Reflections on New Orleans, Gulf Coast
Watching the news this morning I’m saddened by the loss of life and property in the Gulf Coast. It will be days and weeks before we get the full picture of the extent of damage. While we can replace property we cannot replace those who were lost to Katrina.
The reports of rescue crews unable to continue into the night are deeply disturbing. The cries of people and pets must have been horrific for rescue crews. I have the greatest admiration for those people risking their lives to save others.
Mobile, Alabama; Biloxi, Mississippi and New Orleans, Louisiana along with numerous other cities have all been devastated by high winds, walls and water and flood waters. A levee breach in New Orleans is allowing the city to flood — 80% of the city is under water at this point. As a child I have visited the three cities listed above. In April 2004 I visited New Orleans for the New Orleans Jazz Festival.
The beauty of New Orleans was overwhelming to me. Block after block of well proportioned frame & masonry structures. The city was very walkable and the streetcars made it easy to get to areas too far to walk to.
I’ve selected a few pictures of the hundreds I took.
I hope New Orleans can repair the broken levee soon and get the water pumped out of the city. The longer these buildings sit in the contaminated waters the harder it will be to repair and rebuild.
The proportions and details of New Orleans’ architecture is quite unique. I loved the use of the shutters to keep out the hot Southern sun.
It was the tiny shotgun houses that captivated me. While not as valuable as the large homes of the Garden District they are still worth saving. I fear these more modest homes will not be saved to the extent of those in more affluent areas.
This French Quarter building was in a state of disrepair in 2004. Not sure how well it survived the wind and water.
Beyond the lives and property lost is the aftermath. At least tens of thousands of people are suddenly unemployed as their workplaces were destroyed. Oil production has been halted sending gas prices upward. Power is out for hundreds of thousands. Roads and highways were ruined which will created challenges to rebuilding. Tornados and flash flooding are now affecting other parts of the South. Groups such as the Red Cross are ready to help.
The big lesson in all of this it that we, as humans, are not invincible. Natural will always prevail.
– Steve
Hopefully though, there is a lesson to be learned in New Orleans’ tragedy- the desperate need to preserve and restore wetlands near our urban centers.
Many might say that New Orleans was a ticking time bomb. Well, if the 1993 flood were to happen today in St. Louis, the water would have fewer natural places to go. And that is really a disaster waiting to happen as well.
But maybe it takes some hubris provided in Katrina, before federal policies actually create more natural flood control and limit flood plain development.
We have made multiple visits to the Big Easy and have nothing but fond memories.
Favorites-Cafe Du Monde and the park in front of the St. Louis Cathedral.
I remember sitting in a French Quarter doorstep with a nephew, both of us sketching the streetscape.
We took a ride out through the Garden District and St. Charles Street toward the zoo and Tulane University. The big homes facing St. Charles Street are impressive, but what’s really impressive were the hundreds upon hundreds of historic city blocks backing up to St. Charles street. The historic character of New Orleans is a national treasure.
While on the one hand, given her near three- hundred-year history, it seems amazing that NOLA hasn’t been hit more frequently by devastating storms, this must be one of the saddest events in our history.
Good friends of ours came to STL from New Orleans, and had plans to retire there in a few years. Now they must be feeling just plain wiped out.
RB
I’m too sick to talk about it in detail right now. Last night I was on the phone all evening helping people get messages and relaying info to people trying to get out. The area where I lived is not under water yet, but it is getting close. I can not tell you the sadness one feels watching so many things that have so much meaning to you simply disappear. I’m devastated.
The flooding of New Orleans joins the destruction of the World Trade Center as a defining event of urbanism for the 21st century. Tragedy can teach us a lot.
I watched a PBS NOW documentary this evening (Friday, September2), which was a repeat of a 2002 broadcast predicting just this kind of disaster. It mentioned that they needed $14 billion in federal aid to restore the wetlands to help prevent it. Too bad the feds. didn’t listen. Go to http://www.pbs.org/now/science/neworleans.html if you missed it.