By the one year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, we thought there would have been more progress in the reconstruction of the Gulf Coast.
One of the main reasons why progress has been slow is the emphasis on New Orleans. Many national media outlets focused their attention on a famous city instead of retaining journalistic integrity. That is, the Coast deserved far more coverage than what it received.
Another reason for the slow progress is the lack of resources. It’s not that people don’t want to help. Many do. But what can they do when they have nothing to work with?
However, the Coast handled its destruction better than New Orleans. Mississippians weren’t exactly prepared for the disaster, but state politicians have stepped up to help the ravaged area. Gov. Haley Barbour fought for funding in Washington, D.C., and many people who once hated him can respect him for his fight.
On the other hand, the federal government responded terribly to the situation. Unfortunately, this trend may continue because FEMA may take away the trailers that people desperately need in about six months.
And the media are still ignoring the Coast to an extent. Legitimate stories concerning Iraq and the Israeli/Lebanese conflict have overshadowed what’s happening in Mississippi, but so have stories about JonBenet Ramsey and Natalie Holloway.
What does this entail for other Mississippians? We should not forget our fellow citizens on the Coast. Some could become homeless when FEMA removes their trailers, and struggles that we may never understand continue today.
But in some ways, recovery can be measured. Unemployment near the Coast has dropped by 50 percent since the hurricane, casinos are coming back and new jobs are waiting for people who have prayed for them.
In other ways, little has changed, unfortunately. If you visited certain areas of the Coast, it would almost seem as if the storm just happened yesterday. And the current hurricane season isn’t over yet. The people are more vulnerable now that they’re down, so hopefully they will be safe during these next few months.
Don’t ignore the citizens of the Coast. They’ve already been neglected by the federal government and the media. At the very least, we should think of a small way that we can support the displaced. Whether it be a donation, physical labor or words of encouragement, anything that recognizes the Coast’s plight would be helpful.
The Reflector editorial board is made up of opinion editor Jed Pressgrove, news editor C.J. LeMaster, entertainment editor Aaron Burdette, sports editor R.J. Morgan, online editor Sara McAdory, managing editor Ross Dellenger and editor in chief Tyler Stewart.