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• New Orleans Reconstruction refers to the rebuilding efforts in New Orleans after the destruction incurred by Hurricane Katrina, which decimated the city in 2005. In a news conference on January 12, 2009, outgoing president George W. Bush defended his efforts in New Orleans, a defense that was roundly criticized by members of the public and politicians in New Orleans.Associated Press: Bush comments on Katrina sound sour in New Orleans (January 12, 2009)

  On January 18, 2009, Democratic strategist Donna Brazile told ABC's This Week that in a private discussion, President George W. Bush told her that he intended to explore ways to help with the Gulf Coast Recovery once he was no longer president.Times-Picayune: [*Times-Picayune: ...George Bush wants to help Gulf Coast area, Donna Brazile says (January 18, 2009) ...George Bush wants to help Gulf Coast area, Donna Brazile says] (January 18, 2009)

  On the new White House home page unveiled on January 20, 2009, Barack Obama promised "to partner with the people of the Gulf Coast to rebuild now, stronger than ever."White House: Agenda: Katrina

• Fast Facts

  1. 200,000 buildings destroyed
  2. Flooding referred to as the worst engineering catastrophe in U.S. historyNewhouse News Service: [1]
  3. Most of the major roads into and out of the city were damaged
  4. Death toll: 1,464The Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals: [1]
  5. Estimated Damage: $84 billion
  6. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has been reinforcing and repairing the 325 miles of levees and floodwalls that protect New Orleans and neighboring parishesThe Seattle Times: [1]
  7. A $15 billion upgrade to the hurricane-protection system, which is scheduled to be complete in 2011, is only 20 percent finishedThe Seattle Times: [1]

• Quotes

  "More people need to have their own home there. But the systems are in place to continue the reconstruction in New Orleans. You know, people said, 'Well, the federal response was slow.' Don't tell me the federal response was slow when there was 30,000 people pulled off roofs right after the storm passed."—George W. BushAssociated Press: Bush comments on Katrina sound sour in New Orleans (January 12, 2009)

  "Clearly there were mistakes made at every level of government, and I and other Louisiana leaders have accepted responsibility for our own. But no state is equipped to respond to a catastrophe of this magnitude, and for this reason, federal law specifically tasks the federal government to step up. It did not, and the president's failure to account for that responsibility more than three years later is terribly disappointing."—Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-La.Associated Press: Bush comments on Katrina sound sour in New Orleans (January 12, 2009)

• Related Pages on Mahalo

  Hurricane Katrina | New Orleans | FEMA | Louisiana | Kathleen Blanco

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