Posted On: February 13, 2006, 1:30 am CST

Posted By: Rose

I am 47 yrs old, born n raised in southeastern part of Louisiana. This is and will always be MY HOME. By choice, like another person posted previously. There is some type of natural disaster all over this world. There is no way to get out of harms way...So, to the ones that say "Why don't you move?" or "Why do you stay n rebuild in same area that we know is prone for hurricanes/tornadoes???"...It is the way we were raised, Southern born n proud of it. Sure, alot of folks don't and can't afford insurance for their homes. There are alot of sick n worried people that are on "pins n needles" when hurricane season is approaching. Not only then, but when there is a sudden thunderstorm and a tornado is spun out of it...This is what you call a "Natural tragedy"...It doesn't matter where you live. You make the best of what you have and do the best you can. We can't foresee the future, but we can do something about today, the present. Let's get together and help one another. Enuff pointing fingers at this person/group and join together as humans/neighbors/families and rebuild our communities back. Sure there are those money-hungry people that are fraudulent n gained access to monies from a natural disaster but not all the people should suffer from this. We have a society of different religions, ethnic backgrounds, financial status, family origins, and lots of factors here in Louisiana, Mississippi, along the Gulf Coast. There are wealthy, some on medium scale of income bracket and then the lower income range of peoples here that we as citizens of the South need to take into account and realize what each can deal with and handle under such circumstances. I also feel any rebuilding done should be done with the utmost scale associated with strength of the structure and safetiness of the dwelling after completed. Following a better type of building code that is designed to withstand a major category tragedy. Sure the flooding can't be prevented in the lowlying areas. But have a plan made how to deal with this in case of emergency such as has been mentioned and also done during Katrina to get to higher grounds until help can get to you. Also, I feel that certain areas should be completely bulldozed off, from what I have seen on the footage showed of these areas and new buildings replacing older ones. As for as the levees in New Orleans, I feel it is not being constructed to withstand another hit from an act of nature such as another hurricane no matter the strength of it. The levee is being poorly "patched up". I am no engineer and from what I have seen and heard, this is what I feel. There is going to be another CAtegory 3, 4, or 5 Hurricane that is going to affect our area again. And I pray that we are better prepared all the way around for the "NEXT BIG ONE"...And hopefully our public officials will have a better grip on getting HELP to the areas that need it the most sooner. And also THE PEOPLE BE MORE AWARE OF THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING PREPARED...God Bless all the individuals, groups, and organizations that extended their help out for the victims of all tragedies. And let us learn by Katrina just "how we can better prepare ourselves"...God Bless All...So, Let US, the citizens of the Southern States, make our goals to be better prepared for this coming hurricane season. Let me rephrase that, LET US BE PREPARED AT ALL TIMES WITHIN OUR MEANS FOR ANY DISASTER AT ALL TIMES...Because WE NEVER know what tomorrow is going to have in store for us...Take care all n God Bless !!!!