The Crawfish of Wrath
We re witnessing the larest migration of French-surnamed people since the Acadians were booted from Canada. Or at least since the last NHL draft.
John Steinbeck could do it justice if he were still around. We are witnessing it, after two days on the road, an overnight in the parking lot of the Covington Wal-Mart and a trip into the city this morning. We’re now in Natchitoches on the way to Dallas, at least until they start allowing us back in. We’re damn lucky to have a hotel room this close to New Orleans.
I wangled media credentials for trip over the Crescent City Connection early this morning. We drove past the badly-looted Wal-Mart on Tchoup (carts and racks are scattered for blocks). The place is now a military staging area.
We went down Tchoup, right on Second, left on Constance and left on Third before we parked near Parasols (which lost its awnings, but that’s about it).Lots of downed trees and power lines, but brick buildings appeared to have more damage than wooded ones (note to Laura — your house appears untouched). We lost only one small upstairs window, which I covered with a plastic trash bag.
Down Third, right on Annunciation, then right on Fourth because we were blocked by a crushed truck. I was taking a picture when I hear men talking to Kim nearby. I turn around and see her with three National Guardmen, heavy weapons drawn. Turns out they were chasing a looter who had vanished between houses.
Up to St. Charles, right to Jackson, then back to Tchoup and out the way we came. Took 90 to Houma, Morgan City, then up to Lafayette and finally here.
Weird thing last night wasgoing through the I-10/I-12/I-59 interchange in Slidell. It’s usually lit like Vegas on Christmas, but now it’s this inky, velvet black except for the headlights. Iffy power until you get to about Covington.
Lots of emotion today. I’m still processing. More later after I catch up.
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Craig,
Thanks for keeping us posted. I can’t imagine how surreal and emotional it must be to see what you are seeing.
Good luck. Stay safe.
Holly
Oh Boy, so the Karl Roves have started the spin machine in full force@@ the real problem, besides the obvious one caused by inaction over the past five years by the Bushies. is why is this country still putting up with object, working class poverty that can not afford to “evacuate” the city that they live in.. Thanks W for more of the same bull that your machine has force fed our country over the past 5 years
craig,
thanks so much for the info!!. i’m on 2nd in between annunciation and laurel, west side of the street (820)– double lot with a hidden pool (palm trees…?). i was out of town, unable to board up or get my jeep wrangler (which i hope is still in my drive way). now stuck in OK where a friend took my dog and computer. I don’t suppose you happened to notice if any front windows were broken out in the homes on 2nd. wondering, since i couldn’t board up if i have anything left. thanks again for reporting on the neighborhood. i’d try to get in but my car is in new orleans and i’m stuck in Oklahoma — wherever that is :)
Craig!
Thanks for the info. Glad to hear your place in is good shape as well.
Looking forward to having a drink with you at Parasol’s upon our return.
Craig, you say you wrangled media credentials. How? Were you stopped trying to enter the city? If so, what credentials did they ask to see? ID? Press credentials? Did they verify your press credentials?
I’m a business owner in the Bywater and a resident of the Marigny and it irks me that I can’t get back in to do what you have done: grab a few things and patch any obvious holes so my property doesn’t get any worse. Do you think that story alone will get me in, or do I need a press pass?
Anxious in Richmond,
STEVE O’KEEFE
I was a journalist for over 30 years and I was able to promise a friend to write some stuff for her organization in exchange for regular and verifiable media ID. They stopped us at the top of the Crescent City Connection and demanded to see it. That said, we were waved through pretty quickly and told to be careful. Contractors and emergency workers are also being allowed in to do work, but you better have at least a number they can call to verify.
The situation, once there, is Baghdad-like in many ways. Lots of military going to and fro and they are rightfully suspicious of anyone toting stuff out of a house. They can spot you from the air and they approach as if out of nowhere.
We spent our time in the area bounded by Louisiana to Jackson, from St. Charles to the river. We indeed drove up Second from Tchoup to Constance and the worst damage we saw was some siding torn off and some roof tiles gone. Regular wooden houses appears to fare the best and it’s obvious someone has cut up downed branches and moved them to the curb. Piles are like 10 feet high in some places.
Amazingly, our water/sewer still worked. Not that I’d want to drink it, but the toilet flushed as per normal. And all wiring was still attached to the house. I cut off the main breaker as we left.
We saw no evidence of water on the way in or out. If not for the lack of jobs, stores, food or other amenities, it appeared our entire neighborhood could move back in tomorrow if electric power is restored. That said, I am sure there are some hidden problems in many homes, maybe even our own.
…I heard an author from New Orleans being interviewed on TV this morning. She said something like, “the water’s bad, the city smells and it’s tough to get around. But hell — it’s like that EVERY day in New Orleans. This time it’s all just a little fresher.”
…Craig
I apologize for posting comments that have nothing to do with the entry but I’m trying to find out if anything can be done about dogs in St Bernard Parish who are being shot by members of the sheriff’s office. I can understand someone thinking it would be more humane to euthanize stray animals who have been left by their owners in a place where they will have to fend for themselves, but there were National Guardsmen caring for dogs three blocks away from where the men were shooting other ones. The Guard is feeding them and trying to keep them alive until the SPCA and other shelter groups arrive. This was all caught on video by a guy with the Dallas Morning News and you can watch it at their website — it is pretty disturbing though. Go their page with news on Katrina at
http://www.dallasnews.com/nation/katrina// and then look under Photos and click “Video: Pets left behind” with a graphic content warning.
I don’t know what can be done — by the time the rescuers get there, any dogs who not with the Guard may be dead — but I’ve been reading this blog since the breach in the first levee happened and I was hoping someone here might have some ideas. I am going to post about this to the different rescue boards and lists that I regularly read too.
Patty
nahnahnah@aol.com
I would definitely tell Noah’s wish and the SPCA. Send them an email with the link. If they can they will probably make those doggies a higher priority because they’re in graver danger. And I would put something in the subject line about the dogs being shot and ask for a reply so that you know that your email didn’t get lost or looked over.
My son is National Guard, and while stationed at the Superdome, his unit was caring for approximately 15-25 dogs. Some even have continued to travel with the group as they move around the area.
They are feeding the dogs their own MRE rations. So, take heart, there are good people out there watching out for the pups.
I found this link about the one incident recorded by a Dalls news photographer that a St. Bernard sheriff had been shooting some dogs dead. To paraphrase his ( the sheriff) words, to put them ( dogs) out of this misery.
http://www.dallasnews.com/s/dws/photography/2005/katrina_video/straydogs.html
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