Mental Strain Weighing On Katrina's Kids

Report Obtained By CBS News Shows 10,000 Children Displaced By Katrina Are Despressed

(CBS)  On the outskirts of Baton Rouge, La., nearly 800 FEMA trailers packed with families stretch into the distance, CBS News chief investigative correspondent Armen Keteyian reports. It's a mud-soaked outpost where 17 long months after Hurricane Katrina, 2,000 lives feel very much like they've reached the end of the road.

A new, in-depth study obtained exclusively by CBS News illustrates the real mental health strain of living long-term in what some have called a permanent state of limbo. The most startling finding: the devastating impact on children.

The study, done by Columbia University and the Children's Health Fund, found as many as 10,000 displaced children across the Gulf are now suffering from clinically diagnosed depression - a 400 percent increase from before the storm.

"The loss of hope is a very powerful factor here," says Dr. Irwin Redlener, who supervised the study. "What we have is starkness - grim, uncomfortable overcrowded camps basically - and that's really hurting these kids."

Latoya Watts, a mother of three of those kids in a sad, muddy camp, says she's been there since March. Her 200-square-foot trailer is home to her family of four. Without a car, she can't find work. She has been keeping her children warm this winter with a hairdryer.

"I'm tired of living like a charity case," Watts says.

"Kids who get very, very angry and out of control and other kids who get incredibly quiet. All sorts of signs that these kids are dealing with things they can't really understand and cope with," Redlener explains.

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FEMA's Gil Jamieson talks with Armen Keteyian about what's being done to help people still living in trailers.

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"We've got families living with children," says Gill Jamieson of FEMA. "We've done all that we can do to move those people into a permanent housing alternative as quickly as we can." While Jamieson agrees there is a great deal of hopelessness, he adds that, "you need to look at that against the context of what we have accomplished."

FEMA has found emergency housing for more than 80 percent of those displaced by the hurricane. But that's little comfort to the residents still stuck in this trailer camp, ironically named "Renaissance Village."

[teeus]

"I really don't care if you bulldoze them or not. I don't live in any of these places. Like I said, I would not live in an are below sea level if there was a chance of a hurricane hitting the area"

Well, LA is built on a fault line. Chicago is built on swamp land. It's 35 below in Mpls this AM. etc etc. These are all places that are open to a variety of natural disaster. I don't know where you live, but I'm guessing since there is never a chance of flood tornado, hurricane, blizzard etc I will never have to spend tax payer dollars to ever help you.

The fact is yes, the city was a disaster waiting to happen. But whether or not the populace voted to a mayor to strengthen the levees or not (and since the funding for that comes from the federal level, I'm not sure how much the local mayor would help but whatever)we should assist.

Oh, the tornadoes in FLA this weekend? FEMA working with local agencies to assist people. Huh. Whooda thunk?

[bhappy2-2]

teeus,
For a better understanding of what I have been trying to get through to you, Please see the post by pensacola8 in the Army Corps of Engineers story concerning levees. it is so much better stated than I have managed here.

[bhappy2-2]

So, are we going to bulldoze LA? Chicago? Minneapolis? San Francisco?
Posted by teeus

I really don't care if you bulldoze them or not. I don't live in any of these places. Like I said, I would not live in an are below sea level if there was a chance of a hurricane hitting the area. I CHOOSE to live where I am, and I accept the risks of the inevitable hurricanes. I also CHOOSE to NOT live in New Orleans, or any of the places you mention. I would rather be in a hurricane area than in an earthquake or blizzard area. Again, THIS IS MY CHOICE AND I ACCEPT THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR MYSELF.

