my katrina adventure
hello everyone. glad to hear that everyone is safe. here's my story, straight (though slightly modified to be more precise) from my handwritten hurricane journal:
Saturday, September 10th, 2005
Two miserable weeks have passed, slowly but surely. I write now from New Orleans, Metairie to be exact. I have been enjoying every moment back--even the painful and devastating ones. Glad to be back in my hometown, even though I have no real home to go to. Glad to be here to witness first hand what I have witnessed. I needed to be back. I write this from the frontseat of my rental vehicle in the driveway of my parent's home. This is going to be very long.
Let's go back to day one. It was Saturday August 27th. Brandon's dad had called that afternoon to let us know that he was going to be evacuating to Tulsa, OK where his brother lives. He asked if we'd like to join him. We liked that idea because it was a free comfortable ride and we would not have to drive. At the time the hurricane was a category 3. So I ran around that afternoon getting enough food and supplies for our pets, thinking that we would be gone no more than four days. Fucking ignorant. We had weighed the consequences of taking all of our pets (two chameleons, nine frogs and one bearded dragon)and stress them out with a fourteen-hour car ride and relocation OR leaving them home upstairs in their regular environment for a couple of days. I asked the advice of the guys at our pet store and they agreed with us that it would be better to leave them so long as they were in a safe place. Our biggest fear was taking the chameleons, since they are such delicate, sensitive creatures and stress out very easily. There is no way they could handle such a drive. The frogs could have handled the trip okay, but there was no reason to put them under any unnecessary stress (or so we thought). So I left a bunch of crickets and water in the cages. I gave Jackson and Karma (the chameleons) each a drink of water before we left(chameleons only drink running water; they do not recognize standing water as a water source). For this reason, Jackson and Karma did not have a super water stash as did the frogs. This meant they had to wait on our return for water. As far as our bearded dragon, Gimpster, we took him with us because he is somewhat like our puppy and such a journey would not bother him a bit (he had an entire seat to himself on the way there atop a heating pad, so he was just lounged out and loving it and slept the whole way there. it was adorable). So off we headed to Tulsa with not more than four or five changes of clothes, our necessities and not much else. We arrived in Fort Smith, Arkansas around 6:30 AM. Heard the news that Katrina as now a category four/soon-to-be category five and heading straight for New Orleans. I immediately panicked and desperately called my family to see if someone could go take my animals from my house. By that time, however, everyone had already evacuated or was in the process of evacuating. So for the next several hours I paced back and forth worrying. I cried on the phone to my mother and told her I was scared for my animals and scared that I would not have a home to go home to.
The next morning my mother called to let me know that he hurricane had passed and although there was a significant amount of wind damage, there was no flooding and the city was fine and she assured me that yes, I would have a home to go home to. This was before the levees broke.
I convienently live about six or so blocks from the lake and a mere half of mile from the breech in the 17th Street Canal. We live in a town-house style house so we carried our TV and a few other items upstairs but we hadn't thought too much of it. Anyhow, after we'd heard about the breeches in the canal, we feared and watched for pictures of Lakeview. Very soon we saw a picture of the Rite Aid/ PJ's/ Papa John's/ Shell Station on the corner of Robert E. Lee Boulevard and Paris Avenue. It was covered to almost the roof in floodwater. Our house is about half a mile from that very point, so instantly I was sure that our house was eight feet or so underwater. We hoped it hadn't gotten to the second story. But that's all we could do. Hope. There was no way to see the damage without being there and therefore no way to rescue our pets. The thought of not being able to get back to them to save them made me sick to my stomach. Several times we had planned out exactly how to do it and do it safely. I even rented a vehicle for the journey. Our first attempt failed because we were given word that they were not letting anyone remotely near the city. Not to mention it would be dangerous with those fucking idiots in the streets. Our second attempt failed for more or less the same reason plus we were told that there would be no way into Orleans Parish and that we may be shot or arrested for being there illegally/taking items out of a house, reguardless that it was our house. [The house is under eight feet of water so it's not as easy as turning a key in the front door. This meant we'd have to break open a window on the second story to get in.] The third time we heard that they were letting people into Jefferson Parish to check out their properties. We knew this was our last chance and that time was running out. We purchased all the necessary supplies and equipment. Twenty minutes before it was time to leave, we were told that there would be no way to get into Orleans parish and that every entrance was blocked with cops and national guards. We felt hopeless and were very discouraged but decided, fuck it. The only way to do it was to try and we couldn't very well try in Tulsa. This way, no matter what happened, even if we couldn't get in, the long drive and gas money would have been worth becasue we would know that we tried our hardest to save them.
