Tennessee Crowbar Krewe

De Ja Vu All Over Again

2008-08-31T15:18:00.000-07:00

It's hard to believe that on the 3rd anniversary of Katrina New Orleans is being evacuated for another Hurricane. Gustav has caused destruction in Cuba and now appears headed for Louisiana. If the levees fail again I'm sure many folks will not return. Three years later the levee system is still not completely rebuilt to pre-Katrina specs, and the poulation is only at 70% of pre-Katrina. The good news is that most everyone does seem to be evacuating.

We’re on YouTube!

2007-04-05T08:06:00.000-07:00

It’s been over a year since we all drove down to New Orleans to gut houses and see first hand the devastation from Katrina and the levee failures. I think about the people we met struggling with daily life. I listen to WWOZ to cvatch the sounds of life in NOLA. I see my New Orleans tattoo when I get dressed in the morning. And this morning I got an email from Jerry Wilkerson that he’s made a video of our trip and uploaded it to YouTube. Check it out and leave Jerry a comment. And if you can here from YouTube, leave a comment about the trip!

Promised Aid Not There from Bush

2006-08-16T15:48:00.000-07:00

Last April President Bush put his arm around 74-year-old Ethel Williams at her flooded home in the Upper Ninth Ward and stepped in front of TV cameras. She was elated, thinking the media attention and the president’s apparent affection for her would help get her home back. Four months later her home still stands gutted and empty on like thousands of others. A report on All Things Considered today recounts Bush’s visit and follows up on his promise.

“We’ve got a strategy to help the good folks down here rebuild,” the president said that day. “Part of it has to do with funding; part of it has to do with housing; and a lot of it has to do with encouraging volunteers from around the United States to come down and help people like Mrs. Williams.”

Hmm. Let’s break that down....

“Funding”: Promised Federal funds coming through the states “may take awhile,” according to the White House.
“Housing”: Thousand of FEMA trailers are still sitting unused beside the interstate north of Slidell, while Mrs. Williams stays with her daughter.
“Encouraging volunteers:” Camp Algiers, a FEMA-funded camp where we stayed as volunteers, was closed this June with thousands of homes still waiting to be gutted.

In the mean time, Ethel Williams and thousands like her are still waiting for the president to keep his promise.

Slow Rebuilding in New Orleans

2006-08-11T05:25:00.000-07:00

Today NPR covered recovery in New Orleans with this story about the long, slow recovery a year after Katrina nearly destroyed the city and the Gulf Coast. I was just talking to Julie Belcher of Yee Haw Industries last night. Her partner Kevin went to Jazz Fest in April to sell their posters and found stores just outside the Midtown festival site still boarded up. In June Chloe and I rode the streetcar to the end of the line on Canal and found the same thing. The displaced population and government neglect has made recovery in NOLA very slow.

As usual, NPR does a great job of covering this story in depth, bringing out the character of a city that will not die. The Rebirth Brass Band is shown at the Maple Leaf Bar in an audio slide show, and Lower Ninth Ward resident Ronald Lewis is rebuilding in the Lower Ninth. Out in St. Bernard Parish Donald and Colleen Bordelon are rebuilding room-by-room. Everywhere, the emotional burden of living and working in neighborhoods that still look like disaster areas is overwhelming. Many are beginning to show the strain. Read the whole feature story here.

Getting the Job Done

2006-07-18T05:42:00.000-07:00

This guy and his partner were working in the Quarter one morning fixing a gas leak, for Entergy, the Fortune 500 utility company delivering gas and electricity to New Orleans homes and businesses. According to this employee, Entergy has repaired over one million leaks since the storms. After the levee breaks there were gas fires and water in the lines all over the city. Now they are almost all fixed. But even Entergy lacks capital to upgrade. According to this article, they are seeking funds through the state.

By contrast, the publicly-held Water Board has made little progress repairing the many water leaks featured in national news stories recently. This press release explains how they’ll use new equipment to detect leaks instead of, oh I don’t know, just driving around on a hot day looking for water running down the street! We saw lots of leaks in March, and we weren’t even looking for them.

NOLA Summer Reading

2006-07-14T06:35:00.000-07:00

I’ve read two books about New Orleans this summer, Feet on the Street: Rambles Around New Orleans by Roy Blount Jr., and Why New Orleans Matters by Tom Piazza. Both personal takes on a unique American city. Blount’s book was published in ‘05 just before Katrina, and made the NYT bestseller list, while Piazza’s came right after Katrina and was written to defend the city. Both are short, offering first-hand stories written in a warm, conversational style.

If you are an NPR listener as I am, you may recognize Blount’s name as a panelist on the quiz show Wait Wait Don’t Tell Me. His book gives this slow-talking southerner a chance to stretch out, talking about everything from the best place to get cheap po boys and gumbo to the oyster dancer who did far more exciting things with molusks than just injest them. Feet on the Street is neither a guidebook nor travel writing per se. But I plan to thoroughly annotate and highlight a copy for my next visit.

Piazza is a novelist and jazz critic originally from New York who is among the many Crescent City transplants who came down for Jazz Fest and never went home. In Why New Orleans Matters he avoids the easy fare for a book on Katrina. Although he mentions a rape witnessed outside the Convention Center, Piazza is more interested in winning the hearts and minds of America, which he does with warmth. How can a pair of broken glasses contribute to falling in love with a city? Read Why New Orleans Matters and discover all the little reasons and Piazza’s two Big Reasons why the City That Care Forgot must be rebuilt.

Got Tim, Got Faith, Got Hope

2006-07-07T10:45:00.000-07:00

My mom just told me that Country music couple Tim McGraw and Faith Hill played a benefit concert in New Orleans after criticizing the government’s slow response to Katrina. Their charity Neighbor’s Keeper, donates money to qualifying charities helping with Katrina recovery. Here’s a quote from the story in the Times-Picaune:

Both McGraw and Hill, who is from Star, Miss., have criticized the government’s slow response to Hurricane Katrina, which killed more than 1,800 people along the Gulf Coast and flooded 80 percent of New Orleans. In interviews, Hill described the post-Katrina progress as “embarrassing” and “humiliating” to the country.

“It’s wrong,” she said. “It really gets us fired up. That’s our homeland.”

Before they show, the two toured the destroyed Lower Ninth and St. Bernard Parish. They opened the show by saying “It’s good to be home.’ McGraw is from Louisiana and Hill is from Mississippi.

New Orleans’ Endless Melody

2006-07-03T14:29:00.000-07:00

While walking through the quarter one sultry evening with my family, I had one of those New Orleans moments that for me distilled the entire trip down to one four-minute encounter.

I think we were on Royal Street when we heard a street musician. There are a few of them coming back, playing on corners for tourist tips. This was a 2-man act: an older black man singing and a younger Asian guy playing keyboard, set up at the edge of the street, just off the sidewalk. Someone later told me this singer has been featured on a tourism commercial for the city.

