New Orleans: My thoughts.
 

As many know, I was born in Northern Louisiana and have been down to New Orleans more times than I can count (lived in Baton Rouge for a stint). People jumped the gun yesterday claiming the event was over-sensationalized (this due to the pictures from the quarters not fulfilling a previously predicted apocalyptic nature).

I called my dad when people were saying, "New Orleans was spared," we both knew that wasn't the case. Anyone from the area knew that simply was not the case. The damage is historic on a catastrophic level and only just beginning. As time moves forward, grim realizations are sure to set in for the rest of the nation. The prelude to disastrous, nauseating images is a somber one.

The media simply reported what all of Louisiana and gulf coast residents already knew. There wasn?t much sensationalizing that could be done.

As the weeks unfold illustrating this disaster in its actual devastating form, I sincerely wish all those in the gulf coast region my best. Hopefully time is a healer. I know that it has been disheartening to watch the initial images go live; and for me having to await ?names? to places that once stood in iconic fashion has been horrendous.

New Orleans may well be changed forever, reminiscent of the ?94 Northridge Quake that changed the dynamics of the San Fernando Valley, but I doubt its luster and uniqueness is lost forever. I for one can?t wait to revisit one of the greatest cities the world offers. I love traveling the world, however, for those that never took the opportunity to visit this vibrant place, you should place a tack in it now and hope for the best.

As it stands today, we are all family united before we are a business and are all here for support of one another. The past week I have found myself in a state of nostalgia and more over, a state overgrown with a humbling beast.

This should serve as a reminder that life can change in an instant. We should spend less time taking it for granted.

I was stunned when reports started yesterday saying New Orleans was spared. The storm surge had not started coming in yet nor had their regular high tide hit. This storm has been devastating to the people of La, Ms, Al,and even some in S Fl. Everyone seems to have forgotten that this storm first passed over Florida and took 11 lives on it's way to the Gulf Coast.
I'm from NW Florida and grew up spending a lot of time in these places that have been destroyed. These are hard working, good people and I'm sure they will rebuild but it is going to be a hard road to recovery.
I wish the best to all these people and their families. Now is a good time to visit the Red Cross website and make a small donation.

Great post as areminder for us in safer regions of the country.

Seems as if the State of Mississippi is really slammed today.

The nostalgia part for me is driven by New Orleans, but I, like yourself, spent vacations in Gulf Shores and all over Alabama.

The images are tough to watch.

The media did oversensationalize the French Quarter. That's all they worried about the whole time, now look at the other areas, and Mississippi. They got rocked.

How true. Sending good thoughts, best wishes (and $$$ :winkwink: ) to those in the affected areas :(

even Pensacola has once more been torn apart

I really do count my blessings for my own family in Panama City being safe. I grew up with a lot of hurricanes but they just weren't this devastating back then.

Sometimes I think the devastation is from people having to live closer and closer to the beach but then you hear about flooding 6 miles inland....

i love to read your writing Cory...you always offer such interesting perspective :)

We also need to remember that this is one of the poorest states if not THE poorest state in this country.

hell yea man

I live in Natchitoches

I love going to nola, its the best city in all of Louisiana.

it's the city with the most culture, history, and great food.

Have you been to New Orleans?

The media does its thing, but it was all based from experts. The things they cited were things that people in that area have heard all there lives. The Cane took a last minute turn. No one could have predicted that.

The Quarters are just the most notable place of referrence for those that are not from there. They are also very in danger of massive floods as well.

Some things just are what they are, media conspiracy or not.

Cory how can we call down there? im tryin to get a hold of my friends from baton rouge and all the cell phones that im callin keep sayin due to the hurican the call can't be completed.

Having lived in New Orleans and gone to school there, it completely breaks my heart to see this happening. Hopefully the administrators are right and they can lessen the levee breach within a couple of hours, otherwise it's possible that the water won't stop rising until it's reached lake level, leaving most of the city underwater.

Pete,

Did you try to text message yet?

My families homes on Grand isle are gone. Our family owned a bar there and had many friends and family there.

Grand Isle was under 20 feet of water yesterday.

My family has lost a home in Mississippi now as well.

Most of my family evacuated, but they will not have much to go home to.

My mothers home made it and my grandmothers did as well, but it is still going to be very bad.

i feel a pain in my chest.

We have a winner.

The water has yet to "stop" flowing and the "potential" for more surges is still very real.

People don't understand what has actually happened to that city. Ms and Al floods will recede given normal flood recession times. New Orleans is much different, it will not recede and may in fact rise.

Anyone know the expected high temp there today? Not good.

Yes no luck I dont know if it went through or not, my friend Amber and her two brothers and there mom who is like a second mom to me all live there

Sad news, I wish them all the best.

It is tough to ingest, even tougher for someone like you that is directly affected.

Pete,

I would say you may be a week or so away from lines opening up, and that prediction may well be a bit ambitious.

here is a good direct source of info from nola:

http://www.nola.com/newslogs/breakingtp/

I have been refreshing it every 30 seconds since yesterday.

http://www.RedCross.org

http://www.SalvationArmyUSA.org

and don't forget the dogs and cats and other animals stranded on the roofs and in the water. A great organization is handling this rescue aspect.

http://www.NoahsWish.com

Powerful words. Well written, I hope for the best for your family and friends.

