The following report was filed by La Riva/Puryear presidential campaign organizers from Gallatin, Tenn.
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Upon entering Tennessee on Saturday evening, we stopped to pick up the local papers. On the front page of The Tennessean – the main paper in the area, based in Nashville, with a circulation of almost 200,000 – was a huge photograph of George W. Bush embracing a family who had lost their home in the tornadoes that devastated many parts of the South and Midwest, and killed almost 60 in Tennessee, Kentucky, Arkansas and Alabama, on Tuesday, Feb. 5. The photo also appeared on the front page of the News Sentinel, Knoxville’s paper.
The papers were filled with news of Bush’s trip to Lafayette – the city in northeastern Tennessee that suffered the most destruction and the promises he had made.
While in Lafayette, Bush said: “I am here to listen, to make sure that the federal response is compassionate and effective. I don’t want people to think something is going to happen that is not going to happen.
The photograph brought to mind the media images and speeches made in the days immediately following Hurricanes
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Bush said on Sept. 15, 2005, “Throughout the area hit by the hurricane, we will do what it takes, we will stay as long as it takes, to help citizens rebuild their communities and their lives.”
Over three years later, the world knows the fate of those whose homes were destroyed in Louisiana and Mississippi.
Less is known about the victims of tornadoes here in northeastern Tennessee. Check out this article about a woman’s year-long battle with her insurance company after a tornado destroyed her home in April 2006.
The people of Tennessee and other parts of the south hit by last week’s tornadoes need to rebuild their homes and their lives. The Party for Socialism and Liberation calls for them to receive full and immediate compensation without delay or excuses.
We also encourage anyone who can to assist in the clean-up effort. Today, we spent the morning volunteering along with hundreds of other people. The clean-up effort in Gallatin is being organized through the Chamber of Commerce. Volunteers can call 615-452-4000.
If you are interested in helping the PSL get on the ballot in Tennessee or elsewhere, call our campaign headquarters at 202-543-4900 or email [email protected].
Here are some photographs of Gallatin:
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Churches, community centers and schools have all become disaster relief centers, serving food and providing housing to those in need. |
Clean-up efforts are first focusing on piling debris. What can be burned is, and the rest is being hauled away. |
Some of the fatalities in Castalian Springs occurred here. Piles of debris can be seen, along with smoke from the fires being set to burn the wood. |
Destruction along the main road in Castalian Springs. |
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Houses that were in the tornado’s path are covered with tarps were the roof was destroyed.