These two guys, sitting in the gutter of Royal Street, were squeezing every ounce of emotion out of “Endless Melody,” a hit for the Righteous Brothers in the 60s. The singer’s huge baritone reached out and grabbed us, while the keyboardist carefully followed the singer with head down, feeling the music. They were playing with feeling a sensitivity rare for street musicians. A small crowd of tourists were drawn to the music.

Oh my love, my darling
I hunger for your touch.
The long lonely time.
Time goes by so slowly
And time can do so much
Are you still mine?

I need your love,
I need your love,
God speed your love to me.

At the end we clapped and cheered, and one librarian belted out “Bravisimo!” It was a love song from the city to it’s own exiles, wooing them back home like a lover after a quarrel. “Come on, Baby,” the singer seemed to say, “I know we’ve had problem — serious problems. God knows I ain’t perfect. But baby, I just can’t make it without you. Your love sustains me and gives my life meaning. Come on back, to the Bywater, the garden district, to uptown, downtown, the Lower Nine. Come on back and bring the kids. We’ll fix this mess up — you’ll see. I’ll be waiting. Come on back.

I hope they do.

The Library says Yes

2006-07-03T14:28:00.000-07:00

I was so upset by the Blackwater gendarmes and their bad manners that I didn’t really get to the point of my trip to the New Orleans Public Library in my last entry, which was donating Librivox CDs.

The upshot of my meeting with Jan Barnes was this: she is thrilled! She was gaga over the Magna Carta, impressed by the Constitution, and eager to make her requests so we can get the donation ball rolling.

So I await her email requests. Once we have a “wish list” set up for the library, I’ll post the first project, set up an instruction page, and we’ll start burning, printing, and shipping!

My Blackwater Surprise

2006-07-03T14:27:00.000-07:00

While I was in New Orleans on vacation with my family, I called the public library to ask about donating some audiobooks from librivox. I talked to Jan Barnes, the Assistant Aquisitions Librarian, who made time to see me.

The main library has been occupied by FEMA as its statewide headquarters, so I had to go through metal detectors inside. I noticed an interesting scene of people waiting to have claims processed by FEMA, so I snapped a couple of photos. Big Mistake.

Before I could be led to Jan's office, I was approached by a woman in a Blackwater shirt who demanded my camera. I refused, saying it was a public place where I should be able to take photos. I said she was not going to take my camera. Then the woman, without showing a badge or citing a law, told me to leave. I told her I was spending tourist dollars to support the city and that I had an appointment to donate audiobooks to the library. She didn't seem to believe me, but finally, after I agreed to delete the two photos, she let me go about my business. It was unpleasant. It was upsetting. It was just the tip of the iceberg of what NOLA natives have been experiencing for the past 10 months, I'm sure.

Although I deleted my photos, I'll tell you what I saw: a bunch of black people waiting for a bunch of white people with computers in front of them. I saw paper signs directing people to wait for FEMA or the SBA (small Business Administration). I saw temporary walls creating a typical drab public office space amidst library stacks which, I would assume, are now off-limits to the general public.

I'm not interested in embarrassing anybody. In fact, if I'd gotten an even slightly apologetic explanation coupled with a request to delete the photos, I would have gladly complied. We southerners are polite to a fault. But there was nothing other than an after-the-fact insistence that I could not take the photographs I had just taken. I got the distinct impression they'd never dealt with this situation at all.

I'm a tourist. Tourists take photos. I'd been shooting private property, state property, and Federal property the entire week. I'd included images of New Orleanians going about their lives as well. Why suddenly did the Federal government see fit to ban photography without notice, either verbal or written? Are the really that concerned about the "privacy" of individuals applying for loans or conducting Katrina-related business?

Leave a comment below.

NOLA Rising

2006-07-03T14:24:00.000-07:00

We just got back from a week in New Orleans, and I’m happy to report that the Crescent City is down but definitely not out. Right now the city is a strange gumbo of contractors, federal officials, military, tourists, and diehard citizens. We found wonderful food, welcoming people, are more reasons than ever to visit the most exotic town in America.Here are a few reasons:

The American Library Association held the first big post-Katrina convention in the city while we were there. Their “thumbs up” will encourage others to spend much-needed tourist dollars there.
I was accosted by FEMA-contracted security personnel for shooting a photograph. It’s good to know Blackwater’s finest is keeping the city safe from tourist snapshots at the city library — now commandeered as state FEMA headquarter.
There is reconstruction going on in many parts of the city. Federal assistance and insurance dollars are going into re-roofing, remodeling, and rebuilding.
Tourism is still only one-third pre-Katrina levels. Click here for tips on how you can plan your next vacation or weekend getaway in America’s most unique and exotic city.
The big question in the city is whether the levee system will hold for another year. The many locals I talked to seemed to have doubts about the strength and soundness of the Army Corps system that failed in many locations during Katrina, causing massive flooding.
Everyone I spoke to had had their lives damaged in some way, from losing personal property to one woman who lost her home, all her belongings, and her husband to a post-Katrina heart attack. We need too continue to show our love and support for all areas impacted by hurricane and flood damage.

Zydeco and Pirates

2006-06-22T06:20:00.000-07:00

Today we’re packing for the big trip. This morning over rice krispies and coffee Chloe and I looked at the internet cams (boring) and checked the calendar for the Rock ‘n Bowl (cool).

Brian Jack & the Zydeco Gamblers are playing next Thursday night, and since we’ve never heard live zydeco, we’re going to check it out. These guys continue the cajun country dance style of Clifton Chenier, and they are hot. Check out one of their new tracks here.

I also found a great story of the gentleman pirate Jean Lafitte here. This privateer was a real patriot who fought with Tennessean General Jackson to save New Orleans and the lower Mississipppi from a British invasion. Despite many attempts by Governor Claiborne to arrest Lafitte, the pirate tricked the Brits and defended his adopted country in her time of peril.

If we get a chance, we’ll lift a pint in Lafitte’s honor at his old blacksmith shop on Bourbon Street. Here are some great photos of the delightfully decrepit place.

Maps and Breakfast

2006-06-19T07:46:00.000-07:00

This morning over breakfast Chloe and I talked about maps and our trips. We looked at the globe and the road map of New Orleans and talked about Canal Street and the Algiers Ferry. Then Chloe got the idea to draw her own map, which she is doing as I write this. It’s not bad for a 4-year-old.

During our spring break trip we were driving to the ferry one night and drove past a warehouse full of people and floats, Guys were going in with cases of beer. That was Kern’s Mardi Gras World, where all the Mardi Gras floats are made. The next day as we were leaving we saw the floats crossing the bridge with us on their way to the Saint Patrick’s Day parade downtown.