So that Wednesday evening we left around 6 PM. Fourteen hours later we were in Destrehan stuck in traffic trying to get into the city. We made it to my parents house only to discover that it had electricity! We thought we'd have to tough it out in the heat but it was rather pleasant! They were in Lafayette so we had the entire house to ourselves. God did it feel good to be alone and have total freedom in a space! We drove around looking at the sites for awhile. It was wonderful...there was almost no civilian drivers on the roads, no traffic lights to stop at and as far as I was concerned no speed limit to abide by. Many of the sights were very sad. So first things first, we began to work on our mission. We drove down Lake Avenue to Hammond Highway to scope out the perimeter. The National Guard's setup was right there, where they were carrying out their operations, bagging sandbags and flying them over our heads (speaking of which, its amazingly scary to stand directly below a helicopter carrying two 30,000lb sandbags..I was like, man if that dropped...). Anyhow, we followed the levee into Orleans parish and crossed the footbridge over the canal to find demolished restaurants and piles of debris. We walked down to the point and all around the marina. Many destroyed homes and boats. Meanwhile, Brandon and I were trying to draw up a plan to get past obstacles. We had previously planned to use my dad's canoe but it's not exactly something you can casually slip by the National Guard. So we decided to steal--er, borrow one of the boats that was there. So Brandon devised a functional route/plan and found a good boat for us to use. I was extremely nervous about going. I didn't want to get arrested or shot or fall into the filthy, disgusting, disease-infested waters. But I knew I had to do it for my babies.
We were to wake up that next morning to carry out our mission. Luckily for me, my Dad showed up around 10:30 that morning and was willing to go in my place. Better him than his daughter, I guess. So, I dropped he and B off at the site and wished them luck. They were to call me when they were nearly done; I would be off getting other things accomplished.
Brandon called an hour or so later when he was in the house and said that he'd made it in safely and that the animals were alive but that Jackson did not look well. I raced over there to meet them and made the walk once again from Hammond Highway to Lakeshore Drive/West End Boulevard. They were just pulling up when I arrived. To my surprise, there was a boat of National Guardsmen near their side. I was thinking, "oh shit. please don't give them any trouble." In actuality, the guardsmen had seen them leaving the house and asked if there was anything they needed so they gave them a towe back to the launching point. I grabbed the chameleon cage out of the boat and instantly saw that Jackson did not look well. It took my breath away and I immediately began crying. I knew at that moment that he was going to die. He was dehydrated and very weak. Plus the heat and dehydration had caused the abcesses in his mouth to come back and be far worse that they ever were. He was weak and scared. We tried to force water into his mouth but it was to no avail. There was a reptile emergency kit waiting for us back at the car but he was too far gone. The guys from the National Guard offered to give us and our stuff a ride to our car. They went to get their vehicle. As we waited we tried to help Jack but he was becoming worse and more stressed. I could not stop crying. The soldiers arrived with a humvee (spelling?) and picked us up. They showed concern for my dying chameleon and for my frantic tears. On the way to the car, all the trucks had suddenly come to a complete stop. One of the soldiers went to find out why. Apparently Dick Cheney was in the area so all traffic had to be stopped. Fuck you Dick Cheney. Jack's condition only worsened and less than ten minutes later, I watched him die in Brandon's hands. Brandon went to set him down but I grabbed him and he curled up in my hands and was dead. At this point I could not control myself. My Jackson was dead. My healthy, perfectly raised, wonderful and beautiful chameleon died and for such a STUPID fucking reason. Because of my negligence.
All of the frogs were in great condition, perfectly healthy. Karma looked good but was stressed and had also developed a small abcess on her mouth. Soon the trucks were rolling and the soldiers dropped us off at our car. One of them was very young and showed such genuine sympathy. He apologized to me and held my hand and blessed me and it just mad me cry even more. I was so grateful for their help.
We buried Jackson in the front yard under the giant oak tree. It was a tree Jack would have liked, with lots of branches. It was fucking heartbreaking. I cannot even write this without breaking down and crying. He was the light of our life. He made life so pleasant. He was a reason to wake up in the morning. I loved the hell out of that animal. I do not know how long it will take me to get over this. I am crushed. It just kills me to think about how healthy he was and how he had such a great life (I hope anyway), and how very well we cared for him. I pray that it was not painful for him and that he may have felt some kind of comfort to see us. It's like he was waiting to see us one last time. I mostly prayed that he wouldn't be thinking that we had abandonded him. WHY??? Why after all the trouble we went through to save him--why him? I hate to say it but I would give up any of the other animals to have him back--he was so special to us. God, do I miss him. I'd bought another cage in Tulsa to bring down here so we could avoid putting him and Karms in the same cage, since Jack's cage was too big to put in the boat. Now the cage, still unassembled in its box, sits empty in the dining room taunting me. I cannot look at the box without feeling a shooting pain in my heart, knowing that my Jackson should be in that cage.
