How Much Longer?

Having missed its deadline of March 31st, FEMA recently stated that it could take as long as 18 months to revise the New Orleans flood maps. It is not clear to me whether that means 18 months total or an additional 18 months from now. Regardless, with the additional news that the levee system will require a further $6 billion to certify deals another blow. With the current environment in Washington, obtaining this money will likely not be easy; and may not happen at all. Every day that the funds are not appropriated further adds to the uncertainty for families hoping to renovate their homes and return to New Orleans. If there is no money, it won't be a matter of renovating it will be a matter of further demolition and starting from scratch in order to raise the house to meet the new FEMA requirements. This additional cost will likely deter or prevent even more people from returning to New Orleans. People will be essentially priced out of their own homes.

The bottom line here is that the longer the government fails to approve the funds and FEMA fails to issue the maps, people will be forced to settle their families elsewhere and it will become emotionally, physically and financially more and more difficult to return. More than 7 months after Katrina, our leadership still has no sense of urgency, and talks about another 18 months. People cannot be expected to put their lives on hold for 2 years on the off chance they may be able to start planning to return home. Someone, please tell us how much longer New Orleanians will have to wait?