Phern and Nelson Ware have lived next to the London Avenue Canal for 32 years. Their daughter Shawnell lives on one side, and their son's house was on the other. But their efforts to return home after Katrina have been halted by the huge pile of sand left by the levee break in all three back-yards; sand that, in some spots, was higher than the window sills.

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The Army Corps of Engineers said this sand pile must be treated as a "debris pile."

"It is imperative that this be removed. We can't do any construction. No contractors will even entertain us,” said Shawnell.

The Wares got an architect to the site on Monday, but Shawnell said she called the Action Line after trying to get the piles removed for months. The problem, she was told, was that the pile was on private property.

"Starting in October, we started complaining and requesting who was going to remove it? Who was going to help us; provide assistance? No help,” Shawnell said. “As of two weeks on Friday, they told me I was responsible for moving this sand, and that's just impossible, this is the entire levee in the back yard."

Does it seem like everything is so much more complicated since Katrina? The Army Corps of Engineers said a whole series of agencies were involved in the process. The Corps also said that the “pile of sand” was actually a “pile of debris” and had to be treated as such.

“What's unique about this is for the private property debris removal, we have the Corps, FEMA, the state and the city attorney's office all involved, and we work as a team to address these type of cases,” said Victor Landry, a Corps of Engineers spokesman.

Surveyors were on the scene that same day to measure the house and the amount of sand, Shawnell said.

“They're reviewing it to make sure it is acceptable, and then they'll tell the corps to go get it, and as soon as we get the word, we'll expeditiously remove it,” Landry said.

In the meantime, Orleans Parish residents are recommended to call 311 if they need help with debris removal. However, it the debris sits on private property, residents must first file a right of entry authorization with the city attorney's office.

Contact: Bill Capo's Action Line, 522-4404 or log on at WWLTV.com and click on the 'Action Report' link.