I'm so fucking bitter. I'm bitter about this entire disaster. So many people have lost all that they've worked for. More importantly, they've lost wives, husbands, sons, daughters, mothers and fathers, friends, relatives and pets. It's fucking sad. It is hard to care right now about losing my posessions. Fuck my posessions. Fuck my $2,000 profesional kitchen equipment arsenol that I have been working to build. Fuck our sofas and our bikes and our barbeque pit and our $300 Hookah Brothers hookah. Fuck our camping gear and our Halloween / Christmas decorations and our stereo setup. I would gladly give it all up to have Jackson back.
On the upside, all of the other guys are doing just great. We've cleaned Karm's abcess with a weak Betadine solution and then applied some Silver Sulfadiazine cream. I am in the process of trying to track down some antibiotics to shoot her up with. I had brought down some worms for Karma but the crickets I'd brought from Tulsa died around Shreveport so I had nothing to feed the frogs. Today I drove around the entire New Orleans metropolitian area in search of crickets. I finally stumbled upon a Petsmart that was not open but was being guarded by two out of state officers. I said, please tell me you can sell me some crickets. He said, "Sorry, ma'am, I cannot do that." I explained to him that I'd been all over the city and that my guys would have no food and that he was my only hope. He said, "Let me see what I can do." He returned five minutes later with a bag of crickets and a containter of superworms. I was so incredibly grateful. So now the frogs are back in a nice cage and their bellies are full and they are happy. Karma seems to be getting better as well.
(end handwritten journal entry)
Aside from mourning Jack, I am handling things okay. I do not know what to do with myself at this point but I am definitely not going to go to school anywhere else. Instead, I am going to enjoy the semester off and try to find a job until Chops reopens. I may volunteer at the shelter where they are bringing in all the abandoned pets.
Today is September 12th. Brandon and I make two years.
Stay safe everyone. Keep your spirits high. Keep in touch.
Saturday, September 10th, 2005
Two miserable weeks have passed, slowly but surely. I write now from New Orleans, Metairie to be exact. I have been enjoying every moment back--even the painful and devastating ones. Glad to be back in my hometown, even though I have no real home to go to. Glad to be here to witness first hand what I have witnessed. I needed to be back. I write this from the frontseat of my rental vehicle in the driveway of my parent's home. This is going to be very long.
Let's go back to day one. It was Saturday August 27th. Brandon's dad had called that afternoon to let us know that he was going to be evacuating to Tulsa, OK where his brother lives. He asked if we'd like to join him. We liked that idea because it was a free comfortable ride and we would not have to drive. At the time the hurricane was a category 3. So I ran around that afternoon getting enough food and supplies for our pets, thinking that we would be gone no more than four days. Fucking ignorant. We had weighed the consequences of taking all of our pets (two chameleons, nine frogs and one bearded dragon)and stress them out with a fourteen-hour car ride and relocation OR leaving them home upstairs in their regular environment for a couple of days. I asked the advice of the guys at our pet store and they agreed with us that it would be better to leave them so long as they were in a safe place. Our biggest fear was taking the chameleons, since they are such delicate, sensitive creatures and stress out very easily. There is no way they could handle such a drive. The frogs could have handled the trip okay, but there was no reason to put them under any unnecessary stress (or so we thought). So I left a bunch of crickets and water in the cages. I gave Jackson and Karma (the chameleons) each a drink of water before we left(chameleons only drink running water; they do not recognize standing water as a water source). For this reason, Jackson and Karma did not have a super water stash as did the frogs. This meant they had to wait on our return for water. As far as our bearded dragon, Gimpster, we took him with us because he is somewhat like our puppy and such a journey would not bother him a bit (he had an entire seat to himself on the way there atop a heating pad, so he was just lounged out and loving it and slept the whole way there. it was adorable). So off we headed to Tulsa with not more than four or five changes of clothes, our necessities and not much else. We arrived in Fort Smith, Arkansas around 6:30 AM. Heard the news that Katrina as now a category four/soon-to-be category five and heading straight for New Orleans. I immediately panicked and desperately called my family to see if someone could go take my animals from my house. By that time, however, everyone had already evacuated or was in the process of evacuating. So for the next several hours I paced back and forth worrying. I cried on the phone to my mother and told her I was scared for my animals and scared that I would not have a home to go home to.
