get a better paying one.if you don't have insurance... you take your handouts and start over, its not that hard, many people do it and it doesn't take years.... and no you don't rebuild under sea level.. that's stupid. you're asking for trouble doing that, build a NEW new orleans somewhere else... but not below sea level right next to the levy

Answer 7

You haven't been to the MS gulf coast lately, have you? It'll still be many years before thing get back to normal. And then there's NOLA, where there's a political tradition; you could pour the entire treasury of the US into the city and see little for it.

Answer 8

think about it. if your home was destroyed and your recieved a few thousand dollars would that be enough to fix your house? it wouldnt even be decent enough to live in. where i live got destroyed by katrina, well at least 75% of it. and even if some people do have enough money its going to take longer than two years to rebuild a house! and now that its been two years people dont realize it but some people still need help. not neccisarily money but just help cleaning up and rebuilding. you'll probably be surprised to hear this but it will probably take liek at least 10 years for most of the damages to be repaired (not for just one house but for the whole city to be repaired) whether you think it or not. hope this answers your question. and to all those people who are saying that they're just lazy. i hope your town gets ****** destroyed by a hurricane and you can see what its liek. its been two years and even still i wake up and realize that my life will never be the same. so quit sayin sh!t cause you have no freakin idea of what its liek to go through something liek that. tv didnt even show half of all the damage and what people went through and are still going through. and to the first answer about us trying to rebuild under sea level. what the **** are we supossed to do? just all leave? why dont all you ******* try to rebuild a whole freakin town/city in two years. i would liek to see you try.


SORRY. FREAKED OUT A LITTLE BIT THERE...OKAY A LOT...

Answer 9

Some, who were supposed to, did not even get a FEMA trailer.....ever.

Answer 10

those trailers are falling apart, and also being stripped. everything, including the kitchen sink.
why? government mismanagemet, and insurance companies that refuse to pay damages.