Some of the places we want to go are Cafe Du Monde, Audubon Aquarium, is still closed, but the the Canal Streetcar is open and free until June 30. Here’s a newspaper article on the subject. The shipwreck museum in the Jackson Brewery. Of course we’ll stop by the statue in Jackson Square and say hello to Old Hickory.

Family Vacation in NOLA!

2006-06-10T06:49:00.000-07:00

My brother called yesterday with a cheap time share deal, last night we had the big discussion and this morning we’re hoping to go to New Orleans for a week! We’ll stay at Club La Pension, which is at the edge of the Quarter just off Canal.

See, somehow my wife Karen still doesn’t think of New Orleans as a place for a family vacation, even though we took our oldest daughter when she was 4 months old. Maybe it’s the fact that I when she cried I took her to Bourbon Street. I figure if people actually go to Las Vegas and take the kids, New Orleans should be a walk in the park. Or the French Quarter.

These folks really need our tourist dollars right now, and I’d like to show the ninth ward to my family first hand. I’m curious to see if any of the houses we gutted are being rebuilt yet. Anyway, I have this sentimental idea that Americans should rally behind the city right now and plan a vacation there!

I saw this comic from New Orleans wearing these cool t-shirts on Last Comic Standing. I want one to match my tattoo.

On a side note, I’m working on getting some audiobooks donated to New Orleans libraries ruined by Katrina. If anyone knows librarians in the city, leave a comment below.

My NOLA Tattoo

2006-05-30T15:10:00.000-07:00

Three weeks ago five of us finally got together to get these fleur-de-lis tattoos we’ve been talking about since New Orleans. Here’s mine. It’s on my right calf.

We went to Saint Tattoo here in North Knoxville, and they did a good job. Not that I would know the difference, since this is my first tattoo and I have no plans for another. But it’s nice and black and there’s no gangrene — so I think they did a nice job.

My brother Kurt called my cell while I was in the chair, so I gave him a play-by-play. Didn’t hurt much, and the whole thing took maybe 20 minutes. Cost me $60. Anyway, kurt Googled fleur-de-lis and discovered that the French government used to brand their prisoners with the symbol before the revolution. Cool. Also it’s a symbol of the Virgin Mary (who knew?) and is the logo for the New Orleans Saints and the Boy Scouts.

So now I’ve got a very permanent souvenir of the trip. And as an added bonus, another way to identify my disfigured body if dental records are unavailable.

The Mayor’s Race

2006-05-20T15:35:00.000-07:00

I’m taking a break from remodelling our kitchen and wondering about New Orleans’ mayoral election. Today was the most dramatic day in the city’s history since the levees broke.

The African American incumbent Ray Nagin is in a runoff against caucasian politically connected Lt. Governor Mitch Landrieu in a race that has divided the city along racial lines. They agree on most issues, including rebuilding the city.

Just casting a vote today has been a challenge for both the locals and the ex-patriots. Registered citizens could vote by absentee ballot, or by traveling to satellite voting stations set up throughout Louisiana. Many people, including me, thought that voting centers should have been set up in Houston and other cities with a large number of ex-patriots. Despite the challenge, turnout seems to be strong today, and the weather is perfect. Polls close at 8 pm Central Time.

Here’s some of the coverage I’ve found.

The Bayou Buzz has an audio file of a Nagin rally last night at a black church on St. Charles Avenue where a speaker invites voters to go out in “Christ’s righteous name.”</li
The Detroit Free Press has a good story on the election.
NOLA.com has live election coverage and a great map of where the displaced voters are.
ABC News is saying the election is too close to call and has an odd photo of Nagin and Landriew smilling and passing each other
The Times Picaune tells us that voters could fax in early ballots aqnd explains what “Super Pricinct” voting means.
WVLT tells us that the U.S. Department of Justice is monitoring the elections.
CNN has finally called the election for Nagin after midnight. Congratulations to him and good luck — he’s got the toughest job in America.

Good News in the Lower Ninth

2006-05-19T10:41:00.000-07:00

I heard a story on Morning Edition today about rebuilding in the Lower Ninth Ward. The souther part of the neighborhood close to the river, the area south of Derbigny Street — is officially reopened.

The story focuses on the historic Holy Cross neighborhood, which is just across the Industrial Canal heading downriver. FEMA is finally moving trailers into the area and they have about 300 requests for them in the neighborhood. Two residents were interviewed — one who was unlocking his new trailer and another who has finished remodeling already.

Unfortnately, two of the houses we gutted are inside the area that remains closed. House 2 at 1716 Feliciana near Derbigny (the stinky house) is just inside the closed area. House 3 at 2132 Feliciana near N. Miro (Yellow house with side garage) is completely inside the closed area. Here’s my original posting with clickable maps of the houses.

Tomorrow is the general election for mayor. Out of 17 original candidates, the fiel has narrowed to two: incumbent Mayor Ray Nagin and current Lieutenant Governor Mitch Landrieu. The new mayor has a staggering job on his hands rebuilding a city that in some areas appears to be damaged beyond repair. Here’s an MTV story with clear directions for voting.

Camp Algiers is Closing

2006-04-03T15:33:00.000-07:00

Just when I was begining to think FEMA might not be all bad, I got an email saying Camp Algiers is closing. That's right--the camp that we stayed in, the camp that houses volunteers in the clean-up effort, is closing. I confirmed this through Diana Winingder, our volunteer coordinator with ACORN.

dear todd,
sadly, camp algiers is closing, it will happen on april the 10th after which, there will be no housing provided. we are working on some other options, but this has been an inconvenient circumstance and a true pain in the buttox, it was such an attractive feature of the volunteer experience. hope you are well and we'll certainly say hello to the crew for you.
diana

blurb on ACORN's web site.
Christian Broadcasting Network story
another story

Vietnamese Shrimper

2006-04-01T10:57:00.000-08:00

width="240" height="165" alt="IMG_0002.JPG" />One of the things I learned about New Orleans was that most of the shrimp boats there are owned by Vietnamese Americans. One was owned by an older guy (I don't remember his name) who worked on the crew with us. He was Tony's uncle. He lost his boat in Hurricane Katrina, and his insurance settlement of $2000 was not enough to cover his loss. That's why he was working for ACORN gutting houses.

I founds this photo of a shrimp boat on the
Hurricane Digital Memory Bank.

Amazing Survival Stories

2006-03-30T22:59:00.000-08:00

I discovered the Hurricane Digital Memory Bank a few days ago. I remembered Adam from Georgetown told me about it when we talked at the Camp Algiers laundry tent. Here are a few excerpts and link.

Looting and Lawlessness in the Bywater
"Now we dont have enough water and no food to eat. So yes,I looted-I shopped all that I could.Im not ashamed. I grabbed that cheese that I always wanted to try,canned food,orange juice,napkins,bactine,face masks,rubber gloves,bleach,trashbags."