[bhappy2-2]

And WOW, you DO think the 80 year old grandma should have picked up a shovel and rebuilt the levees on her days off!!
Posted by teeus

NO, WHAT I THINK IS THE PEOPLE OF NEW ORLEANS SHOULD ELECT SOMEONE WHO PUTS THEIR NEEDS AHEAD OF A STUPID MARDI GRAS PARTY! Instead of some jackassmayor that doesn't care for his people. The people of Lousiana should elect a governor who CARES about the people of the state. The jackassmayor and the Governer KNEW the levees would not hold during a major hurricane, BUT THEY CHOSE TO IGNORE THIS FACT. When you live in an area with a history of hurricanes (Katrina was not the first) you MUST be prepared for the NEXT ONE. FAILURE TO PREPARE makes you vulnerable to a disaster. FAILURE TO PREPARE makes you an IDIOT. DEATH, DISPLACEMENT AND EVERYTHING THAT GOES WITH IT IS THE RESULT OF FAILURE TO PREPARE. This is not the fault of the Federal Government. It is, however, the responsibility of ALL who live there.

[teeus]

"THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT IS THE FIRST LINE OF ASSISTANCE."

Okay, but not the ONLY one.

"If the local governemnt does not assist with evacuations, how is it the fault of the Federal Government?"

How is it the fault of the people too old or sick or poor to hop into the car they don't own and drive out to stay in a hotel they can't afford?

"As for FEMA, I guess you didn't see the news report about all the fraud by these "good people" who need even more assistance now because THEY didn't take care of THEIR levees BEFORE the need arose?"

All the fraud? There was some fraud, sure, but not every single person bought TVs. And WOW, you DO think the 80 year old grandma should have picked up a shovel and rebuilt the levees on her days off!!

"I still believe New Orleans should be turned back to its natural state, not leveed off for a party spot."

So, are we going to bulldoze LA? Chicago? Minneapolis? San Francisco?

I WOULD have respect for your opinion if it were based on real facts and compassion rather than urban legends and regurgitation from neocon dookie.

[bhappy2-2]

teeus,
I stated my opinion. I say again, THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT IS THE FIRST LINE OF ASSISTANCE. If the local governemnt does not assist with evacuations, how is it the fault of the Federal Government? I don't blame the "victims" for the hurricane, but THEY are responsible for their decision to stay. If they did not have a way to leave, again, that is not the responsibility of the LOCAL government. The Mayor should have had an evacuation plan prepared. The plan should have been implemented at the LOCAL LEVEL. As for FEMA, I guess you didn't see the news report about all the fraud by these "good people" who need even more assistance now because THEY didn't take care of THEIR levees BEFORE the need arose?
Your opinion may differ from mine and I respect your right to have an alternate opinion. I still believe New Orleans should be turned back to its natural state, not leveed off for a party spot.

[teeus]

"Contrary to popular belief, Bush is not responsible for the hurricane"

No, he's responsible for gutting FEMA and thereby crippling the response.

"people have known for YEARS their levees were in need of repair. THEY chose to ignore the repairs and thereby placed themselves in danger. Mardi Gras parties are more important to these people than their own safety. THEY placed their children in this situation by ignoring what needed to be done until it was too late, then THEY and everyone else, want to blame everything on someone else"

Again: blame the victim much? Was the 80 year old grandma supposed to get out there with a shovel and beef up the levees for the last 10 years on her days off? Not ALL the people in NO "chose to ignore the repairs"--I would guess that lots of them voted FOR repairing the levees. But because bad decisions were made, we should let everyone rot?

As a society we are supposed to help each other. That's the ethic this county was based on. Thank god people like you aren't controling the process and deciding who is worthy of help and who isn't.

Wait a minute...

[bhappy2-2]

The families of these kids should formally sue Bush and the federal government -- this is just truly attrocious.
Posted by nyckate

Contrary to popular belief, Bush is not responsible for the hurricane. The people who live in New Orleans, just like the others along the Gulf Coast, know there is always going to be another hurricane. I know because I live along the Gulf Coast, it is a reality we accept. The evacuation in times of need are the responsibility of each family, although sometimes the LOCAL GOVERNMENT offers assistance.
In New Orleans the people have known for YEARS their levees were in need of repair. THEY chose to ignore the repairs and thereby placed themselves in danger. Mardi Gras parties are more important to these people than their own safety. THEY placed their children in this situation by ignoring what needed to be done until it was too late, then THEY and everyone else, want to blame everything on someone else. New Orleans is below sea level, always has been and always will be. It makes no sense to live in a place where you and your house are below the level of the water that surrounds you. It makes even less sense to blame an individual, a government agency or a government as a whole for what is a NATURAL OCCURANCE in the area.

