New Orleans Played and the Hurricanes Stayed [Bayou Buzz]
Corruption in Louisiana politics?
Say it ain't so!
But when hundreds, maybe thousands die -- and the city is almost destoyed -- will the good people of Louisiana finally have had enough?
Time to clean out the cesspool, people!
Monday, September 26, 2005
New Orleans Mayor Reopens Drier Parts of City - New York Times
Residents of Algiers may return home tomorrow. Algiers has electricity, water and sewer service (no word on gas.)
Residents of French Quarter, CBD, and Uptown can come in to work on cleanup.
Residents of Algiers may return home tomorrow. Algiers has electricity, water and sewer service (no word on gas.)
Residents of French Quarter, CBD, and Uptown can come in to work on cleanup.
Katrina turns the poor into the destitute
Katrina left people homeless from as far west as Kenner and as far east as Bay St. Louis -- an unprecedented path of destruction, far surpassing any other disaster in my lifetime.
So far, I know of nine friends and families who have been rendered homeless and lost pretty much everything. But at least these people had money in the bank, and a social network of family and friends they could call on for assistance.
Katrina left people homeless from as far west as Kenner and as far east as Bay St. Louis -- an unprecedented path of destruction, far surpassing any other disaster in my lifetime.
So far, I know of nine friends and families who have been rendered homeless and lost pretty much everything. But at least these people had money in the bank, and a social network of family and friends they could call on for assistance.
THE MOTE IN GOD'S EYE
I knew that experiencing Katrina, even from far away, had altered me forever when I found myself saying, "oh, well, Rita's only a CAT 3 now, that's nothing."
Between cable news, the Internet, satellite imaging and new graphic imaging technology, experiencing Katrina was nothing like being there, but felt, eerily, as if I were experiencing it as a God or a demi-God, with uncanny supernatural powers of perception.
It began with enhanced-color satellite images of Katrina slamming into the coast, accompanied by streaming radio commentary from stations in the area, reached its peak with Shep Smith standing outside the Superdome for days, showing us dead bodies and the raw emotional despair of the evacuees, and concluded with blogs of those going around looking at what was left, and graphic images of the flooding and what was left, and what was gone.
And if I could figure out how to post a Powerpoint presentation online, I'd even show you a series of images of Plaquemines Parish that will astonish you. But I have no idea how to do that. Without Blogger doing the work for me, I couldn't even blog!
I knew that experiencing Katrina, even from far away, had altered me forever when I found myself saying, "oh, well, Rita's only a CAT 3 now, that's nothing."
Between cable news, the Internet, satellite imaging and new graphic imaging technology, experiencing Katrina was nothing like being there, but felt, eerily, as if I were experiencing it as a God or a demi-God, with uncanny supernatural powers of perception.
It began with enhanced-color satellite images of Katrina slamming into the coast, accompanied by streaming radio commentary from stations in the area, reached its peak with Shep Smith standing outside the Superdome for days, showing us dead bodies and the raw emotional despair of the evacuees, and concluded with blogs of those going around looking at what was left, and graphic images of the flooding and what was left, and what was gone.
And if I could figure out how to post a Powerpoint presentation online, I'd even show you a series of images of Plaquemines Parish that will astonish you. But I have no idea how to do that. Without Blogger doing the work for me, I couldn't even blog!
UPDATE ON THE MISSING AND LOST
I was contacted this past weekend by Dennis Dolbear, who has landed just outside Atlanta with Rick Coleman. John Guidry is situated nearby.
Dennis reports that they get together to socialize regularly, and that it reminds him of living in a dorm during college only with a kitchen.
Dennis forwarded to me a harrowing story of his escape from flooding in New Orleans, which he intends to publish. The details are dramatic, and I hope that Dennis publishes this narration soon.
Dennis reports that Justin Winston and Anne Hebert are staying with friends back in Louisiana, and that Doug Wirth evacuated with his family.
No word yet on Bob Marrero or Dave Dalia.
I was contacted this past weekend by Dennis Dolbear, who has landed just outside Atlanta with Rick Coleman. John Guidry is situated nearby.
Dennis reports that they get together to socialize regularly, and that it reminds him of living in a dorm during college only with a kitchen.
Dennis forwarded to me a harrowing story of his escape from flooding in New Orleans, which he intends to publish. The details are dramatic, and I hope that Dennis publishes this narration soon.
