Bush Heads to Gulf Coast, Still Misleading on How Little He Sent to Rebuild

AP reported on Friday that President Bush intended to head back to the Gulf Coast this week and visit with survivors on the second anniversary Hurricane Katrina and the man-made disaster that followed. He will see what little progress has been made in some areas two years after his administration horrible bungled the disaster response and he made a commitment in a national speech from Jackson Square to "do whatever it takes" to rebuild and help families to return, confronting long standing issues poverty and race to really restore the region.

Fast forward two years and we hear a whole different story from the Bush administration.

When confronted with the failing Katrina recovery, President Bush and his various spokespeople continue to insist the federal government has done its job. The proof, they say, is "the big check" Washington has allegedly signed for the Gulf Coast, allegedly more than $114 billion.

Chris Kromm, executive director of the Institute for Southern Studies and I just issued a report to get to the truth and weed our way through the White House talking point on Gulf Coast rebuilding and why alleged federal funds had not made a greater impact. You can read it as part of the report Blueprint for Gulf Renewal. We found less than $35 billion in federal funds actually available to rebuild the region. Most of the $114 billion Bush administration officials refer to was for the emergency response, not to help rebuild the region. Still the White house continues to mislead the public about our country's investment in rebuilding the Gulf Coast and New Orleans to avoid its obligations to aid in recovery and help families and communities rebuild.

The region suffered $150 billion in damages, more damage than the September 11th attacks, Hurricane Andrew and the Northridge Earthquake combined, and displaced over 400,000 people (the largest displacement in U.S. history) yet our federal government has relied on old systems and paradigms meant to repair damage from much smaller disasters.

Even more shocking: less than 42% of the money set aside for rebuilding has even been spent, much less gotten to those most in need. For example:

* Washington set aside $16.7 billion for Community Development Block Grants, one of the two biggest sources of rebuilding funds. But as of March 2007, only $1 billion -- just 6 percent -- had been spent, almost all of it in Mississippi. Following bad publicity, another $3.8 billion was spent between March and July -- but 70 percent of the funds remain unused.

* The other major pot of money for rebuilding, the Federal Emergency Management Agency's Public Assistance Program, received $8.2 billion. But only $3.4 billion was meant for non-emergency projects like fixing up schools and hospitals, and only a fraction has been spent.

* After the failure of federal levees flooded 80 percent of New Orleans, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers received $8.4 billion to restore storm defenses. But as of July 2007, less than 20 percent of the funds have been spent, even as the Corps admits that levee repair won't be completed until as late as 2011.

Even the money allocated will likely come nowhere near the cost of rebuilding the Gulf Coast. For example, the $3.4 billion FEMA has available to rebuild local public infrastructure would only cover about one-eighth of the damage suffered in Louisiana alone. But this money is spread across five states -- Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas--and covers damage from three 2005 hurricanes, Katrina, Rita and Wilma.

The White House has not done enough to make sure the funds get to the places that need it quickly and efficiently, instead choosing to take a hands off attitude leaving itself in a position to point fingers at overwhelmed state and local officials who have had to deal with significant federal red tape while rebuilding their communities from the ground up without the logistical and operations help of their federal government.

The final result has been a slowed rebuilding, putting the burden on the storm's survivors to find a way to return, rebuild their homes and help support their neighbors in rebuilding their communities, largely without the help of federal funding. Civic groups like ACORN and churches across the region have been left with the job of rebuilding communities, filling in where their governments have left off. Their charitable good works are definitely something to behold but because the the historic scale of the destruction without meaningful partnerships with the federal government and those significant resources they will never be able to rebuild the entire region to its former size. The people of the Gulf Coast deserve enormous credit for all they have done to date to rebuild the region with so little assistance.

In New Orleans especially, schools remain closed, the healthcare system remains inaccessible, public infrastructure in shambles and affordable housing remains out of reach to most still displaced survivors. The flood protection system threatens even those with the courage to return. Without a renewed federal investment and partnership people will not be able to realize their human right to return home and participate in rebuilding their communities.

