Katrina Uncovers:
National Radio Project Reporters in New Orleans
Feb 22-Mar 1, 2006

In September 2006, we began our Katrina Uncovers series, to address the important issues that Hurricane Katrina revealed. We knew that eventually, the mainstream media spotlight would swing away from these issues and the people intimately involved in them. Away from the stories of evacuees who are still trying to get their lives back together. of toxic sludge that is preventing some families from returning to their homes. of landgrabbers trying to turn neighborhoods and playgrounds into casinos and parking lots.

Most of what we hear now is scapegoating, and charges of mismanagement and fraud. Those sorts of stories distract from the original problems brought to light by Katrina: Thousands of people in Louisiana and Mississippi were too poor to evacuate, institutionalized racism and classism is alive and well, and officials ignored the need to prepare for such a disaster. In addition, our government did not serve or protect its citizens, particularly its African American citizens, after the floodwaters receded.

As part of our ongoing commitment to cover key stories, Tena Rubio, Senior Producer, and Justin Beck, Producer, went to New Orleans, Louisiana, from February 22 through March 1, 2006. Their efforts centered on observing and documenting:

• Rebuilding efforts in the city and surrounding areas, talking to residents, relief workers and community activists.


• Environmental impacts.


• One family's return to their devastated hometown.

Tena and Justin turned their on-the-ground reports into two shows for our Katrina Uncovers series >> More info about these and other shows in this series.