Dennis reports that Justin Winston and Anne Hebert are staying with friends back in Louisiana, and that Doug Wirth evacuated with his family.
No word yet on Bob Marrero or Dave Dalia.
Fine Old Plasterwork and Water Don't Mix - New York Times
Who will rebuild New Orleans? The Creole craftsmen of the 7th Ward, just as they always have, for generation after generation.
Who will rebuild New Orleans? The Creole craftsmen of the 7th Ward, just as they always have, for generation after generation.
Sunday, September 18, 2005
Thursday, September 15, 2005
On the one hand you've got the gloom'n'doomers saying "bulldoze it all!", and on the other hand, you've got this: Speculators Rushing In as the Water Recedes
Human beings are amazing.
But I think the speculators would have an easier time in Florida. Do you think we should tell them about the Formosan termites? And the schools?
Human beings are amazing.
But I think the speculators would have an easier time in Florida. Do you think we should tell them about the Formosan termites? And the schools?
Katrina: The Mid City Story
Cork & Bottle blog has relocated. Lots of current news on New Orleans, not just mid city.
Cork & Bottle blog has relocated. Lots of current news on New Orleans, not just mid city.
Monday, September 12, 2005
"Infrastructure of La.'s Multibillion-Dollar Fishing Industry Lost to Katrina"
"Shell Beach and Delacroix Island, Buras and Venice, Port Sulphur and Hopedale: Gone."
"Shell Beach and Delacroix Island, Buras and Venice, Port Sulphur and Hopedale: Gone."
GulfSails: Kelsey (Pet Rescue) Speaks - "Shoot to Kill [Stray Dogs] Order" Given to Police in St. Bernard Parish.
The police don't want to shoot stray dogs, but the situation is dire.
The police don't want to shoot stray dogs, but the situation is dire.
Saturday, September 10, 2005
DRAINING NEW ORLEANS
Very nice set of graphics in the New York Times, if you like to pore over maps.
You can really get an historical perspective on the pattern of development of the area, because the areas that were not flooded by Katrina were the first to develop over the centuries.
Which wasn't an accident, nor a coincidence. Our ancestors were pretty smart, too.
(Wish I could give a permalink - NT Times links don't last, and I am not enough of a whiz at HTML to outfox them.)
Very nice set of graphics in the New York Times, if you like to pore over maps.
You can really get an historical perspective on the pattern of development of the area, because the areas that were not flooded by Katrina were the first to develop over the centuries.
Which wasn't an accident, nor a coincidence. Our ancestors were pretty smart, too.
(Wish I could give a permalink - NT Times links don't last, and I am not enough of a whiz at HTML to outfox them.)
Friday, September 09, 2005
BayouBuzz.com - "Katrina Aftermath: Louisiana U.S. Delegation Failed "
Some nice words spared for Bobby Jindal.
Too bad he wasn't elected Governor. Maybe next time.
Some nice words spared for Bobby Jindal.
Too bad he wasn't elected Governor. Maybe next time.
New Orleans Flood Map
Click to see the water's depth on Tuesday Sept. 6.
Astonished to see that Moss St., right on Bayou St. John, site of the Pitot House, did not have much water. Maybe it's fine (the Pitot House).
I love that house. To me, it's the symbol of New Orleans.
Cork & Bottle - Hurricane Katrina Updates
Mid-City and New Orleans Blog
Mid-city really got trashed.
Mid-City and New Orleans Blog
Mid-city really got trashed.
"IN THE RUINS"
Nicholas Lemann, gracefully writing for the New Yorker, conveys a good feeling of what has been lost, and what will survive.
Nicholas Lemann, gracefully writing for the New Yorker, conveys a good feeling of what has been lost, and what will survive.
GulfSails
Great blog by someone posting from River Ridge. Lots of photos and first hand information.
Especially helpful if you are interested in what has survived, rather than what's broken.
Great blog by someone posting from River Ridge. Lots of photos and first hand information.
Especially helpful if you are interested in what has survived, rather than what's broken.
"How Reliable Is Brown's Resume?
A TIME investigation reveals discrepancies in the FEMA chief's official biographies"
Holy moley! Looks like he made entire chunks of his resume up out of whole cloth!
And nobody checked, and nobody cared.
A TIME investigation reveals discrepancies in the FEMA chief's official biographies"
Holy moley! Looks like he made entire chunks of his resume up out of whole cloth!
