Katrina survivors struggle years after hurricane

A documentary report from New Orleans presents voices of Katrina survivors still fighting for survival.

KATRINA VICTIMS FILE 489,000 CLAIMS AGAINST FED. GOVT.

Roughly 489,000 claims have been filed against the federal government over damage from the failure of levees and flood walls following Hurricane Katrina – and one of the plaintiffs is seeking damages in the quadrillions. Seriously.


According to the Associated Press, a person from Baker, La. is seeking $3,014,170,389,176,410, which amounts to a little over $3 quadrillion dollars, to compensate for troubles ever since the Aug. 29, 2005, hurricane rolled through.


Of roughly 489,000 total claims, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers said it has received 247 for at least $1 billion apiece, including the one for $3 quadrillion.


Some residents may have grossly exaggerated their claims to send a message to the corps, which has accepted blame for poorly designing the failed levees.

"I understand the anger," Scott said. "I also understand it's a negotiating tactic: Aim high and negotiate down."


Daniel Becnel, Jr., a lawyer who said his clients have filed more than 60,000 claims, said measuring Katrina's devastation in dollars and cents is a nearly impossible task.


"There's no way on earth you can figure it out," he said. "The trauma these people have undergone is unlike anything that has occurred in the history of our country."


The corps released zip codes, but no names, for the 247 claims of at least $1 billion. The list includes a $77 billion claim by the city of New Orleans. Fourteen involve a wrongful death claim. Fifteen were filed by businesses, including several insurance companies.

KATRINA CREATES CHANGES IN NEW ORLEANS POLITICS

Whites to take control of city council.

As a result of the recent local elections, the New Orleans City Council will soon have a white majority for the first time in over 20 years.

The election results are a clear and dramatic indication of the displacement of the city's predominantly Black population by Hurricane Katrina which struck the city in 2005.

Estimates vary but it is believed by most experts that as many as half of the Blacks displaced by Hurricane Katrina have been unable to return to the city and establish new residences.

The election results also confirm initial fears that powerful political and economic forces would take advantage of the displacements to turn New Orleans into a smaller, higher income and whiter city. For example, virtually none of the reconstruction projects planned by the city to benefit lower income Blacks has gotten off the drawing board. In addition, those African Americans who have managed to re-establish themselves in the city may have lost faith in the political process.

In the Nov. 17 elections, for example, the 52,614 people casting ballots was down sharply from the 113,000 who voted during the 2006 elections for mayor. In addition, 29,700 whites voted compared to only 22,900 Blacks casting ballots.

As a result, veteran white politician Jacquelyn Clarkson was able to defeat Black candidate Cynthia Willard-Lewis in the contest for an at-large seat on the city council.

The Council now has four white and three Black members.