(OT) My Katrina Tour in New Orleans

I was asked by a few of you to post about my Katrina Tour I went on yesterday while I was still in New Orleans. I was staying at the Royal Sonesta Hotel in the French Quarter for a work conference. The French Quarter was not affected by the hurricane very much, but, the economic effects of little to no tourism since has been dramatic. But, you cannot get a true picture of what is going on in that region unless you go out of the French Quarter. That is why I took the tour. It was a 2 hour tour where a bus drove us through a few of the affected areas. I say a few, because the devastation goes on for miles and miles. If you include the other parts of the Gulf Coast that was devastated by Katrina, it is the same square mileage as all of Great Britain. Please read and believe "devastation" is not too strong a word. They could not drive us into the lower 9th ward as it is still too difficult for a bus to drive through. The houses are mostly made of wood and collapsed and were moved into the streets. We did, however, see similar devastation. In the neighborhoods with brick homes, they were still standing, but, completely gutted to the steel frames inside. Sitting there empty. Flooded cars litter the streets, are stuck between homes upside down and even in trees! There are boats everywhere. Thrown around like matchsticks. The wooden houses are totally ruined, most collapsing in on themselves. All the stores, gas stations, fast food restaurants, street lights and not working. You can see waterlines 10 to 12 feet high on the buildings still standing. There are porta potties scattered here and there. A few FEMA trailers. But, there is no running water or electricity to many of these areas. The fact that this is how it is 7 months after the fact is truly a tragedy... I spoke to many residents to find out there experience. It is incredibly sad. Of the 1.5 million residents that were evacuated, only about one third have returned. These folks are really having problems, because if there is a place to live the rent has been jacked up sky high. Making a living, finding adequate food and water, these things are extremely difficult. There are only about 30 of the 130 schools that have reopened. I met a 12 year old girl who was being sent by her mother to California to live with her Aunt so she could go to school. The little girl did not want to go, she didn't want to be so far away from her family. People in the French Quarter told about the 3 weeks following Katrina where total lawlessness and terror reigned...they could hear gun shots day and night and had apache helicopters flying over head...it was like a war zone. Many people told me that they believed the police had shot quite a few looters and dumped their bodies in the river. Orleans parish has their mayoral race coming up. There are 23 candidates. I sure wouldn't want that job. This city has a very long way to go. If the tourists don't come back they will not make it...please don't put off trips if you were going there. They need you! Meanwhile, write your congressman and put a fire under these people in Washington! This is America! We should be able to take care of our people and our levees! This is my take on the very sad situation down there from the things I saw and the people I met. I am glad to be home in Utah...but, I do feel compelled to put out the word for those folks! Lori

Lori, Thanks for taking the time to tell us about this... It's very sad but something I think we should all remember and not let fade away. Cajun, on the main board, is from that area and he posted a while ago about some DVDs you can order that captures some of the devastation you're talking about. It reminds me, sadly, of Hurricane Andrew back in the early 90's. Andrew hit sometime in the fall, if I remember correctly. We went to Florida on spring break the following year. I remember driving from Miami to Key West and the damage to Dade County was unimaginable. I remember seeing apartment buildings next to the highway that had entire walls removed, it was like looking inside a honeycomb, and there were still people living there. People with no homes, living in these buildings without walls, water or electricity, right in front of the highway for the whole world to see. People living in storage units with the roofs blown off... In some of the wealthier areas of the county, there was rebuilding going on. Brand new McDonald's, brand new gas stations... But in the poorer areas, it was like something I'd never seen in America... I remember just crying the entire drive down. It was one of those things I'll never forget...

Lori, Thanks for the post. It is so very sad. Someone at my office, knew of someone that was down in New Orleans during the hurricane. She and her hubby were taking their son to college down there. She wrote a journal while there. The story was amazing and terrifying. I'll look and see if I still have it someplace. It is pages and pages long but I felt compelled to read every word. They were in a hotel during the hurricane. I have to say that the folks running the hotel really tried to help feed everyone for several days... rationing supplies until there were no more. One of my father's friends lives in Metaree (sp), LA. He was actually in the hospital following heart bypass surgery around the time of the hurricane. My dad hadn't heard from him and my sister found the man's sister and niece looking for them on the websites that cropped up with folks looking for friends and family member. Finally my dad got an email from his frat group that the friend was in Louisville with his son. The son's employer set the dad up in an apartment for a few months as a nice gesture. (A fabulous gesture.) I talked to my sister and asked if she let the man's sister or niece know that we knew he was fine. She said "Oh, I'm sure they know." I told her "Never assume" especially when like is chaotic. So I found the website for folks looking for others and emailed the niece that her uncle was fine. She didn't know. She was so very grateful. I'll have to ask my dad if he moved back to LA. I read your post to Rich who went on a diatribe about how instead of worrying about closing the borders we should hire the folks that want to work to rebuild. Of course that takes $$$ and I know my taxpayer dollars are busily funding war and rebuilding in other countries. Doh, did I say that... Kathy

Lori, Thanks for your post. I cannot imagine how devastating the area is. I appreciate you sharing your experience and perspective. It is easy for those of us who live a distance away to forget the devastating impact on many many wonderful Americans. Thanks, Wanda