Much of this article is taken from the new report by the Institute for Southern Studies, RFK Center for Human Rights and other Gulf Coast advocates called, "Blueprint for Gulf Renewal," giving a voice to grassroots advocates calling for greater federal accountability in the Gulf Coast rebuilding process. The report is available here.

Comments

[CSE]

The Blueprint study is a good read. However, where is the discussion about the wisdom and practical details of redeveloping severely flood prone areas?

The study identifies infrastructure needs as critical for community redevelopment, but how can new infrastructure be built without a comprehensive plan that addresses community redevelopment restrictions?

Does a new comprehensive plan utilize data we had available since before Katrina validated that data?

Here's a nice study comparable to the one quoted:

http://dels.nas.edu/dr/docs/burkett.pdf

Do we begin redevelopment before the levee reconstruction is completed in 2011?

Do we redevelop at current elevations that will only be protected from conditions associated with a moderate Cat3 hurricane? Who guarantees the new development at elevations proven time and again to be severely flood prone with a high probability of recurrence?

How can infrastructure be rebuilt at current elevations with new development restrictions that may require finished floor elevations 10+ feet above the crown of the existing roadways?

Even if the levees were beefed up and could be completed tomorrow - who will maintain them and who will pay for it?

The practical reality is that the communities that were within the low, severely flood prone areas cannot return home. At the current elevations, they would be returning to the same situation that devastated them two years ago and times before that.

[zendem1]

The fact that President Dumbass has the gall to even show his face around that area of the country says alot. The fact that the people aren't rioting in the streets and throwing things at him says alot more.

[joja]

The Rally Squads probably took care of shielding George from anything not candy-coated enuf.

BTW, seeing them riot would have been sweeeeeet!

[philjames]

Maybe we all just don't understand Bush's priorities well enough to appreciate why NOLA has gotten left behind. Perhaps if we fully recognized and appreciated that his first and only priority is to turn Federal dollars into the blood of American soldiers to be poured into the sands of Iraq (and soon Iran) we would realize why the Federal government simply doesn't have the wherewithal to fully fund such luxuries as damaged American cities and bridges and health care and education and...and...and, oh, by the way, he will soon be asking for $50 billion more in blood money.

[Economike]

What about deveolopment of the wetlands?
Isn't this a major contributing factor to disasters of this type in the Gulf?

[Indiana]

Good questions. In the past, the wetlands had served as "speed bumps" cushioning the blows of storms before they got to New Orleans--but so many have washed away it made it easy for Katrina's storm surge to power up the MR-GO waterway, overfill Lake Pontchartrain, and then pour into several canals along the levees failed. A way should be found to restore them--every half hour an area the size of a football field is washed away. And since 1930, Louisiana has lost the equivalent of the state of Delaware--a process which has been accellerated by Katrina and Rita.

[Libsrule]

The sad thing is that the president lies so much no one except bloggers bothers to look into it.

It's just a given that he will lie. OR actually since he's basically an idiot who got to be president, his speechwriters come up with these idiotic pronouncements and he, being the good little puppet he is, simply speaks them aloud.

I keep wondering why the press just doesn't care about holding any president's feet to the fire when it comes to what they say?

Is "Access" so important that letting them lie so they can get that "get" all that matters?

[lisakaz]

What, you mean slogans and inflated numbers don't magically rebuild a city? Wow, news to Bu$h I'm sure.

[winningticket]

I love the headline: "..I'm Back", it sounds like a dreadful horror flick. But even the most fertile creative minds of Hollywood couldn't possibly fathom a horrific outlaw regime in the USA. During the Katrina catastrophe, that hooligan Bush was partying and playing air guitar in San Diego. What amazes me is that too many Americans sure as hell can't see Bush for the fraud and criminal that he really is. Heckuva job America.

