Aftermath Pictures

I've decided to post the only pics I have thus far of the damage on my street. I'll finish my story later. Pictures are worth more than words.

Understand though that while pictures are revealing, you can't even begin to know what all this looks like if you haven't seen it in person with your own eyes.

The damage in my area was far less than in the worst hit areas. If I were able to get into those places, I would post pics there. I
don't have a way to do that. Also keep in mind that these were taken in December, nearly four months after the storm. Some cleanup had already begun.

At any rate ... I will start my little gallery.

This first one is of hy home as a whole. I lived in a quad. A four apartment building. The top apartment with the fridge by the doorway is mine.

Notice the red car that looks like some beat up old wreck that needs to be towed. This car was completely enveloped in the floodwater. It was fine and working prior to the storm.

Here is a photo of the bottom of my staircase. This is my neighbors porch. The swing was ripped down and the plants look like dried up weeds.

My neighbors really got clobbered. Both of them lost everything. I was much better off than they were. My friend who lived directly below me broke the window of his front door to see in and he also broke in the kitchen door to try to get in that way. This left me with the opportunity to take some pics of the inside of his place. My heart just went heavy when I saw it. He pretty much lost everything.

His kitchen door. Notice the watermarks.

How would you have liked to come home after being kept away for nearly a month and a half to find your home like this?

The apartment directly next to mine took damage as well. I lived in this apartment for about 6 months before moving into the one prior to katrina.



This is the view from my backporch screen. It didn't come out as clear as I'd liked.

This is another view of the tree. A few weeks before katrina, a tropical storm went through which has only recently been upgraded to a Cat 1 hurricane. The night it went through, I looked out on my porch and literally saw this tree waving at me in the wind against my back windows. My biggest fear was that it would come down right on the house.

By some miracle, it fell opposite of the house and missed it altogether!

Here's a side view ..

This is my attempt to show the watermarks. I was hoping to present a more tangible picture. This first one was not very effective. but notice the watermark on the house in the second one.


The next couple are of a house covered in trees and then something to give you an idea of how the houses were marked after they were checked for life - be it either human or animal.

Now we come to the debris. Though you can see the damage while driving by on the street or walking by, the worst is unseen until you walk into some of the homes. Here I've taken a couple of shots of the stuff thrown out of gutted homes.

There was more on the day before these pics, but I didn't get the camera in time. In the second photo, there's a latin guy with a wheelbarrel posing way in the background. I think he may have mistaken me for media.





Here's the cleanup crew....

Now the street almost looks normal again ... but it's not. Look at the cars on the side of the road. They are everywhere in the city. They are nothing but piles of junk. In some areas cars were piled on top of each other due to the force of the water.

Apparently, the city was offered to be paid to have someone from Texas come and remove them for us. Apparently the total sum of it wold have profited us 5 million dollars. That's more than the 4.5 million we're fighting for in washington right now.

For those who wonder why the city needs so much help, I'll quote a statistic for you.

Here's how the damage of property (severe/major) from last years storms ranks percentage wise ....

Alabama

3'684 1%

Texas

12,103 4%

Florida

23,199 8%

Missippi

61,386 20%

Louisiana

(excluding
New Orleans)

27,979 9%

New Orleans

176,758 58%

These facts came from the office of Gulf Coast Rebuilding. It is obvious that this area suffered more damage than the entire Gulf Coast region.

Noone argues that severe damage was widespread across the gulf and not just here. Yet the damage is more extensive and costly here. It's important that people outaide of the affected areas get correct information and not the exploited and often fabricatedinfo the media offers. Those people don't live here, they don't experience the city on a day to day basis and are not a part of it's history or culture.

Anyway, here's the final photo. My street looking halfway cleaned up.

My Experience Part 1

I've taken a while, But I wanted to at some point tell my recount of Katrina. My experience. It's not as draumatic as some peoples - but it's mine.

I moved to New Orleans on Oct. 21,1991. Andrew was my first hurricane. It was pretty scary because it too was a cat 5. The only one scarier was George, which I believe was a cat 3 - but it was marked to come up the river. THAT is supposedly the worst case scenario everyone fears. I'll say right now, katrina was NOT the worst case scenario. It was horrible and destructive, but the left side of the eyewall grazed us. That means the dirty part of the storm actually bashed all of everyone west of us. Had it moved over and we took the west side of the eyewall, we probably wouldn't be having this discussion. Or at least we probably wouldn't be having it from New Orleans.

