Reply #11: I am a Katrina survivor [View All]

[DeltaLady]

What I lost in the twinkling of an eye was my home and 57 years of accumulated belongings and memories. I lost my support group, friends who had been as close as family for over 30 years. I lost my neighborhood, my medical records(I have major health issues), my doctors, my traditions and my city. My daughter lost her home and my father, his. We were all so close in every way including geographically and now we are scattered in the winds of change. I know I'll never be the same, and I doubt I will ever feel "whole" again.

I owned my own home and did have flood insurance, however it is not sufficient to rebuild due to inflationary prices which come on the heels of a disaster. Applying to FEMA for additional assistance (which they are supposed to offer for losses beyond flood insurance) has been a waiting game and I'm still waiting. I can't even raise my house as FEMA has yet to give us new guidelines for elevations BUT HAS TOLD US THEY MUST BE FOLLOWED OR WE CAN BE DROPPED FROM THE FLOOD INSURANCE PROGRAM. As of this writing, they are putting us off until March AND application must be made to the state before April. (a lose-lose proposition)

To survive I am sharing a house five hours from my home. I don't drive, I relied on public transit all my life. Now I find myself living in virtual isolation an hours drive from the nearest city. If my health were such that I could work, I'd have no way to get to a job. I'm trying to get my license at this late stage of life, but if I spend money for a vehicle I'll have that much less to rebuild my home.

Want to trade places with me? How about for a single day? You don't know us and you don't know what we've been through. It makes me want to go to sleep and just never wake up again.