The Ninth Ward

New Orleans is dealing with the news of a measure that gives residents until Aug. 29 to clean out mold, tear out ruined walls and board up what remains of their homes, or risk having the city seize and demolish their houses. Mayor Nagin felt the date of August 29 was too soon because many people are not living in New Orleans or even Louisiana for that matter.

The rest are a combination of people who are spread out all over the country, particularly senior citizens. I think they need special treatment, and I think Aug. 29 is too soon. And by year's end, we should have a program in place to contact those residents and make sure they're coming back.

But the owners of some untouched houses said there are good reasons they have yet to do anything to their properties. Chief among them, they said, is the fact that thousands of homeowners are still waiting for insurance settlements or Small Business Administration loans, and waiting for the state to decide who will qualify for repair grants or buyouts as part of Gov. Kathleen Blanco's recovery program.


The community that was hardest hit than any other in New Orleans is the Ninth Ward. However, nearly eight months after the storm, there are no FEMA trailers in the Lower Ninth Ward because the area is still without gas and drinkable water.

The New York Times has a video regarding the lack of progress in the Ninth Ward.