A Visit Home

[jgmpuma]

My wife and I live in Lakeview, one of the hardest-hit areas of New Orleans. Our home had about six feet of flood water. Like many others, we evacuated just before Katrina hit, and have been living in Mississippi, Alabama, and now Florida, waiting to find a place to live while we rebuild our home and our lives.

 

We returned to NO for Thanksgiving week to see family, friends, insurance adjustors, a structural engineer to see if our home can be saved (it can) and to visit our beloved city. I hope someone reads this, Traffic at the New Orleans board is just about nil.

 

A few notes:

 

1. Most of the bars in the French Quarter are open (naturally).

2. Most of the restaurants are open, but with limited menus and hours.

3. The zoo is open. The aquarium is not, but will be in the Spring.

4. The Riverwalk is open, but many of the shops have not yet reopened. They were looted. The food court is not open yet.

5. The Sensation and Ecstasy are docked by the Riverwalk, housing law enforcement and relief workers. No sign of drinks of the day being served.

6. Harrah's casino is scheduled to reopen in 2006.

7. The Natchez cruises once a day during the week, and twice on weekends.

8. The hotels are open, but housing mainly relief workers.

9. Other than a lot of blown-out windows in the hotels and office buildings, there isn't much visible damage.

10. There is some live music in the French Quarter bars. There was a band (of sorts) playing in front of St. Louis Catherdral.

11. Just about everyone who evacuated from NO wants to come back, if they can find a place to live.

12. Convention business for 2006 is expected to be about 50% of normal.

13. It will be a huge boon when the cruise ships return. Let's hope that this happens sooner than later.

14. I am in pretty good shape. My home can be rebuilt, and I am struggling to keep my law practice going by phone/internet. Pray for those who are not so fortunate. The devastation done to this city cannot be comprehended without seeing it first-hand.

15. Disasters such as NO has experienced tend to fade from the collective consciousness of this country. Please do not forget us. We look forward to seeing all of you cruise freaks soon.

[burface]

My DH and I along with our friends were in NO in Sept to try and retrieve our vehicle. I 100% agree with you that you have to physically see the city to understand some of it. The pics on tv can be very affecting but do not compare to reality.

 

We will be returning again this month and are hoping to see some signs of things slowly getting better.

 

Our prayers continue to be with you and your neighbors.

[steamboats]

jgmpuma,

 

We´re still reading the NOLA board :) . Thank you very much for your detailed report.

 

I still can´t believe that we´ve spent a pre-cruise day in NOLA only 2 months before Katrina hit (and again we´ve been in the US when it hit but in OR). I couldn´t believe what I saw in TV although I know you can´t believe all CNN and other TV stations are broadcasting.

 

We have a lot of friends in NOLA. Some of them were lucky (those living in the FQ). Many of them lost their homes or have severe damages.

 

A German TV station (unfortunately not a major one) featured a NOLA special last Sunday showing two documentaries, one was a chronicle about what had happened, the other was showing the reactions and mistakes that have been made during the rescue efforts. It was really shocking and unbelievable what they told. Simple things like an independent working communication system, one of the major things you need in any kind of catastrophe, doesn´t exist. Those people rescueing others weren´t able to alert other rescue forces to tell them that there are more people waiting to be rescued. All they could do is unload their boat and go back again. This is just one example they showed.

 

We spent more than a week in NOLA right a year ago. I won´t forget the eyes of my daughter (then nearly 5 yo) when we drove through City Park and Celebration in the Oaks. She didn´t want to leave and go back every night (at least we went to the playground as often as we could).

 

So you can be sure, we´re still thinking of you and all the others who have lost their homes and family members. You´re still in our prayers even here in Germany!

 

steamboats

[Sandycruise]

I hope someone reads this, Traffic at the New Orleans board is just about nil.

 

15. Disasters such as NO has experienced tend to fade from the collective consciousness of this country. Please do not forget us. We look forward to seeing all of you cruise freaks soon.

 

Dear jgmpuma,

I check the NO boards frequently for news. Alot of people still care. I understand what you said about fearing that this will fade from the collective consciousness of the country. I don't think these things fade so much as they become integrated so life can move on for many. I, for one, will never forget.

