Dennis: Through the 9th ward

Riding through the lower ninth ward today might be the strangest moment a person could ever experience. The sight of a totally demolished one way street makes the heart beat faster as the vehicle turns on to a road with no sign. The trials and hardships of the people affected by hurricanes Katrina and Rita are realized when the neighborhood reveals its self as no more than a garbage heap of wood planks, rusty metal and littered remnants of the materials that are normally found inside a home. The homes that are recognizable, lay scattered along the road ten to twenty feet away from their original foundation. In this area ,It seems, there is no place that has not been severely ripped apart by the crashing waters.

In the background of this scene, a reconstruction team rebuilds and repairs the broken levies. Still it doesn't stop the feeling of helplessness against the mighty Mississippi river just behind the broken levies. In the lower ninth ward it is not hard to imagine powerful thirty-foot waves crashing down on the street. The destruction that is left visually tells the whole story.

Despite its disasters, New Orleans is a beautiful place. The city is filled with Music, history and many different cultures. The city still carries on with swinging jazz, local bands, hot clubs and beautiful scenery. The people of the city are thankful that so many volunteers are helping rebuild their communities. Water damaged houses need a lot of work and cleanup crews are trying their best to gut houses, move debris and rebuild this great city.

The crowbar crew of Pellessippi State, TN continues to swing away as our last day approaches. Every day we clean the local houses in hopes that they will be saved. I hope the work I’ve done here will help families of the ninth ward to rebuild their lives. I truly feel this great experience will forever stay with us all.