Greetings from the Katrina Diaspora. I am one of approximately 250,000 New Orleanians

who evacuated during the threat of Hurricane Katrina and has yet to return to the Gulf Coast. I live in northern California with my two children, near an adult son from my previous marriage. I am a Hurricane Katrina survivor, though not in the literal sense. I did not stay in New Orleans for the hellish nightmare, which followed the “Storm of the Century.” My husband did. However, I am a survivor of the Katrina aftermath and the long, long road to recovery.

Rev. Linda Boston, Rev. Dwight Webster, CC Campbell-Rock

      I left my native city, children in tow, on August 28, 2007, the day before it became Lake New Orleans. Our exodus brought us to Kentwood, Louisiana, then to Pleasanton, California by way of Beaumont and Houston, Texas.

      We arrived dirty and weary on September 10, 2007. I refused to leave Louisiana, until I heard from my husband, whose evacuation path took him to the Superdome, a friend’s two story home, a departure area near the Convention Center, an airplane ride to a shelter in Tullahoma, Tennessee, up to California to be with the family, temporarily, and then back to New Orleans to begin to rebuild our home.

      Since my arrival, various communities in California embraced us, helped us, and advocated for us to be properly compensated for the damage we sustained, as a result of what Berkeley scientists and engineers call the “worst mechanical disaster” in America history.

      After observing the plight of my family and other displaced New Orleanians in the Bay Area and hearing the opinions of locals, pro and con, I’ve come to the conclusion that there are several myths and misunderstandings that often block our path to full recovery.

      Myth #1: New Orleans was a poor city, with a majority of residents living in poverty.

      Fact: Approximately 30 percent of households with children were below the poverty level.

      Myth #2: Most New Orleanians rented their homes and had few resources to begin with.

      Fact: In the Ninth Ward, 60 percent of residents owned their homes and the majority owned their homes in eastern New Orleans, Gentilly, and Lakeview communities.

      Myth #3: Hurricane evacuees are no different than any others who facing dire circumstances and conditions, i.e., homelessness, poverty, hard times in the Bay Area.

      Fact: Hurricane evacuees were under a federal, state, and local mandatory evacuation that required them to leave the Gulf Coast. Most left with just the clothes on their backs, lost everything in the disaster, including their jobs, and landed in unfamiliar environments.

      Myth #4: Hurricane Katrina was the worst natural disaster in American history.

      Fact: Hurricane Katrina did not cause the massive devastation that occurred in New Orleans and other parts of Louisiana. The improperly built and unattended levees broke (in 47 places, 5 major breaches, along 123 miles of levees) caused massive flooding.

      Myth #5: Nearly two years later, the city of New Orleans is recovering, some houses are habitable, and it is all right to return to the “Big Easy.”

      Fact: Berkeley scientists and engineers say the levees are still not safe and will never be until a new, accurate design that can protect against a Category Five hurricane is built. Army Corps of Engineers’ projected deadline to have this completed is 2010.

      Fact: People living in New Orleans are experiencing a high rate of respiratory problems, increased deaths among the elderly, increased homicides, and the infrastructure of the flooded areas (80 percent of the city) remains largely untouched.

      Myth #6: FEMA and the federal government took care of the evacuees and they should be stable by now.

      Fact: Many evacuees were disqualified for unreasonable reasons. For example, if a family was together during the evacuation and later separated, only one family member continued to receive assistance.

      In some cases, FEMA declared applicants unqualified, even after requested documents were sent and needs established. In other cases, FEMA declared applicants ineligible, even when documentation showed otherwise. In those circumstances, if the applicant didn’t constantly appeal the decision, ask for a supervisor’s review, or seek political intervention, they didn’t get the help for which they qualified.

      I’ve seen the faces and heard the cries of despair. I shed a few, too. But hope springs eternal. I know that my faith is the wind beneath my wings and those of many others.

      We are not completely out of the disaster. For us, Katrina is not over. We are recovering, but slowly. Many are still in need of direct services and resources to stabilize our lives.

      What makes my journey in exile joyous and divine is the response of fellow human beings to the human suffering brought by the disaster. It was and continues to be everyday, compassionate individuals and groups that have made the difference in our recover.

      Groups such as Lutheran Social Services of Northern California, Catholic Charities, Volunteers of America-Bay Area, the Salvation Army, the San Francisco Bay View newspaper, SF KARE, KARE, the American Red Cross, Katrina Aid Today, Hurricane Evacuee Council of the Bay Area, Survivors for Survivors, Inc., area schools and churches, and countless individuals, have restored my faith in humanity.

      We, hurricane survivors, are standing on their shoulders; your shoulders. You continue to do what government has not. You have welcomed us and are helping us in our long-term recovery efforts. For that, we are immensely grateful.

      -C.C. Campbell-Rock