Thursday, 4:30 PM
Two years after Katrina, some who fled to Mass. are still haunted
By Globe Staff
Two years ago today, Hurricane Katrina slammed into New Orleans, causing death and destruction and displacing thousands of people. Massachusetts stepped up to help, hosting more than 200 evacuees at Camp Edwards on Cape Cod.
Rick O'Meara, a regional director of the Department of Mental Retardation, helped run the "village" of evacuees.
Looking back, O'Meara said, "I think Massachusetts did a tremendous job in supporting the people who came here, very welcoming and very supportive."
About 100 of the 236 people at the village initially decided to settle in Massachusetts. O'Meara says that many of them have probably returned to Louisiana or gone elsewhere since.
O'Meara said he stays in touch with a few of them and they, like those who remained behind in New Orleans, still haven't recovered emotionally.
"As happy as they are to be here, it's still awful not to be able to go back home," he said.
One of those who stayed is Patrick Wooten. Globe columnist Yvonne Abraham reports today that Wooten started out optimistically but has seen some hard times since, leading him to attempt suicide late last month.
Wooten told Abraham that despite his troubles, he still wouldn't want to be back in New Orleans and likes to think Massachusetts is the end of the rainbow.
President Bush visited the city today and said it is "coming back."
