Years after hurricanes devastated parts of the U.S., help still needed

After the devastation by Katrina and Rita in 2005, many students, including some from Cal Poly, spent their breaks helping to rebuild. In following years, their numbers dwindled as the images of the destruction fade and are replaced by problems involving wars, economy and environment.

While it is true that many areas have been rebuilt, as a frequent visitor, I can tell you that the results are “spotty” at best. Yes, New Orleans has the Quarter and Garden District back for the tourists, but those areas were barely damaged. Many neighborhoods are still in bad shape. There are many that are concrete slabs (with, if the owner is lucky, a FEMA trailer) and many schools are boarded up or in need of repair. Similar stories can be found all along the coast.

Without placing blame (there’s plenty to go around), it seems to me that if we let one area of the country down, we let the whole country down. (Think if it were Sacramento with broken levees!)

So please consider spending time with one of the organizations dedicated to rebuilding and revitalizing the wonderful city of New Orleans and/or other coastal areas.

Here is just a small sample of relevant Web sites:

1) www.stbernardproject.org/v158/

(Click on the “community overview” to find links to a graphic of the time-sequential flooding of New Orleans and a video of the rescue efforts.)

2) Habitat for Humanity is at www.habitat-nola.org/.

3) Brad Pitt’s organization is doing wonderful things in the devasted 9th Ward. Try www.makeitrightnola.org/.

A.J. Buffa

Emeritus physics professor