‘Have a safe weekend? was still written on one of the chalkboards at Charles J. Colton Middle School in New Orleans? Lower 9th Ward. The date above it ? Aug. 26, 2005.
It’s as though time just stopped at this school when Hurricane Katrina slammed the Gulf Coast three years ago.
‘A lot of the classrooms were still intact. It was kind of a spooky feeling,? said Oxford resident Barbara Johnston, who spent July 29-Aug. 3 doing volunteer work in New Orleans with Katrina Corps.
In what used to be a social studies classroom at Colton, the questions written on the chalkboard were both eerie and ironic considering what was to come.
‘What body of water lies south of Louisiana? . . . What body of water lies north of New Orleans? . . . Define hurricane . . . Does New Orleans lie above, below or at sea level??
Little did the teacher or students know the answers would change their lives forever when Hurricane Katrina made landfall Monday, Aug. 29, 2005 and devastated New Orleans with massive flooding when all the levees gave way.
Slowly, but surely the city known as the Big Easy is making a comeback thanks to volunteers like Johnston.
‘The locals I talked to said they felt if it weren’t for the volunteer forces they get down here, they wouldn’t be as far as they are,? said Johnston, who teaches fourth grade at Oxford Elementary School.
This was Johnston’s second trip to New Orleans working with Katrina Corps, an all-volunteer, nonprofit organization formed in December 2006 for the purpose of speeding up the recovery process in New Orleans.
‘I was really curious to see how far it has come since I was there a year ago,? she said. ‘It’s coming, but it’s a lot slower than I thought it would be.?
Johnston spent her second trip painting schools, moving furniture, working in a soup kitchen and listening to Katrina survivors tell their stories of tragedy, loss and hope.
‘It makes them feel better to talk about it,? she said. ‘It’s very hard to hear sometimes. You get choked up.?
Although the businesses and tourist areas have made a significant recovery, it’s the residential areas that have seen the least amount of progress.
‘A lot of people haven’t moved back,? Johnston said. ‘I ran into a couple of people who said they’d just come back and are trying to start over.?
But starting over doesn’t mean ignoring the past.
She said some people who’ve reclaimed their homes leave the famous spray-painted X’s on them as a reminder.
These markings were left by search and rescue teams working for the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
‘Some leave them up even if they’ve fixed ip their homes,? Johnston said. ‘They don’t ever want to forget what happened.?
Johnston said many the locals believe it will take at least 10 years for New Orleans to be restored to its pre-Katrina state.
‘A lot of people forget about Katrina and think by now, it’s fine,? she said. ‘It’s not. It’s still got a long way to go.?
‘There’s a feeling from a lot of people that not enough has come back,? Johnston noted.
Although there is some new development, such as condos, Johnston said ‘it’s more for higher-end? buyers.
‘There’s not as much low-income (housing) as you’d like to see,? she said.
Johnston was struck by the fact that there’s still U.S. Military Police ‘everywhere.?
‘It’s almost like they have two police departments,? she said.
But the locals don’t seem to mind because one of them told Johnston they can count on the MPs to enforce their laws. Apparently, the New Orleans Police have the nickname ‘Not our problem, dude.?
Despite the slow recovery, the people of New Orleans are grateful for the estimated 8,000 to 10,000 volunteers who come there to help each month.
‘They’re very appreciative of the help,? Johnston said. ‘Wherever you go, they’re friendly ? real Southern hospitality.?
Johnston was impressed by the hope, faith and ‘love for their neighborhoods? exhibited by the locals who are fighting everyday to bring their communities back.
‘There’s a real love for the area from the people that live there,? she said. ‘They would live nowhere else.?
As for Katrina Corps, Johnston can’t say enough positive things about the charity.
‘If anyone wants to support this organization, I can personally vouch that they put probably 99 cents of every dollar (in donations) toward supplies and doing what they do,? she said. ‘They don’t drive fancy cars or live in fancy places. All the money goes right to the cause and getting things done.?
For more information about Katrina Corps visit www.katrinacorps.org.