The thing to understand is, we get threatened by hurricanes every year. We have lives that revolve around work and home. That means we have to determine when to leave. We can't leave just because there's a storm out there. It's difficult to know for certain where a storm will hit and how bad it will be. We had tropical storm Cindy blow through just a couple of weeks before Katrina. They've only just confirmed that it was really a hurricane and not a tropical storm as thought. So, we all remained during a hurricane because we were told it was a tropical storm. It was a minimun cat 1 though, I'd stay for that.

Well, the week of Katrina, I had briefly heard she was crossing Florida, but because of my work schedule, I wasn't really able to keep up with it until that Saturday Aug. 27th. I was getting ready for Shabbat service and decided to check in on it to see where it was going. To my dismay, on the tube was a flurry of warnings that it was headed straight for us and people should leave. They were already evacuating the lower lying parishes.

I went to service knowing I'd probably be staying with my friends that evening to ride out the storm. After service, I had a half hour to pack some things and secure my home. I had two cats and a bird - cockateil. I could not take them with me. So, I left them with as much food and water as I could. In hindesite, I should have filled up the bathtub or sink or something for the cats, and I had a whole other bag of catfood that didn't get emptied. So, they had one 3 pound bag for them to eat. I packed enough clothes for about two or three days and only a pair of flip flops for shoes. I didn't think we were going to leave. Their home is sitting on higher ground and I've usually spent the night there during storms just as a precaution. (I don't drive. If I have to leave in an emergency I would have no way out.) Like I said, I only had a half hour so I just grabed stuff w/o time to really plan anything.

We watched the progression through the night and decided we'd leave around 2am. The traffic would probably be better then. This decision was made when we saw that sometime around 1am the new update put Katrina to winds up to 145 mph over the 115 mph she had remained up until then. It's worth noting that still we thought we'd be gone for a few days.

June, the wife of the couple I was with, had a difficult time accepting we needed to leave. She didn't want to leave her house. I don't blame her.

I want to note that the Mayor - Mayor Nagin wanted to issue a mandatory evacuation order, but due to bylaws he could not. he told us that his friend from the national weather service personally called him and told him in 33 years this was the first storm to really frighten him. He told us that if we could leave, to leave now. He pressed us all to leave. There's no denying that he made the effort to get us out.

We arrived in Livingston, Tx on Sunday Aug 28th at 11am. We were all tired, so we napped for a while. I stayed in the room with them since I couldn't afford my own room.

Later that day, we went into town and went site seeing. Little did we know we were actually orienting ourselves for our month stay there. We found a great little lunch place that was much like a little lunch boutique store. very quaint. We met a lady there who was doing a drawing for a stained glass window. June and I both entered. She had lots of questions when she learned we were from New Orleans. That evening we had chinese and also noted an interesting barbecue place called Bodacious barbecue!

I fought sleep that night. I was stressed thinking about the storm and leaving my babies behind. I finally woke up for the last time at about 5:30 am. It was pretty funny! I couldn't figure out what time it was, so I thought it was daytime. I finally just put my shoes on and went out to find it was still dark. I decided to stay out there till 6am when the lobby opened.

When we have storms, I spend my free time at home watching every second of it. I wanna know where it is and where it's going and how big it is. It was stressing me that I couldn't sit in front of the tub 24/7 and watch it move forward. As soon as the lobby was opened, I ran in to watch their tv. At that time, the storm was hitting the coast and moving up. I ate some breakfast at the continental breakfast table and then went back to bed. That morning I connected with the staff there. They were very very kind and showed compassion even before the devastation.

I don't remember the second time I woke up, but what I woke up to was a nightmare. I went into the lobby again and there were more evacuees there along with my friends watching the storm. Then report began to come in that there was flooding and people were on their roofs. Now, I didn't take that seriously at first. Several years ago a barge hit the river front mall. The reporters reported bodies floating on the water. The bodies were really manniquins from the local body shop. You can see why I was doubtful.

However, the reporters began showing us the water rising around the superdome. It was rising quickly. One of them went to look at some thing and the water was ankle deep. When she returned just a few minutes later it was already thigh deep. It happened very quickly.

As we watched it, we were more horrified by the minute. None of us knew a thing about our own homes. Were they standing? Were they under water? None of us knew!

