Poll: Gulf Rebuilding Falls Short

Majority Of Americans Think Government Not Doing All It Can

(CBS)  As the one-year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina approaches, a majority of Americans say the government is still not doing all it could — or should — to help the storm's victims, a new CBS News poll found.

Comparing today's assessments with those immediately after the hurricane, Americans' assessments of the government response have grown even harsher: They still overwhelmingly call the federal and the state and local governments' actions inadequate.

Many remain displeased with how rebuilding efforts are going and are skeptical that New Orleans will return to normal any time soon.

The poll found that almost half of Americans are still dissatisfied or even angry with the way rebuilding efforts are going on the Gulf Coast. That displeasure has subsided only a bit from last winter, when six in 10 felt negatively.

HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT GULF REBUILDING EFFORTS?

Pleased
6%

Satisfied
32%

Dissatisfied
39%

Angry
11%

Tens of thousands of homes were destroyed by the storm, and only a fraction have been rebuilt. Federal Emergency Management Agency Director David Paulison said this week that a lack of housing remains the Gulf Coast's top challenge a year after Katrina.

FEMA has distributed roughly $6 billion to house people displaced by Katrina, and a vast majority of Americans think that the government ought to continue to pay for housing.

SHOULD THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT CONTINUE TO PROVIDE HOUSING FOR VICTIMS?

Yes
63%

No
29%

But, the CBS News poll found that only one in three Americans think FEMA is currently doing all it can to help the people affected by Katrina. The criticism in not only directed at the federal level. State and local governments score even lower.

IS FEMA DOING ALL IT CAN NOW TO HELP KATRINA VICTIMS?

All that can be expected
32%

Could be doing more
59%

ARE THE STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS DOING ALL IT CAN NOW TO HELP KATRINA VICTIMS?

All that can be expected
30%

Could be doing more
55%

President George W. Bush's approval ratings in relation to Hurricane Katrina have improved slightly. Most still disapprove of his response to the needs of those affected by the disaster, but evaluations are up from last winter.

DO YOU APPROVE OR DISAPPROVE OF PRESIDENT BUSH'S RESPONSE TO THE NEEDS OF KATRINA VICTIMS?

Approve
41%

Could be doing more
51%

In February, 32% of Americans approved of how Mr. Bush was addressing the victims' needs. Just after the disaster, assessments were similar to today's, with 44% approving.

Most Americans believe that the recovery from Hurricane Katrina is far from over.

HOW MUCH PROGRESS HAS BEEN MADE IN REBUILDING THE GULF COAST?

A lot
7%

Some
38%

Not much/none
25%

Don't know
29%

While seven in 10 think most of New Orleans will eventually be rebuilt, most Americans — 64% — think rebuilding it will take longer than two years. Another 25% say most of New Orleans will probably never be rebuilt.

WILL MOST OF NEW ORLEANS BE REBUILT?

Yes, within a year or two
8%

Yes, but it will take longer
64%

No, it never will be
25%

Most of the public — 67% — is paying attention to the rebuilding of New Orleans and the Gulf Coast.

Those paying "a lot" of attention to the rebuilding of the region are more likely than those paying less attention to say little or no progress has been made.

Most Americans continue to say New Orleans is not ready to be a tourism and convention destination again — 71% say it is not ready yet, while 17% say the city is ready.

[duncan1979]

New Orleans has been under liberal (black) administrations since 1970 (1978). We had three decades to prepare for the likes of Katrina, and these administrations all promised the same thing: protection from hurricanes among other things. I'm so sick of Bush/white men/Republicans/the wealthy getting a raw deal. The President has been here 13 times and pledged billions in relief, but he%u2019s vilified while Blanco, Nagin and Mary Landrieu (after Katrina, she was the one who said she would have liked to have punch the President) get a pass. LBJ, who visited just ONCE after Betsy (%u201965), was praised like a Messiah. So what did LBJ do that was so extraordinary? He walked around and pledged drinking water. Important, but that was all. His visit, by the way, was at the insistence of Russell Long who assured LBJ that he would carry the state in the next election if he would just visit. Reluctantly, he did, but once he did, he couldn't wait to get out of here. All in all, that should surprise no one because the mentality that praises liberal Democrats for doing nothing except steal is the same one that puts morons like Nagin back into office. And the electorate had a choice, too, but Mitch Landrieu was not good enough because he was white first, liberal Democrat second. New Orleans is a racist city, but in reverse%u2026and it%u2019s accepted. The reason why New Orleans%u2019 recovery is slow is because the liberal politicians here have not yet figured out a way to steal the money.

