Remember New Orleans

Mule · 08-30-2005, 11:29 AM

Yesterday I felt like the city I grew up in had once again ducked the knock out blow that is threatened every time a hurricane heads anywhere in that direction. Today however the grim reality is plain. The city that care forgot may never be the same. Of the entire meropolitan area, 80% to 90% percent of NO is under water. some areas 20 feet deep. Jefferson parish is mostly under water. Chalemette, Arabi, St. Bernard, Slidell, all under water. Bodies are floating. The I-10 twin span bridge into town from the east, destroyed. The high rise bridge, compromised. No power, no water. Power is 6-8 weeks away. Hundreds of thousands homeless. Only a few homes in the higher parts of uptown NO and Metairie are still dry.

Between the loss of life, memories and property, anyone who felt a part of this great city has been dealt a hard blow to the gut. I only hope that the effect on oil & gas do not give all of America a similar punch.

techweenie · techweenie's Garage

Cities with unique character can be knocked out for a while, but they do recover. San Francisco burned six times between 1800 and 1850, nearly abandoned in the gold rush, and was knocked down and burned in 1906. But San Francisco today still has a unique personality. It's people that give a city character, not bridges or buildings.

The Red Cross is reporting that this is their biggest relief effort ever. The best thing we can do for New Orleans right now is give to the Red Cross...

RickM · RickM's Garage

What a sad and unfortunate event.

Last night a female CNN reporter started crying as she described how she could hear stranded people from all around yelling, crying, moaning for help.....all while in total darkness. Undoubtedly one of the most haunting things you could imagine.

It's rare that reporters break down like that. Last time I saw was on 9/11.

Good point on supporting the Red Cross.

jyl · jyl's Garage

I'm glad I had a chance to visit New Orleans a few years ago.

What a terrible thing.

speeder · speeder's Garage

Holy Schit.

greglepore · 08-30-2005, 03:05 PM

Well put, Mule. It'll be a long, long time before the Quarter reaches its former glory. I can only imagine what the Garden District looks like. But the devastation is probably worst for those that had so little to begin with.

On ABC news tonight, they had a brief shot of a guardsman playing a mournful jazz trumpet as he stood duty on a streetcorner. That pretty much sums it up.

Jims5543 · 08-30-2005, 04:17 PM

I had to stop watching the news its too depressing. I am also filled with anxiety and have been contemplating a big move. Possibly out of Florida and into the Atlanta Georgia area. I have lived in Florida for over 20 years. 10 years ago I delt with a Cat 1 living in Cocoa Beach in a house 1 block from the Ocean. I was without power for 5 days and the storm was tiny and no one remembers the name.

I have now gone through a Cat 2 that stood over us for 24 hours and a Strong Cat 3. In Sept. 2004 I did not have electricity for 20 days out of 30. Now I sit and stress wondering when the big Cat 5 is going to hit. I start to make long term plans only to stop and wonder when my house will be destroyed.

My heart goes out to all the people along the panhandle. The next weeks will be the worst by far. The hurricane is nothing compared to what they are about to endure.

As far as all the people that are trapped. It makes me mad that people do not listen when told to leave. Now a lot of resources are having to be wasted rescuing those who ignored the order to get the he11 out of there. No one should die from this. You get out of the way and return when it is safe. Stuff is stuff lives cannot be replaced.

There is no feeling in the world like leaving your home evacuating from a storm and wondering as you look back at it if that is the last time you will see it.

AFJuvat · 08-30-2005, 07:32 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Jim Cesiro
.....I have lived in Florida for over 20 years. 10 years ago I delt with a Cat 1 living in Cocoa Beach in a house 1 block from the Ocean. I was without power for 5 days and the storm was tiny and no one remembers the name.

Her name was Erin....

I wonder if we could get up some sort of collection here on Pelican for those in LA, NS< and AL?

AFJ

1967 R50/2 · 08-30-2005, 08:20 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by greglepore

On ABC news tonight, they had a brief shot of a guardsman playing a mournful jazz trumpet as he stood duty on a streetcorner. That pretty much sums it up.

I doubt he is still there. Since the levies broke, it seems like most of the city will be flooded. Sad, but the hurricane was just the beginning of the problems. This could be the largest national disaster in almost a century.

competentone · 08-30-2005, 09:13 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Jim Cesiro
As far as all the people that are trapped. It makes me mad that people do not listen when told to leave. Now a lot of resources are having to be wasted rescuing those who ignored the order to get the he11 out of there. No one should die from this. You get out of the way and return when it is safe. Stuff is stuff lives cannot be replaced.

I share that sentiment.

What also makes me mad, is the thought of my tax dollars being spent in the coming years to rebuild the whole community below sea level and in the river flood plains again!

I'm also sick and tired of the economically illiterate politicians and reporters complaining about "price gouging."

What is so hard about understanding the laws of supply and demand?