The next morning my mother called to let me know that he hurricane had passed and although there was a significant amount of wind damage, there was no flooding and the city was fine and she assured me that yes, I would have a home to go home to. This was before the levees broke.
I convienently live about six or so blocks from the lake and a mere half of mile from the breech in the 17th Street Canal. We live in a town-house style house so we carried our TV and a few other items upstairs but we hadn't thought too much of it. Anyhow, after we'd heard about the breeches in the canal, we feared and watched for pictures of Lakeview. Very soon we saw a picture of the Rite Aid/ PJ's/ Papa John's/ Shell Station on the corner of Robert E. Lee Boulevard and Paris Avenue. It was covered to almost the roof in floodwater. Our house is about half a mile from that very point, so instantly I was sure that our house was eight feet or so underwater. We hoped it hadn't gotten to the second story. But that's all we could do. Hope. There was no way to see the damage without being there and therefore no way to rescue our pets. The thought of not being able to get back to them to save them made me sick to my stomach. Several times we had planned out exactly how to do it and do it safely. I even rented a vehicle for the journey. Our first attempt failed because we were given word that they were not letting anyone remotely near the city. Not to mention it would be dangerous with those fucking idiots in the streets. Our second attempt failed for more or less the same reason plus we were told that there would be no way into Orleans Parish and that we may be shot or arrested for being there illegally/taking items out of a house, reguardless that it was our house. [The house is under eight feet of water so it's not as easy as turning a key in the front door. This meant we'd have to break open a window on the second story to get in.] The third time we heard that they were letting people into Jefferson Parish to check out their properties. We knew this was our last chance and that time was running out. We purchased all the necessary supplies and equipment. Twenty minutes before it was time to leave, we were told that there would be no way to get into Orleans parish and that every entrance was blocked with cops and national guards. We felt hopeless and were very discouraged but decided, fuck it. The only way to do it was to try and we couldn't very well try in Tulsa. This way, no matter what happened, even if we couldn't get in, the long drive and gas money would have been worth becasue we would know that we tried our hardest to save them.
So that Wednesday evening we left around 6 PM. Fourteen hours later we were in Destrehan stuck in traffic trying to get into the city. We made it to my parents house only to discover that it had electricity! We thought we'd have to tough it out in the heat but it was rather pleasant! They were in Lafayette so we had the entire house to ourselves. God did it feel good to be alone and have total freedom in a space! We drove around looking at the sites for awhile. It was wonderful...there was almost no civilian drivers on the roads, no traffic lights to stop at and as far as I was concerned no speed limit to abide by. Many of the sights were very sad. So first things first, we began to work on our mission. We drove down Lake Avenue to Hammond Highway to scope out the perimeter. The National Guard's setup was right there, where they were carrying out their operations, bagging sandbags and flying them over our heads (speaking of which, its amazingly scary to stand directly below a helicopter carrying two 30,000lb sandbags..I was like, man if that dropped...). Anyhow, we followed the levee into Orleans parish and crossed the footbridge over the canal to find demolished restaurants and piles of debris. We walked down to the point and all around the marina. Many destroyed homes and boats. Meanwhile, Brandon and I were trying to draw up a plan to get past obstacles. We had previously planned to use my dad's canoe but it's not exactly something you can casually slip by the National Guard. So we decided to steal--er, borrow one of the boats that was there. So Brandon devised a functional route/plan and found a good boat for us to use. I was extremely nervous about going. I didn't want to get arrested or shot or fall into the filthy, disgusting, disease-infested waters. But I knew I had to do it for my babies.
We were to wake up that next morning to carry out our mission. Luckily for me, my Dad showed up around 10:30 that morning and was willing to go in my place. Better him than his daughter, I guess. So, I dropped he and B off at the site and wished them luck. They were to call me when they were nearly done; I would be off getting other things accomplished.
