The Oil Drum

135 comments on DrumBeat: October 10, 2006

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eric blair on October 10, 2006 - 9:00am

Thanks for the bike link. I've forward that one about.

And on the 'how does this all end well'? George Ure has a datum point from New Orleans

http://www.urbansurvival.com/week.htm
New Orleans is filthy. Definitely divided by the have's and have-not's and most of them are the haven't. I saw the future of America depicted as a third world war zone. There are hundreds living on the streets. The despair in their eyes is heart wrenching.

They immediately tell you to not drink the water - even though we did have to shower in it.

I had a moment where I found myself surrounded by a small group of people and we all just '"connected". I went to high school with one of them. What are the odds on that? One of them and her daughter brought supplies for a community church. The church had had no drinking water for two days. She brought cases. They asked "How did she know?" I shouted, "God directed you to them" and there were smiles all around.

The girls (Regina and Mary) and I did walk-abouts. There is still a national guard and state police presence. I don't think people know how to get out of there - and I know they do not have the funds. At night, there are constant sirens going off - police and ems. Not many visitors there and the shops are empty.

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AlanfromBigEasy on October 10, 2006 - 10:13am

I don't think people know how to get out of there - and I know they do not have the funds

Wrong I believe. Note the "I don't think". Everyone back had to make a decision to come back since everyone left at the end was forcibly evaced at gunpoint, regardless of circumstances (some few good). Most still visit first before returning, finding places to stay (often a sofa or sleeping bag in a friends hallway or "one more" in a FEMA trailer).

And "I can't take it anymore" and leaving again is quite common (as are suicides).

But there is also determination and a willingness to help and incrediably high levels of civic involvement. I am in the 20% that was not destroyed (burned out block accross the street) and do all that I can to help. Being "out of the loop' for 1.5 months has hurt.

hen I left 1.5 months ago to help my father, the US Army had removed 70% of the debris. Rats were a problem. Somewhat better today. The tourist areas are clean, 3 city employees were assigned yesterday to put damaged street signs back up. They hope to be finished in a year. "Stop" and "One Way" signs first priority.

There is a determined effort to keep crime down, Nat'l Guard is patrolling the drowned areas with minimal habitation and NOPD does the areas that didn't drown and those coming back strong. Yesterday, NG shot and killed someone. Didn't catch details.

Reopening schools are a mixed bag. Catholic OK, some charter schools (new) are doing well, others are not. State takeover schools are off to a bumpy start but seem headed in the right direction. Remaining public schools can't get their act together but perhaps with time. All in all, education will definitely improve !

Welcoming home a friend that evaced tonight, her first night back :-) She may be 3 or 4 months away from moving back into her drowned home (staying at friends with inflatable mattress). An MD so she is not a "have not" and medical care is perhaps our most important lack.

A shock for those coming from a suburban bubble (we were shocking before Katrina :-), but people can and will adapt. This unique city is well worth the degraded standard of living, pain, struggle and effort ! All those that came back believe this.

As I told my father, I would rather live in a shack in New Orleans w/o indoor plumbing than a mansion in Phoenix !

BTW, I drink the water all the time (coffee a few inches away). I have used drinking fountains in the drowned areas. Potable water leakage is slowly being fixed. 1.5 months ago teh ratio was 2 gallons leak for every one used. Water pressure for fire fighting is slowly being restored.

Best Hopes,

Alan