Restaurant Owner Screwed by FEMA
"They evacuated, but ran out of gas just outside of town and rode the rest of the way to Houston in the back of a pick-up truck. Days, weeks pass; FEMA finally calls her to say they are sending an inspector to inspect her house, surely to be found flooded and re-flooded. So Pam, being the badass she is, rented a car in Dallas to drive straight through to Kenner in order to be there to meet the inspector. She spent two nights in that car, by herself parked in front of the ruins of her home of 17 years, no electricity anywhere for miles and the inspector never showed."

NOLA Native Remembers Home
"This is a disaster of international proportions. Not since WWII have so many people been displaced by the wholesale destruction of a city. It will be years for native New Orleanians to recover what they've lost. I hope that until then, it will not remain a city that care forgot."

Expatriot Fears the WorstI am horrified by what I see on tv. I wonder if my mother is in any of these crowds. I wonder if any of my loved ones that I have not come in contact with yet or either suffering or dead.

Quasi Military Guy Helps Deploy WiFi at the Hyatt
"There, we 'liberated' a couple of boxes of Starbucks coffee, a coffee maker, and several cups and glasses. There had been other scroungers there before us, but since there was no power, no one else took the things we decided to relocate to room 605. We figured that as long as we had to be subjected to the conditions which existed in the Hyatt at that time, we might as well be as comfortable as possible."

A Kid Tells His Story
"My stepdad went down to New Orleans to get stuff when he found out that our house might be bulldozed.Now im in Metairie,living in Harrahan,and going to my same school.My mom lives in Texas and I only see her for a few days about every two months.that is my story."

Bobbie Jean Moreau's survival story defies description
"My legs felt like jello, I staggered, my daughter screamed, 'Mama what is wrong', I knew at that moment we were going to die. And in and instant survival kicked in, I tore the canopy off the top of the bed, and began tying knots in it, I knew we needed something to hold on to each other with, then I grabbed a belt and tied the baby in a life jacket, she was so small."

Wastin' Away Again in Femaville

2006-03-30T21:01:00.000-08:00

We saw a lot of amazing things during our week in New Orleans, but something we saw very seldom was FEMA Trailers. Every inch of every neighborhood we saw flooded, and yet tralers delivered for victims to live in were the exception rather than the rule. I take that back--on the interstate north of Slidel, LA we did see a lot of trailers--hundreds--but it didn't look like they were set up to live in.

As it turns out, tens of thousands of these trailers are parked in Hope, AK because--are you ready for this--they cannot be set up in a flood plain. Hello, the whole city of New Orleans is below friggin' sea level! That's right, your Federal government has spent your tax money on trailers that they now say they cannot set up.

Now a lot of people are suggesting another approach to housing returning Katrina victims in New Orleans. Architect Marianne Cusato has designed a prefab home called a "Katrina Cottage" that is more hurricane-proof, more attractive, and cheaper than the trailers they've been buying but not setting up. Many builders, homeowners, politicians (and I'd say accountants) prefer the cottages to the travel trailers. But here's another fly in the ointment of recovery in New Orleans: A Federal law prevents FEMA funds from being spent on permanent housing.

Look, I'm just a guy who pays his taxes and votes, but I think Senator Harry Reid is right to be ashamed of our government over this. Reid has partnered with Senator Mark Pryor of Arkansas to ask Bush to sign an executive order allowing trailers to be delivered and set up. If Bush had bothered to talk to the tens of thousands of displaced residents of New Orleans, maybe he would have figured this out. Instead he limousined through the ruins and blamed Congress for slowing things down.

And here's an idea, Mr. Bush: A temporary federal program to train homeowners in basic construction techniques like hanging drywall and installing flooring. Residents should be able to set up simple cooperatives to pool labor with Federally paid contractors available for training and broad oversight.

House Addresses and Clickable Maps

2006-03-28T10:52:00.000-08:00

Beverly Burdette helped sort out these locations by shooting photos of the house numbers and street signs when we were in New Orleans. I figured out a couple and Dennis helped by remembering a cross street as well. I've added a brief description so you can match it to photos, and there are clickable addresses that take you to a Google map of each house site.

house 1: Lamanche and Villere (corner white house with concrete block fence) 3701 N Villere St, New Orleans, LA 70117

house 2: 1716 Feliciana near Derbigny (the stinky house) 1716 Feliciana St New Orleans, LA 70117

house 3: 2132 Feliciana near N. Miro (Yellow house with side garage) 2132 Feliciana St New Orleans, LA 70117

house 4: 3215 St. Bernard Ave. (where we took out the hardwood floors) 3215 St Bernard Ave New Orleans, LA 70119

house 5: 1526 St Maurice Ave. (just off North Claiborne -- Where we made the "George" sign) 1526 St Maurice Ave New Orleans, LA 70117

house 6: Jourdan Ave & N Robertson (The brick house near the levee. Dennis helped me figure this one out.) Jourdan Ave & N Robertson New Orleans, LA 70117

house 7: Brick Duplex on Erin Dr.and Karen Lane The other side of the duplex was number 7601. 7601 Erin Dr New Orleans, LA 70117

Email from a Survivor

2006-03-23T20:03:00.000-08:00

I just sat down at my Mac at home to check my email and got a great message from a New Orleans woman whose story has been reported on a lot on NPR news. Here is Sharon's email:

yes iam the sharon white on npr radio im so very pleased to know that you volunteered to help out in new orleans recently, may God bless you in all of your effords. I have just had my home gutted i was not lucky enough to have my home gutted by the many volunteers that have bestoved upon the city i had to pay for the service, but what must be done must be done . My home is now gutted and i see a wonderment of possibilities that i can do to it. (such as the expandsioning of my kitchen and bathroom area to the walk in closets i have dreamed of since i brought my home.) So there may be a light at end of the tunnel for my home. I would like to appauld you for your effords in the restoration of new orleans. I continue to do my story to let the american public know that Katrina may be long gone but her after effects are still very much still on going. I would like you to tell as many of your friends and colleages the truth about the devistation that katrina brought upon the citizens of new orleans and tell them that what they see in papers or on tv can not compare to an in person visit . I know that it is people like yurself that will keep this nations most devistational tragedy alive because you cared and shared.
THANK YOU
SHARON
a survivior

I found a series of great radio interviews with Sharon White in NPR's archives. I was able to listen to the interviews and hear her talk about her situation over several months. This woman had worked her way out of the projects, bought her own home, and then lost everything including her mom. Still she managed to keep her sense of optimism and determination. I got her email address from a photo. Her house is on Bonita Drive in the neighborhood where we gutted our very last house on Karen Street.