Why can't people see that by allowing prices for needed goods to sky-rocket, a flood of goods will come rushing into their communities?

There are plenty of generators, tents, tarps, bottled water, gasoline, etc. right here, just a long day's drive away from the disaster area, but nobody is making a move to transport it where it's needed. Why not? Because people run the risk of being arrested for "price gouging" if they try to recoup their extra-ordinary expenses (and make a profit) in delivering and selling what is needed where it's needed!

I've gotten to the point where I really don't have much sympathy when people behave so stupidly.

Flame away...

pwd72s · 08-30-2005, 09:34 PM

I just noticed the yahoo (or whoever) ads at the end of this thread...New Orleans limo services....knowing that they sure as hell aren't running is another reminder of the tragedy...Count me as another avoiding the TV...images too painful to watch.

jyl · jyl's Garage

For the country, it is just starting to sink in how bad the situation is, and that it is getting worse.

KFC911 · 05:07 AM

I've visited NOLA many times over the years (Mardi Gras several times back in the 80s, and too many Jazz Fests to count.) I never cared much for the FQ in recent years (imo, a sleazy tourist trap), but I'm afraid my favorite city (as I knew it) is gone forever....so sad

!

ps: I told my girlfriend Monday afternoon that NOLA had 'dodged the bullet', but then I heard that the levees had broken, and knew the worst was coming....

likemystoppie? · 08-31-2005, 05:33 AM

I think america is about to get an upper cut punch. My coworker (here in Tampa) waited 15 minutes to get $10.00 worth of gas. People who couldn't really afford to drive to work last week, won't be showing up to work in the coming weeks. Employers can't compensate quickly enough with wages.........

I'm very fortunate to be in the business that I am. Very fortunate. I fear that America is about to see some really dark days........

jyl · jyl's Garage

I checked this morning and we have full tanks in 2 cars and 30+ gallons in the camper tanks, maybe should go fill-up the spare car too . . . but then I wondered if I'm just being paranoid.

Mule · 08-31-2005, 06:38 AM

Competone said:
"Flame away..."

Not a problem. The gas you drive with, the electricity that keeps your a$$ cool and allows you to live like a civilized person ALL comes from the this place. N.O. was a world city when most of this country was wilderness. It was built where it was because of it's extremely strategic location. This is different than mansions on bluffs in CA or on the beach in Cape Cod. New Orleans has had much to do with the success of this country and to say it should be abandoned is a arrogant as hell. This is the 4th largest port on the planet and the source of much of the country's energy as well as one of the most historic cities in the USA. Your statement does however fit very well with your thinking that gouging hungry people for food is a good thing. I still hope you and your family never experience something like this even though it might help you get your head out of your a$$.

RallyJon · 08-31-2005, 06:41 AM

Competone, you are 100% correct on all points.

artplumber · 08-31-2005, 06:49 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by competentone

What also makes me mad, is the thought of my tax dollars being spent in the coming years to rebuild the whole community below sea level and in the river flood plains again!

I'm also sick and tired of the economically illiterate politicians and reporters complaining about "price gouging."

What is so hard about understanding the laws of supply and demand?

Flame away...

Plenty of people live where "once in a lifetime" events happen. Just wait until Mt Rainer erupts and dissolves Seattle in a Lahar or lava. Or the Missouri floods again. Or another severe nor'easter kills in the northeast, or California (from the Bay area to Baja) falls from the big ones, or...

Hope that when a tornado rolls through your neighborhood, or perhaps even a hurricane you still feel the same way about price gouging.

RallyJon · 08-31-2005, 06:58 AM

Peter, that would be a sensible argument if, a) NO wasn't built below sea level in a hurricane zone and if, b) the insurance rates people paid down there matched the actual risk.

Live wherever you want, insure accordingly, and when "unexpected" (and this wasn't really unexpected, now, was it?) disaster strikes, you'll be prepared.

Insurance subsidies are the real culprit here. They allow people to make stupid choices with the confidence that the rest of the country will bail them out when the inevitable happens.

I wonder how many billions we'll spend rebuilding that city. I know, let's build a bubble city completely underwater instead!

competentone · 08-31-2005, 07:21 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by artplumber
Hope that when a tornado rolls through your neighborhood, or perhaps even a hurricane you still feel the same way about price gouging.

We're right in hurricane alley (just west of Charleston, SC).

Unfortunately, I'm already being negatively affected by the idiotic "anti-price gouging" mentality.

For years I've had to maintain a few thousand dollars worth of equipment I don't need. I would have preferred -- and my overall costs would be much lower -- to just pay 3, 4 or 5 times the cost for what I need when I need it. I know though, that the anti-price gouging laws my local community has in place will mean I won't be able to deal with other legitimate business people and buy what I need after a hurricane. Nice people simply won't come into the area after a storm to sell supplies if they know they risk being arrested for doing so.

The anti-price gouging laws take away my choices as a consumer, and on the larger economic level work against getting supplies where they are desperately needed.