Return To “Ground Zero”: This morning, Shannon and D left for Slidell and then Jefferson Parish – D will help Shannon recover everything in two storage units that is not trashed from the flooding, including insurance papers, a much-needed hard drive and Shannon’s prized hunting rifles. Can’t wait to see the pictures from this expedition. Shannon’s Slidell ex-home is now quite convenient for people who don’t like to climb stairs – the wind shoved the second floor into the first floor.
As for me, life is fantastic between dogsitting and the magical mystery trip to the credit union this afternoon.
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What FEMA Is Doing: The Dept. of Homeland Security lists FEMA’s actions to date. Of interest –
$2,000 per household to help pay for the emergency needs of food, shelter, clothing, personal necessities and medical needs
Department of Labor has three programs to offer immediate income assistance to workers displaced by Hurricane Katrina 1) Unemployment Insurance for workers who lost their jobs because of Hurricane Katrina; 2) Disaster Unemployment Insurance for the newly employed and self-employed not normally eligible for unemployment insurance and, 3) Temporary jobs funded through National Emergency Grants.
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Airport Barely Open For Passenger Flights: Louis Armstrong International Airport reopened today for what will most likely be “a combination of people who live in areas with less damage, such as the River Parishes, and people involved in helping southeast Louisiana recover and rebuild.”
Only four flights are scheduled, a pair of round trips from Memphis, Tenn., by Northwest Airlines, and Aviation Director Roy Williams predicted 60 flights per day by the end of the week … Many airlines have waived fees and penalties for passengers who want to reschedule flights they planned before Katrina. Some said they have given passengers refunds for canceled flights.
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City Bankrupt Yet Hopeful: Yesterday, Mayor Ray Nagin declared that the city is out of money but “pledged that he and other citizens of New Orleans rather than state and national officials would be the lead planners in rebuilding.” It appears that the president has left the city in our hands, too.
Nagin does not know for certain when the city will officially re-open for permanent living and business.
