The scene in New Orleans.

The devastation is unthinkable. The images in newspapers and on TV have been heartrending. The rescue efforts were initially inadequate. The failure to repair the levee is astounding. That so many victims were African-Americans living in poverty is saddening. There are many aspects about the destruction of New Orleans that are cause for distress. So the Business Journal asks:

What aspect of the damage caused by Hurricane Katrina upset you the most?

John DiBella

Senior Sales

Representative

Simulations Plus Inc.

It was the images that I saw of the people who were absolutely stranded everywhere, like on rooftops because they didn't have any way to evacuate from the DiBella city. What really stands out for me was an interview with a man. He talked about how he and his handicapped wife were trying to get to their rooftop. The floodwater was rising fast and as they were trying to get to the rooftop she told him to save himself. I saw the interview and it was pretty heartbreaking.

Frank Monestere

President and Chief Operating Officer 

LegalZoom.com

What struck me was how unprepared we were. The federal response system failed to measure up. I got the sense that no one was actually in charge. Had this been a crisis overseas, we would have handled it in a very responsive way because we do have the infrastructure to deal with such situations. This was not an unforeseeable scenario and we should have had a war plan to execute.

Connie Sung

Account Executive

WongDoody

The images that I saw on TV affected me the most. It made me realize just how helpless I felt. It looked like a Third World country out there and was hard to digest. There is this interview specifically where a reporter stopped this one man walking around listlessly with two kids on the streets and asked him for his story. He said he had been up in a tree with his wife but she couldn't hold on anymore and drifted away and died. He looked so lost and confused with his two kids. I think one TV channel even did a follow up and got him out. Someone volunteered to open up their home to him and his kids. Even the reporter was getting emotional. It was heartbreaking.

Jackie Spenchian

Account Executive

WongDoody

I think what was most upsetting was the lack of support from our government to help the affected people. This is the most widespread devastation the country has seen in a long time. Imagine how it must feel to know that you don't have the aid of government when you really need it. I have a friend who just graduated with me and moved to Louisiana for a job. She said it was like nothing anyone has ever seen before and asked for help, any help that we can offer.

Amit Paul Singh

Firmware Developer

Visopia LLC 

The sheer magnitude of devastation was what got me. Nature's fury can be quite damaging. The devastated area was bigger than the size of Great Britain. Nobody seemed to have it right. Nobody listened to people who warned of such large-scale damage. Infrastructure was left wanting. I also noticed how everyone donated to it without even thinking twice. It showed how people have a conscience. It was also funny to see other countries donating to the United States for a change.