New rule: I refuse to believe any media coverage of Katrina’s effect on New Orleans until I read it in the Times Picayune. That, too, I will cross-check with their previous posts. Since pictures speak a thousand words in such a circumstance, it is worth it for evacuees and concerned parties to keep abreast with the T-P photo galleries.
In one segment of CNN’s Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer this evening, two different reporters stated that the French Quarter is dry and the water is rising in the Quarter, respectively.
Patrick, another evacuee, and I concur that there is something fishy about “the news saying the water is rising, but then one of the senators from LA said that many areas of the city are dry.” So, where is the rising water going?
Additionally, these big news companies sensationalize and don’t realize that it frustrates evacuees who just want simple facts instead of played-out footage. In other words, give us new and relevant CONTENT or stop fluttering.
Yes, there is looting at the Lower Garden District’s (most hated) SprawlMart. Nice to know that these fine folk are taking away large electronics which are essential to post-hurricane survival just like food, water, basic clothing and personal hygiene products, never mind that they require, ahem, power. Notice that there is not a drop of water in the parking lot. The Lower Garden District appears to have a long way to go before it is flooded.
Can anyone confirm that the two breaches in the Florida Street levee constitute the third levee breach so far?
Even the Advocate keeps changing its stories; I can’t tell my ass from a hole in the ground at this point. Saw an interview with Mary Landrieu a few minutes ago but don’t know now old it was; I think it was from this evening. She said NO East (?) was pretty hard hit and City Park was underwater, but I don’t know the city well enough for that to mean anything to me (and just hope I go the names right). They interviewed a woman taking refuge here in BR, and she said the Garden District of NO had been relatively dry, just with a lot of downed trees/debris blocking roads and exit routes. Again, that might’ve changed.
hope that you and your loved ones are fine. been watching natures’ fury unleashed on television. i am sure that experiencing it would be a whole lot worse.
hope u are all ok
Last night, after I heard about the third levee breach, a looter shooting a police officer in the head and how desparate our mayor and governor are, I experienced my first major meltdown since I’ve left. The uncertainty and worry are definitely going to shave some years off this life. But, it is our job as evacuees to keep hope alive and be there in spirit, if not in person, for the neighbors that were left behind.
September 1, 4 p.m.
Dear Friends of Tulane,
After five days on campus, our emergency team has just arrived in Houston from New Orleans, where we will be joined by the rest of our senior leadership team from locations around the country. We will be working out of Houston effective immediately. Now that we have access to electricity and Internet connectivity, we will be corresponding regularly via this website: http://emergency.tulane.edu
Our immediate priorities are:
1. Attend to the needs of our faculty and staff who remain on campus. They are safe but living conditions are not good. We evacuated the entire uptown campus safely. As of today, only a core team of public safety and facilities personnel remain. We are in the process of evacuating personnel from the Health Sciences Center downtown . Additionally, we are trying to continue to supply provisions to the remaining staff on-site at the Primate Center in Mandeville. All of the students who were evacuated to Jackson State University in Mississippi have returned to their homes or are in the process of returning to their homes.
2. Re-establish our communications with constituencies ASAP. In particular, we will be giving guidance within 48 hours about our plans for this semester. I understand everyone’s anxiety but we need additional time to assess the situation in New Orleans.
3. Begin the recovery process. The campus did sustain some damage, though it generally fared very well during the storm. There are many downed trees, some buildings sustained water damage, and some roofing tiles were damaged. The necessary repairs are manageable. The dorms are intact and students’ belongings are safe.
I will update you again no later than 11 a.m. CST tomorrow, September 2, 2005. Please disseminate this email as widely as you can through any additional means you may have.
Scott Cowen
The French Quarter is dry. Notice how they never show pictures of it on
the tv news or in newspapers? The Katrina story would lose some of its sensationalism if people knew the French Quarter was dry. Advertising revenue might drop if people knew that the only place in New Orleans that they were familiar with was dry.