06:21 PM CDT on Monday, June 5, 2006

WWLTV.com

Even those who are less worse off after Katrina are sleeping less, finding more difficulty in doing normally routine things and are worried more about the next five years, according to a study released by the University of New Orleans Survey Research Center.

The Center surveyed only those who had land lines for phone usage and no one who was living outside of the metro area, so for the most part it was those who had fared better in the storm.

Despite that fact, nearly a third said they had suffered flood damage and 85 percent had other damages, nearly six in ten lost possessions and a third of the families had a member who had died since Katrina.

About 40 percent of those surveyed had lost a job and well more than half had found it more difficult to do routine things like grocery shopping, getting and sending mail and driving around town.

A third of respondents believe they have a medical condition that was made worse since Katrina and 69 percent were either somewhat or very worried about the next five years.

Even though the survey likely received responses from a smaller percentage of black residents than lived here before the storm, those who did reply had found things worse off than white residents.

Blacks reported more flooding and damage, were less likely to be in their own home, more likely to have someone in the family lose a job and had more difficulty in getting medical care.