Sharon White Stories
Sep-07-2005, Katrina Survivors Contemplate Whether to Go Home
Sep-08-2005, Listener Letters
Sep-29-2005, Revisiting New Orleans Evacuee Sharon White
Oct-05-2005, Katrina: Finding What's Left of Home in New Orleans
Oct-06-2005, Listeners Letters
Nov-22-2005, Sharon White: Not Home Yet
Jan-12-2006, Sharon White: Rebuilding Uncertain
Jan-19-2006, Listeners Letters
Mar-03-2006, Sharon White Regains Her Determination to Rebuild
Mar-03-2006, Reporter's Notebook: Sharon White's Resolve

Send Sharon an email to tell her we are rooting for her and everybody in New Orleans.

Advice for Other Volunteers

2006-03-19T15:50:00.000-08:00

If you or your group is considering volunteering for hurricane recovery work, you should definitely do it. For me and most of my students it was one of the most rewarding times in our lives. Here is some simple advice to make your trip go smoothly

If you're fit and healthy, you should be fine Many people worry about the health effects, but nobody in our group had any illness. If you are asthmatic or have mold allergies bring some meds and your own high-quality respirator. The dust masks we got were pretty basic. Nevertheless, our volunteers only had mild scratches and pokes from nails. There is a medical building at Camp Algiers. Get a tetanus shot if you haven't had one in awhile--they are free at the camp.

Work with a reliable agency. Volunteers more than anything want to do helpful, meaningful work. We worked with ACORN --a great organization. They are well-organized, are doing house gutting for needy homeowners, and they provide everything you need except a few items in italics in the packing list.

Arrange for room and board. You don't want to come home from an exhausting day gutting houses to peanut butter and jelly and a pup tent. We stayed in a well-run FEMA camp in Algiers, just across the river from downtown. I cannot say enough about the great job that Deployed Resources does running this camp. It's like summer camp but better, with hot meals, wifi internet access, packed lunches, free laundry, and air-conditioned dorm tents. The only limitation is a restriction against minors in the camp. It's strictly 18 and over.

A packing listPack lightly in a single bag.

work clothes
heavy boots
toiletries in a small bag
stuff sack for clean clothes on trips to showers
flip flops
sunscreen
bug repellent
leather work gloves
laptop and digital camera
play clothes
a first aid kit

A tool list If you are providing your own tools (we did not need to) here what you need to gut houses in a team of 15-20 people:

6 claw hammers (straight and curved claws)
3 large crowbars
1 large sledgehammer
4 solid-tire heavy wheelbarrows
2 household brooms
2 large shop brooms
1 pair lock cutters for cutting copper pipe, wiring, and water supply tubing.

Gorillas

2006-03-19T03:27:00.000-08:00

Karen had been planning on new cabinets in our kitchen, so yesterday morning my neighbor Ethan and I took the old ones out. Our galley-style kitchen is much roomier now, showing the scars of old flooring and wall paint where the cabinets were. Hopefully the plumber and new cabinets will show up on time.

We got the cabinets out by lunchtime, and then I tackled hanging a chandelier in the stairwell. I made my trip to Home Depot and crawled into the attic to attach the electrical box. The spot is near the eaves though, and I cursed and struggled to get a flashlight, drill, and my big head into the tiny sloped space near the eaves. After some choice cursing with my face pressed into the ceiling joists, I decided to let the electrician handle this project.

After a shower, Karen and I drove to her parents for dinner. I took my laptop full of New Orleans trip photos. Karen's extended family was visiting her dad, who had a serious car accident December 27 and is still recovering. He's lost weight and looks good, though he's trying to get himself off of his pain medication.

Before dinner, I set up my Mac in the kitchen and was showing a slideshow of the photos. Amid the expected comments of sympathy and discussion of the tragedy, a family member made the chilling comment that "They ought to just barricade that place off and leave it alone." I said I'd met a lot of good people there, and he responded that the only good people down there are probably missionaries. I hear comments sometimes that are negative, but these floored me. Later I heard him repeat it all to the rest of the family. I think he meant not only should the city not be rebuilt, but that victims should not have been rescued.

Back home in a depressed mood, I was channel surfing and saw some video footage of the young boy that fell into a British zoo's gorillas exhibit. The male gorilla scoots forward to investigate and strokes the boy's back as he lay unconscious right below the horrified onlookers. It's fascinating how most animals show empathy with other creatures who have been hurt. Most, but not all, apparently. Sigh.

I've been readjusting to regular life this week. I'm going to meetings, catching up with mountains of grading, and chatting with friends and acquaintances. But I find myself returning to New Orleans in my mind almost constantly. My students say the same thing. I want that feeling of achievement and--I'll go ahead and say it--goodness--that comes from working together on a project like we did for a week. I'm fortunate to be able to tear out my kitchen cabinets because I want and can afford nicer ones, and to wedge myself into a dark corner of my attic by choice, and not for survival. After shoveling up so much of other people's stuff, I'm still planning to get rid of more of my own.

College Volunteers

2006-03-18T13:30:00.000-08:00

"If it wasn't for God and the hearts of these young people, nothing would get done," he said as he watched the students haul to the curb moldy books and appliances. "I know it's not easy work. It's dirty, and I'm amazed. They're smiling, like they're glad to do it."

Beverly sent me a copy of this article from the Houston Chronicle that someone had forwarded to her. Sounds like these students were doing the same thing we were. Some schools are even offering credit for the trip. I was impressed by the number of college groups we saw in New Orleans, and it sounds like there are many more in other Gulf Coast areas.

I'd like to somehow pass along some of the energy we have from our trip. I saw some of Melissa's video yesterday, and it looks promising. I've been thinking about putting together a slide show and talking to other schools and civic groups to encourage volunteering. We could get together and talk the whole trip over, which we never really did during the trip itself.

I'll see if I can email most of the Krewe this weekend. I miss the people and the experience of the trip. As exhausted as I was when I got home, I'd go again if I could. I can see how disaster work can be addictive.

Lower Ninth Residents Clean-up School Themselves

2006-03-17T20:18:00.000-08:00

Residents of the Lower Ninth combined forces with Common Ground Collective volunteers and a group from Howard University to start cleaning out a school yesterday, according to this blog article. The school is right on Claiborne, so we drove past it during our visit.

As we saw, there are almost no children in the Ninth Ward, partly because there are no schools for them to return to. It is imperative that schools be refurbished and faculty and staff be in place soon if there is to be any hope of return for homeowners and citizens of the Ninth.

In the Name of Who?

2006-03-17T19:37:00.000-08:00

I'm listening to an NPR interview with Louisiana State medical examiner Louis Cataldie, who is responsible for identifying the remains of Katrina victims in the city. He talks about a few chaplains he dealt with who appeared to be there for themselves rather than for the victims and family members.

