An Unwanted Anniversary August 29, 2007
New Orleans and the Gulf Coast Post-Katrina: And Now Some Good News
Hurricane Katrina officially is now two years past, but misery and damaged communities are ever present. On the second anniversary of this devastating blow to the Crescent City and the Mississippi/Alabama Gulf Coast, local citizens and many paused for a moment of silence and reflection on the impact of the largest natural disaster in the history of the United States. In New Orleans itself, there have been great signs of progress in certain areas (most of which were not heavily flooded) such as the French Quarter, Convention Center and the Warehouse District, and extending into uptown. Nevertheless, on the other hand, many areas remain clearly affected and appear to be wastelands with closed businesses, abandoned houses, trash, and debris, especially where the flood waters and winds did the most damage. In some areas basic services such as strong vibrant public schools, timely public transportation, childcare, and medical services are in a limited supply or severely lacking. Entire neighborhoods, and the lives they represented, may never return.
Locally, one of the more difficult areas to return to any sense of normalcy has been the health care infrastructure. Two years after Katrina applied its crippling blow, the Charity Hospital, now known as the Medical Center of Louisiana at New Orleans, and at one time the second largest hospital in the United States, remains shuttered. Furthermore, many private physicians have either not returned to establish their practices or those who have returned are finding that without an adequate population of insured patients they must close or reassess their missions.
Even more distressingly, crime and homicides have effectively overloaded the heavily burdened New Orleans Police Department, with the month of August registering 29 homicides in 31 days. Exhausted detectives attempt to function under a crushing case load and several police stations in the more damaged areas are still housed in trailers. Unfortunately, crime is not limited to drug dealing, gang wars, or retribution. Even innocent citizens trying to rebuild their homes are at times targeted, along with their workers.
But now for the good news…. The Association of Black Cardiologists, Inc. (ABC) was cited in a positive USA Today article, August 23, 2007, as contributing to the success of the St. Thomas Health Center Clinic. Through the donations of ABC members, the general public, and good corporate citizens, ABC contributed over $100,000 to purchase cardiac ultrasound and stress test equipment. The USA Today highlighted St. Thomas since Drs. Don Erwin, Mary Abell, and staff have been one of the leading positive lights in the reconstruction of the severely damaged health care infrastructure. Originally, St. Thomas served a local housing development, but now is a haven for many people who were previously middle class and have lost their homes, jobs, and medical insurance due to Katrina. Indeed, without St. Thomas some of the more sophisticated primary care and diagnostic services including digital mammography, echocardiography, and ophthalmology would be almost impossible to access for the many uninsured and underinsured New Orleanians. The work of the ABC Health Outreach Prevention and Empowerment (HOPE) Project has greatly assisted St. Thomas in its mission and will continue to do so as this health center becomes a new model for care, and one that will make a significant contribution to nullifying and overcoming the devastating effects of Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath.
In the Lower 9th Ward only a small percentage of the population has returned, but the local Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Charter School for Science and Technology is now open and was celebrated on a visit by President George W. Bush on Katrina’s most recent anniversary. The little known story is that much of the optimism and good feelings related to the opening of the local charter school in the Lower 9th Ward hide the intense struggle which local leaders and neighborhood residents had to overcome in order to ensure at least one educational outlet for the children of the area. St. Thomas Health Clinic and the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Charter School are positive outcomes in what has been a national disgrace in terms of the ability of our society to respond to the disaster and its aftermath.
Along the Mississippi Gulf Coast there also have been uplifting stories with areas being rebuilt from the damages wrought by the 30 foot storm surge in areas such as Bay St. Louis, Biloxi, and Pass Christian. Recently a two mile bridge which had been destroyed by the hurricane was reopened and the area, described as ground zero, appears to have been partially successfully rebuilt due to the generosity of the American people and the wise use of governmental funds.
While we should celebrate the beneficial occurrences at this two year anniversary, there remains the harsh reality that many citizens, especially in the New Orleans area, feel that they have not been treated fairly and that the local, state, and federal responses remain sorely lacking. Progress abounds, but obstacles remain. The efforts of the people of New Orleans and the Gulf Coast to recover will not be successfully completed in a sprint, but will take the sustained effort of a marathon. Perhaps on the third year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina even more positive news will be available.
If you desire to contribute to the support of the HOPE Project, we remain willing and respectfully grateful for your donations and support. Your donations can be made by selecting the button below or upper left corner or by phone at 1-800-753-9222.
Sincerely,
Keith Ferdinand, MD, FACC
Director, Health Outreach Prevention & Empowerment (HOPE) Project
Association of Black Cardiologists, Inc.
5355 Hunter Road
Atlanta, GA 30349
404-201-6632 - office
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