
Reuters - As the southern states continue to battle the devastating effects of hurricane Katrina, other Katrina stories are developing in Appleton, Wisconsin and in other states across the country.
Katrina Burton, an Appleton resident, says she has been the victim of a "backlash against the name Katrina". "It started with threatening phone calls," Burton says "and then it got worse." Thursday night, Burton's home in the suburbs of Appleton was burned to the ground. "When I called the fire department, they hung up on me" Burton claims. Local authorities had no comment.
Similar stories are pouring in from all over the country. Katrina Stockton, a bankteller from Atlanta Georgia, was pulled into her manager's office when she returned to work Tuesday after the Labor Day holiday weekend. "I was told I no longer was employed by the bank." she said angrily. "They were receiving complaints from customers I had helped." "That name is bringing up painful feelings." says another employee at the bank where Stockton worked. "I feel bad for Katrina, she is a great worker, but I understand the decision of the bank. It's kind of a lose-lose situation."
Socialogist Burt Heinenbergher says this type of behavior is unfortunate, but not unexpected. "Remember, if you will," says Heinenbergher "the hate crimes that were enacted upon the Muslim society after the events of 9/11. This is not so different from those atrocities."
At the Houston Astrodome, one volunteer has even changed the name on her name tag from Katrina to Debby . "I was getting weird looks mostly." Katrina Harris says "I did have trash thrown at me a few times and one older lady just looked at me and screamed that I took her baby." When asked if she would change her name permanently, she said she had considered it, and will make a decision soon.