Brandon called an hour or so later when he was in the house and said that he'd made it in safely and that the animals were alive but that Jackson did not look well. I raced over there to meet them and made the walk once again from Hammond Highway to Lakeshore Drive/West End Boulevard. They were just pulling up when I arrived. To my surprise, there was a boat of National Guardsmen near their side. I was thinking, "oh shit. please don't give them any trouble." In actuality, the guardsmen had seen them leaving the house and asked if there was anything they needed so they gave them a towe back to the launching point. I grabbed the chameleon cage out of the boat and instantly saw that Jackson did not look well. It took my breath away and I immediately began crying. I knew at that moment that he was going to die. He was dehydrated and very weak. Plus the heat and dehydration had caused the abcesses in his mouth to come back and be far worse that they ever were. He was weak and scared. We tried to force water into his mouth but it was to no avail. There was a reptile emergency kit waiting for us back at the car but he was too far gone. The guys from the National Guard offered to give us and our stuff a ride to our car. They went to get their vehicle. As we waited we tried to help Jack but he was becoming worse and more stressed. I could not stop crying. The soldiers arrived with a humvee (spelling?) and picked us up. They showed concern for my dying chameleon and for my frantic tears. On the way to the car, all the trucks had suddenly come to a complete stop. One of the soldiers went to find out why. Apparently Dick Cheney was in the area so all traffic had to be stopped. Fuck you Dick Cheney. Jack's condition only worsened and less than ten minutes later, I watched him die in Brandon's hands. Brandon went to set him down but I grabbed him and he curled up in my hands and was dead. At this point I could not control myself. My Jackson was dead. My healthy, perfectly raised, wonderful and beautiful chameleon died and for such a STUPID fucking reason. Because of my negligence.
All of the frogs were in great condition, perfectly healthy. Karma looked good but was stressed and had also developed a small abcess on her mouth. Soon the trucks were rolling and the soldiers dropped us off at our car. One of them was very young and showed such genuine sympathy. He apologized to me and held my hand and blessed me and it just mad me cry even more. I was so grateful for their help.
We buried Jackson in the front yard under the giant oak tree. It was a tree Jack would have liked, with lots of branches. It was fucking heartbreaking. I cannot even write this without breaking down and crying. He was the light of our life. He made life so pleasant. He was a reason to wake up in the morning. I loved the hell out of that animal. I do not know how long it will take me to get over this. I am crushed. It just kills me to think about how healthy he was and how he had such a great life (I hope anyway), and how very well we cared for him. I pray that it was not painful for him and that he may have felt some kind of comfort to see us. It's like he was waiting to see us one last time. I mostly prayed that he wouldn't be thinking that we had abandonded him. WHY??? Why after all the trouble we went through to save him--why him? I hate to say it but I would give up any of the other animals to have him back--he was so special to us. God, do I miss him. I'd bought another cage in Tulsa to bring down here so we could avoid putting him and Karms in the same cage, since Jack's cage was too big to put in the boat. Now the cage, still unassembled in its box, sits empty in the dining room taunting me. I cannot look at the box without feeling a shooting pain in my heart, knowing that my Jackson should be in that cage.
I'm so fucking bitter. I'm bitter about this entire disaster. So many people have lost all that they've worked for. More importantly, they've lost wives, husbands, sons, daughters, mothers and fathers, friends, relatives and pets. It's fucking sad. It is hard to care right now about losing my posessions. Fuck my posessions. Fuck my $2,000 profesional kitchen equipment arsenol that I have been working to build. Fuck our sofas and our bikes and our barbeque pit and our $300 Hookah Brothers hookah. Fuck our camping gear and our Halloween / Christmas decorations and our stereo setup. I would gladly give it all up to have Jackson back.
On the upside, all of the other guys are doing just great. We've cleaned Karm's abcess with a weak Betadine solution and then applied some Silver Sulfadiazine cream. I am in the process of trying to track down some antibiotics to shoot her up with. I had brought down some worms for Karma but the crickets I'd brought from Tulsa died around Shreveport so I had nothing to feed the frogs. Today I drove around the entire New Orleans metropolitian area in search of crickets. I finally stumbled upon a Petsmart that was not open but was being guarded by two out of state officers. I said, please tell me you can sell me some crickets. He said, "Sorry, ma'am, I cannot do that." I explained to him that I'd been all over the city and that my guys would have no food and that he was my only hope. He said, "Let me see what I can do." He returned five minutes later with a bag of crickets and a containter of superworms. I was so incredibly grateful. So now the frogs are back in a nice cage and their bellies are full and they are happy. Karma seems to be getting better as well.
(end handwritten journal entry)
Aside from mourning Jack, I am handling things okay. I do not know what to do with myself at this point but I am definitely not going to go to school anywhere else. Instead, I am going to enjoy the semester off and try to find a job until Chops reopens. I may volunteer at the shelter where they are bringing in all the abandoned pets.
Today is September 12th. Brandon and I make two years.
Stay safe everyone. Keep your spirits high. Keep in touch.