Remembering Hurricane Katrina

I had my surgical procedure on my back yesterday (everything's fine) so I wasn't able to post about this but I think it's very important we remember that yesterday was the two-year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina.

Two years later, only 60 percent of the population has returned to New Orleans. The city has the highest murder rate in the country. Thousands of families are still displaced, living with relatives or in FEMA trailers. I learned yesterday that the FEMA trailers were created to house families forjust a few short weeks and a component of their building material can be hazardous to the health if people stay in the trailers for long periods of time - as has been done in New Orleans. Only three hospitals are open in New Orleans and most of the people living in the city can't get insurance - the sick keeps getting sicker and the death toll continues to rise.

The millions of dollars to fix the levees have not eradicated the problem - New Orleans is still vulnerable and at risk for another traumatic natural disaster.

It's important we remember the strength of the people that survived this event and the heroes that helped them to do it. These people have shown incredible resilience and I truly admire them.

This month the magazines of Time Inc. (Sports Illustrated, Time, Fortune, People, etc.) are featuring a special edition entitled, "Returning to New Orleans." While the article are somewhat interesting, what I found most inspiring was the pictures. Like they say, " A picture's worth a thousand words." Check it out if you have some time: Hurricane Katrina