vermilion Parish was full of cajuns whose whole life after near 100 years was wiped away..... RITA not a very important storm in world news-- had devastation compared to New Orleans- every family ........lost someone who lost EVERYTHING.. They started over with what they had or didn';t have,by pulling together- not waiting for FEMA/ROAD HOME OR THE GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS THAT DID LIP SERVICE TO OUR LOSS BUT CREATED MORE PAPERWORK & CONFUSION (commonly known as RED TAPE) THAT STIFLED INITIATIVE. THE FACTS WERE THE GREASY WHEEL WAS New Orleans- and yes their plight was horrendus but rural southern Vermilion Parish was ignored,forgotten, and left to the resilent,stuborn, and determent people whose great grandparents carved out their own unique culture by refusing to be be defeated. We lost our brand new ( 2 weeks old ) shop we saved 10 years to build......fema wanted to loan us money at a larger interest rate than the darn bank & ask for 3 years of gross reciept, proof of every thing we owned (so they could attach it) and our irs forms- I through them out - told them my mother didn't know that stuff-- KISS MY ASS.... RITA DESTROYED 85 % OF FARM, CANE,RICE & A WAY OF LIFE Existing since the Louisana purchase . If you recieved any federal aid WHICH TOOK 1 TO 2 YEARS YOU WERE REQUIRED TO BUILD between 8 to 12 feet above the flood plain- sounds almost reasonable, right. Look at your dwelling- how accessable is elevating the entire structure 12 ft.- I'm rambling- this is old news........In the next 2-3 days the prediction is the worst storm Ever in the history of Lafayette....it will show us once again how nature always prevails. All of us down here thank you for all your prayers and consern. Love Ramdi