Four years after Katrina, Gulf Coast leaders say government has failed to reconstruct

As the anniversary of Hurricane Katrina approaches, community groups in New Orleans and around the Gulf Coast are expressing their frustration at the Federal Government. Four years after the hurricane, many local residents say recovery efforts are far from being complete.

This week the Institute for Southern Studies released a survey in which it asked community leaders from the Gulf Coast to grade the Federal Government and Congress on their role in reconstruction.  Participants gave the government a D on most issues related to reconstruction, including categories like helping displaced people return home and revitalizing infrastructure in communities.

To take a deeper look at these problems FSRN spoke to Trupania Bonner, the executive director of Moving Forward Gulf Coast.  Bonner´s organization formed after hurricanes Katrina and Rita, to support and empower the community in rebuilding efforts. Moving Forward has been involved in several reconstruction projects and is now leading a campaign to make sure Gulf Coast residents are properly counted in the 2010 census.