(Published in Spanish in) ABC, │SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 09, 2006│

OPINION

 “A PROMISE TO NEW ORLEANS”

By Eduardo Aguirre, U.S. Ambassador to Spain and Andorra

One year ago, the United States suffered the most catastrophic natural disaster in its history. Across the states of Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama, an area the size of Great Britain was devastated by Hurricane Katrina. The beautiful city of New Orleans, my boyhood home, was flooded when the waters from Lake Pontchartrain poured over the levees. Eighty percent of the city was under water, with the poorest districts hit especially hard.

The hurricane claimed over one thousand lives, and hundreds of thousands of residents were forced to evacuate their homes. The storm caused over eighty billion dollars in property damage, affecting thousands of businesses and tens of thousands of homes. As with the tsunamis that ravaged Indian Ocean coasts in December 2004, and the earthquake that jolted the Kashmir in October 2005, Katrina reminded us once again of the awesome and implacable power of nature.

Yet amid the most difficult moments of human suffering, these disasters also remind us of the extraordinary strength of the human heart and of the unbreakable bonds that all humanity shares. The destructive capacity of nature has few limits – but the bounds of human empathy and compassion are just as broad.

Such extraordinary devastation could lead to despair – and yet I draw great comfort and hope from the outpouring of selflessness and solidarity in the wake of this catastrophe. Through countless acts of courage, we saw the best of America’s heart and spirit in the response to hurricane Katrina. Men and women from the Coast Guard and the National Guard risked life and limb to rescue hundreds of beleaguered victims stranded among the flood waters and bring food, potable water and shelter to thousands. More than 100,000 Americans volunteered to help through the Citizen Corps Network, providing medical care, transporting relief supplies, removing debris.

We saw that heart and spirit in countless acts of generosity. Americans made charitable contributions totaling more than four billion dollars to the Red Cross and other relief organizations, such as the Bush-Clinton Katrina Fund headed by the two former presidents. Katrina struck just before the beginning of the school year, leaving thousands of children with no schools and no textbooks. My adopted hometown of Houston, Texas immediately stepped forward, and within days had incorporated nearly two thousand New Orleans children into our city schools.

We also saw the best of the international community. Here in Spain, I was touched and moved by this same spirit of solidarity and generosity. I want to reiterate my thanks to the government and people of Spain for their support. Spain contributed over 16 tons of relief supplies - assistance that we not only greatly needed, but also greatly appreciated. I vividly remember standing on the tarmac at Torrejón air base, watching as the two Hercules cargo planes hurtling down the runway; and my heart swelled with gratitude in the knowledge that the U.S. can count on Spain in our times of need.

An outpouring of condolences and offers of support came to us from Spanish political, business and social leaders. From a spontaneously organized jazz concert designed to raise funds for displaced New Orleans musicians, to the many, many messages of heartfelt sympathy we received from the Spanish people – Spain demonstrated the solidarity and generosity for which its people are famous. The United States is a rich country, of course, and has many material resources to respond to such tragedies – but I count among our greatest blessings our richness in steadfast and faithful friends, such as Spain.

Alternate paragraph for Andorra Press: I want to reiterate my thanks to Andorra for its support. Andorra sent 20 tons of humanitarian materials including 15,000 liters of drinking water, 1,500 bed sheets, medical kits and other supplies. I also want to recall the many, many messages of heartfelt sympathy we received from the Andorran people – Andorra truly demonstrated its solidarity in our time of need. The United States is a rich country, of course, and has many material resources to respond to such tragedies – but I count among our greatest blessings our richness in steadfast and faithful friends, such as Andorra.

We made mistakes in responding to the destruction Katrina brought. Our federal, state and local governments did not adequately communicate with each or coordinate their relief efforts – and Americans suffered as a result. As President Bush has made clear, we are determined to learn from this tragedy and be better prepared for future hurricanes. As the President also noted, we have pledged to rebuild New Orleans and the Gulf Coast region.

Already the federal government has committed more than 110 billion dollars to the region’s recovery. We are building a New Orleans that is stronger and more hopeful. A more hopeful New Orleans starts with stronger levees - and the Army Corps of Engineers is repairing the damage and strengthening the 350-mile system. Today, almost the entire flood protection system around New Orleans has been restored to at least its pre-Katrina level, and in many places, the system is significantly better than before Katrina. Nearly ten million tons of debris scattered by the hurricane throughout the city have been removed. We are working to restore people’s homes with special loans and credits, jumpstart the city’s weakened economy with enterprise zones and tax incentives, and rebuild the city’s schools.

A one-year anniversary is not a finish line. Many daunting challenges remain, and mere words won’t resolve them – only hard work and determination can. For decades, New Orleans boasted a fully-deserved fame as a vibrant, passionate, integral piece of the rich tapestry of American society. Americans have promised each other that the exuberant Crescent City will shine again with hope and pride – and we mean to keep that promise: New Orleans will be back.

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