Sunday, January 14th 2007
War Torn Somalia Or The U.S. Gulf Coast?
This morning we left our cozy room, thanked our hosts, poured the coffee to go and left for Texas. We decided to drive around and see some what was left of this part of New Orleans. The French Quarter had fortunately been spared. It would have been just terrible of that architectural landmark had been destroyed. Other areas were not so blessed. I, like everybody else, had seen pictures of what happened there during those days in August, but nothing could prepare me for what I was about to see.
For blocks and blocks all that was left were skeletons of houses. Entire neighborhoods were deserted; dead communities that may never recover. The people that remain live in FEMA issued trailers in their driveways. I was speechless and shocked. It looked like something out of Mad Max and it had been 18 months since the disaster. The damaged area stretched for miles and miles all the way into TX. I stood on the failed levees that were designed to protect the city. The distance between the levees and the huge network of people and neighborhoods was a short stroll across a street. Although it was outraging and depressing I am glad to have seen it first hand because is was a truly humbling experience and I am grateful for what I have. The house pictured here is spitting distance from the levees and it is clear how high the water reached.
;)
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