[bhaynm]

Louisiana has a 7 decade history of total corruption in politics. Now the feds are loading up 18 wheelers full of cash to turn over to folks like Nagin. If you think there has been waste and fraud so far, just hide and watch. The fact that New Orleans re-elected Nagin should be a clue as to the mentality in New Orleans. In Alabama and Mississipi the folks are out working to clean up and make progress.. In New Orleans all they do is gripe about not getting enough money. New Orleans was a sewer before Katrina - It wil be a sewer in the future unless the current culture changes - and it won't under someone as pathetic as Nagin

[ronjula-2009]

I say no.
This administration has been so full of it since its theft of the White House.
Everything it touches turns to you know what I mean.
The president has made more enemies around the world than any other.
As far as the Gulf Coast , some are being helped and a great many are being left to fend for themselves.
And it's sickening.

[bigen58]

Five years ago, without warning, cowards struck the city of New York. The world watched as thousands of innocent people died. We watched as heroic people rushed to the aid of the injured, many giving their own lives in this process. We watched as thousands walked quitely and peacefully from the city in awe. The city of New York did not need to ask for assistance. Every red blooded American rushed to their aid, and each gave in their own special way.

One year ago, we again watched the aftermath of another disaster. Don't be fooled, there is no comparison between these two disasters. The city of New Orleans had warning of what was to come. Days, weeks, possibly even years. We watched as criminal acts of theft, looting, robbery, and reports of rape were occuring. We watched as the mayor stood before the world and took the name of God in vain and placed blame on everyone except himself. We watched as he made racial slurs (chocolate city) in regards to repopulating the city. To those living outside the USA, the majority of government does not opperate in this manner. Until the citizens of New Orleans take a stand, and hold their local government accountable, the federal government needs to write this one off.

What about the victims of hurricane Rita???

[qeekaa]

People don't understand how the natives of New Orleans catered to the tourist. I lived there for four years, and there was a celebration or festival everyday. Plenty of tourist flooded to New Orleans on a daily bases. Now, those same tourist can only talk about the corruption in New Orleans. The mess seen on the daily news after hurricane Katrina was the same mess that the tourist would leave in the French quarters every weekend.

I still say we missed a golden opportunity. Katrina created this huge bass lake and what did they do? They pumped it out again...duh. Just think, a huge, brackish backbay full of great fishing. What a waste.

[eldons1]

Please Billary Wannabee " DNC Dunce Dean" What you don't know about; besides politics; You *** Sure won't Learn From The Un-Really OReilly factor!! ("Murfa Muffin")!


What did you expect from Spike Lee? He must have had His Head up His Crack Dealers Rear End in the months and
Years leading up to Katrina!!
The City Was Corrupted and Basically Bankrupt when
Katrina Hit! All the levee Maintenance (second only to Calif.) money had been skimmed to the Gambling industry; (for many years),along with the School Bus Funding! Which is why 90% where inoperable! The former Governer is still in prison, and Blanco and Nagin needed a Cash Cow, "FEMA" to get the City, and most of Rural Louisiana Solvent Again.
Jesse Jackson must have written part of the script, hoping He Too;"(Rainbow Co-Extortionists Inc)"; could Gorge on the rebuilding Monies( Bird nest on the Ground!!)
Eldon Stegman
Houston Texas

[mochapman522]

How long do we have to keep paying? The federal government's role is to step in during the immediate aftermath of a disaster and prevent or mitigate the damage and resultant death. Katrina is the second major calamity at which they have thrown billions of tax dollars with little effect. Communities used to step in and help the less fortunate. It seems that the Federal Government would prefer to give out no-bid contracts and watch billions of our tax dollars be wasted. I guess in that manner, they really don't have to come up with a reasonable roadmap that would accomplish the end goals.

From what I can see, the only ones being helped are individuals and companies who promise to do good works and really just end up with their hands in the till. If you have a scam, sign up. The government will welcome you with open hands full of dollars. Lets hope another Katrina doesn't happen.

FEMA spent about six billion to house victims over the past year...but our government spends one billion every two days for the war in Iraq. There is something wrong with this picture!

[billyrein]

What can we do to help our country?

[clocknumber]

Katrina and Iraq have demostrate that the executive branch does not care.