 

Thanks so much for that in depth report. I've been hoping for news.

 

BE WELL!:D

[moonvine]

Thanks for the report. I'm glad to hear your house can be saved.

[selucrey]

We are in NOLA frequently and are noticing signs that it is coming back to life. We have noticed that after dark you will see mostly relief-workers though. We had many friends that lived in the Lakeview and Chalmette areas. They are scattered all over the country now, many to never return. Good luck with your practice and we hope you may return home soon.

[nybumpkin]

jgm - Thanks so much for posting. As a fellow lawyer, I've read some of the stories of New Orleans lawyers trying to rebuild their practices when their offices have been ruined and clients have been scattered, as well as of trying to rebuild the legal system in general when court buildings have been flooded and records destroyed. Here in New York, several bar associations have undertaken efforts to try to help out; please know that you're not forgotten by any stretch of the imagination. We enjoyed our visit to New Orleans in July, and hope to make it back down sometime.

[vossjemi]

jgmpuma...glad to hear your house can be saved. I too check this forum frequently and in fact have it saved in my favorites. We have had our very first trip to NOLA planned since last July (before Katrina) over President's Day weekend right before mardi gras. We are still planning on going since we have already paid for our tickets, and the place we are staying in french quarter is fine. I'm sure I will get an entirely different New Orleans than originally planned, but I have a feeling it will be a special celebration in the weeks building up to and including mardi gras. There is another forum I check frequently at frommer's website that is pretty good on NOLA updates if anyone is interested.

 

http://www.frommers.com/cgi-bin/WebX?14@@.ee6b374

[Cotton]

Hey y'all. My DD from L.A. was home for T'giving week. We went down to the Quarter to have lunch on T'giving day w/my other DD who lives there. So many of the restaurants were still boarded up, like Mike Andersons, Galatoires, and several others; some just weren't open because it was T'giving day, I'm sure. Tujaques was in full swing, however, and I was able to get one of their wonderful Irish Coffees.

 

We finally found one restaurant that would ordinarily have been satisfactory - however, the gumbo tasted like muddy water, and the jambalaya was totally unseasoned. Terribly disappointing, BUT the little harried waiter said their usual staff of 44 has been reduced to 7 - and there was only one cook (no chef) and his wife there that day. Horrible food, BUT we left a hefty tip - they need it! I admire them for trying to work, period.

 

The Quarter was dead, dead, dead. It was so strange to see over half of Cafe du Monde tables empty, with waiters sitting around the perimeter waiting for customers. The beignets I ordered were gummy - and that was a first for me, since I've eaten them almost all my life. Just wondering if their hearts aren't in it yet....? It was a depressing day in the Quarter.:o

[jgmpuma]

It is good to know that we haven't been forgotten.

 

The restaurants in the FQ (and elsewhere) are all suffering from the same problem: a lack of workers. Many of them lived in the areas which were devastated by Katrina, and have no place to live. Rentals are scarce, and the prices have gone through the roof. Places like McDonalds are advertising salaries of $15 an hour and sign-on bonuses in a desparate attempt to find employees. As Cotton says, some of the larger restaurants haven't even tried to open yet.

 

On the Saturday after Thanksgiving, there was actually a line waiting to get into Maspero's. Go figure.

 

On a brighter note: when we evacuated on the Sunday morning before Katrina hit, we packed up our two dogs, but couldn't find Squeaky, a stray cat who had adopted us a few years ago. About six weeks after the storm, my son and daughter went back to our home to try to recover some valuables. In the sludge left on the floor after the flood waters were pumped out, they saw cat tracks. That dumb cat had actually survived the nine feet of flood waters which covered the neighborhood for almost a month. He was scrawney and shaky, but still alive. My son feeds him and waters him daily.

[Flintstone]

jgmpuma..please know that you all are not forgotten! Our hearts and prayers are with everyone!!

I check here often, also, for news of NO's rebirth! Katrina caused us to cancel our much anticipated vacation the end of Sept that we had planned for over 6 months! Our beads are still waiting to be thrown from our balcony on Bourbon St!!! And they will be...eventually!!

I know a cancelled vacation is nothing compared to what you all have been through...but please know that we all care very deeply and wish you all the best !!!