I'm not letting Louisiana off the hook either. Their idiot politicians allowed these rogue paramilitary types from different law enforcement agencies around the country, as well as local law enforcement agencies to run rough shod on our own citizens in their desperate hours. Their thuggish activities mocked the good efforts of legitimate law enforcement individuals who did perform valiantly during the Katrina tragedy. A mentally ill man was shot to death at Danziger Bridge and these rogue law enforcement goons hunted down his brother like a dog. It took months for the brother to clear his good name. That's Louisiana justice for you. Jefferson Parish and the City of Gretna took it upon themselves to block a bridge from desperate citizens trying to flee utter hardship. Louisiana has an Attorney General who persecuted brave doctors and nurses who performed their work under the most horrific of circumstances at Memorial Hospital. These dedicated workers were betrayed by the people that should have helped them. Thank God the Grand Jury stood up to that foolishness.

Private insurance companies were making record profits and weaseled out of compensating their policy holders who were victims. Doesn't paying the premiums mean that in your time of need that the insurance companies will be there for you? Not if the insurance companies have their way.

BTW I am Katrina victim who was put out of my house for five months. But I'm sure you'll flame me anyways for attacking your wonderful darling precious GW Bush. Whatever.

P.S. How is Michael Chertoff even considered for Attorney General? He should be in Leavenworth. Only in America!

[fortuitous]

We would be better served with an accounting of exactly WHERE and in whose bulging bank accounts the money went. Of the portion already spent, how much went into large contractor Bush loyalists and their accounts-padding, corner-cutting, lying-ass businesses. What worse crime was it to brush aside local workers and businesses, and award no-bid contracts to fat-cat, sloppy, opportunistic out-of-state companies with firm ties to the Republican Mob? Let's hear how much money simply disappeared, no work performed, papers shuffled and rubber-stamped, with dubious paper trails because of the "excessive" bureaucracy (which is constantly being blamed on the Democrats and their penchant for "large" government, and "over-regulation").

[FogBelter]

Not surprising, but I think President Bush has the notion of his Legacy all wrong. Bush seems to think his Presidency will be defined by success or failure in Iraq, but that is ignoring the bigger picture.

President Bush will be remembered for how he let a Great American City, New Orleans, as well as the entire Gulf Coast region impacted by Hurricane Katrina languish, by not employing the powers of the Presidency to mobilize the resources of the Federal Government to intervene on behalf of the citizens, in rebuilding the damaged areas, giving notice to the Insurance Industry to honor the policies they wrote without hiding behind shady loopholes (Which in a National Disaster is akin to looting), creating an environment within the area that was healthy and safe for the displaced residents to return, and Federalizing the rebuilding and oversight of the levee system in New Orleans to ensure the next Hurricane that strikes the city would be a nuisance as opposed to a calamity.

History will show, that when citizens of the United States affected by Hurricane Katrina cried out to President Bush for relief, he couldn't be bothered because he was playing War.

A fine Legacy for President Bush indeed.

[yellowdogSC]

FB,

So true.
But this may provide a bit of comfort (my apologies to those who have seen this)

Want to know the TRUE nature of bUSH'S legacy? To know if he'll live the ENTIRE remainder of his life in shame or honor?

Since Harry Waxman's Oversight Committee SHOT DOWN bUSH'S self-induced FANTASY law permitting anonymous presidential library donors, http://oversight.house.gov/story.asp?ID=1192, bUSH will HAVE TO disclose EVERY donor (over $200) to his "half billion dollar" presidential library/outhouse. (YES! His goal is REALLY a $500,000,000 LIBRARY! Bet he can’t even SPELL “lie-berry”. Kinda like “The Stevie Wonder Museum of Reading Glasses!”)

We'll see if he's loved, once he's not in a position to cut taxes for white frat friends anymore. Now that the world will see EVERYONE who donates. Talk about embarrassing! What’s MORE embarrassing? $200 cash donations in unmarked envelopes!

We will know quite soon how history will regard bUSH, based on the number of shelves in his $.5 BILLION edifice.

Agreed? Let's get good seats for the show. I'll buy the popcorn. (I GUARANTEE Henry Waxman WILL be remembered!)

[Mark701]

Just rename New Orleans, Iraq, and they'll get all the money they want.

[DDA]

The Racit Nazis Committee (RNC) has NO intention of rebuilding it is NOT WHITE and it is a BIG COPORATE redevelopment behind the scenes project.

