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WASHINGTON -- Carrying umbrellas the same bright blue as the tarps that cover thousands of Katrina-ravaged homes, 140 women from the New Orleans area went to Capitol Hill on Monday and invited members of Congress to visit their ruined city.
The "Women of the Storm" said they wanted to pressure politicians to see the storm's devastation in person and send more recovery money south. The group included the wives of some of the city's major business leaders and several women from New Orleans' Vietnamese community.
Monday's visit by the women comes as the Senate homeland security committee is in the midst of two weeks of Katrina-related hearings as part of an investigation into the government's storm response.
"Not enough senators and congressmen have come and seen the biggest natural disaster in the United States," said Caroline Reily of Metairie, whose home was flooded with 6 feet of water.
Among those who made the trip on the group's chartered flight were Olivia Manning, the mother of football stars Peyton and Eli and wife of former New Orleans Saints quarterback Archie Manning; Verna Landrieu, mother of Louisiana Sen. Mary Landrieu and Louisiana Lt. Gov. Mitch Landrieu; and Carol Bebelle, head of the Ashe Cultural Arts Center.
The group said 55 representatives and 30 senators have visited New Orleans in the five months since Katrina. Group members said that any member of Congress who wants to see the area is welcome to come down -- at the expense of Women of the Storm.
Contributing: Anne Rochell Konigsmark in New Orleans
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