 

Deb

 

PS...Cotton..it is WONDERFUL to see you back!!

[zydecocruiser]

True the Riverwalk food court is not yet open - but it looks like it could be...

 

 

Arnaud's is open, but Galatoire's isn't yet. :(

 

Galatoire's Bistro did open in Baton Rouge, for those in need of a fix. :-)

 

 

When flying out of New Orleans, you can still get that last minute Lucky Dog!

 

 

And Subway be damned! There is no SUBstitute for a New Orleans Poboy!

 

[Cotton]

Deb, thx dear. Nice to be back. I'm living in a little FEMA trailer, and one day, things may get back to some sense of normalcy. We're all keepin' the faith!

 

Zy - C'mon, man, does anybody actually eat Subways in N.O.?:D

[jgmpuma]

Cotton: How about giving us a review of the FEMA trailer, like you do of the Holiday, Sensation, etc. We may be living in one if we ever get power back in Lakeview.

[Cotton]

I swear I have thought of y'all a lot, puma. I hope all will be well one day for all of us. So much healing in so many areas.

 

Seriously - the FEMA trailer is compact and detailed. Mine has a little alcove with a closing door for a bdrm, the 'living room' is two tiny couch seats with a table in between that can be removed for more sleeping area. The kitchen is about 3'x3', but fairly convenient. Microwave, two top burners, tiny oven (no pan over 4"x4" will fit), tiny sink, 3/4 size refrigerator. Bathroom/shower that you really have to get used to squeezing into.

 

But - believe it or not - it's all good.:) It has a roof that's not blue, and it's not exposed to the elements, and I'm in an enclosed structure. I'm very fortunate to have my little FEMA trailer. Hoping to rebuild on my beachfront lot one day - will probably be years away though. I still say I'm luckier than so many others.

[jgmpuma]

Being the civilized person that you are, I'm sure that the drink of the day is still served. And as the Celebrity commercial says, we can just think of this as a temporary exile.

[Cotton]

Ah, but of course, my friend. The drinking lamp is lit at approximately five pm daily. DOTD yesterday was a "Yellowbird", and quite refreshing! I try to imagine, as I look out over Biloxi Bay from my son's backyard, that I'm back on my porch looking at the Gulf. One day. (I do hope y'all be be home soon.)

[jgmpuma]

Not there yet, Cotton, but closer. We found a condo in Kenner, near the airport. It had about a foot of water in it. The downstairs floor is concrete and stud walls, but the upstairs is OK. As a Christmas present, we gave each other Christmas Eve at the Royal Orleans.

 

We plan to do New Years Eve at Tujague's on Decatur, as we have for many years.

 

My niece is dating a guy who has a lot of business contacts in Gulfport/Biloxi. He tells me that cruising will return to Gulfport. No details, but he sounded like he knew what he was talking about.

 

Good luck in 2006. It's gotta be an improvement.

[selucrey]

We are going to be in the Quarter for New Years also. We are staying at the Lanata House on Chartres. Good to hear that you are a little closer to home !

[zydecocruiser]

If I can ever get off this cruise ship am thinking about driving to NOLA for New Year's.

 

{Grand Princess in Galveston}

[moonvine]

On a brighter note: when we evacuated on the Sunday morning before Katrina hit, we packed up our two dogs, but couldn't find Squeaky, a stray cat who had adopted us a few years ago. About six weeks after the storm, my son and daughter went back to our home to try to recover some valuables. In the sludge left on the floor after the flood waters were pumped out, they saw cat tracks. That dumb cat had actually survived the nine feet of flood waters which covered the neighborhood for almost a month. He was scrawney and shaky, but still alive. My son feeds him and waters him daily.

 

Awww! A Squeaky cat! I lost a Squeaky cat not too long ago. :( So glad to hear your cat survived unharmed.:)

[jgmpuma]

That dumb cat continues to push his luck. He came back about three weeks ago with a big gash on his chest. No idea how that happened. The vet stitched it up and sent him home. He chewed the staples out and had to be restitched and put in a victorian collar. He is OK, for the time being.

 

He makes up for it by being a survivor. If he can put up with so much adversity, we can to.