Topic New Orleans--updates from the Off-topic chat forum.
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| Author | Topic: New Orleans--updates |
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jmslsu01
Registered User
Registered:
6/9/2003
From:
northern VA | posted: 10/30/2005 at 9:18:04 PM ET
Hello all-
It's been a while since I've posted about New Orleans, and since much of the media has gone on to other topics (except NPR, which has done *outstanding* reporting on New Orleans and the Mississippi Gulf Coast, as well as southwestern Louisiana and the area near Beaumont, TX after Hurricane Rita), I wanted to share what I know.
--They have stopped the death toll-around 1000-but apparently they were still finding bodies a few weeks ago.
As for landmarks/institutions:
-Audubon Park remains closed. A few animals were lost, but the rest are doing fine. However, the keepers are saying they are edgy and lonely, since they are used to seeing people around.
--The Aquarium lost thousands of animals. However, some animals that were evacuated are being returned to the Audubon Institute in New Orleans. The Marine Life Oceanarium in Gulfport, MS is gone. As in, there is empty space where it used to be.
--The National D-Day Museum's gift shop, money boxes, vending machines, and cafe were looted.
--The New Orleans Botanical Garden in City Park is destroyed. 1-10 feet (amount depended on area) of salt water from the Gulf killed the majority of the vegetation and all the grass. The administration building is also destroyed. However, NOMA (New Orleans Museum of Art) is okay.
--Look for an IMAX movie about Louisiana wetlands next year. This was in production before Hurricane Katrina hit. You will see footage of New Orleans a week after the hurricane hit.
--The lovely and historic Saegner Theatre-where I saw my first show, Peter Pan, starring Sandy Duncan-was heavily damaged. The entire 2005-2006 Broadway in New Orleans series has been cancelled.
--Thousands of city workers, many without homes, have been laid off (including 90% of the New Orleans Public Library staff, where several friends worked. The system was devasted. See pictures here:
http://nutrias.org
My parents went downtown last weekend. Traffic lights out, garbage piled up...very depressing. They also went to Gulfport and Biloxi. My grandparents' former home is destroyed. Several friends are back in the city, but others are still in other cities, and I know some are not returning to the area. Never again, they say. I can't blame them.
--See pictures on WWL's site:
http://www.wwltv.com/weather/pix/
--Mardi Gras 2006 is still on, apparently. I don't know if they are serious or if this is wishful thinking. Some of the krewes (not crews) may not have members come back to the city. It will probably be a scaled-down Mardi Gras.
Jenn
|  Sister Rose
Registered User
Registered:
5/4/2004
From:
NYC | posted: 11/4/2005 at 11:45:51 AM ET
Reunited
Great article - plus there's a Vero Beach connection.
| jmslsu01
Registered User
Registered:
6/9/2003
From:
northern VA | posted: 11/4/2005 at 2:04:25 PM ET
FEMA emails for your perusal (PDF file)
Now they are saying the death toll may never be realized because people may have been washed out with the surge.
And they are saying that the canal walls should have held and *downtown* should have NEVER flooded. The water never got that high downtown to crack the walls. Architectual failures, probably- they will investigate to see if "corners were cut" while structuring the walls.
*banging head against wall*
Jenn
| jmslsu01
Registered User
Registered:
6/9/2003
From:
northern VA | posted: 11/5/2005 at 6:37:17 PM ET
City of New Orleans update for November 3
Audubon Zoo reopening!
(day after Thanksgiving, and only 10-4 weekends until the end of February 2006-I'm hoping to go during Thanksgiving vacation)
My beautiful, beloved, and historic City Park
Many childhood memories of the flying horses, Storyland playground (usually cited as one of the best in the country), Celebration in the Oaks, the kiddie amusement park....I read the article and started to cry. Not sobbing, mind you-but damn....we never know what will spark something in us, and when we thought we were getting better.
Now they're saying levee construction was outdated-more suited for farmland than for a major metropolitan city.
Levees outdated
Big football day for Louisiana universities. Tulane had a game today, but the Green Wave lost to Navy 49-21 (ouch!). But LSU (alma mater!) plays tonight against Appalachian State, and it's homecoming!
Jenn
|  SingOutAnnie
Registered User
Registered:
8/23/2003
From:
Bradenton/Sarasota, FLA | posted: 11/7/2005 at 12:20:11 PM ET
Thanks for update, Jenn. Anything specific I need to do or tweak?
SisterRose, that San Antonio story made me cry. Great story.
| jmslsu01
Registered User
Registered:
6/9/2003
From:
northern VA | posted: 11/7/2005 at 6:45:07 PM ET
SOA, I think you have enough on your hands, being a fashion god and all that. Just keep your sleeves rolled up to show that you're hard at work.
Jenn
| SingOutAnnie
Registered User
Registered:
8/23/2003
From:
Bradenton/Sarasota, FLA | posted: 11/8/2005 at 10:02:30 AM ET
Will do. I'm doing a great job, aren't I?
Can I go home now?
| Karen
Registered User
Registered:
5/3/2002 | posted: 11/8/2005 at 10:50:03 AM ET
Not until you have a good Mexican meal and a stiff margarita.
| SingOutAnnie
Registered User
Registered:
8/23/2003
From:
Bradenton/Sarasota, FLA | posted: 11/8/2005 at 12:02:45 PM ET
Will do that too.
Then I'll take on my new position as a highly paid consultant. For two weeks. No, make that two months. Hey, once I've expounded on how to run horse shows in a hurricane, they'll keep me on for YEARS...
| jmslsu01
Registered User
Registered:
6/9/2003
From:
northern VA | posted: 11/8/2005 at 11:31:48 PM ET
No, no, no. It's a #2 with tater tots and a large diet cherry limeade.
And remember, KEEP THE SLEEVES ROLLED UP!
Jenn
| Sister Rose
Registered User
Registered:
5/4/2004
From:
NYC | posted: 11/9/2005 at 10:05:51 AM ET
Oh jmslsu01 - SONIC? I think so - I was a car hop back in the day....
| jmslsu01
Registered User
Registered:
6/9/2003
From:
northern VA | posted: 11/9/2005 at 7:52:22 PM ET
I dunno. Brownie would know!
Jenn
| jmslsu01
Registered User
Registered:
6/9/2003
From:
northern VA | posted: 11/15/2005 at 8:00:25 PM ET
I had to share this article. Chris Rose has been a columnist with the Times-Picayune (New Orleans's newspaper) for as long as I can remember. I always look for his columns first when I read the T-P.
Jenn
| jmslsu01
Registered User
Registered:
6/9/2003
From:
northern VA | posted: 11/15/2005 at 8:12:18 PM ET
In case you were wondering (Rose is obviously writing for a local audience):
Mardi Gras Indians
Jenn
| jmslsu01
Registered User
Registered:
6/9/2003
From:
northern VA | posted: 11/19/2005 at 10:29:47 AM ET
NPR report this morning
Jenn
| jmslsu01
Registered User
Registered:
6/9/2003
From:
northern VA | posted: 2/10/2006 at 5:20:32 PM ET
Ex-FEMA Chief Shifts Katrina Blame to DHS
(Going back to NOLA in 1.5 weeks. Haven't been back since Christmas. It's Mardi Gras. Yes, it's going on. Yes, I know, but it's happening regardless, so I'm going. No, I'm not going to Bourbon St. Only college kids and tourists go there for Mardi Gras, where there are no actual parades. Locals don't hang out on Bourbon St. on a normal basis, let alone Mardi Gras. I'm going to the parades. And I'm bringing some folks originally from Iowa, of all places, so that's going to be fun.)
Jenn
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