First Christmas Back After Katrina!

Video entry for:
youtube.com/group/luarnalubre

We celebrated our first Christmas at my cousin's home which had been devastated by
winds and flooding from Katrina. The wrath of Katrina also affected me - my house was damaged and my car destroyed but miracously the flooding missed us.

The following is a moving open letter from my friend and Louisiana native who also suffered significant damage to his home. His family was displaced for a period of time while he remained in New Orleans area participating in the recovery effort:




Happy New Year!
I know we all very busy getting our lives back in order after the holiday season, but I ask you to take a moment and view the attached video.
This is a very close friend of mine whose house was damaged in Katrina. She lives within a mile of our Katrinaed house. She is a single mom, with a significant other, had insurance and whose livelihood was as a hair stylist. She comes from a strong support group of friends and family, but the message that I'm relaying to you is how long it has taken her to get back to what Chris Rose, our local columnist calls the New Normal.

Just think what many others are going through to try to make it in what most of our Nation refers to as a Dead City. We are not dead, just witness the latest Sugar Bowl, upcoming BCS Bowl, the NBA All Star Game, of course, some hate it because we celebrated Mardi Gras "right after Katrina- hey guys that was months after the most destructive storm ever to hit the US- and you don't understand, but we will have another Mardi Gras and another and another, and our Jazz Fest, just to name a few International Events that we host for you.

I know we have our politicians, but that goes all the way to the top. I know we have incompetent leaders, but we did something with our last election, we tried to get those who cannot lead out and get those we hope can in. We're stuck with the rest until our next elections, and I believe we will continue to make the right changes.

You have been very loving, gracious, helpful and caring. I and we thank you for that. The problem is that it is still a very bad situation here. No, not for our events, Bourbon Street and the other areas that you see when you visit, unless you actually see what we're living with. But when you see this video, think about the hundreds of thousands, that's right, Hundreds of Thousands, more unfortunate residents that do not have the strong support and financial mechanism to get back to the New Normal in just 28 months.

I was fortunate enough to give "Behind the Scenes Katrina Tours" to a lot of Department of Energy personal and decision makers in August. Everyone â€" and the major tour was attended by over 120 people and personal tours to decision makers numbers over 30, came away with a feeling of "this is not right!" This is massive! This shouldn't be like this (at that time it was approaching 24 months).

Of course,everyone wants to help. And, like you,they have said "This is too big, and how can one person make a difference?"

You may not have read this far, but if you have, let me give you some suggestions. When you think about us, drop your individual elected official an email â€" it's really easy to get their emails, and just ask them if they still remember what we're going through.
Or, comedown. Support our and your culture. Eat at our wonderful locally owned restaurants (I know several that are digging way into their savings to keep afloat, until the New Normal brings back business like pre'Katrina). Support our musicians, our heritage, and our culture.

Help us stay somewhere in the headlines. Not our bad side, but our American stick-to-itiveness side. There are many wonderful things happening here and you know that New Orleansand The Gulf Coast Region are very important to, not only our future, but the future of our generations to come.

We need your help, or pretty soon, we will be your neighbors. Because, like my friend in the video, it has been hard, we have been struggling, we want to make it happen, but it is taking too long. I believe we have turned the corner. '08 should be great. And it will because of you.

Now, enjoy the video, Happy New Year and let me know when you are coming down.

http://www.myspace.com/katrinabehindthescenes

Bruce

Celtic Music by: Luar Na Lubre
http://es.youtube.com/watch?v=d-xaCxwww5A

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[michaelwright999]

Your all Ok now ?

[MannyBei]

We're doing well...thanks for your concern.

[wlmtopsportsman]

What a difference! Ya'll did a great job of getting the house back together. FANTASTIC VIDEO!

[MannyBei]

It was some mop up job...thanks!

[Lsecret2]

yay thts the spirit! i'm glad you have your home back :)

[MannyBei]

Thank you! We expect by Spring to be fully back...

[TuRmoiLxx]

glad to know you guys are ok! ;D

[xREDxRINGSx]

you have a beautiful house, hope for the best for you guys

[TheLeatheryman]

You people rock!

[michaelwright999]

Well when these thing happen, Theres only one thing you can do is help each other