Like so many others, I feel compelled to add to the blogflood of words about Hurricane Katrina (and I pity any child of that name!). My own words seem inadequate; I don’t have Shelley’s lyricism, or Cecily’s perspective, or consistency. I’ve never even been to New Orleans, so I have no photos to add to the store of what was there. I have no idea whether New Orleans will be rebuilt, although it’s obvious it will never be the same again. I appreciate people who say that now building codes can be developed and enforced to withstand hurricanes, but worry about what the costs of those buildings will do to the poor who already can’t afford reasonable accomodation.
It seems large parts of the damage and destruction were preventable, much of the pain and horror could have been ameliorated. What does this do to the people who have seen it, experienced it? What sort of nightmares will they relive in their dreams and pass on to their children? And what sort of lessons will be drawn? Will the systems to hold back the water be designed and built with the same determination as in Holland after the massive floods in 1953 that killed almost 2000 people? (60% of the Dutch population lives on land that is under sea level). I can’t help thinking of that old song that somehow still seems to ask many of the right questions — “The answers, my friend, are blowing in the wind, the answers are blowing in the wind”.