Need Honest Info on New Orleans

Hugh R · 11-16-2005, 01:47 PM

I'm traveling to NO tomorrow to oversee a flood cleanup in a warehouse we are renting on White Street and Euphrosine (sp?). What's it like there, I'll be staying at a place called the Windsor Court. I'll need to rent a 3 phase generator to get some roll up doors open so that I can get some flood damaged vehicles out. No electricity in the building. Can I rent a 3 phase generator nearby, any suggestions? I plan on being there through Monday at least.

Thanks for any input.

M.D. Holloway · 11-16-2005, 03:45 PM

The bars are still open but the town smells like a toilet. Then again, it smelled like a toilet before the cane hit...

Good luck, take some pics if you can.

johnco · 11-16-2005, 04:22 PM

If you can't get any equipment there, let me know. I have many friends in the rental business and they could hotshot you what you might need from the surrounding areas.

Hugh R · 11-16-2005, 04:30 PM

Hey Johnco, thanks, I'll assess a little better when I get there. Anyone in NO for a beer or three?

Dantilla · 11-16-2005, 06:33 PM

I was in NO a couple of weeks ago doing some volunteer construction work. We brought generators and all the tools we needed with us. Home Depot is open, and is quite busy. They were doing a good job of having what was needed in stock, except for sheetrock. As soon as sheetrock came in, it was flying out the doors.

Jims5543 · 11-16-2005, 06:51 PM

If Johnco can hook you up, great. Otherwise, from my experiance in Florida after hurricanes, bring in what you need and so the locals get what they need.

I would arrange for some generators and supplies to be brought in to meet you there. If your feeling really generous bring extra and when you hear about the hard luck story. (you will) you can donate a spare generator or supplies to that family.

johnco · 11-16-2005, 08:15 PM

I'll check with some of my buddies tomorrow. they have stores in several cities over the southern part of the state. I go thru this everytime I need an excavator. I usually have to have one shipped in from another area to the nearest store and then delivered to my job.

Hugh R · 11-16-2005, 09:23 PM

Jim

Appreciate your advise. The 3 Phase generator that I need comes in on a semi and costs $250,000.

Johnco,

I'll let you know and thanks very, very much. Pics to follow. What we're trying to do is vacate a rented warehouse that is costing us lots and lots of money per month until our equipment is out of it. I think I have a pretty good local contact whose brother works on one of our shows (Alias) who is going to help us out with rigging, lifting and hauling lots of heavy equipment and dead (flooded) vehicles.

Hugh R · 11-17-2005, 06:17 PM

Friggin unbelievable. I get to NO to do this clean up of a warehouse and the owner decided to do a full on asbestos abatement of the building. Seems he sort of forgot to tell me that when we spoke yesterday about building access. He said I come get in the building because he had some contractors drying it out and doing other cleanup work. Asbestos abatement is done under containment with workers in bunny suits and respirators. Friggin waste of my time.

Anyway, the French Quarter is indeed open and very, very empty. Cops everywhere some from New York and other cities. Lots of FEMA, SBA, Coast Guard, Army and other agencies doing nothing that I can discern. They have dinner lines set up for the Gov't workers that would rival one of our meal breaks in the movies. Electricity in Downtown, but not much elsewhere. No mud, which surprised me. I haven't seen the devastated areas yet, but I will tomorrow. I'll take pics. I'm staying in a suite that is very nice, for $150/night. I don't know if this is some corporate or deep discount rate, but its Unbelievably nice. If your ever in NO check out the Windsor Court Hotel. Very high end.

I may go to Shreveport over the weekend for another show were doing there.

einreb · 11-18-2005, 07:28 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Hugh R
Friggin unbelievable.

SNIP

Lots of FEMA, SBA, Coast Guard, Army and other agencies doing nothing that I can discern. They have dinner lines set up for the Gov't workers that would rival one of our meal breaks in the movies.

My dad (a chief with the Nashville fire department) went down a few weeks after the flood as a part of a FEMA response team to Kiln Mississippi. On a personal level, he was really impressed with the individual volunteers genuine desire to help, but was completely stunned at the complete incompetence of FEMA from a management perspective. Its one big $80,000,000,000 clusterfuch.

Hugh R · 11-18-2005, 07:29 AM

Yeah, if the chains weren't both broken. We'll probably use a come-along, but thanks Wayne

Hugh R · 01:15 PM

Well I've been driving around and the downtown area is pretty clean, it didn't get flooded, but lots of debris from roof damage and the rains. I haven't been to all areas, the Garden District is in pretty good shape, the area north of the French Quarter is amazing, miles and miles of empty flood damaged houses, thousands of them with no one living in them.

Its amazing what a few feet in elevation can mean to your life. Big expensive house on Lake Pontchartrain were totally unaffected, while those in land a block were lower in elevation and were flooded to the roof.

The French Quarter is open for business, but hardly anyone one is there, mostly gubmit employees from various state and federal agencies.

Katrina knocked down this building as seen from my hotel room.

Got me a T-Shirt

Hugh R · 11-18-2005, 07:52 PM

I stand corrected! The French Quarter is packed with people at 10 PM on Friday night!

Shuie · 11-19-2005, 03:38 AM

Id be surprised if it wasnt be crowded on a Friday night with everything open. The advertisements on the radio for the nudey bars come right out and say they are staying open for the relief workers and construction workers that are making all that overtime down there