Not a Big Enough Story
Sep 7th, 2008 by Nola
Gustav is already old news. It’s over and caused no harm. That’s what the news would suggest, no? Well, that is not true. And the frustration of media ignoring the very real damage that lay in the wake of Gustav has sparked me to write this to get the word out.
Baton Rouge, Terrebone and Lafourche Parishes, including the United Houma Nation, all suffered substantial water and wind damage; downed trees; no electricity. Many in these areas are being told it will be weeks, if not months, before power will be restored to their homes and businesses.
Here’s an excerpt from a September 1st letter from the US Conference of Mayors:
While the nation focuses on Minneapolis and St. Paul, it is our position that we should not ignore Baton Rouge in this hour of desperate need. Because Baton Rouge was never given the order to relocate, the citizens of Baton Rouge are still bearing the brunt of the storm. Yesterday, in a city of 500,000, approximately 300,000 residents in Baton Rouge were still without power, shelter, food and basic necessities. These people are also in dire need of equipment from FEMA and assistance from the federal government to help them reenter their homes.
Earlier this week, Karen G. and Maitri visited the United Houma Nation. Please, please click here to read Karen G.’s account and see pictures of what she encountered.
Last I checked, all of these locations were still in America. Baton Rouge took many New Orleanians in, including myself, and treated us warmly and compassionately even as the storm was taking aim for Baton Rouge and not New Orleans. These hard hit areas aren’t as famous as a tourist destination as New Orleans, and the media have all but ignored their troubles. They are onto Hanna. And Ike.
While in Baton Rouge, I got an e-mail from the Dr. Phil show. Many other NOLA bloggers did too. They were prepping us to do a show—sort of Oh, No, Another Katrina. And then Gustav only took out our lights, not our city. And Dr. Phil’s people dropped our story like a maggoted, moldy refrigerator.
I don’t watch Dr. Phil, and couldn’t care less that I won’t be on his show. I cared only to highlight New Orleans and keep the recovery efforts afloat. But THERE IS A STORY HERE. And it really pisses me off that it isn’t getting the attention it rightly deserves. Because I also know that PEOPLE CARE. You care. Even if the media don’t, Americans do.
I am asking that you please keep this story going. Keep Baton Rouge, Terrebone Parish, Lafourche Parish, and the United Houma Nation in the collective minds of America. Please link to this post or to Karen G.’s or Maitri’s. Or, better yet, post about it on your own blog. We The People can make a difference even when it isn’t a big enough story for the news.
My friend in New Roads has a foot of water in her house. She is 7 months pregnant and already has a little one. They are now looking at months and months of renting an apartment in addition to paying a mortgage. They were barely making it as it was. They also have four dogs that need GOOD GOOD doggie homes where they will be loved.
Another friend has mold in his house. Many, many of our Baton Rouge friends have no power (most!). I have only just gotten my cable back (not that I’m complaining) so I didn’t realize how neglected this story has been, but I am not surprised.
We lived in Baton Rouge for 13 years. It’s so sad to see so many suffering there.
Thanks for writing about this.
Taylor’s last blog post..High and Dry
Couldn’t have said it better myself.
Jane Moneypenny’s last blog post..Grocery Adventures
I am so sorry. That is so very wrong.
I hope, with my entire being, that Ike will take another route.
Momo Fali’s last blog post..Special, Indeed
It was a very depressing trip, but I am happier for having met these resilient people. Community is important – enlightened self-interest means helping others to help yourself. Alienation and apathy makes us islands and that is very dangerous. My latest post details the trip with pictures. I plan to go down there again to help and hope more can come with me. Hope Ike misses us, for there is already a lot to be done.
Maitri’s last blog post..Day 1107: Lafourche & Terrebonne Parishes After Gustav
We’ve got lots of family in Houma. It’s where my mother is from, and where I was born. Last we heard, the largest contingent of relatives was hooked up to a massive generator, and feeding as many people as possible.
Pontchartrain Pete’s last blog post..Gustav, the Aftermath
That’s just freaking terrible. But wow, Dr. Phil. You’re famous. I know someone famous! Sorry, back to the issue. It is awful and my intention is to see what we can donate to help. We don’t have money, but we can surely help some how. It’s not right that the attention only goes to people the news finds interesting and not people that need attention.
And speaking of attention, I gave you 3 blog awards. Receive with honor, but don’t feel the need to go through the rules charade unless you really want to.
Katie’s last blog post..Accolades
Cheers. As my Twitterfeed reveals, I’m hugely frustrated with the lack of coverage of Gustav for rural towns. (Oh, and Baton Rouge… which isn’t a small town.)
Rural America doesn’t seem to matter to the mass media. What a shame.
Ed’s last blog post..[Disaster] Trembling from Ike
Thank you for writing the post. As you say, we who rely on media reports had no idea of the devastation. I just hope that blogger and blogging can force the media into action and the government as well. I’ll post something on a community site I write on.
lilalia’s last blog post..Melted Glass
Hehe, I turned down Dr Phil cause I thought they were doing a “wingnuts with their guns and babies” show. NOT me buddy!
The reason the media doesn’t care about the other parishes is the same reason the midwest floods were not as big of a story – there is no social racial/class warfare angle.
pistolette’s last blog post..Cried Wolf
[...] Maitri, Karen Gadbois and NolaNotes and many others have pointed out, Terrebonne and Lafourche parishes sustained major damage from [...]
Amen! My poor sister took a tree to her house. She is without power, and has been told she has at least another month until it is restored. No damage? I think not!
THANK YOU FOR GETTING THE WORD OUT! As you know, my parents and sister live in the bayou-area you talk about. My sister still has no power. She is a school teacher, and the schools are closed for AT LEAST another week.
jen’s last blog post..Cute find on ebay.
I am sad that the word isn’t being spread more. I will do what I can to help!!
stacey’s last blog post..Good To be Home
I did my little part to spread the word, and I gave you a blog award, too.
Sarabeth’s last blog post..Kicking Something
Hi there. I’m here from Southern Mom’s blog. I live in OK and we just heard for a split second yesterday that most of the evacuees have left OKC, but that’s it. No news about the damage left behind. I’m so sorry to hear about it. Why doesn’t the national news do a better job of covering what matters to Americans? I’m so sick of hearing about Palin’s unwed teenage mother-to-be daughter or about politics at all. I wonder if either one of the presidential nominees have been there to LA to check out the damage? Maybe then you guys could get some coverage…
It’s awful that it seems there have to be deaths and carnage for the media to pay attention. I really hope you all get the help and support needed. I can’t imagine what it’s like.
You probably won’t surprise you to hear I knew nothing about this. If it isn’t good for ratings, if there is nothing to sensationalize, if you’re the ‘red-headed step-child’ city or state, you don’t exist to the national media. CTalley has a great point. Where are the candidates? What are they doing, saying, promising these areas that are still suffering?
Tara R.’s last blog post..Random Wednesday ~ old age
[...] were still communities without power long after the media stopped it’s coverage, read ‘Not Big Enough Story. ‘ Nola, her husband and daughter, evacuated New Orleans ahead of Gustav, retreating to Baton [...]
I hope it’s ok, but I’d like to post this over on my blog??
Shannanb aka Mommy Bits’s last blog post..It’s Not Me, It’s You.
[...] Really, It’s ImportantFrom My friend at Nola Notes regarding the after effects of Gustav: Not a Big Enough StorySep 7th, 2008 by [...]