Louisiana Recognizes Victims, Advocates at Post Katrina Events Special

August 29, 2005 New Orleans was flooded after a break in the levees allowed the devastation of the city following Hurricane Katrina. Louisiana annually commemorates heroes and special people who devote their lives to others.

From Thursday of last week through the weekend into Monday, events were held across the State of Louisiana appreciating people who serve, who give to others during times of tragedies and who provided information and support to render aid and comfort. The terrible Hurricane Katrina not only damaged the Southeastern corridor of the United States, but the economic impact of it was felt throughout Louisiana, with insurance prices soaring as a result and the dislocation of people putting pressure on local economies in jurisdictions outside New Orleans for many months. On Thursday, Levees.org met in New Orleans and presented its annual report on the status of the levees and the organization’s advocacy work. They showed a film on the organization’s President Sandy Rosenthal’s trip to the Netherlands with Senator Mary Landrieu, to learn how the Dutch government is willing to do and spend whatever it takes to protect its people.

Carol Forsloff

Levees organization shows a film at New Orleans annual event commemorating the floods, advocates and heroes as well as giving updates on levees.

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Natchitoches journalist Carol Forsloff was recognized at this same meeting for her coverage on the levees and her human interest pieces regarding the effect of the devastation of the New Orleans floods and its aftermath. Forsloff, who works with The Real Views Newspaper in Natchitoches as its co-editor, writes freelance as well for several publications. When she first arrived in Natchitoches in 2005 she volunteered as a counselor for the Red Cross at the shelter in town as victims from the violent storm and flooding in the wake of Hurricane Katrina came pouring through. She was the only licensed counselor in the shelter at the University that week. She wrote her article series from the perspective of both counselor and journalist. A video clip was shown of an interview with Ms. Forsloff where she spoke of how she gathered material to do the series and how the people of Louisiana had touched her with their courage and strength. On Friday August 28 a newspaper in Louisiana called The Real Views honored military heroes, Ben Johnson, and social service agencies who contributed and continue to contribute to the Natchitoches community. Ben Johnson, now deceased, was an African American leader in the community for many years and was remembered for his advancement of support for the poor and needy in Natchitoches and for his development and foundation aid for a number of black businesses in the community as well as his charitable work for children.

Carol Forsloff

Randy Stelly, Publisher of The Real Views, is shown here at the annual banquet in Natchitoches, Louisiana which memorializes New Orleans Hurricane Katrina victims and survivors, Ben Johnson, humanitarian, and social service agencies who devote themselves to helping others.

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August 29 continues to be a significant time for the people of Louisiana, many of whom will never forget the problems faced by many of its citizens. The focus these days, however, is on the movement forward as the state continues to continue on towards rebuilding and revitalizing its communities through service as demonstrated during the commemoration events. USA Today points out how many people long to return to Louisiana, especially New Orleans, once home. There remain 125,000 fewer people live in New Orleans than there were in 2005 prior to the flooding of the great city. Many remain fearful of returning because the levee protection has not been completed while others maintain they are frustrated because of the slowness of recovery efforts.