First and foremost – there have been a few queries about individuals who did not evacuate, and from whom there has been no word. I have passed those on, and will let you know when I can.
There have also been some queries about the condition of the levee. I’m told that the water level has dropped in the river. All is okay, at least on the Point. They have not heard anything about problems further downriver.
If you are reading this blog, and your home was remodeled by Vinnie (you know who you are and where those houses are…) – he said to tell you they are all great. He gave me four specific addresses, and I forgot to ask whether there are others he’s done that he hasn’t checked. If you’re curious whether yours is in my list, please write… I’d love to share some good news with you!
To the many folks who have asked about the 300 / 400 blocks of Elmira… there are apparently neighbors there who stayed, and they’re keeping the best eye on things they can.
The 300 / 400 blocks of Verrett look really good. He’s going to go back and check the 200 block.
Verrett at Patterson – house is fine.
700 / 800 blocks of Pelican – no problems, other than a couple of houses with some shingles blown off.
Specific addresses that I had ready to go have been passed on. I’ll let you know.
More to come…
Updates for the Point
Leave a Reply
Read Next
We’re working to get some organization into place on the Point. As has been posted elsewhere, Vinnie Pervel and others are still there, doing their best to hold things together. As it happens, Vinnie’s van has now been car-jacked. He …
Thereâs an article in todayâs LATimes that is so depressing, I can hardly think about it, much less write about it. (Iâm sure Iâll get there eventually.) Til then, and before I deliver yet another down, depressing article about politics, …
Note: there’s a good update in the comments. Just had another call from Algiers, and wanted to pass these tidbits along: First – This person recommends NOT trying to come in. They’ve already had one flat tire today. Trees are …
I can’t believe this. I feel positively schizophrenic at the moment – focused on my own backyard, and fully aware of/integrated with Algiers. Decidedly odd… Odder still (for me) – the situation there is apparently rather a lot worse than …
Please have someone look in on 404-406 Olivier.
Roommate is NOPD trapped in Methodist Hospital in New Orleans East. He’s waiting for evac, but doesn’t know where they are taking him.
House has 2 kitties and a python. We were already out of town on vacation when path turned towards NOLA and could not get them. Mike out out water/food, but would like to know if structure is ok.
Vinnie renovated my house at 815 Eliza Street. Is that one of the addresses??
I’m also worried about looting…
Melanie
Melanie, yes indeed that’s one of them! I’m going to post more widely in just a sec. about the looting.
Thank you SO much for the update on Verrett & Patterson and for ALL you are doing! My thoughts are with you!
The below comes from a family friend – he is at the Ritz Carlton.
Subject: Dispatch From Canal Street
One of the pathologists from my hospital recently relocated to New Orleans. He’s still in the French Quarter, and managed to send this out to me the other day:
Aug. 31, 2005
Thanks to all of you who have sent your notes of concern and your prayers. I am writing this note on Tuesday at 2 p.m.. I wanted to update all of you as to the situation here. I don’t know how much information you are getting but I am certain it is more than we are getting. Be advised that almost everything I am telling you is from direct observation or rumor from reasonable sources. They are allowing limited internet access, so I hope to send this dispatch today.
Personally, my family and I are fine. My family is safe in Jackson, Miss., and I am now a temporary resident of the Ritz Carleton Hotel in New Orleans. I figured if it was my time to go, I wanted to go in a place with a good wine list. In addition, this hotel is in a very old building on Canal Street that could and did sustain little damage. Many of the other hotels sustained significant loss of windows, and we expect that many of the guests may be evacuated here.
Things were obviously bad yesterday, but they are much worse today. Overnight the water arrived. Now Canal Street (true to its origins) is indeed a canal. The first floor of all downtown buildings is underwater. I have heard that Charity Hospital and Tulane are limited in their ability to care for patients because of water. Ochsner is the only hospital that remains fully functional. However, I spoke with them today and they too are on generator and losing food and water fast.
The city now has no clean water, no sewerage system, no electricity, and no real communications. Bodies are still being recovered floating in the floods. We are worried about a cholera epidemic. Even the police are without effective communications. We have a group of armed police here with us at the hotel that is admirably trying to exert some local law enforcement. This is tough because looting is now rampant. Most of it is not malicious looting. These are poor and desperate people with no housing and no medical care and no food or water trying to take care of themselves and their families. Unfortunately, the people are armed and dangerous. We hear gunshots frequently. Most of Canal street is occupied by armed looters who have a low threshold for discharging their weapons. We hear gunshots frequently. The looters are using makeshift boats made
of pieces of styrofoam to access. We are still waiting for a significant national guard presence.
The health care situation here has dramatically worsened overnight. Many people in the hotel are elderly and small children. Many other guests have unusual diseases. … There are (Infectious Disease) physicians in at this hotel attending an HIV convention. We have commandered the world famous French Quarter Bar to turn into a makeshift clinic. There is a team of about seven doctors and PAs and pharmacists. We anticipate that this will be the major medical facility in the central business district and French Quarter.
Our biggest adventure today was raiding the Walgreens on Canal under police escort. The pharmacy was dark and full of water. We basically scooped the entire drug sets into garbage bags and removed them. All under police excort. The looters had to be held back at gunpoint. Aft! er a dose
of prophylactic Cipro I hope to be fine.
In all we are faring well. We have set up a hospital in the the French Quarter bar in the hotel, and will start admitting patients today. Many will be from the hotel, but many will not. We are anticipating dealing with multiple medical problems, medications and and acute injuries. Infection and perhaps even cholera are anticipated major problems. Food and water shortages are imminent.
The biggest question to all of us is where is the National Guard. We hear jet fignters and helicopters, but no real armed presence, and hence the rampant looting. There is no Red Cross and no Salvation Army.
In a sort of cliché way, this is an edifying experience. One is rapidly focused away from the transient and material to the bare necessities of life. It has been challenging to me to learn how to be a primary care phyisican. We are under martial law so return to our homes is impossible. I don’t know how long it will be and this is my greatest fear. Despite it all, this is a soul-edifying experience. The greatest pain is to think about
the loss. And how long the rebuid will take. And the horror of so many dead people .
PLEASE SEND THIS DISPATCH TO ALL YOU THING MAY BE INTERSTED IN A DISPATCH from the front. I will send more according to your interest. Hopefully their collective prayers will be answered. By the way, suture packs, sterile gloves and stethoscopes will be needed as the Ritz turns into a MASH
Just wanted to post here about Miriam and Tony Carter – they are safe – they rode out the storm in their house.
Where is the National Guard??? We evacuated to Houston and are watching Fox News, CNN and WWL on the web, and the westbank seems to be totally overlooked. I heard people were walking to the westbank from the convention center! Walking to where? And the Oakwood Mall was on fire?
This makes me physically sick! I can’t eat or sleep. I am so worried for those of you protecting our neighborhood!