It doesn't look good for areas like New Orleans: Hurricanes getting stronger due to global warming says study

http://news.mongabay.com/2005/0829-hurricanes.html

and now they say they are being forced to evacuate....

Having been a former resident of the coastal Florida panhandle and a visitor to the Mississippi Gulf Coast as well as "Nawlins" more than a dozen times, I was practically in tears watching the news accounts yesterday of what has to be termed a complete catastrophe.
New Orleans is basically shaped like a saucer dish with water from the Mississippi River and Lake Ponchatrain surrounding it so rising water will be a huge issue.
Interestingly enough, the French Quarter apparently weathered the storm fairly well. http://www.cnn.com/2005/WEATHER/08/2...ch.quarter.ap/
BTW, where did you go to school there, UNO, Loyola, Tulane, one of those schools?

Great posts cory ... the world must unite when shit happens :(

My thoughts are with your family and the people of New Orleans and ALL the Gulf-Coast region. I live in the gulf-coast and my city was devistated by Hurricane Ivan last year. Pictures and video can't come close to showing the devistation that these hurricanes have done. It's been a year since Hurricane Ivan and my city is still feeling the damage that was done. I'm sure that NO and Biloxi with will have the same long term effects that we have had!

Ya and thats fucked up I wish to just make sure there ok:(

Tulane :)

SYC (Southern Yacht Club) burned to the ground, or more like the waterline today. I learned to sail there, it made me cry to see it go. It was the second oldest yacht club in America.

Thanks.

I am fortunate that my parents left South Louisiana about 5 years ago for Tampa.

It is official: New Orleans is shut down. "This city can no longer sustain life". Flooding is now everywhere. Nothing is functioning. This is devistation.

Where did you find that? Or did you write it yourself?

Some pics from the DirectNic staff....Hopefully they are all o.k..
http://sigmund.biz/kat/index.html

they are saying now on fox news..New Orleans can no longer function...they want everyone out asap...

Im not writing to myself. Im relaying information.

Turn on Fox news. The whole city is shut down for weeks. Flood waters are rising. No school for at least 2 months. Bodies in the water everywhere. Entire counties missing.


The mayor said the city can no longer sustain life.

My bad.

Man, I had a feeling it would come to this.

I didn't think it would be this bad. I was wrong.
They are saying it is far worse than anything they were ready for or could have predicted. And this is the officials talking, not the newscasters opinions.

I live in Key West, FL... she passed about 45 miles north of us. I've never seen so much rain in my life. lol. Our pool over flowed and streets got about 2-3 ft. of water, some more. I'm really suprised how fast the island drained off though

The problem with New Orleans is that it can't drain. It's need to be pumped, and the pumps are broken. So for at least two weeks , it is going to be a sespool of sagnent water, with rotting bodies, sewage, insects, disease , bacteria and every other horrible thing. Terrible.

H-Town Love to all from LA/MISS.

I hadnt realised martial law was in place.... damn

Jeffererson residents have been told they cant come home for at least a month, can you imagine that? NOLa city will be a lot longer by the looks of it.

Remember these people people will prob have no income either. They cant just stick up an extra couple of gals to make up for the shortfall.

WTF are they going to do?

They are trying to plug the breach with sandbags thrown from a chopper - I suppose they cant just sit there watch it happen, but Im not convinced thats gonna do much - a 200ft breach!!

Yep, I think the news explained what to expect poorly. People from Lousisiana knew what was going to happen. The news reported in haste that New Orleans had been spared.

The water will continue to rise.

I feel like they are saying that the city no longer exist. Or they will be.

They could really use our help there and as KRL said:

http://www.RedCross.org
http://www.SalvationArmyUSA.org

and don't forget the dogs and cats and other animals stranded on the roofs and in the water. A great organization is handling this rescue aspect.
http://www.NoahsWish.com

Im just watching a news briefing - 2/3 breaches now.

Fly overs as well - oh shit - fires breaking out.

http://www.cbsnews.com/sections/home/main100.shtml are feeding it

i bet it dryed off fast but its gotta be more humid then ever there..

I met my wife Jennifer in New Orleans during a Cybernet show. So I have some very good memories of New Orleans and it will always be a special place to me.

It's very sad to see what happened. I want to help those poor people that lost everything. I have tons of old clothes and convention t-shirts I'll be giving to Salvation Army, got them all bagged up in my garage, like 12 big garbage bags worth of clothes.

Most charities don't really want clothes. Salvation Army/Goodwill/etc. usually sells the clothes in their stores and uses the money to buy other things (sometimes new clothes ;) ). The time it would take to donate clothes and liquidate them where they could actually help the victims isn't practical.

In fact, the charities I've seen asking for help are asking for hard, cold cash. It's difficult if not impossible to ship things there so they are going out to other towns and buying necessities.

Donate the clothes to a homeless shelter near your home and send NOLA a monetary donation is what I'm hearing.

I saw some awful footage on the new over here. One man who had lost grip of his wife during the floods had lost not only his wife, but his entire livelihood. Fortunately his two children were safe but it broke my heart to see people's lives so utterly destroyed.

Yep, you're right. I'll do that.

:thumbsup

Well I guess that's fate. Let's just pray that they could get through with it and start a new life. It requires a united effort of all concerned agencies both government and non-government institutions to help these people.

Woj Test