And nobody checked, and nobody cared.
Dutch group to fly in temporary mass mortuary
According to this source, US authorities have contracted De Boer, a Dutch company that is the world’s biggest supplier of temporary accommodation, to fly in a temporary mass mortuary to the New Orleans area.
The temporary morgue is capable of holding 10,000 bodies, but FEMA has told De Boer to be ready to increase its capacity to accommodate more fatalities, according to Koos Tesselaar, the company chairman.
“We have been talking to the US authorities daily. It started with [an order for] a much smaller facility, two days after the event, for 500 bodies, and it was scaled up to 10,000 now,” Mr Tesselaar said. “My feeling is that there might be more needed soon. That is the impression I get from the discussions we have had. They have indicated that we should be prepared to offer more.”
According to this source, US authorities have contracted De Boer, a Dutch company that is the world’s biggest supplier of temporary accommodation, to fly in a temporary mass mortuary to the New Orleans area.
The temporary morgue is capable of holding 10,000 bodies, but FEMA has told De Boer to be ready to increase its capacity to accommodate more fatalities, according to Koos Tesselaar, the company chairman.
“We have been talking to the US authorities daily. It started with [an order for] a much smaller facility, two days after the event, for 500 bodies, and it was scaled up to 10,000 now,” Mr Tesselaar said. “My feeling is that there might be more needed soon. That is the impression I get from the discussions we have had. They have indicated that we should be prepared to offer more.”
Thursday, September 08, 2005
Student Run Tulane University Updates: "TULANE UNIVERSITY + NEIGHBORHOOD UPDATES "
Tulane President optimistic that Tulane will be able to reopen for the spring semester. Not much damage to the campus.
Tulane President optimistic that Tulane will be able to reopen for the spring semester. Not much damage to the campus.
Tuesday, September 06, 2005
Information and listing of rescued pets from Hurricane Katrina: "'For people who left animals in homes or at boarding
facilities in the New Orleans, please call
225-578-6111 and leave their name, address of confined
animal, species, number of animals, and when food
would have run out. We will go house-to-house as soon
as we can. The phones are being manned by the LSU
Veterinary School and Department of Agriculture.'"
facilities in the New Orleans, please call
225-578-6111 and leave their name, address of confined
animal, species, number of animals, and when food
would have run out. We will go house-to-house as soon
as we can. The phones are being manned by the LSU
Veterinary School and Department of Agriculture.'"
Share Our Strength – Share Our Strength's Hurricane Katrina Relief Benefit
At the National Building Museum, Washington DC, on October 17, 2005. A mite pricey at $250 a ticket, but 100% of the sales price will go to local organizations providing relief for victims of Katrina. So, you get a very nice meal, a nice party, and a tax deduction.
Kinda makes you feel guilty, no?
At the National Building Museum, Washington DC, on October 17, 2005. A mite pricey at $250 a ticket, but 100% of the sales price will go to local organizations providing relief for victims of Katrina. So, you get a very nice meal, a nice party, and a tax deduction.
Kinda makes you feel guilty, no?
"New Orleans 2008"
National Review calls for GOP 2008 Convention to be held in New Orleans.
Earth to National Review -- why not hold it in, say, Tehran? You'll be just about as popular.
National Review calls for GOP 2008 Convention to be held in New Orleans.
Earth to National Review -- why not hold it in, say, Tehran? You'll be just about as popular.
SOUTHERN FOODWAYS ALLIANCE NOLA MEMBER STATUS
John T. Edge writes: "The SFA has heard from the following people, all of whom are safe: Lolis Eric Elie, Brooks Hamaker, Sara Roahen, Sara O'Kelley, Brett Anderson, Pableaux Johnson, the Eversmeyer family, Leah Chase , Willie Mae Seaton, John Besh, Randy Fertel, Jessica Harris, Julia Reed, Greg and Mary Sonnier, Marcy Jimenez, Matt Konigsmark, Peter Patout, Scott Simmons, Susan Spicer, Jason McCullar, Ken Smith, Frank Brigtsen, Chuck Subra, the Uglesich family, Austin Leslie, Jacques Leonardi, Adolfo Garcia, Allison Vines-Rushing, Slade Rushing, Dominique Macquet and family. Email has proven to be the best way to be in touch."
