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American Morning

New Orleans Opens Up Badly Flooded Ninth Ward for Look-and- Leave Tours; Sandwich Generation

Aired October 28, 2005 - 08:30   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

(NEWSBREAK)
ZAIN VERJEE, CNN ANCHOR: New Orleans itself has opened up a badly flooded Ninth Ward for some of those look-and-leave tours. CNN's Daniel Sieberg went along with one bus group on Thursday as they saw the damage.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is for you. It's your opportunity to at least see your area.

DANIEL SIEBERG, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): For Pat Simon and her mother, this is not the homecoming they had in mind. They're among the dozens of lower 9th Ward residents who will soon see their devastated homes, some for the first time.

PAT SIMON, LOWER 9TH WARD RESIDENT: I don't like this. I didn't want to -- I am only here because of my mama. And I know her house is gone. It was over there where the breach was at and everything. So I'm only here because of her.

SIEBERG: As the bus drives up and down streets destroyed by flooding, we also meet Bishop George Albert and his wife, Vernette (ph).

GEORGE ALBERT, JR., LOWER 9TH WARD RESIDENT: Yes, man. Well, I'm over here now, and I'm telling you, man, it's like nothing we've never seen before, man.

SIEBERG: Home after home, unrecognizable. At times, no one says anything.

ALBERT: We've weathered many storms here in New Orleans, and as always, we packed a few clothes to go and come right back. There's nothing to come back to.

SIEBERG (on camera): For a few minutes, people were allowed to get off the bus, but just to see an example of what the houses look like here in the Lower 9th Ward.

(voice-over): Under the ground rules for this trip, people aren't allowed to get out and inspect their homes. They aren't happy about that restriction, but officials say it's necessary, because the houses are not structurally sound, and because bodies are still being recovered. SIMON: Wait, wait, wait. Just one minute. This is my house. This is my house.

SIEBERG: Pat strains to make out a few belongings, and reminders of what was once normal life.

SIMON: I got mail in the box.

SIEBERG: She's determined to get whatever remains in her home.

SIMON: And I think about it all the time. There is something. I think of what some of my things are made of, the material that it's made of. It survived. And I want to go in there to retrieve it. I wouldn't care if I come out with one item, I want it. It's mine.

SIEBERG: But George manages to persuade the driver to briefly pull over at his home.

ALBERT: It's hard, man. I mean, you know, we invested a lot in our home. Our memories are here. Raised our children here. My wife and I built this home, and to see it devastated like this is just heartbreaking.

SIEBERG: As the tour wind down, George still believes he'll come back.

ALBERT: And as you know the song says, only the strong survive. And we will survive.

Daniel Sieberg, CNN, New Orleans.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

VERJEE: Michelle Lynch was on the bus tour. She's a disaster mental health worker for the Red Cross. She's in New Orleans right now, and she joins us on AMERICAN MORNING. Thank you so much.

Describe to us from your perspective what you saw people going through.

MICHELLE LYNCH, RED CROSS: Well, it's a very difficult process. They're coming into the environment for the first time, many of them have not seen their homes at all, and it's quite difficult for them to experience what they've lost. Many times, the areas are unrecognizable and it's hard for them to find their way around. As part of disaster relief and the Red Cross, as a mental health worker, we're on the buses to provide support for them through this very difficult process. A lot of times...

VERJEE: How do you provide that support for them? What do you say to them?

LYNCH: Well, it's not so much of what we say. It's about listening to the stories about the barber, and the grocery, or the neighbor that they knew, their house, all of the stories in community that were there. It's a very tight-knit community, and neighbors knew neighbors, they took care of family members, and if it's not the loss of their own property, it's the loss of their friends, and very much the loss of the community. It's a community grieving, and the bus trips provide opportunity to go in and have that sense of closure that many individuals need to see with their own eyes the devastation that's occurred there so they can move on and have that experience of knowing this is where -- this is what we have. This is what we have to work with and come together as a group.

And we found often on the bus trips that there's a unity even within the bus that is remarkable, people come together as a community and support one another, amazing experiences.

VERJEE: OK. Did they say to you or to each other that they want to come back? Or did they just sort of shake their heads and say, well, we've had our closure and this is it?

LYNCH: It varies from person to person. Often, the devastation of their homes is so great that they, most likely, won't be able to come back there. Come back to New Orleans, it's hard to say from family to family.

But I have been struck by the perseverance that I've seen in the individuals who live in this area, and the sense of determination that we will prevail, we will continue, and we're going to work through this, and there's very strong sense of community that we're going to work on it together.

VERJEE: Give us -- there was one bus tour that you were on, particularly that impacted you of the six that I believe that you were on. Tell us a little bit about that. Give us a sense of what was going on. I know that in some instances, "Amazing Grace" was being sung and other sort of moments like that.

