Hurricane Recovery Work Continues Despite Fading Spotlight
Officials in the U.S. Gulf Coast fear the nation's attention is being drawn away from the hurricane-affected states only ten weeks after the devastation.
Officials in the U.S. Gulf Coast fear the nation's attention is being drawn away from the hurricane-affected states only ten weeks after the devastation.
"We feel like we are citizens of the United States who are nearly forgotten," said Louisiana Governor Kathleen Babineaux Blanco to CNN.
While bills lay stalled and Congress' hands remain full with other issues including Iraq, deficit reduction and the Supreme Court, church and relief groups continue unprecedented recovery works in the Gulf States.
Get Our Latest News for FREE
The United Methodist Church is setting up six storm relief/recovery stations throughout Louisiana to offer assistance to victims within a close range.
"Although our facilities were blessed to virtually be spared from the devastation, the area surrounding the church for miles was severely impacted," said the Rev. Lance Eden, pastor of First Street United Methodist Church now also functioning as one of the stations, according to the United Methodist News Service.
Each station is manned with a director, a construction director, a case management director and a part-time administrative assistant who work with volunteer teams. Most areas are still in the relief phase, according to Jim Bailey, director of the Slidell United Methodist Storm Relief/Recovery Station at Aldersgate United Methodist Church.
Recent reports state there are still 6,644 people missing after Hurricane Katrina. Most, however, are said to be alive although government record-keeping efforts have not kept up with their new locations.
As the United Methodist Committee on Relief works with the Louisiana Annual Conference to establish the stations, the government is still said to be committed to rebuilding efforts.
"The president is committed to rebuilding the Gulf Coast," said Donald Powell, President Bush's liaison for the reconstruction effort, according to The New York Times. "He is engaged."
