Collection:LPB

Genre: News, Public Affairs

Place Covered: Baker, East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana

Copyright Holder: Louisiana Educational Television Authority

Date Issued: 2005-12-02

Duration: 00:07:22

Subjects: Hurricane Katrina, 2005 | Hurricanes | Renaissance Village (Baker, La.) | Disaster response and recovery | United States. Federal Emergency Management Agency | Trailers | Disaster victims

Contributors:

• Ekings, Robyn Host
• Whinham, Charlie Host
• Ekings, Robyn Producer
• Crews, Keith Photographer
• Lehman, Bill Interviewee
• Llorens, James Interviewee
• Rideau, Harold Interviewee
• Edwards, Danny Interviewee
• Morgan, Glen Interviewee
• McCrary, Annie Interviewee

This segment from the December 2, 2005, episode of the series “Louisiana: The State We’re In” features Robyn Ekings’ visit to Renaissance Village in Baker, the site of 600 FEMA trailers housing Hurricane Katrina evacuees. Ekings tours one of the trailers with New Orleans resident Annie McCrary. She then meets with Bill Lehman, a FEMA spokesperson, who talks to her about the FEMA trailers serving as temporary, transitional housing for an 18-month period. Ekings also interviews Dr. James Llorens, a public policy expert at Southern University, who discusses his belief that FEMA’s 18-month period is overly optimistic because of the lack of rebuilding efforts underway in New Orleans. She then interviews Baker Mayor Harold Rideau, who discusses the city’s commitment to housing the trailer park, the city not receiving any reimbursement from FEMA for their $800,000 in expenditures for the park, and there being no evidence of houses being rebuilt in New Orleans. Lastly, Ekings meets with Baker Fire Chief Danny Edwards, who speaks about his department’s resources being stretched thin because of the spike in medical calls from Renaissance Village and the lack of a response from FEMA being unacceptable. Hosts: Robyn Ekings and Charlie Whinham