LYNCH: Sure. There happened to be a man who is a gospel singer that was known in the community for singing in churches during services, and individuals on that particular bus knew him and encouraged him to start singing, and he did. He started singing "Amazing Grace" at first, and other people joined along, and it really helped them work through a very difficult experience, as they would look at other homes of themselves or relatives in the community, they would keep on singing, and it was a very moving and emotional experience, but one they were working through collectively.

VERJEE: And what about you? When you see such a overwhelming sense of loss, so much pain and tears as people look around and see everything that they've had, utterly devastated, and they can't take even an item out of the house back with them, what is it through all of this that keeps someone like you going? What inspires you?

LYNCH: Sure. Well, being trained and working with trauma, it's very important to take care of yourself, and there are some self-care things that are important to know where you're at emotionally.

But one thing that I've been inspired by is the real strength that people have in the community and working together. I've been so impressed with that, and that's very helpful, and it gives you hope to be able to work and continue the difficult work that this is, but know that it's such a rewarding experience to be able to be part of that process, to help them gain some level of closure and start the grieving process really.

VERJEE: Michelle Lynch of the Red Cross, thank you so much -- Miles.

O'BRIEN: And here is something that never has happened before. The Red Cross says it is so overwhelmed by the hurricanes, it is taking out huge loans. The organization wanted to raise $2.3 billion. It's about $1 billion shy of that, so far. And the Red Cross says it has already borrowed $340 million, trying to make up that shortfall and, of course, looking for your help.

(WEATHER REPORT)

O'BRIEN: Still to come, our special series on planning your dream retirement. Today, advice for the sandwich generation. And how to look out for your future while taking care of kids, and aging parents, and the dogs, and everything else, the mortgages, all of the things you got.

Stay with us for more AMERICAN MORNING.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

O'BRIEN: We're doing a double switch here. I'm going to do British. She's going to do American, right? Many Americans in their 40s and 50s are finding themselves in an unexpected financial bind.

VERJEE: They are totally taking care of aging parents, as well as their own kids. It's not only emotionally draining; it's financially draining, too.

O'BRIEN: Brilliant!

Gerri Willis here now with more on the so-called sandwich generation.

GERRI WILLIS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I don't know where to go. I've got to tell you, I have no idea what to do. Baby boomers out there, are you caught between two generations, parents and your children? increasingly, you're responsible for the financial needs of both. One upstate New York woman describes the financial squeeze.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

WILLIS (voice-over): It's another typical long day for Suzanne Van Wagenen. She comes home to make dinner for her grandson, Aaron (ph). who lives with her full-time, after visiting her mom in a local nursing home. And after a couple of years doing this, it's had an effect.

SUZANNE VAN WAGENEN, CAREGIVER: I was pulled in all of those directions, plus my job. It almost felt like I was being pulled apart sometimes, and there wasn't going to be anything left. WILLIS: Suzanne is a member of what is being called the sandwich generation, caught between responsibilities to both children and parents. And like most aging baby boomers in her situation, she wonders how she will be able to afford her own retirement.

WAGENEN: With Aaron, having to take care of him, my husband couldn't retire because we still had a child in school now. And then when mom came, you know, retirement wasn't an option.

WILLIS: Suzanne's mom moved from Florida to New York when her health failed. Suzanne cared for her at home for more than two years, until she realized she couldn't do it anymore.

WAGENEN: I'm still not over it, bringing up to putting mom in the nursing home even though I know in my head, and I do know in my head, it's the best place for her at this point in time, but it's still hard. I fight with it all the time.

WILLIS: What Suzanne didn't know at first there is that is help out there for those who are struggling.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Was your father a veteran?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes, yes he was.

WILLIS: Cities, counties and states across America offer advice, support, and even financial assistance through offices for the aging, matching people in need with counselors like Evelyn Flynn.

EVELYN FLYNN, CASEWORKER: A lot of people think that because they have a couple of dollars in the bank that they are not eligible for any program. That is not a fact. The fact is most people are eligible for some program, one or another.

WILLIS: Finding a helping hand gave Suzanne some relief, but she's still concerned about a retirement future that seems very uncertain.

WAGENEN: I'm not sure what a great retirement is. I suppose if I had one, it would be sitting back, and enjoying life, and traveling and doing whatever I wanted to do. But that's not always reality.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WILLIS: People in their 40s and 50s who care for parents and children may feel that their dream retirement is simply unachievable, but careful planning can make the difference.

VERJEE: Well, how do they plan for it then with sort of all of these various financial obligations?

