Impressive Devastation
New Orleans, LA - Over my life time I've worked in EMS, acted as body snatcher for the coroner and worked in the news media. With all that on my resume, I've been witness before, during and after the fact to more variations of devastation, injury and death then I can remember. These things tend to harden one against all shapes and sizes of disaster.
Even with all that water under the bridge I was awe struck at the overwhelming quantity of destruction in New Orleans. It was a humbling experience to drive mile after mile seeing nothing but ruined houses and businesses.
You look upon the destruction and wonder how it is even possible to clean up the mess, let alone begin to rebuild.
Looking south from Hammond Highway along the 17th Street Canal. You can see where crews are working to repair one of the breaches and reinforce remaining walls. It was interesting to listen to one of our morning guests saying he would not be happy until the federal government installed levees that can take the full force of a category five hurricane direct hit. So why didn't anyone ask him who's going to pay for that?
Someone left their boat right in the middle of the road. Now why would anyone do that with a perfectly good boat?
Katrina preempted these events at the Pontchartrain Baptist Church. You can see the water lines from both levy breaks.
Fixer-upper condos, CHEAP! Just one buyer's note: The driveways are still ten feet below the water level in the canal on the left.
Cars were left where they sat. Residents had no warning when the levees broke so there was no chance to get out before the water came, let alone drive out.
This house is right against the levee that makes up the east side of the 17th Street Canal. Every where you look for miles, nothing but destruction...
More destruction...
And more destruction.
I'll post again tomorrow.
Come on Mrs. Whack, there's work to be done.
Even with all that water under the bridge I was awe struck at the overwhelming quantity of destruction in New Orleans. It was a humbling experience to drive mile after mile seeing nothing but ruined houses and businesses.
You look upon the destruction and wonder how it is even possible to clean up the mess, let alone begin to rebuild.
Looking south from Hammond Highway along the 17th Street Canal. You can see where crews are working to repair one of the breaches and reinforce remaining walls. It was interesting to listen to one of our morning guests saying he would not be happy until the federal government installed levees that can take the full force of a category five hurricane direct hit. So why didn't anyone ask him who's going to pay for that?
Someone left their boat right in the middle of the road. Now why would anyone do that with a perfectly good boat?
Katrina preempted these events at the Pontchartrain Baptist Church. You can see the water lines from both levy breaks.
Fixer-upper condos, CHEAP! Just one buyer's note: The driveways are still ten feet below the water level in the canal on the left.
Cars were left where they sat. Residents had no warning when the levees broke so there was no chance to get out before the water came, let alone drive out.
This house is right against the levee that makes up the east side of the 17th Street Canal. Every where you look for miles, nothing but destruction...
More destruction...
And more destruction.
I'll post again tomorrow.
Come on Mrs. Whack, there's work to be done.