Toxic Threat from Hurricane Katrina

The damage from Hurricane Katrina might have caused a little more damage than some have expected. A long term emergency has developed over the damaged land the Katrina has damaged. Not only has Katrina wiped out homes, and has left thousands of people homeless, but the water is also damaged from the aftermath from what has happened.

The EPA(Environmental Protection Agency) has stated that the damaged water will take quite some time to return back to normal. They currently do not even have a projected time on when the water will return to its normal state. Not only will this water affect the people who once lived in New Orleans, but it will affect the rebuilding process when it shall begin. This could result in prolonging the time on which people will be able to move back in to their state and residences. There were two kinds of carcinogenic fluids found in the water recently; hexavelent chromium, and arsenic. These two fluids that were found within the water are extremely hazardous to ones health. Most Chromium is found in metal plating, and is obviously not healthy to drink, along with arsenic. Arsenic is mostly found within the Earth's core, but is not healthy for the human body which can result in Cancer.

There has been five major spills that the EPA has currently found, and one of the containment centers for the city's toxic waste, is still currently underwater. The EPA is supposedly working as hard as they can to clean up this disaster.

The government should have been aware that such a disaster should occur, that we should be prepared for this. "We" meaning the entire United States, should have had some sort of preparation rather than a weeks notice upon the coming of hurricane Katrina. Perhaps we should look back on the days where people would find a structure to be safe in besides a football stadium? What are we thinking? I would think we would learn from all of the occurrences from Sept.11. Do we always have to suffer before we learn what is to be done when disaster strikes? What does it take for us to be prepared? Hopefully, in the future it doesn't take thousands of people homeless, dead, and many more missing.

-LA TIMES