For New Orleans to be rebuilt it must become WHITE and it MUST have a INTEREST that are Selfish self serving and BENT BKNEE for CORPORATE AMERICA.

THIS is a POLITICAL endorsed HATE CRIME period.

[yellowdogSC]

DDA,

True, and more.

If Baby bUSH could, in some way, cause harm to every single AMERICAN who did NOT vote for him, I have little doubt he would gladly do so.

Don't you know there have been MANY hundreds of nights he's lain awake till dawn, giggling, trembling, erect… thinking of the separate, individual punishments he and God have worked out together for each and every one of us.

I wonder how many of his actions (if not ALL) have been tainted by his infantile desire to cause suffering to those not in DIVINE agreement with the number of dollar bills lining Little Georgie’s pockets.

Creepy thought, ain't it?

[ChiGuy]

I have been chided all my life for being an optimist. A glass-half-full kind of guy. But as Bush stood, speaking in tidied-up, stage lit Jackson Square, I knew. I KNEW that what he was saying wouldn't be what he made happen.

The gulf coast, and New Orleans in particular, were an absolutely perfect opportunity for Bush to salvage a lot of the damage done to his credibility by the Iraq invasion and WMD fiasco, and he and his advisers simply blew it.

When warned in advance of the impending disaster, he not only didn't get out in front of it, he was nowhere to be found out west.

When he and his people saw the extent of the damage and suffering, they dragged their feet until there was sufficient public outcry to prompt them to get off their fat, white asses nearly than a week later.

But this all framed the invasion of Iraq in a new way that many didn't see coming:
If this is the way they treat their own fellow citizens...If this is how little regard they have for the lives of their fellow Americans, then what they have wrought upon the innocent people of a foreign land should no longer be a surprise to anyone.

Being an agnostic, I have a hard time believing.
But there are days when I truly hope there is a Hell, because then I know where many of this administration will be headed after life here on Earth.

[Kungfublood]

Still Misleading? Isn't that what you do when you use less than accurate words to describe the traitor Bush? He is a LIAR. The word is Liar and what comes out of the phony Tex-ass Connecticut mans drawling mouth is lies.

[Beatitudes]

Misleading? That is a mild term. When you know what you say is wrong, because you have the numbers in front of you (or do you think his financial advisors are either stupid or jiggled the numbers) that is called lying. Plain and simple. And there's Laura Bush the ex-librarian. They're all playing kissy-face, or is that kiss-up. Nagin and Blanco, I at least hope you say something to Bush about his sin of omission.
Lyn LeJeune - The Beatitudes Network - Rebuilding the Public Libraries of New Orleans at www.beatitudesinneworleans.blogspot.com

[Indiana]

I agree--"misleading" is too polite a term to use regarding a mendacious so-called leader who's content to let a beautiful historic city rot because he cares far more about people overseas than he does about his fellow Americans. I'd say, "flat-out lying."

[Phideaux]

Once... just once before this so-called "President" leaves office, I'd like to see him give a public address with out his condescending, patronizing facial expressions and body language.

Every time he gives a speech, he gives the impression that (in his mind at least) he's addressing a bunch of six-year olds for which he has to dumb down his every word so us poor bumpkins can even begin to understand his "grand intentions."

Every snippet of any address I catch of his, I'm left with the impression all he really wants to say is: "Your little minds just don't understand what superior plans I have conceived for you. So, as exasperating as it is for me to do, I'll explain it to you shmucks once again in very simple terms."

George, for a guy who's failed at nearly every thing he's attempted, have you ever considered that the idiot in this equation is you? Nah, I doubt it.

[Viper]

"Every time he gives a speech, he gives the impression that (in his mind at least) he's addressing a bunch of six-year olds for which he has to dumb down his every word so us poor bumpkins can even begin to understand his "grand intentions.""

He knows his base well... Repugs and sheeple and he has to talk down to them, have you seen their test scores on current events... 80% of them still believe Sadam was behind 911 and that WMDs were found.... just ask the trolls here... but keep it a very simple 6th grade level... Bush has confused them enough already!!

Regards