Daily Rant

Hey there everyone! I'm so happy to see people have started visiting my blog here! Because of that I'm trying to keep as fresh as possible so noone gets bored. I recently added a counter and now I have an idea of how many people visit. So, WELCOME everyone!

I also have a little place on My Space.com There I've begun posting just on general stuff and about me. I did post something yesterday Katrina related so I thought why not bring it over here?

So, without adue :

Feb. 26. 2006

I was .. well, its not shocking really it was just a little unnerving to say the least, but not surprising. Within the past few weeks a new debit card has appeared that is not the FEMA or Red Cross one. Supposedly it's from the Salvation Army. They are trying to help Hurricane victims. It's a humanitarian thing to do of course! I talked about it with two people today. The latter one gave me the phone number and whot not. She told me they were giving vouchers for furniture and stuff, along with the card.

Well, I really didn't loose much in the storm. I just need a bed actually. I've been sleeping on a twinsized air mattress. The point is, I'm not doing too bad. Not like some who have lost everything and only have what they took in a dufflebag or whatever. I'd consider, perhaps, looking into the furniture voucher thing, but I'm not sure yet. I really don't have any desire to take what is not mine, so I'm careful to judge if it's what I should do or not. However, this woman told me to call them and let them know I lost everything - of course I lost "everything" I was living in MidCity. Right? She said I could get a new livingroom set, refridgerator, stove, bedroom set everything! I watched her leave and thought, gosh, even the poor are capitolists. I told a friend who told me - now this is second hand so I can't verify it - that she had heard the people who took in evacuees were allowed to count them on their tax form. So, she heard a couple of people say they were going to claim 3 to 6 people. Supposedly they would get 1000 for each person. Can you imagine if that were true? Oy!

Is this not appauling? I find it so! It amazes me what people will try to get away with! I mean, not only is it criminal to misrepresent yourself and lie to Gov't, but it's just a sign of bad character. When I look at it, I've dealt with the same kind of people who were on food stamps and drive nice cars and keep their hair professionally done every week when I can't even afford a car - but I'm not poor enough to be on food stamps.

Don't get me wrong, I don't look for handouts. I'm for people actually being responsible for themselves and taking help when it's absolutely necessary. It's truly amazing. I also want to clarify, I don't begrudge anyone on foodstamps or who recieve some kind of help like that NOR do I think those people are ALL cheating the Gov't - but many are.

If anyone is interested you can read my personal blog at http://blog.myspace.com/rhemasjoy

and my space there with my profile and everything is at

http://www.myspace.com/rhemasjoy


Hope to meet some of you there! Thanks!

Something to read

I had to write something today because I really want to keep this blog fresh and with new stuff.
I was finally able to reconnect with a friend who I hadn't spoken to since the summer this afternoon. Just two months before the storm. I was happy to know that he is ok and back at home. I am sad to report that not all employers are treating their coworkers well. I have heard news of one who didn't pay their workers for the first week of service after the storm. That is cold!

Mardis Gras seems to be in the news lately. In the local newpaper was a front page report on the difference between local and out of town revellers. The point was to show that out of towners are the rowdy ones who throw beads for skin and drink till they pass out. They showed a pic of woman showing off her assets and a parallel pic of locals with family - good clean fun. But they sorta didn't block all the skin in the first picture. Yes, something was peaking out there for all to see. Apperently they tried to get the papers back but it was too late. They just printed the rest with a block over it. From what I hear.

Personally, I just don't get mardis gras right now. I know it's a big thing, I know it's a part of culture and tradition - history. It's just that so many are so devastated, I just don't see the point. Is Mardis Gras really so wonderful that it's the only thing we have to boast about? I don't see it. Why should that be our big, we are still here alive and breathing statement to the world?

Elections will be the next big burner I'm sure on the national news front. Be on the look out for that.

On a personal note - I miss home. I miss my coworkers. I am actually in a better situation now than before, but I had to leave someplace I've been for the past ten years. Like quitting smoking or something cold turkey or divebombing into a freshwater pool instead of wading in slowly. It wasn't much, honestly. But it was home.

Off Topic

Ok, so this has nothing to do with Katrina, but everyone needs a break ... yes? It's valentines day. Oh woohoo. This season at work it was busier than Christmas, why? I have no idea. Personally I think it's because more people are in town and less stores are open the hours that our store is open.

