Editorial

New Orleans beginning its journey back

Saturday, September 17, 2005

Right after Hurricane Katrina -- and the flooding which followed -- many of us feared that New Orleans would never again rise to its former glory. As we looked at the terrifying scenes of people trapped on rooftops and the distressing views of homes and businesses roof-deep in water, we could not visualize how -- or when -- the oldest city in the south could recover.

Our feelings intensified when authorities ordered the evacuation of the city's entire population.

But, today, less than three weeks after the horrific disaster struck the Gulf Coast, New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagrin announced that large sections of the city will reopen next week and that other parts of the famed port city will follow in the next three to six months.

By next March -- at Mardi Gras time -- he predicted that the population of New Orleans could reach 250,000. "Then," he said, "we'll start to ramp up to over time to the half-million we had before and maybe exceed."

Optimistic? Perhaps. But we applaud the mayor for setting goals and inspiring the displaced residents of New Orleans to reclaim their city.

If New Orleans citizens do succeed in rebuilding the city -- and we believe they will -- it will not only be a credit to the residents and the government, but it also will be a tribute to the helping hand given by the people of the United States and the world.

It is both heart-warming and uplifting to see how people in all parts of the United States are reaching out to assist those displaced by the Gulf Coast tragedy. In just one day in McCook, more than $12,000 was collected for Red Cross relief efforts. And the help goes on. A trailer will be parked at Wal-Mart in McCook for the next few days, collecting Gatorade, bottled water and food staples for delivery to relief workers in Biloxi, Miss.

Over the years, the cities of America have recovered from fires, earthquakes, floods, hurricanes, tornadoes and urban riots. We rose to the task to help those cities rebuild. We will do the same in New Orleans and the Gulf Coast.

New Orleans has been called America's most interesting city. It earned the title through its diversity, including the Mardi Gras, the French Quarter, jazz, antebellum mansions and distinctive cuisine.

The Crescent City is too great a treasure not to be reclaimed. The new New Orleans is beginning its journey back to prominence.

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