Back From New Orleans

Quite the action packed day. Started out for N.O. dark and early around 6am. Got to the outskirts of the city by 8. Hit the traffic from hell and made it to the downtown and French Quarter area close to 9:30. This really put a dent in the time we needed to spend in the city. We really dug into the neighborhoods. We started with the lower 9th. Getting out into the street and really taking a close look changes everything. We stopped at the corner of Deslonde and North Prieur Street. This is about two blocks from the levee break at the Industrial Canal. Every house in a 6 to 7 block area is either collapsed, or gone all together. When you take a closer look at the piles of debris you start to see personal things. A wheelchair, a toy, a phone book, a bedframe, a calculator, among other things. Cars are smashed into balls, glass everywhere. Most of the majestic live oak trees that once lined the streets are laying on their side, twisted together with the power poles and lines. This is complete devastation. This is also one of the poorest parts of the city. I would assume nearly nothing was insured.

Next we hit Chalmette, in St. Bernard Parish. Again, most houses flooded or destroyed by water and wind. No restaurants, no gas, no stores, no electricity, gas, water, sewer. Even if ones home wasn't affected by the storm. There are no basics..there is no reason to go back.

We whipped around to New Orleans East. We hit two neighborhoods that are side by side. One of the things about New Orleans is you run past a string of multi-million dollar homes and the next block are shotgun homes worth virtually nothing. Both of these opposite neighborhoods look the same. On one side of the freeway are once were beautiful homes around a golf course and lake..A few people are making an effort to gut and start the rebuilding process. Even though we estimate the water on this side was about 9 feet deep. On the other side of the freeway we stopped at what appeared to be low income apartments, not projects, but low income. The roof was off the complex. The water line was about 3 or 4 feet. No sign of hope, no sign of rebuilding. It appears that time has stood still. It doesn't even look like anyone has been back here to look. We found pictures of a mother and baby still in the frame laying in the parking lot. It was probably exactly where the storm left it five months ago.

As we left New Orleans East, we headed to the Gentilly neighborhood. Gentilly is mostly African-American. Low to moderate income working class with projects scattered about. Gentilly and 7th ward is probably where the majority of New Orleans crime would be pre- Katrina. The housing projects' doors and windows are closed with metal covers. There are no signs of anyone. A lone police officer sitting in his unit talking on the cell phone. The traffic moves along Elysian Fields Avenue trying to get from the city to the lakefront. No one notices anymore the hundreds of empty homes that they drive by. Even I stopped looking at every home. There were just too many. We stopped at the corner of Warrington Drive and Mirabeau Avenue. At the site of the London Avenue Canal Break. 5000 Warrington Drive was the home at the actual break. It is now 5001 since it has been relocated across the street. Water still leaks from the levee. A turtle was swimming in the stream that flowed from the canal into the middle of the street. A car that was in the driveway of one house is now in the living room of the next door neighbors.

As we take Mirabeau through City Park we stop to see that Storyland, and the City Amusement park is showing signs of improvement. Most of the area has been cleaned. Many of the plants in the botanical garden has been replaced. There were people playing tennis, and a few battled the once flooded golf course. Many trailers and tents for migrant workers cover most of the park, and national guard trucks are always in the background. Signs of hope but far from normal.

We finished the day in Lakeview. I have been to Lakeview many times since the storm. It doesn't look any different. I did notice some signs in peoples' yards that said "We're coming back to Lakeview!" and then there was a website address on the sign. Lakeview has an organization promoting the rebuilding of the neighborhood. I certainly hope that everyone who has a sign is really and truly going to come back. Again with none of the basics...There really is nothing to return to.

As we left the city, we grabbed a big burger at the "Port of Call" in the French Quarter. Most of the Quarter is open, there aren't too many people. Especially if we can grab a seat at the Port of Call with no wait at 12:30 in the afternoon. I think the French Quarter has the best chance right now of getting back to "abnormal" a New Orleans Tradition. There are no signs in the city of Mardi Gras...28 days, I don't know how they are going to do it.

Pictures will be posted when I can get them off Mel's camera. Our 2 part series will run Monday and Tuesday of next week. It will probably be available in streaming on our website www.katc.com I will keep an eye and let everyone know if it will be available online.