[teeus]

"9th Ward, no flood insurance, but, plenty of Crack, Guns, and Gang Members."

Blame the victim much?

[oleander8]

Everyone seems to assume that these people still in temporary housing had homes to rebuild. They were probably renting - and that infrastructure remains to be built.

[smb221]

Of course they're depressed!

[billzor]

Ralsand, the children in question, and their families, don't have the means to rebuild on their own, otherwise they would do it. I don't know for sure, but judging from the amount of land destroyed, they probably don't have a location to rebuild on, either. You're right, it was a well known fact that if a major hurricane hit New Orleans the city would be devestated as it lies below sea level. But that doesn't solve the current situation, and it isn't the resident's fault. And, yes, what about the rest of the people who were displaced along the Gulf Coast? Where is the help for all of these Americans? Living in, "Renaissance Village(s)?" Why have people had o fight for insurance claims? Why is there a mother of four keeping her family warm with a hairdryer, a year and a half after the storm? No wonder people are depressed. I'm depressed just thinking about it.

[floridagirly]

What about the Mississippi folks who were displaced and are still suffering the impact of Katrina? While I agree that New Orleans was devastated by Katrina and need assistance still, what about the residents and children of Biloxi and Gulfport? As it stands, only 15% of displaced residents in Biloxi have been brought back...what about the other 85%? Not only has New Orleans been treated like yesterday's news, but Biloxi/Gulfport seems to have been completely forgotten?

[anopinion1]

well no %@#& they are depessed. did this really take a psychologist to figure out. Who isnt gonna be a little depressed when they lose their home and probably dont get to see any of their friends from school for a long time???
please oh god dont go and put young kids on antidepressants you idiotic so called doctors.

everyone has do deal with a loss of some sort at one point or another, and should deal with it without some quack pumping them full of pills

[whatithink-2009]

Our society throws away so many of our children, our brightest hopes, and then we wonder why they grow up to become delinquents. So many kids are being failed by so many different avenues. We have really lost sight of what truly is important.

[whatithink-2009]

Ralsand,

Are you blaming kids for not having flood insurance? I really don't get your rambling.

[oleander8]

To: ralsand at 05:13 AM : Feb 02, 2007

Good for you, Buddy! But we're talking about children here and I doubt that these good folks had a house to rebuild.

[ralsand]

Enough already, I have rebuilt my home twice after Fl. hurricanes. No $2000.00 debt cards to go shopping at the Galleria in Houston. Wonder why?
New Orleans has been told that the levys will fail, for 40 years. It was just when. Maybe a spring flood?
9th Ward, no flood insurance, but, plenty of Crack, Guns, and Gang Members.
After you get off of your knees from giving thanks for being alive, you pick up the first board and keep going untill you have it cleaned up. Help yourselves, I won't be there.....

[mgpm-2009]

When I saw the images of people dazed and confused, then angry, outside of that stadium in NO during the days after Katrina, I thought, people are going to be angry for generations over this. And well they should be. This has been the biggest debacle in US history and, incredibly, this administration continues to look the other way, as if it is yesterday's news. If the problem is money, we should have telethon after telethon asking for money until we have enough. If the problem is manpower, we should ask for volunteers and call those people heros, and treat them as such and give them national recognition. We should pull together in a time of crisis. In short, we need a LEADER. Where the hairy heck is our LEADER? Off picking his nose somewhere, trying to figure out how he can kill/disfigure/maim more American soldiers overseas. SO..so...so...FRUSTRATING...

[xfredmenzies]

Yes, like the report a few months ago where hungry people were feeling the effects of "low food security", now we have 10,000 kids from displaced and homeless families who are feeling a little "depressed".

Because CBS news wouldn't ever want to say that someone in America was TRAUMATIZED.