Anyway, this week, I've been having a little fun. We have these laser light pens. So, I've bene entertaining myself by messing with my coworkers and with customers. "Where is that light coming from?" haha.

Today

Hi again! Well, while I'm waiting to find the time to share my own Katrina experience, I'll share some present tidbits. In recent news ....

Mail for New Orleans is no longer going to Houston and back! Oh joy!!!! So, if you mail a letter to the French Quarter from uptown, it goes 82 miles to Baton Rouge to be postmarked, then 68 miles to St. Rose to be sorted and finally another 22 miles to the French Quarter. Well, at least to whever they have the post office setup nowadays! Now, just so you know, it takes about ten to 15 minutes to drive from the French Quarter to uptown. I think I'd rather just drive to the quarter and stick it in their mailbox myself and run the risk of being caught in someone elses mailbox. Those of us in the 701 zipcodes are still not recieving magazines nor any of those annoying fliers or sales ads we all love to get every week! We also still get no TV focus in our newspapers. Due to a shortage of hospitals in the New Orleans area, there's now a hospital of sorts setup in the convention center. Cute little tent looking things. Very nice - I haven't been in but I'd hope they have air conditioning!

In my personal humble opinion, given that it seems every week to a month there seems to arise in the local newpapers and television airwaves a new theory on what caused the levies to give way, I'm not sure if it is really a mystery or someone just trying to find a valid reason that will satisfy evryone. First the water topped the levies, then the pilings weren't built deep enough, then the peat had been dug into for some reason or another. Does anyone really know? We are now about 114 days away from next season - will the levies be rebuilt by then? Well, there are about 9 women who are taking a hands on approach and have a campaign to make the levee board one group instead of several seperate groups. This is what most regular people want anyway.

A first this year was a Mardis Gras Marathon where the runners ran in front of the SuprDome among other things. Honestly, this is just my humble opinion ... I could do without mardis gras. I never really liked it anyway. But this just doesn't seem the time to think about and spend money on it. But who am I?

Todays paper was no different than most papers I've seen since I got back into town in mid September . Almost every paper is tainted with more pictures of ravaged houses or streets or something. Many areas are just deserted because there's just not enough time, people or money to get it all done. Not only that but many homeowners just have no idea what they're supposed to do, the city tells them don't demolish, FEMA says demolish, the insurance hassles them about their claim. It's just not as easy and clearcut as outsiders would think it is. To make matters worse, the squall line of thunderstorms that hit our area from Texas the other night spawned a numerous amount of Tornadoes which of course hit trailor parks, areas of lakeView which were already seriously damaged and redamaged the airport. Don't take those blue tarps off yet!

Life here is definitely different. However, I can't say we don't still have our share of crime again as two friends of mine live in an apartment complex where one of their neighbors homes got broken into and someone elses car got stolen. Maybe they didn't realize the time period for looting was over!

Traffic has certainly picked up. Take into account that people who have left the city have moved into other areas of Metro New Orleans like Jefferson Parish or Kenner, along with the multiplied workers who have come for the promise of some extra cash for being a part of the cleanup and rebuild process, streets that were once passable at almost any time of day are hardly as passable anymore.

On the subject of work BTW, I just learned recently that although many companies - with a big majority being fast food ones - may be hiring new employees with a nice fat bonus spread out over a year of up to about 6,000 dollars and a nice hourly rate like ten bucks and hour, but after that year is up, the wages go back down to preKatrina rates. Wow. Don't get too cushy of an apartment!!

If you happen to get one of the local papers online, look for a guy named Chris Rose. This guy is hysterical!!! He has kept many of us full of laughter and maintaned a nice level of healthy insanity. Here's to you and headless barbie dolls Chris!!! 9It's an "inside" thing.

Well, I must sign off for now. I'll be bringing more updates and things fomr your average everyday new Orlenian prospective as often as possible. Thanks for reading!!!

A Bit Late

I know I've really lagged on this blogging thing. The truth is, I've been rather caught up in the whole being homeless and staying with friends situation. Then I finally moved into a new place January 8th! Yay!!! So, hopefully I can start filling up space in this spot here. I also didn't have a computer till about two weeks ago when I broke down and bought an e-machine. It works, that's all that matters. So, the update currently is that I have a job, I have a place to live and I have a computer! I need a bed, but hey, we can't have it all at once!!

Hope to be posting some more over the weekend. Oh, this is the weekend! Silly me!