By Anna Meany

Recently, we recognized the fifth anniversary of Hurricane Katrina – a tragedy that devastated the Gulf Coast, flooded 80 percent of New Orleans and killed over 1,800 people. The BP oil spill and the anniversary of Katrina have brought news stations back to the gulf coast, highlighting the need for action in New Orleans and all along the coast. While employment opportunities and local celebrations have returned to the region, areas of New Orleans remain uninhabitable, due to lack of both rebuilding and funding.

The Lower Ninth Ward of New Orleans was the area most affected by Katrina. It sits directly on the Industrial Canal Levee that failed on Aug. 30, 2005.

Because of the anniversary, several news agencies ran highlights and network specials on the event. But is that all it is – a news story? What about the people, businesses and lives still affected? Where are they in all of this?

The Lower Ninth Ward has a history of being vulnerable to hurricanes. In 1965, Hurricane Betsey destroyed another levee on the Industrial Canal and flooded the neighborhood.

The area is a scar that is painfully present in New Orleans. Inland areas have been rebuilt and continue to see economic growth. But restoration of the Lower Ninth Ward is at a standstill. The renowned French Quarter received less damage and has already been re-established as a popular tourist site. Funds intended for general restoration were used on the French Quarter – funds that should have been spent on the reconstruction of homes. The disparity between areas of town that have experienced growth and the Lower Ninth Ward is astonishing. The latter is an area that has not been touched since the hurricane destroyed it five years ago.

How can we depend on our federal government to aid in the rebuilding of cities when funds aren’t properly distributed? The outpour of monetary donations for the relief effort was incredible.  After the disaster, people assumed that their donations would go towards the rebuilding of homes damaged. But funds were not allocated appropriately.

The suffering of the city of New Orleans began with Katrina and continued with the lack of organization of resources. While responding to the hurricane, FEMA sent minimal amounts of food, medicine and rescue teams. I can’t imagine the frustration and suffering of civilians during the initial confusion after the disaster.

Years later, it pains us to return to the Gulf Coast and witness what damage we have yet to repair. How embarrassing that we have not encouraged the reconstruction of an entire neighborhood? What sort of normalcy can the people of New Orleans return to if their neighborhood is in shambles and their houses sit decrepit?

The catastrophic effects of Katrina left tens of thousands homeless. Projects like Make It Right and Rebuilding Together New Orleans work to rebuild homes that were destroyed. Many of the programs provided short-term relief, housing families in trailers with what belongings they could salvage. Trailers are also used as classrooms for schools that aren’t fully restored. How will New Orleans encourage its natives to move back, without established schools, hospitals and police stations? CNN estimates that only 4,000 of the 18,000 natives have returned. Many have not even visited the city they used to call home. Ray Nagin, former mayor of the city, believes the population will return in time.

The issue of New Orleans’ Lower Ninth Ward is one that displays the lack of order, priority and concern of the federal government and emergency response efforts. But when disaster strikes foreign lands, the response is quite different. We rush to the aid of others, but let our own victims suffer five years later.

It doesn’t take long for newscasters to stop reporting and for the general public to forget about the ongoing suffering of victims. When not being forced to watch images and video clips, Americans often forget. When we stop caring, who will donate time and money to help those that are still homeless and displaced five years later? Countless civilians, church groups and nonprofit organizations donate what they can, but we lack a larger response. The Lower Ninth Ward has not been adequately cared for since the disaster. This raises the question: Who is responsible for the people and the lives forever impacted in the Lower Ninth Ward?