An occasional compendium of items gleaned from the Gulf Coast. Crossposted at BlueHouseDiaries
The oft-maligned and much-loved Krewe du Vieux celebrates its 20th Mardi Gras tonight. This year's theme: "Habitat for Insanity."
But as always... truth is stranger than fiction.
"I've been doing advocacy and direct services for kids for more than 30 years. I've never seen anything like this," -Dr. Irwin Redlener Director, Columbia University's National Center for Disaster Preparedness; President, Children's Health Fund,
Is the Gulf Coast in danger of losing the next generation? More after the flip...
Redlener's new study of Mississippi children displaced by the storm finds that one-third are now suffering from mental health and behavioral problems. And 60% of their parents and caregivers are testing high for PTSD and depression... an increase from last year's survey of Lousiana families.
Redlener also tells the New York Times that the lack of progress on these issues is a direct result of the haphazard recovery effort:
"It's not a lack of money. It's a lack of structure; it's a lack of distribution of the resources. We have a completely dysfunctional distribution system, and a great deal of bureaucracy.
Meanwhile, in New Orleans, 7 months of overcrowded classrooms and a teacher shortage have the NAACP threatening a lawsuit, and the school district promising to clear the 300 children still languishing on
a waiting list.