There is no manual about how to rebuild an American city.
Thousands of residents and volunteers like Denise Barrett of Lynnwood, who are rebuilding New Orleans, are figuring it out as they go.
A year later, the wounds from Hurricane Katrina are still visible, said Barrett, director of the Mercy Corps Gulf Coast Hurricane Recovery Program.
People are searching for money to rebuild their homes, new jobs to pay the bills, schools for their children and peace of mind. In some areas, houses and shops are still vacant and debris is piled in the streets.
“There is so much on the news and I still believe you do not know what is happening here until you come here,” said Barrett. “I would encourage anybody to come down and to really take in the magnitude of the disaster and the recovery.”
But she also can see signs of healing and hope in New Orleans, where she has lived since the hurricane. Neighborhood associations are taking charge of reconstruction projects. Non-profit groups like Mercy Corps helped revive summer camps and activities for kids.
“There is light at the end of the tunnel, but maybe the tunnel is longer then people thought,” she said.
The biggest challenge is people are depressed and lack hope, she said. They are anxious about the future. Will the levees ever be strong enough to protect the city? Will homeowners get enough from personal savings, insurance claims or government relief programs to rebuild?
“You feel that,” Barrett said. “I wish I could wave a magic wand and help this area transform. It is going to be a long process. But people are resilient and if they can tap into that resilience they will see a way out of this.”
Many people are still “on the fence” about whether to rebuild or move out because those questions are still unanswered, Barrett said. She noted that New Orleans has yet to finish a reconstruction plan.
Hurricane Katrina and the rebuilding that followed underscores the need for a national organization, agency or mechanism that can “respond effectively and efficiently to this kind of disaster,” Barrett said.
In many places, neighborhood associations, church groups and nonprofits like Mercy Corps are stepping up to fill people’s needs, she said.
Since 1979, Mercy Corps has provided $1 billion in assistance to people in 82 nations. The Portland-based nonprofit group employs 3,200 people worldwide, who offer emergency relief and other services.
Barrett and her “small, but mighty” staff of 12 people offer technical expertise, encouragement and grant money to residents and community leaders. In the Reclaim program, for instance, Mercy Corps is helping residents “deconstruct” their houses and salvage materials to reuse or sell instead of tearing the houses down and throwing everything away. The group also distributed about $1 million in grants to revive children’s summer activities and camps.
“People here really call New Orleans home,” said Barrett. “They really have deep roots. They really do want to come home.”
Barrett said she appreciates the countless number of volunteers from around the world — including South Snohomish County — who keep coming to the Gulf Coast to help. The need for manpower, monetary donations and materials also persists, she said. She encourages people to volunteer or donate through organizations that they trust.
South County residents should stay involved in rebuilding New Orleans because Western Washington is vulnerable to earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanoes and fierce winter storms, Barrett said. People need to be better prepared, she said.
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