When Katrina struck, it exposed a rather serious deficiency in Emergency Response to Natural Disasters, and it seems it really hasn’t improved much, since.
The CDC reported that over 500 Trailers, being used by Katrina Survivors has way high levels of formaldehyde fumes. The CDC urged FEMA to remove those who are elderly, suffer from Asthma, or have children. While it should be noted, the number tested trailers are about 519, there are roughly THIRTY FIVE THOUSAND TRAILERS IN USE STILL.
That is the number of Katrina / Rite survivors who are still being housed by FEMA, HOW MANY YEARS AFTER?
The Centers for Disease Control has said fumes from 519 tested trailer and mobile homes in Louisiana and Mississippi were on average about five times what people are exposed to in most modern homes. (source)
While the high levels are worrisome, does cause issues, I think perhaps the most troubling aspect of this story, is that there are 35,000 Trailers currently IN USE. That doesn’t mean its 35000 people, but more in actual numbers. I find it amazing, that a nation that can spend a Billion Dollars A Day to fight Terrorists, can’t find sufficient money or will, to HOUSE ITS OWN PEOPLE.
I mean this is what one expects from a third world country, and yet look at the devastation in Indonesia, from the Floods, the Earthquakes, and yet they seem to have done a better job than America. It just isn’t right.
What I find deplorable, is the lack of Media Attention either. I mean, they can spend hours talking about Heath Ledger’s death, about Britanny Spears and her insane behavior, but they can’t spend time discussing the horror that still is KATRINA?
Does no one give a damn?
