The aftermath of Katrina

[SummaTheo]

Well, I've got good news and bad news. I'M ALIVE!! But most of New Orleans is destroyed. It is so bad that the Parish President of Jefferson Parish just made an ordinace (sp?) that people will not be allowed back in Jefferson Parish until one week from today. And they cannot stay, they must just get what they need and get out. I do not know about Orleans Parish (where I live). The reason for doing this is that they have to rebuild all of the necesities (electrical, water, sewage, etc.) He also said what you see on TV is much worse in the city. He said the gas lines are all blown and it is bad. Well, I will keep everyone updated and I apologize for any mispellings or poor grammer, IT'S LATE!

[stbruno]

Just a quick question, our son's roommate just started at Tulane University. We haven't heard how he is faring, do you know if anything is destroyed there?

[SummaTheo]

Uptown (where Tulane is located) did not have as much water damage as did the other parts of the city, but he will not be able to stay in town because of all the damage to the city.

[stbruno]

Thank you for the information.We are praying for all of you, and we are making a generous donation to Catholic Charities to help the families who have been affected by the massive devastation. Please know that you are not alone. At mass this morning our intentions included the victims of the Hurricane. Peace be to you, that only God can provide.

[CathMass]

I want to know about the condition of the Shrine of Our Lady of Prompt Succour in New Orleans as well as the condition of the Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos Center/Shrine which is also in New Orleans (Constance Street). So if anyone can tell me please do so

Thanks and God Bless

[dumspirospero]

I don't have details on those two places...but from what I understand, New Orleans is more than 80% flooded and the waters are still rising...there have been several breaches in the levies and the water is pouring in at a tragic pace. There is one parish in Louisiana that has been completely wiped out by the Mississippi river...I mean COMPLETELY...it is so tragic.

Originally Posted by CathMass

I want to know about the condition of the Shrine of Our Lady of Prompt Succour in New Orleans as well as the condition of the Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos Center/Shrine which is also in New Orleans (Constance Street). So if anyone can tell me please do so

Thanks and God Bless

[cheddarsox]

Originally Posted by stbruno

Just a quick question, our son's roommate just started at Tulane University. We haven't heard how he is faring, do you know if anything is destroyed there?

My son is a Tulane student. We were moving him into the dorm when the evacuations started. Students who were already on campus and had no personal evacuation plan were bussed to Jackson State U in Miss.

Of course Jackson was hard hit as well. Tulan is asking the students bussed there to bus out to Dallas and Atalnta where they can catch a flight home, since it will be a long time until the college can open. Those students who have no place to go will be housed at Jackson for the duration.

The water is still rising.

cheddar

[Marie]

I received this message from Lake Charles, LA today.
There are some things about which we probably never
consider.


"Lake Charles is 140 miles west of New Orleans, down I10.
Louisiana is in a BAD way; even we here are feeling the impact: let me share with you the oddities caused by this catastrophe in our little state. Of course, nothing compares with the loss of life and home, etc - but these are just a few things we're experiencing here in Lake Charles which shows how connected we all are in this brave new world.

Our ATM and credit cards don't work. Most of the major banks
in Lousisiana (Hibernia -- my bank) --are headquarted in New Orleans and run off the "Pulse" system computers there. No banks; no computers; no money. The people who fled and are staying here got their maximum amount of cash from the cash
machines before they left N.O. -- and now our newspaper is
asking for money for the refugees -- even those who HAVE money (home) --because they're broke here and out of cash; most didn't think of bringing checks.

More refugees are pouring in. Our Civic Center is now over
capacity -- and the churches are being opened up. People are sleeping in parking lots HERE! The closest hotel rooms according to the newspaper are in San Antonio Tx, nearly 400 miles away. One interesting thing -- the Casinos here, which have
the largest staff and kitchens -- are feeding the refugees!
Sort of poetic justice. One other backlash that has occurred is that people who had planned to come to Lake Charles for business or pleasure can't come because the hotels are cancelling all prior reservations.

This is a really crazy one I hadn't even dreamed of being a
result. No college football season! Our first game of the season -- a biggie -- was scheduled this Saturday, against Southern, which is under water. Many of the teams we play are out of commission. Football, you might think, is not that big of a deal -- but for those athletes who are trying to get into the NFL -
their senior season is all important! (1-AA football
champs) usually has 3 or 4 seniors who go to the NFL, not to mention all the New Orleans teams. So it will impact these students -- not to mention the revenue for small public universities like XXXXX -- without the football revenue --we're going to be hard hit.

Another college oddity -- it was in the paper this AM --is
officially re-opening enrollment because of the demand from
all the New Orleans students locally -- ones who are from Lake Charles but go to school in New Orleans (besides University of New Orleans, there is Tulane, Dillard, Loyola, and Southern; LSU will be out of commission a while too, in Baton Rouge). We are in the second week of classes; I've already scheduled first
tests for next week. Who knows how many new students we'll
end up getting? But if they're officially enrolled, we'll have to catch them up.

We're going to have gas shortages in Lake Charles because of
the disruption of Interstate 10. If you look at a map, you can see that the only Interstate in Louisiana is I10 -- and all the refugees are using the gas to flee, but the filling stations can't get refilled for some time.

Sick people who were using the Tulane research hospital
facilities for rare diseases are having to find someplace else. There is a story in the paper today about a little boy with some rare disease who is stranded here; of course, people are helping him, but that's another thing you wouldn't think about.

Our employment office is swamped. People are looking for any
kind of work.Some have even said that if they're houses are destroyed,they aren't going back to New Orleans. Who knows what long range impact this might have for the work force here in Lake Charles?

The offshore rigs are a major source of jobs and income
here. "Working offshore" is one of the most lucrative jobs for men and women with minimal education. Even people with college degrees -- computer people for example -- work off shore. But the rigs are closed for the time being.

Well -- that's what we're dealing with now. Like I said,
just things one wouldn't think about. It is really scary -- for all our
advanced civilization, we're really still vulnerable."

[legeorge]

SummaTheo, I am very glad that you are safe for the time being. I can't begin to imagine what you must be going through. Hang in there. Our prayers are with you.

[Ani Ibi]

It's good to hear from those who have made it to safety. God bless you.