New Orleans...*sigh*

[Cruel_Sandwich]

Posted: 8/30/05 at 11:14pm

I was going to post in the other New Orleans threads but they all devolved into petty Bush bashing.

But, seriously, this is terrible. New Orleans is where my parents went on their honeymoon and where my friends have family. I was planning on going to college there but I guess that won't work out now.

Those poor people in the Superdome. They have not left my head all day. The conditions within that place must be equal or worse than that on a sailing ship in the 1700s.

[brdlwyr]

Posted: 8/30/05 at 11:38pm

I was going to post in the other New Orleans threads but they all devolved into petty Bush bashing. Oh, really?

Updated On: 8/30/05 at 11:38 PM

Posted: 8/30/05 at 11:39pm

Tune in to ABC

[Lavieboheme3090]

Posted: 8/31/05 at 12:24am

Our street has taken in about 20 people from New Orleans
Updated On: 8/31/05 at 12:24 AM

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 8/31/05 at 12:38am

I'm gonna go put in my real world new orleans DVD now...

[ljay889]

Posted: 8/31/05 at 12:44am

I feel so bad.

I can't believe about 80 percent of the city, is ruined.

[BlueWizard]

Posted: 8/31/05 at 12:45am

The devestation is overwhelming: roads and buildings submerged, trucks thrown 100 metres from the road, wreckage everywhere. Does anyone think that New Orleans will ever recover? It's one thing to rebuild, but how can foundations be laid when the ground is 20 feet under water?

[ZONEACE]

Posted: 8/31/05 at 12:49am

I was conceived in New Orleans.

[orangeskittles]

Posted: 8/31/05 at 1:04am

I was supposed to go there for Mardi Gras next year. My friend is from New Orleans and I've been planning to go there once I turn 21. Which sounds petty, I know, but I was just thinking about it because she was always gushing about how much she loved New Orleans and how Mardi Gras is the best time to be there, because it was the city at its best.

I can't imagine what it's like for the people living there. I don't have a TV, so I haven't seen any news coverage, but just the stuff I've been reading online sounds horrible. I'm just surprised New Orleans (being on the Gulf and below sea level) doesn't have better precautions set up in the case of an emergency like this.

[M J R]

Posted: 8/31/05 at 1:05am

The city will absolutely recover - it will just take time...very sad

Updated On: 8/31/05 at 01:05 AM

[zzannahk]

Posted: 8/31/05 at 1:07am

maybe rebuilding a city below sea level isn't a great idea

[JayKid]

Posted: 8/31/05 at 1:32am

It's crazy... I feel so bad for everyone there, it's horrible.

My friend was going to Tulane, college in New Orleans, got there a few days, maybe a week ago and was sent home back to New York just a few hours later. Now he's screwed... or that's what I'm guessing, haven't talked to him long enough to ask more. I feel bad for him though, what the hell...

and even worse for everyone else, horrible situation.

[BlueWizard]

Posted: 8/31/05 at 2:06am

I was supposed to go there for Mardi Gras next year. My friend is from New Orleans and I've been planning to go there once I turn 21. Which sounds petty, I know, but I was just thinking about it because she was always gushing about how much she loved New Orleans and how Mardi Gras is the best time to be there, because it was the city at its best.

No, I completely understand. I've always wanted to visit New Orleans too, and even bought a guidebook last summer. The U.S. and the world have lost a gem of a city.

For now.

My prayers go out to all those without homes tonight and are looking for their loved ones. The CNN story about the man who couldn't hold on to his wife as the flood waters washed her away was heartbreaking.

[South Fl Marc]

Posted: 8/31/05 at 7:07am

New Orleans was unique. Unlike Europe, most US cities bulldozed their past for parking lots and higher buildings. New Orleans on the other hand kept their heritage, which was significant. The French Quarter alone is a jewel. Historically and architecturally it is an important part of American History. The loss would be immeasurable.

