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Residents sound of on rebuilding effort
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| By: MATTHEW COLEMAN, DAILY LEADER News Editor |
November 29, 2005 |
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Infrastructure assistance, improved communications and passage of federal aid legislation emerged Monday as top priorities as area leaders and residents discussed Hurricane Katrina recovery and rebuilding efforts.
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To give area residents an opportunity for input, the Governor's Commission on Recovery, Rebuilding and Renewal held a public forum Monday evening in the Brookhaven High School auditorium. The goal of the recovery effort is to revive Mississippi and make lives better.
"There's always a silver lining behind any cloud we encounter," said Natchez Mayor Phillip West, chairman of the commission's southwest Mississippi committee.
Henry Barbour, the commission's executive director, discussed keys to the renewal. Those included federal legislation that would allocate $25 billion to Mississippi over the next two years, the commission's plan and private capital investment.
Several times during the meeting, Barbour stressed the importance on congressional action on the aid package. He feared it would be forgotten after the Christmas break.
"Congress cannot leave this year without dealing with this issue," Barbour said, adding that the next two to three weeks will be critical.
Barbour said he was more optimistic now than he was a few weeks ago. He applauded the state's congressional delegation for its efforts on behalf of Mississippi as well as Louisiana.
Meeting participants also viewed a presentation on the state's recovery and rebuilding efforts, particularly on the coast.
Bob Allen, attorney for the Lincoln County Board of Supervisors, questioned plans for southwest Mississippi and how local governments would replace roads and bridges damaged in the storm.
Barbour said the federal legislation would be useful in that regard. He said there are many losses in inland counties.
"This was not just a bad thing that happened on the coast," Barbour said. "This is statewide."
Barbour cautioned, however, it is difficult to look past the devastation that happened on the coast.
Mayor Bob Massengill said no one in this area was expecting the same level of assistance as the coast. However, citing Brookhaven's need for help with new generators for water pumps and lift stations, the mayor said the storm helped identify areas of need in all communities.
Lincoln County Civil Defense Director Clifford Galey agreed. He mentioned generator concerns for rural water associations.
"They are in such a strapped shape for funds," Galey said.
Marshand Crisler, president of the Jackson City Council, acknowledged differences in damage on the coast and elsewhere.
"Our issues pale in comparison to what happened on the coast," Crisler said, also mentioning infrastructure and a need for better communication among citizens and communities. "We've got to start reaching out to one another."
Crystal Springs Mayor Arthur Evans said the town lost its water wells and sewer service during the storm.
"We are in dire need of infrastructure to keep things going," he said.
Echoing comments from several others, Lincoln County Supervisors President Bobby J. Watts said there was "amazing" support from churches and other agencies following the storm. He said the hurricane taught everyone a lesson for the future.
"I think we ought to be better prepared for emergencies from now on," Watts said.
West added concerns about federal reimbursement rates for cleanup by city and county employees, which are not as much as those for contractors. He said communities should not be "punished" for being efficient in responding to emergencies.
Fuel was a concern for others at Monday's meeting. Becky Currie, of Gilbert's Home Health, pointed out difficulties in getting fuel for generators in remote homes of patients on life-sustaining equipment.
"We didn't get much help with that," Currie said.
Currie also alluded to fraud involving assistance from the Red Cross and FEMA.
"I've never seen such abuse to two organizations in my life," she said.
While mentioning misinformation and confusion over the assistance, Crisler said the fraud was unfortunate.
"We do need to put in some control measures in the future," Crisler said.
Galey said another measure that would improve emergency preparedness would be to remove FEMA from under the umbrella of Homeland Security. The emergency response agency was placed under Homeland Security following the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
"The focus now is more on homeland security that it is on an all-hazards approach," Galey said.
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©The Daily Leader 2009
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