New Orleans has come back; maybe not necessarily like the New York Times would have wished. But it is steadily coming back!
Here's some scenes from my neighborhood after the levees broke and the floods came, Lakeview:
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| Harrison Ave. and Colbert St. |
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| Near the Lakewfront |
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| Canal Blvd. underpass |
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| Mt. Carmel Academy, on Robert E. Lee Boulevard |
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| Where the levee broke |
I experienced a major flood, from Tropical Storm Agnes, in NY state when I was a teenager. They are completely devastating, perhaps worse than any natural disaster. Fire can be contained or controlled more easily. Earthquakes are thankfully rarer. Tornadoes have a relatively narrow swath of destruction. Nothing can stop water when it starts to overflow barriers. My heart goes out to all the areas Katrina hit. It's a long road to recovery, even with adequate resources. The Gulf Coast did not get enough help, then or now.
ReplyDeleteAngel, there was a special on Fox News (yes I watch it) about Katrina and the new sea walls that have been built around the city. We had some local flooding that took some lives here in Texas, not far from me, but thankfully I have never been involved in a flood personally. I can't even imagine the devastation, frustration and hard work that followed. Thanks for this reminder.
ReplyDeleteThat was a horrible disaster, with the clusterfuck that followed and all. I'm glad you got through, Angel! Good to see you in HSV. I love New Orleans.
ReplyDeleteI don't know if I could live in a flood plain let alone below sea level. Needless to say I'm not moving to Holland any time soon.
ReplyDeletei was just reading about the 'where are they now' of 9 key players from that horrible event. blanco and nagin made me mad as hell back then. fighting, pointing fingers, blaming everyone but themselves, late to call for federal aid. yes, fema was not prepared to answer the magnitude of the call, but they had to be asked to come in by the state first. gen. honore was my hero thru that horror. i wanted him to run for president. i'd still vote for him today.
ReplyDeletemy husband spent 4 days in the water rescuing folks, loading them into boats and helicopter baskets. yes, he saw bodies float by. yes, he was shot at (either by anti-govt folks or people thinking they were looters). it forever changed him but he still works for fema today and gives them 110% no matter what the task or where. he refuses to get into the political finger-pointing and simply does the best job he can. i will always be proud of him.
Wow, you have been in a real disaster! More props to you, Angel, for your resilience! I so admire the people of your area who seem such great people and every one an artist in one way or another! Great folks, food, living culture - can't beat that! President said he got a grease spot on his suit while visiting N.O. "If you don't have a grease spot somewhere, you didn't enjoy the City."
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//"" SO HAPPY to BE BACK!
ALOHA
ComfortSpiral
=^..^=
Trip was great, but being without internet made me miss you and all my friends!
Katrina was a terrible disaster made more terrible by the ineptitude of a lot of people in high places who should have known and done their jobs better. The sign blaming the Corps of Engineers for the tragedy is an example of how nowadays everyone rails about how terrible and overreaching "The Government" is, but on the other hand, blaming it for not doing more and making it a convenient scapegoat for the failures of local leaders. But if nothing else good came from Katrina, at least you survived, Angel.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comments and encouragement, you all! A special thanks for your husband being it the rescue operation. Those brave rescuers were sorely needed, and they made a difference! In my own case, I evacuated with my older brother just before the levee broke. He took his fiancée and his little sis to northern Alabama; later into Kentucky.
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