I met a minister like that on our first day gutting houses. A shiny king cab pickup drove up the street we were working on, pulling a large trailer. A tall guy got out and asked if we needed anything. I thought it was a strange question, but I laughed and said "a cold beer!" The guy then introduced himself as a minister.

A few minutes later I realized the church folks were passing out gloves, and that many of our volunteers did not have any. I walked back down the street and asked if I could get some gloves for our volunteers. The minister said I could have one pair "as long as I accepted them in the name of Christ."

Now don't get me wrong--faith based groups are doing the city of New Orleans a huge service. We saw hundreds of Catholic and Protestant church and school groups at Camp Algiers, and I'm sure they were gutting houses like we were. Our own Clayton Taucher said he'd volunteered for religious reasons. But disasters draw all kinds, and some of them may not be there to help their fellow man without strings attached.

Fats Domino: Alive and Kickin'

2006-03-13T16:12:00.000-08:00

We saw Fats Domino's yellow and black house in the Ninth Ward, and listened to his 50s tune "Walkin' to New Orleans" on the way down from Knoxville. Today he was interviewed on National Public Radio. He has a great new album called "Alive and Kickin'" Click on the links in the story to listen to four of his tracks, including two from the new album. He's donating the proceeds to the Tipitina's Foundation to help NOLA musicians displaced by Katrina. Click here to read the NPR story.

Taking It to the Streets: How to Gut a House

2006-03-12T14:13:00.000-08:00

Gutting a house is not pretty or careful work. It requires little skill--in fact, too much skill can slow you down. With a hardworking crew of 10-14 you can gut an average house in a day. The goal is to strip the interior to the wood frame and haul everything to the curb, dumping it in long piles for the waste haulers to pick up. It all goes---everything. Paint, insecticide, and strong cleaners go in a separate pile for hazardous waste haulers. Large appliances go in another pile. Once you get over the sadness of seeing people's possessions to to the street, it can be fun to see so much destruction go so fast. Our krewe swarms over a house like army ants in paper suits and dust masks. We actually stripped a two-bedtroom condo in just a couple of hours.

Find the place. ACORN takes hundreds of applications. Construction workers get an address and should scout the place before taking volunteers. We would have avooided lots of snafus if they had always done this.

Case the joint. Where are the exits? Can some items be tossed out windows? Is the furniture still inside? Make ramps out of doors. Check that all power and water is shut off.

Clear the decks. Get all loose items out of the house. Start by clearing a path to the doors, then haul out furniture, clothes, and personal items. Avoid water-filled items until last.The stink of spilled "granny juice" is unbearable.

demo walls and ceilings Start by removing trim with a c rowbar. Then knock holes at waist height. Tear out drywall in large pieces where possible.

Appliances and fixtures Use lock cutters to cut all hoses, copper lines, and wires. Kick over toilets and carry out. Use dolly to get appliances or "white goods" out. Put near road for separate pick-up. Built in tubs are tougher. Start by breaking out walls to get at rim. Bend and break plumbing. Pound large crowbar down into drain to break pipe. Sledgehammer tile when needed. Roll out tub with 2-4 guys, tilt it up on end, and dolly it out.

Day Eight: Heading Home

2006-03-12T04:12:00.000-08:00

It's almost 6 a.m. as I type in the dining tent here at Camp Algiers. The Tennessee Crowbar Krewe has worked hard for six days cleaning out seven houses. Now that we have made a small contribution to rebuilding after the worst natural disaster in American history, we are heading home. We'll take home sore muscles, some beads, and a lot of memories of this great American city and the beautiful people here.

Among the mountains of rubble hauled into the street this week I found two photo I.D. badges. Samantha Slack worked at New Orleans Christian Academy at 122 N. Dorgenois Street in the Ninth Ward with her husband and four children. Susan Alexander lived in a condo on Karen Street in New Orleans East. She worked on a cruise ship and owned a beautiful carved mahogany bed that by now is on its way to the Gentilly Landfill. I try to imagine these people we didn't meet but tried to help in some small way.

As we drive north from the Crescent City to our safe homes and comfortable beds, I hope that the scattered citizens of New Orleans will return, rebuild, and have a little more normalcy in their lives.

Day Seven: Our Last House

2006-03-11T04:43:00.000-08:00

On Friday we returned to the house by the levee, where Marcia Gold shot this photo on Thursday. We finished our cleanout there, but getting through the maze of destroyed houses on the downriver side of the Industrial Canal was a challenge, so we ended up parking our cars in front of a rubble pile in the middle of the street and walking the last few yards.

After completing that house by 11 a.m., we drove west on Claiborne, North on Elysian Fields, and east into New Orleans East. That neighborhoood is located between Ponchartrain and the Intracoastal Waterway. This neighborhood feels solidly middle class, with newer homes and more mainstream development.

The last cleanout for our krewe was a condo at Erin Dr.and Karen Lane We didn't get the number, but other side of the duplex was number 7601. It was small but neat, with an attached garage that we made quick work of. The place was uncluttered, without the piles of books and clothing on the floor that has made some projects take so long.

We said goodbye to Tony and his crew at about 1 p.m. He told us he enjoyed working with us and Nga, one of his crew members, said that it was "cool" the way we got the work done and cooperated. We sat in the driveway and talked about how much we'd enjoyed the experience. It's hard to imagine missing putrid refrigerators and moldy drywall, but we will. I guess what we will really miss is working together to help people.

Day Six: Ground Zero

2006-03-09T16:22:00.000-08:00

After finishing the Slack family's home, today we drove back to ground zero. As usual we got cut off by houses in the street and had to turn around several times. We were giving up on finding a house in that neighborhood that was salvageable, but then we saw house number six. It was a hip-roofed brick rancher built on a slab. Amazingly, this house was still straight and on its foundation when every house in sight looked like tinkertoys.

The house was at the corner of Jourdan Ave & N Robertson, one block from the Industrial Canal levee break, and we could see the work going on, with several cranes, large trucks, and a pile driver knocking the sheet metal piles deeper in the Louisiana mud. Hopefully deeply enough to hold this time.

This house had been partly gutted by a previous crew, and we had to move two refuse piles from just outside the picture windows to the street where they could be picked up. It took a long time. There were lots of dressed-up people driving by and rubbernecking. A crew was removing a house from a street while we were there.

Dennis: Through the 9th ward

2006-03-09T15:59:00.000-08:00

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.

Day Five: Bees, Bush, and the Slack Family

2006-03-08T15:15:00.000-08:00

Today we got out of camp with everyone in a car. You have no idea what an accomplishment that is. So we got to the Acorn office where we parked. The place looked like a corner in LA swarming with Hispanic day laborers, except these were mostly white college kids with iPods, laptops and cell phones. I jumped out out and Tony informed me our crew organizers had just left. Fast forward through ten minutes of trying to find them.