John T. Edge writes: "The SFA has heard from the following people, all of whom are safe: Lolis Eric Elie, Brooks Hamaker, Sara Roahen, Sara O'Kelley, Brett Anderson, Pableaux Johnson, the Eversmeyer family, Leah Chase , Willie Mae Seaton, John Besh, Randy Fertel, Jessica Harris, Julia Reed, Greg and Mary Sonnier, Marcy Jimenez, Matt Konigsmark, Peter Patout, Scott Simmons, Susan Spicer, Jason McCullar, Ken Smith, Frank Brigtsen, Chuck Subra, the Uglesich family, Austin Leslie, Jacques Leonardi, Adolfo Garcia, Allison Vines-Rushing, Slade Rushing, Dominique Macquet and family. Email has proven to be the best way to be in touch."
HURRICANE KATRINA
News from people I know. I don't want to list personal information, just names and status.
People known to be safe: Justin Winston and Anne Hebert. Dennis Dolbear and his mother. Walter McManus' family. Oliver Houck. Louis Sanders and Mike Kaiser. Pat Atkins. Joey Grillot. John Guidry. Siobhan O'Quinn and family. Fats Domino. Gatemouth Brown. Charmaine Neville. The Brennans.
People believed to be safe: Hazel Schleuter. Mike Meeks.
People whose whereabouts are not known (to me). Bob Marrero and his family. Don Dupuis. Dan and Teri Skelton and their family. Dave Dalia. Dan Meyer. Doug Wirth. Walter Brock. Dennis Theriot.
Thanks to Nancy Collins for contributing to the update.
Updates will be posted as received.
Write to me
ilaineu "at" aol.com
Email address altered to avoid spambots.
News from people I know. I don't want to list personal information, just names and status.
People known to be safe: Justin Winston and Anne Hebert. Dennis Dolbear and his mother. Walter McManus' family. Oliver Houck. Louis Sanders and Mike Kaiser. Pat Atkins. Joey Grillot. John Guidry. Siobhan O'Quinn and family. Fats Domino. Gatemouth Brown. Charmaine Neville. The Brennans.
People believed to be safe: Hazel Schleuter. Mike Meeks.
People whose whereabouts are not known (to me). Bob Marrero and his family. Don Dupuis. Dan and Teri Skelton and their family. Dave Dalia. Dan Meyer. Doug Wirth. Walter Brock. Dennis Theriot.
Thanks to Nancy Collins for contributing to the update.
Updates will be posted as received.
Write to me
ilaineu "at" aol.com
Email address altered to avoid spambots.
(received in email today) The people, who make New Orleans great, greatly need our help!
So many of you have called Brennan's with offers of prayers, help and donations and we have truly been overwhelmed. The scope of the devastation is, well, devastating but we are busy about the task of helping many friends and family that have come and will continue to come to Houston.
The cooks, servers and restaurant workers of New Orleans have provided fabulous times and memories for millions. Now we must remember them in their time of need. The Commander’s Palace Family of Restaurants is spearheading a relief fund to benefit professionals in the hospitality industry who will be without jobs as New Orleans is rebuilt.
Whether it’s our dedicated employees, or those of our peers, we are particularly sensitive to the fact that these individuals - all of whom work long, hard hours and depend on their salary or tips to live - will have a tough road ahead these coming weeks or months.
Our part of the country is known for taking hospitality very seriously, and its right to do something to help these folks who are so devoted to the industry.
This is where you can help!
We will be hosting an all day event at
Brennan’s of Houston,
3300 Smith Street,
713-522-9711
Friday, September 9, from 10 am until 8 pm
To help raise funds and boost spirits!
Stop by for hors d’oeuvres from devoted Houston Restaurants and a glass of wine with us and remember to invite your friends.
All we are asking is for a minimum donation of $40 per person.
100% of all donations will be directly distributed to the New Orleans Hospitality Workers Disaster Relief Fund. This fund will be coordinated by the Greater Houston Community Foundation, a well-established charitable organization.
Any restaurant, business, or individual that would like to make a contribution can use the fund as a resource to send donations. Money will be distributed directly to those people most affected after qualifying by application.
From the bottom of our hearts THANK YOU from the Brennan Family for all of your love, caring and concern!
You our valued friends are everything to us!!
The Team at Brennan's of Houston
P.S. I have printable PDF files about these events that you can use as flyers at your place of business. Please e-mail me direct & I will send them. Kathryne@brennanshouston.com thanks, Kat-
Monday, September 05, 2005
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