Perhaps they had three inches of water. Perhaps they had three feet of water. Perhaps they had none. Perhaps they lived in lower Dulac. Perhaps they lived on the west side of Houma. Does it really matter? When a person says they are from southeast Louisiana, an address doesn’t really exclude you from that look; the look of despair.

An estimated 2,500 people from all areas of Terrebonne Parish, Lafourche and other outlying parishes gathered at the Houma-Terrebonne Civic Center to get some answers from elected officials and representatives of involved organizations. Ultimately, the goal was to receive some much needed action. Less than one week after Hurricane Rita’s tropical storm forced winds caused breaches in levees, which flooded the five fingers of Terrebonne Parish, Martin Folse of Folse Productions (HTV) and some much appreciated sponsors put together a public forum.

A modern day town meeting, the forum was sent out on a live feed for the uentire nation to view. “CNN, FOX News, National Public Radio, many Louisianan television stations and radio stations can all tune in – let’s hope they do” said Martin as he welcomed the crowd and awaited the signal to go live.

Appropriately titled, “Time for Action,” (TFA) the forum was a chance for public officials to answer questions from residents most affected by the damage that was caused. There were questions about local pumping stations, which were to be expected. But the hot item on the agenda was flood gates, levee protection and of course FEMA and the Red Cross and its infamous 800 number.

But before the public would get their chance to be heard, the crowd welcomed Louisiana Governor Kathleen Blanco to the stage. Governor Blanco said she was proud to be part of Louisiana and is doing everything possible in Washington to make them understand the importance of rebuilding the levee system bigger and better to protect what the coastal parishes have and provide for the rest of the nation. “We feed the nation and provide the resources that move this country. If they want to live good, then all they have to do is help us build the levees,” said Governor Blanco.

Before the Governor was swept away to another event, she listened to Tanya Fanguy, a first-grade teacher at Grand Caillou Elementary. Tanya urged President Bush to help, and even reflected on a program he spoke of, “No Child Left Behind.” Tanya related that program to her own experience with Hurricane Katrina and Rita. Her classroom was damaged for Katrina, and was forced to move into the adjacent recreation center. Ironically, her “new” classroom was flooded by Rita. “Our kids can’t go to school because the elementary school and the recreation center were flooded; our children are being left behind,” exclaimed Tanya.

As the night went on, many spoke of “no more studies,” coastal erosion, barrier islands, Morganza to the Gulf, etc. However, the most profound plea didn’t come from a long-time public servant, a fisherman of a bayou community or even an elected official. Channing Deroche, a 16-year-old from South Terrebonne High School, was welcomed by Martin. Her letter was just one of the 1,500 that Martin had received since Rita became a household name.

Channing spoke of her future. She shared her feelings of concern and how she feared that future – a future without Terrebonne Parish. She related it to how her parents, grandparents and ancestors called this place home and how she wanted her children and grandchildren to have that opportunity also. She told the listening audience, “Take a look at me, I am the future of this parish.” She also told the story about how she and classmates were encouraged to take part in Save Our Soil (SOS) years ago. The children would write letters expressing their concern for coastal erosion and such. Year after year, they would send the letters to the appropriate places without response. In closing, Channing begged President Bush to help her parish, and to send the money needed to build the levees stronger.

At this time, no one knows for sure if the messages were heard in Washington. One thing is for sure, it was time for action, and we, the people of this region, are standing up to do something about it. Perhaps Councilman Clayton Voisin said it best, “If we don’t do something now, this is going to be TerreGONE.”