After a comedy of errors we found ourselves following the Asian woman I call "bossy girl" way east into St. Bernard Parish. She finally made a U turn, turned onto a side street stops, got out, apologized, and points at the house. But as we walked up to it though, she pointed out bees swarming above the door of this sixties rancher. We've cleaned out stanky nasty, bacteria-laced and rat-infested dwellings without blinking an eye, but today we can't work because of bees. She called Tony, who came to take us to a new house.

While we waited, I crank up the stereo and we had an impromptu swing dance lesson. It was the most surreal moment of the trip, dancing between flood-damaged houses in the Ninth Ward. One-and-two-and rock step.

Eventually we find the house. It's at 1526 St. Maurice,--the former home of Samantha Slack, her husband and three children. They of course are not there, but all their stuff is, so we jumped right in hauling things out. By the end of the day we had made a rubble pile six feet high and a hundred feet long. There were appliances, clothes, toys, furniture, dishes--everything that made up this family's material life. We are dragging out much of what the Slacks had worked and saved for.

We found an undamaged family photo album and made a collage of small personal items on the mailbox. They have beautiful children. They had a Christmas tree and gifts. On Valentine's Day, the husband drew a bubblebath and sprinkled it with rose petals for his wife. Then one day the TV told them to pack what they could fit in their car and run for their lives. When the levee broke and their home was flooded, they probably became exiles.

Wherever they are, I hope the Slacks are coming back and rebuilding. I hope they can get the life back that is in that photo album.

In the middle of all the hauling and gutting today, we discovered that President Bush was supposed to be in the Ninth Ward. For awhile we even thought that our drivers hauling water couldn't get across the canal because the bridges had been closed by the Secret Service. Jerry decided to make a sign for the President. It said "Where've U Been George?" Then Ann wrote "Make Levees, Not War" on the backs of several of our Hazmat paper suits. We got lots of horn honks and thumbs up signs from drivers passing through on Claiborne. We also got a lot of appreciation from a flatbed driver who drove through on St Maurice. Making connections with people and doing useful work are what this trip is all about.

Update I found out later the president had helicoptered in from the airport to the river and limousined to 5509 N. Rampart where he looked at a damaged home. That way he came in contact with as few New Orleanians as possible. He also looked over the levee construction on the Industrial Canal, and stopped at Stewart's Diner at 3403 N. Claiborne for red beans and rice to go. In a speech at the levee, he urged the House Appropriations Committee to allow him to earmark over $4 billion for housing recovery in Louisiana. Of course if we were out of Iraq we wouldn't have to be so stingy about helping rebuild an American city after a natural disaster. Read the story here.

Day Four: Good Karma

2006-03-07T18:58:00.000-08:00

This morning we went to finish house number 3 from yesterday, and we did some light demolition on house number 4, a nice yellow house that had a lot of stuff. It was an easy, smooth day filled with good karma, mostly.

The only bad thing came when Clayton was nowhere to be found when we left this morning. Considering that Ashlee, Brittani, Amy, and Jessica were MIA yesterday, I figured this was an improvement. Later I missed his call on my cell phone, and by the time I realized he'd called four times and answered his next call, he'd taken a bus and was in a panic trying to find house number 3 when we'd moved to house number 4. I suggested he go back to the camp, and he spent the rest of his money on a cab to get back. Sigh. Getting college kids to be at the same place at the same time has been frustrating, but I can't imagine a group of more enthusiastic home wreckers.

The good karma started near the end of gutting house number 3, at 2132 Feliciana near N. Miro. I walked behind a house to pee (working in a neighborhood with no water has a few drawbacks) and saw a woman on the sidewalk on my way back. I asked her if she was looking at her house and she said yes. Her house was already gutted, and she had come down from where she was staying near Chicago to think about the next step. She told us about the neighborhood, about the families she grew up around who are now scattered across the country. But she expected most to return and rebuild. As she smiled and spoke, our video student Melissa asked for and interview and set up her camera. She got over an hour of great footage.

The next nice surprise was meeting Reverend Stevens, the owner of house number 4. He was working on his house just off St. Bernard Avenue where they have water and power, when we arrived. He showed me the work--removing some panelling and warped oak flooring from his lovely 60s ranch home. He showed me around and said he had done the trim and drywall before and he would again. After gutting houses that looked they were a long way from restoration, it was encouraging to see a house already being worked on. I left him some paper Christmas ornaments my students had made on New Orleans themes. Maybe his family will put them on their tree.

There were other little good karma moments making connections with the locals. There was the skinny asian kid who gave me half his Oyster Po Boy and macked on our college girls, saying, "I may be small, but I'm big on the inside." There was Tony's casual comment that we "were helping people that need it." And my favorite was the gay bar owner who, after hearing we'd been gutting houses all day, told the girls with us, "I own this bar. What do you want?" They got some free Abitas out of that deal. The people down here are great--very warm and friendly.

Day Three: The Funky Nasty Stank House

2006-03-06T16:40:00.000-08:00

Yesterday after we finished gutting our first house, we got an early start on the second one. The ACORN guys told us the second house had furniture can personal property inside, which would take longer. Moldy furniture? No Problem. Clutter? Bring it on. We were feeling confident and ready for anything. We had absolutely no clue.

House 2 was at 1716 Feliciana near DerbignyWE opened the front door and saw junk everywhere. Some of it had floated around in the flood I guess, but it was pretty cluttered anyway. We wrestled out a sofa to the street and started shoveling the small junk it wheelbarrows to dump on the sidewalk. Hauling off personal stuff takes some getting used to. There was clothing in the closets, medicine in the bathroom, and family photos scattered around.

The house was small and narrow, so I got the back door open to get a second front in the battle against the flood damage. About that time people in the kitchen started squealing over a rat. Then someone did the unthinkable and opened the fridge. The reek that rolled out is impossible to describe. We called this the "stinky house," but that's not strong enough. By the time we spilled stagnant, putrid liquid from two refrigerators, several plastic totes, an electric fryer, and a dishwasher throughout the house, this stench was everywhere. We went back this morning to gut the walls and the funk was still there. In fact, it had thrown open the doors, had a party, and invited its stanky friends. Eventually the smell it invaded our pores so deeply only a hot shower with antibacterial soap would get rid of it.

While we were working, Jerry got a text message that a dead body was found today by cadaver dogs.

Work Hard, Play Hard

2006-03-05T23:25:00.000-08:00

Here we are in the French Quarter on Sunday night after gutting our first house: Lydia, Ann, Brittani, Cory, Teela, Ashleigh, Amy, John, Todd, and Jessica. We took the Algiers Ferry and walked to Bourbon Street from Harrah's. Later that week they blew up the Algiers Ferry to film for Deja Vu. We walked down to Lafitte's, had a couple there, and walked all the way back to Jackson Square. We'd missed the last ferry, so we had coffee and beignets at Cafe Du Monde.