WAGENEN: Well, I think the key is making sure that you're not just looking out for everybody else. You've got to make yourself number one. First of all, if you're in your 40s, your 50s, you're particularly your 50s, think about buying long-term care insurance. This is what's going to pay that bill for assisted living for you, and right now that's costing about $28,000 a year on average. It's too late to buy it for your parents. It's cheapest if you buy it in your 50s, but that's probably the best option for people in this situation.

O'BRIEN: Any other suggestions to help us get through this sandwich moments?

WILLIS: I think that people who are paying for their kids' education should think about having those kids get a loan.

O'BRIEN: Get a job!

WILLIS: Look. Get a job. Your children can borrow money for their education. You can't borrow for your retirement.

O'BRIEN: Well, it's interesting. Parents feel very strongly about doing this, you know, for their children. But it can really put them in a hole.

WILLIS: It can put you in a hole and you can't really dig yourself out, because there's nobody giving out loans for retirement right now, as far as I know. But there are plenty of great, inexpensive programs for people to get money who are going to school.

O'BRIEN: All right. Your kids are a good investment, but don't let them bankrupt you, right?

WILLIS: That's right.

O'BRIEN: All right, Gerri Willis, thank you very much. Coming up, Andy is "Minding Your Business." How would you like it if the boss timed your bathroom breaks?

VERJEE: One company is doing it. That's next here on AMERICAN MORNING.

O'BRIEN: We don't like that, no.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

O'BRIEN: Live pictures. Andrews Air Force Base, just outside of Washington, D.C. That's Marine One. The president on board, about to alight Marine One and embark on his journey on Air Force One to Norfolk, Virginia, for a speech today on terror. Despite what may be happening in a grand jury room in the U.S. District Court building, the president is pressing on with his schedule today.

You'll see his speech live, right here on CNN, 10:00 a.m. Eastern time. And, of course, our coverage of the CIA leak probe, the grand jury investigation and what falls down and falls up or is handed up there, will continue throughout the day.

World Series. There was a World Series. What if you held a World Series and no one watched? Andy Serwer -- this doesn't make any sense. Let's see, Chicago is what, the third largest market.

ANDY SERWER, "FORTUNE" COLUMNIST: Yes. O'BRIEN: Houston is, what, about the eighth?

SERWER: Four.

O'BRIEN: Fourth?

SERWER: Fourth largest market now.

O'BRIEN: I wouldn't have guessed that. Fourth largest market. They're growing. You would think that would be a good one for the network.

SERWER: It was not. It was the least watched World Series in World Series television history. No one watched. And the real reason is not the size of the markets. The real reason is that it only was four games. I mean, you ask any television executive, that is going to kill you. Secondly, not a lot of nationally known characters on these teams. Yes, you had Roger Clemens, but he's a pitcher, he only plays one game.

So -- but really the problem goes back to, again, if you have the drama of going to the sixth and even the seventh game, that will get you going. Last -- down last year from 30 percent from that Red Sox- Cards thing.

O'BRIEN: Well, that's a tough act to follow.

SERWER: Yes, it is.

O'BRIEN: The Red Sox.

SERWER: Yes.

O'BRIEN: But, you know, the White Sox had just as much history to undo, right?

SERWER: Yes, they did. They did. And the lowest before this was the 2002. What was that, the Angels and the Giants.

O'BRIEN: Well, what about that famous Kansas City-St. Louis series? That was like two small market teams and they actually did...

SERWER: But there was drama there.

O'BRIEN: It was drama.

OK, press on. Ford.

SERWER: Yes. Another American institution, the Ford Motor Company, really moving ahead here. This is a great sign in society, I think. They've decided that their employees are spending too much time in the loo -- going to the bathroom too much. This at a plant in Wayne, Michigan, an internal memo discovered by the "Detroit News." So they're going to start monitoring bathroom breaks at the plant.

Thirty-five hundred employees are allowed 48 minutes per shift in the bathroom. This is a company that lost 1.2 billion dollars, Miles, in the latest quarter in north American auto operations. And they've decided that the real reason must be because people are spending too much time in the bathroom.

O'BRIEN: I guess Ford doesn't like those kind of leaks, if you know what I mean, coming out?

Coming up on your Friday edition of A.M. Pop -- we better move on. We're off to see the new "Wizard of Oz" and what the DVD looks like. It's better than the original, they say. The technical wizardry behind this spiffy new-furnished classic, ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm going to have a great ride and a fantastic weekend.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

O'BRIEN: A major story developing in Washington as the president's closest adviser is sounding upbeat. Appears to have escaped an indictment, for now. However, the vice president's chief of staff, Lewis "Scooter" Libby, may not be so lucky. It is gun check time as the grand jury in this CIA leak probe meets right now, on this AMERICAN MORNING.

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