[Cruel_Sandwich]

Posted: 8/31/05 at 7:50am

"I'm just surprised New Orleans (being on the Gulf and below sea level) doesn't have better precautions set up in the case of an emergency like this."

I agree that their protection was not the best, but there is not much one can do to protect against nature.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 8/31/05 at 8:26am

Perhaps New orleans will be rebuilt, like the miracle of St. Malo in France, a beautiful port city that was destroyed by bombs in Worl War 2 and has been lovingly restored.

Meanwhile, the devastation is enormous. This email is atributed to a resue worker:

---

There are dead animals floating in the water, pets left behind. Surely people thought they would be back to collect the pets. Not so. The rescuers smell like gas when they come back in; there's gas in all of the water that consumes the area. Fires are burning all over the place. Our teams are tired and they are thirsty and they are hungry. And they have a place to sleep and water to drink and food to eat. I can only imagine how the people without these "luxuries" are feeling right now.

Each night will be a race against time. When night falls, people can't get picked up from roofs, the rescuers can't chop into people's roofs to check the attics for anyone alive or for anyone dead (sadly, there are dead). At night we can't see power lines we can't see obstacles, we can't see any of the things that will bring down a helicopter or pose a danger to boats rescuers.

One of the teams came in today after having been out for hours at a time. One particular rescuer went straight to a corner and collapsed into tears. I went directly to him and just held his hand. What else could I do? I said nothing. He said it all. They lowered him 26 times and he pulled 26 people to safety. He wants to be back out there but there are mandatory rest periods. His tears are tears of frustration.

Entire teams are working on nothing but evacuating the hospitals. All four of the major hospitals are beginning to flood. Critical patients have to get out or surely they will be lost. Generators cannot run forever; that's just the way it is. There are limited facilities to take those that are rescued and those that need to be evacuated. Anything that leaves by air leaves by helicopter. There are no runways for planes that aren't under water. Only one drivable way in and out.

Water everywhere and more keeps coming. Until they can do something about the three levees that are broken, more water will come and more water will kill. The water poses major health threats. Anyone with even a small open cut is prone to infection. Anyone who touches this water and touches his eyes, nose or mouth without find a way to "clean" himself first will be sick with stomach problems before long. It's bad and it's getting worse. It's not going to be anything better than devastating for days or weeks at best.

I wish I could tell you that I'll check in again soon. I can't. I don't know when my next message will get out. We'll be leaving where we are within just an hour or so.

[mominator]

Posted: 8/31/05 at 8:41am

The stories that are coming out are beyond sad. We are seeing the best of people the rescue workers, the firefighters and police who are working in god aweful conditions. We are also seeing the best and the worse in the victims, one lady this morning was able to make it back to where her house was, her husband asked "What's left babe?" She just shook her head as she turned away and broke down a bit and said "Nothing, nothing is left". She then looked into the camers and said We are alive and these are just things. Thing can be replaced. We are alive." Sadly with the goodness of people there is also the ugly side pictures of the looting that was going on was just incomprehensible.

[RobbO]

Posted: 8/31/05 at 9:16am

Please Help

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 8/31/05 at 9:53am

A friend of mine was on vacation in New Orleans and could not get out when they started to evacuate. She is still trapped in her hotel downtown today. I've been receiving reports from friends in touch with her family who have spoken to her when she had access from a satellite phone from the Coast Guard or reporters. We still don't know when she and her sister will be back. I hope they will be ok. I haven't heard anything about them yet this morning.

[KMF_NYC]

Posted: 8/31/05 at 9:53am

not sure if this will help -- I've sent emails to all the major Cruise lines suggesting they send a ship to the gulf cost so people can have a place to sleep.....especially since many of them use New Orleans as a port....

[ErikJ972]

Posted: 8/31/05 at 10:00am

MM...hopefully not that there is a mandatory evacuation of the entire city she will be able to get out safely...

[Magicfingers2]

Posted: 8/31/05 at 11:07am

This is so sad, prayer to them all!!!