Hurricane Katrina, August 2005

[LSUNo1]

With big bad Rita out there this is probably a little off topic. But I am just now getting the time, power and computer system all at the same time to check in from just outside of New Orleans in Jefferson Parish.

I am the engineer for the Water Dept. here and the first two weeks we worked nite and day restoring the water system with very little power and very inconsistant phone service. We had about 425 water main breaks due to fallen trees and had up to 30 work crews going at one time. Just today we are caught up on all we know about so far. The "boil water" notice was lifted about a week and a half ago.

Some things you won't hear on the news:

In N.O. when thugs were gaining control, the military postioned snipers with night vision technology to take out anyone with a gun.

On the ground military and local law enforcement gave looters only one chance to obey the stop order before being disposed of. Some civilians also took care of looters without prejudice.

Everything you heard about what happened in the Superdome was probably true. Most of the people there stayed outside at nite because the thugs took over inside. Even scared the N.O.P.D out for a while. Hopefully these thugs were all included in those detected with night vision.

My neighbor witnessed a pickup filled with armed thugs riding through our neighborhood. He said it looked like Mogadishu. This is why our sherriff placed armed deputies and guardsmen at our borders.

SWAT teams raided a known drug dealer hangout in N.O. and took them all out. 

Very spooky coming in to town that first day. First thing I did was come to my house to find it had been flooded. Had to drive on two of my neighbors lawns to avoid downed trees to get here. Not one street in my neighborhood was passable from one end to the other.

The two or three neighbors who stayed through the storm were all carrying weapons. So was I for the first two weeks.

Before coming here I sat at home and fumed at all the people who stayed and felt very little remorse for those stranded at the Superdome and on I-10. But I drove past the folks on I-10 and could not help but stop and give them some of the supplies I had brought. I think I know how parents feel when their kids do something stupid that almost gets them killed. You just  help them today and cuss' em tomorrow.

I hope ya'll realize that those folks above represent a small percentage of the population here. Most of us are smart enough to leave and dont depend on "the man" to take care of us.

With the exception of all the debris...carpet, sheetrock, insulation, refrigerators and trees.... along the roadways things are starting to return to normal. A few more businesses open every day and few more neighbors around.

New Orleans is getting dryer by the hour. My father in law and brother in law have already begun rebuilding their houses. They live across the street from each other about a half mile from the breech in the 17th street canal.

I have no great love for the City of New Orleans (or any other city for that matter). I live in this area because my wife and her family are natives. I dont think rebuilding this City, particularly with a weakened levee system is the practical thing to do. Though not all of the city requires complete reconstruction. That decision should be based on a cost benefit analysis. However, I understand not wanting to leave the place you've grown up and raised a family.

The levee system here is designed to resist a cat 3 storm. Like any engineering decision economics has to be balanced with probablility of the event. All structures could be designed to withstand a tornado or an earthquake but it is not always economically feasible, just as levees could be built to withstand a cat 5 storm that has to hit just right.

On the bright side, Ive been trying to convince my wife to move to the country on about 4 or 5 acres for about 2 years. That may happen now. And I made 1/8th of my yearly salary in the last two weeks!

Well thanks for reading. It feels good to get some of this off my chest. I hope by now everyone knows of the whereabouts of friends and relatives and those heading down here for work has found it. I was not able to help anyone due to time and communication restraints.

Also a big thanks to your husbands, wives, children and friends who came down here to help. I cant believe the number of firemen, police and other volunteers who are down here on their own accord to help.

[beenthere]

Great to hear from you LSUNo1
Many thanks for the report from your 'front line' battle and the job you are doing.

Let's hope that the progress continues, and that the RITA storm doesn't duplicate the disaster.

My prayers for you and your family to make the right decisions.

[tnlogger]

I'll second beenthere  on that and you all are still in mine and pats prayers

[Texas Ranger]

Rita eye to pass 20 miles or so east of us, hurricain and tropical storm winds from 6 friday to midnight Saturday,  Pray for Texas, as you did for the other states.

I have 11 folks here, three in their 90's, one 83, and us other assorted old farts.  We have two houses, so should be able to live in one or the other till power is restored.  We have taken all precautions we can think of, and still nervous as a nine tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs.  I felt less stress the hours before a combat mission, there, we knew what was about to happen, now it is all "predictions".  I think I would rather be in combat.