The Aftermath of Hurricane Katrina

http://www.hurricanekatrina.com/

I remember when Hurricane Katrina hit. The summer of 2005, the month of my 16th birthday and I knew already that I was most definitely anti-Bush. And even more so after this. The devastating consequences of this category 5 hurricane highlighted (in the worst possible way) how unprepared the US Government was for such a disaster and it resulted in thousands of lives being lost. Today, survivors of the of the disaster in predominately African-American New Orleans, as well as friends and loved ones who were effected, are still bitter about the lack of response they got when the hurricane first hit.

The storm effected many areas in the south, but worse hit was the city of New Orleans in the state of Louisiana. 80% of the city was under water due to the replacement levees that had broken letting the water flood in. A relief effort was eventually put in to action and a telethon was held in which Kanye West infamously said 'George Bush hates black people'. Not an accurate statement, but it was one that was felt by many as it had taken such a long time for the government to provide aid to the victims of the hurricane in New Orleans and the surrounding areas and additionally trying to recover what was left of the city. Many questioned that if it had been a predominately white area, would George Bush have acted faster?

The website I have chosen, Hurricane Katrina.com, is a site that provides information about the hurricane, but more so about how you can help. There are tabs that provides pictures, and stories and thanks to the servicemen and women who helped in the relief effort. It doesn't focus so much on the hate and anger that was felt afterwards, but more on how it's devastating effects are still felt 4 and 1/2 years later. Unfortunately, what you do notice is the majority, if not all the people who are in the Katrina pictures are African American, the minority who suffered such a dark past in the South, which leads one to sympathise with those who believed George Bush had failed them- a Republican from an unforgiving and very conservative state. It certainly gives me something to think about.