Katrina - 1 year later... (pics) not 56k friendly

[ashman]

So its been one year since hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast and since I recently moved back home to NOLA. Today I took a few pictures on my way home from class to give an idea of how the progress is going. My drive home takes me throught the Lakeview area which was flooded due to faulty levees. Pics further down....


daily traffic... Since everyone lost their homes but many still had jobs the drive into the city has become hell. It takes me 1 hour to go 25 miles to class, in LA that might not be bad but its hell here.


the lake front, all this area is outside the levees and was under water.


one of the levees right one the lake, VS the ones that line the drainage canals through out the city.


Old Coast Gaurd station that colapsed into the lake. (red roof)


For sale, only had 10+ feet of water.


One of a very few businesses open in the area, note the traffic pole sticking in the street.


A house that 1/2 way burnt down, ironic since it was flooded at the time. Many gas lines were leaking across the city starting fires.


Bus stop, flood level.


This is one of THOUSANDS of houses in the area. Their is a tree under that house?


It was a nice area before the storm. Abandoned house after house....


Atleast they got the tree off the roof?


Why bother at this point? Because this is still a place someone hope to call home someday.


Talk about a hard sell.


An empty school.


Someones backyard, their is a car under there.


Thats about the ratio, one occupied property to how many vacant?


Many trees have died from the "toxic soup."


I had to go up to one of the homes to give a real idea of the situation. Thats someones living room pictures still on the wall untouched a YEAR later.


The commute home.


Someones boat.


Spot where one of the levees broke.


Close up of the water side of the "flood protection."


One of the new locks the Corps is installing to prevent the lake water from backing up into the canals and putting pressure on the levees.


Other side of the "flood protection."


Imagine that wall failing and a 10 foot surge of water rushing into your home.


Mississippi River


Ormond Plantation by my parents house.


me.



I hope this gives everyone an idea of how the recovery is going. Those that say they are tired of hearing about it, this is why people are still talking about it.

-ash

[annguyen1981]

That's really sad.  All those people who are still suffering from the effects.

[ajaxgs]

makes people stronger

[pantablo]

A partner and I are looking into prefabricated systems to provide apartments in N.O., as a development deal(s)...

thanks for sharing these. Hope all is well.

[annguyen1981]

makes people stronger

That's the human flaw...

People don't truely care about other people until there is a major disaster.  But during the hours of normal life, it's the "I'm in it for myself" mentality...

Just this past Saturday, I was in my cage and I noticed a stranded motorist in the middle of the road ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE DIVIDER.  I intentionally made a u-turn just to see if I could help.  There was a whole family inside the car, which had a broken tranny.  I dug around in my car and setup an electronic flare so no one would get hit.  We were in a very dangerous spot.  But I still stayed with them waiting for the police to take over.  Twenty minutes later, one of their friends pulled up, but I still stayed.  another 15 minutes later a second car pulled up (more friends) so I decided they had enough "protection".  I left, but before I did, I told them to keep the flare for safety.  That's when I found out they were there for a good 15 minutes BEFORE I stopped to help, and no one even pulled to their side window and asked if they needed help.

I tend to stop for people on the highway, helping them out as much as I can.  I'm sorry that most people can't be as kind to others.

[RVertigo]

I've stopped for a lot of people on the road...  I've had three cars with broken gas guages, so I ran out of gas a lot...

One night I was coming back from the bar and saw a kid waving at traffic, nearly standing in the road.   I pulled over and yelled at him to GET THE F%$K OUT OF THE ROAD!!!!!  It turns out he ran out of gas.    So, I gave him a ride to a gas station that sold gas cans, told him to buy a gas can, waited for him to fill it, drove him back to his car, waited for him to dump the gas, and made sure his car started...  The WaSP showed up right after his car started.   

I drove home thinking...  Why didn't anyone ever pull over for me...  Then I realized...






I look like a serial killer. 

[annguyen1981]

Last year, I stopped behind a Jeep Wrangler on the highway, but when I get to the window, no one was inside.

I continue on my way and get off the next exit, but on the exit ramp, a girl was walking down to the main street.  I pull next to her and ask if that was her vehicle.  She tells me she ran out of gas, so I picked her up and drove to the nearest gas station.

She goes and buys a gas can and fills up.  When she finished, we head back.  "Unfortunately" [wink] I needed to drive about five miles beyond the vehicle before I could get off and return to the correct side.

After we get to her car and she fills the tank, we both comment on how hopefully the car starts, cause she left her blinkers on, and she's been having trouble with the electrical system.

So I stay with her until she's able to start the jeep.  Viola!  It starts up on the first try.  I start to walk away, when she gives me a big hug and kiss.

I was grinning for the rest of my drive.

[trumpetguy]

Looking at those pictures and thinking how much money is going to Halliburton, Brown and Root, and other contractors and subcontractors in Iraq through no-bid contracts each and every day makes me want to puke.

Every incumbent in Congress should be voted out in November unless they repudiate the war and pledge to rebuild OUR COUNTRY.

[annguyen1981]

I am a supporter in our troops, but I agree with some of that.  We should MAINLY concentrate on OUR country.  There are cities filled with neighborhoods that look like that themselves have been to war.  There are many homeless people who need help (but there are some homeless that want help, but won't help themselves...  big difference).  Our educationsl system is flawed, mainly because everyone in a political seat has been through the same educational system.  In order for change to happen, it must be thought up by people who were not subjected to the same system everyone else has.  But those people just don't exhist.  Even home-schooled children are taught be people who attended a traditional school.  It's the right direction, meaning it's going away from traditional schooling, but who knows if home-schooling is "better".

[off soapbox]

[TadMC]

x

[trumpetguy]

I am a supporter in our troops, but I agree with some of that.  We should MAINLY concentrate on OUR country.

I support our troops as well, but I do not support the war in Iraq or the idiots who sent our troops there.  My stepson served two tours as a US Marine in Iraq, and even was awarded a Silver Star for gallantry in combat.  Although he has been out of the USMC for over a year, may be called back involuntarily to Iraq even though he has now started a family (baby due in October).  This is the "all-volunteer" military?

The politicians who supported this war need to send THEIR sons and daughters.  The politicians and citizens who STILL claim it was not a mistake need to ante up with THEIR flesh and blood immediately or STFU and crawl back to their dens.

[roguegeek]

I've stopped for a lot of people on the road...  I've had three cars with broken gas guages, so I ran out of gas a lot...

One night I was coming back from the bar and saw a kid waving at traffic, nearly standing in the road.   I pulled over and yelled at him to GET THE F%$K OUT OF THE ROAD!!!!!  It turns out he ran out of gas.    So, I gave him a ride to a gas station that sold gas cans, told him to buy a gas can, waited for him to fill it, drove him back to his car, waited for him to dump the gas, and made sure his car started...  The WaSP showed up right after his car started.   

I drove home thinking...  Why didn't anyone ever pull over for me...  Then I realized...

I look like a serial killer. 

He must have been desperate then. I would have just told ya I'm all good.

[roguegeek]

I support our troops as well, but I do not support the war in Iraq or the idiots who sent our troops there.  My stepson served two tours as a US Marine in Iraq, and even was awarded a Silver Star for gallantry in combat.  Although he has been out of the USMC for over a year, may be called back involuntarily to Iraq even though he has now started a family (baby due in October).  This is the "all-volunteer" military?

Sad.

The politicians who supported this war need to send THEIR sons and daughters.  The politicians and citizens who STILL claim it was not a mistake need to ante up with THEIR flesh and blood immediately or STFU and crawl back to their dens.

+1