"Hurricane Evacuees Frustrated as Return Is Blocked"

The article I read was about the recent Hurricane Gustav. Mayor C. Ray Nagin ordered an immediate evacuation of New Orleans nearly two weeks ago. On Saturday August 30, in a press conference he said “Hurricane Gustav is the mother of all storms.” Reporters in New Orleans said he over exaggerated, Hurricane Gustav was merely a tropical storm. It caused damage but the new gates and pumps worked as designed. The whole reason why I am writing about this article is because when the New Orleans citizens tried to return home last Tuesday they were denied entry. I believe that this is a form of exile, a minor case that is but it is still being forced out and then denied entry. It said in the article that there were people along the side of the road with no gas, no money, and no food after several days on the run. This lady named Ms. Demourelle and her three friends were denied from shelters in towns of Alexandria, Bunkie, and Livonia. This is another form of exile in my mind. Being evacuated from New Orleans, can’t return, and can’t even go to a new by shelter in a different town. We always say things like “United We Stand” but how could we deny people from shelters and other places to sleep in the time of need.

Article Written By: Adam Nossiter & John Schwartz
The New York Times
September 3, 2008 Issue
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