Day Two: Our First House

2006-03-05T05:15:00.000-08:00

The weather today is clear, the birds are singing, and Louisiana hot sauce was on the breakfast table. I can't get over how well set up the camp is here. They have steel shipping containers set up with hot showers. There is a movie tent. There were even people singing Christian songs last night. The harmonies sounded nice, and it was cool to here a group of college kids doing it. We seem to be the only group not part of a church.

Today we will see our first glimpse of the Ninth Ward.

Update: After a great hot breakfast in the dining tent, we caravanned to the ACORN office for our first work assignment. There I met Tony, our foreman. He's a muscular asian guy who stood in the median of Elesiuand Fields and shouted assignments at people and into his cell phone. After a few minutes we dashed after his van to the first house.

We drove through the devastation of the Lower Ninth, just below the levee break on the downriver side of the Industrial Canal. We were at Ground Zero, where many people lost their lives. Houses were gone from their foundations, swept away in the deluge. We wound through this ghost town, staring at houses on top of cars, houses in the middle of streets, and houses with holes broken in the roofs where residents had climbed into their attics to escape the rising water and then had to kick their way out through the old plank roof decking.

Each house we looked at was structurally unsafe. Finally we found a small house on the corner of Lamanche and Villere farther from the levee that looked safe to enter. This would be our first job. We parked and suited up in Haz Mat suits and dust masks. Tools were passed out and we started gutting. In a few hours it was done. That was just a warm-up for what would follow.

Day One: The Hurricane Hilton

2006-03-04T20:34:00.000-08:00

This morning we met up at Pellissippi and after some confusion and car-swapping we rollled out around 9 a.m. The trip was uneventful, though it took a little practice to play follow the leader on the interstate. We drove though the rolling hills around Chatanooga, then down I-59 across Alabama and though the pine scrub flatlands of Southern Miassissippi. Julian and Lydia and I talked about music and graphic design on the way down and listened to each other's iPods on the Honda stereo system. They napped. I drove. Clayton played his Gameboy and read.

We sailed through the landscape, five carloads of folks on an odd mission to haul soggy refuse out of the homes of strangers, and become connnected to a drama we'd only experienced through the media.

We made our first stop fdor lunch, then made our last pit stop at Slidell, Louisiana before crossing Lake Ponchartrain in the dusk. The lights of New Orleans seemed surprisingly normal, like nothing has gone terribly wrong here. We know better though, and would see for ouselves in the morning.

We found Camp Algiers and got name badges, maps, and a tasty dinner. This place is incredibly neat and well-run, though it would be interesting to sleep on army "racks" with 200 other people. The camp is set up in a city park under spreading Live Oak trees draped with Spanish moss. We saw an owl in a tree right across from the guest services trailer.

Rise and Shine!

2006-03-03T08:31:00.000-08:00

On our last day before we get up early to roll south with 25 people, it's really great to feel it all coming together. Yesterday I talked to Teela, Lydia, and Julian about the trip. They are bringing walkie talkies to communicate between cars.

This morning Jayson Mullen came by with an update on the t-shirts. He designed a great rooster / crowbar logo for our krewe, and got a friend in the t-shirt business to print and donate t-shirts.

Another student, Melissa Dos Santos, has baked 4 dozen cookies that I found in my office this morning!

Our local public radio station WOUT is interviewing me for broadcast during All Things Considered at 4 today. Tune it at 91.9 FM, or listen online here.

President Bush Knew the Levees Could Fail

2006-03-02T16:52:00.000-08:00

Yesterday the Associated Press released video of a videoconference held to discuss Katrina on August 28, the day before the storm hit the Gulf Coast. In the video, FEMA director Michael Brown clearly states concern about the storm’s seriousness and the danger to the Superdome. He call it “the big one.”

Next Hurricane Center Director Max Mayfield says the storm is as powerful as Andrew but much larger, and adds that “I don’t think anyone can tell you with any confidence right now whether the levees will be topped or not.”

Finally the president speaks from his ranch in Crawford. He asks no questions. He makes no decisions. He says, “I want to assure the folks at the state level that we are fully prepared to not only help you during the storm, but we will move in whatever resources and assets we have at our disposal to help you deal with the loss of property, and we pray for no loss of life of course.”

The next day the storm came ashore, the surge broke the levees, thousands perished, and New Orleans was thrown into chaos. The next day on Good Morning America the president said, “I don’t think anybody anticipated the breeching of the levees.”

Clearly that was false and the president knew it.

We Have Three More Slots for the Trip!

2006-03-01T15:41:00.000-08:00

I posted this on the old blog before setting up this one. Here's the basic information gain for last-minute sign-ups.

We’ve got accommodations for Knoxville area volunteers who want to go to New Orleans over spring to help rebuild from Katrina in the 9th Ward. This is an opportunity to help save working class homes in a great American city. Read about ACORN's work here.

We will leave Saturday, March 4 and return Saturday, March 11. Volunteers will need to sign some forms and have $30 cash to cover gas expenses and personal spending on the road. This is not an official Pellissippi trip. Oh, and there will be a student video crew to immortalize you as you swing a crowbar like a pro!

We will stay in the four-star accommodations at Camp Algiers and work with ACORN, an organization that is fighting big developers to rebuild local neighborhoods so homeowners can return. We’ll sightsee in the nearby French Quarter and possibly other parts of the city. “What will we be doing” you ask? Gutting houses. You’ll be decked out in fashionable paper suits, removing everything (in the house I mean) down to the studs so they can be dried out and demolded before reconstruction. Sexy!

Want to go? Email me, fill out the forms, and meet us on time at 8 a.m. at the front parking lot at Pellissippi’s main campus by the lake.

Happy Mardi Gras!

2006-02-28T16:57:00.000-08:00

Today is like Christmas and New Year’s all rolled into one for New Orleans. Although a huge number still have no place to live, Mardi Gras gives them an occasion to meet old friends and make fun of their troubles, like these three guys dressed as military Meals Ready To Eat. True to form, the Zulu and Rex krewes paraded, the Indians danced, and the kids and adults screamed for those precious beads.

I wore my beads from Mardi Gras ‘97 all day today. The parades and the hurricane damage was all over TV today, which is a good thing I’m sure. At least people will not forget so quickly. National Public Radio continues to do a great job of covering all angles of the New Orleans story.

Today Tara called to say she’d torn ligaments in her knee and couldn’t go with us. I’m sorry she’s missing the trip, but hope she’ll post us a comment or two on the blog. Most everybody else has turned in their deposit and forms. We have 24 people in the Tennessee Crowbar Krewe!

Sooo… That leaves THREE spots unfilled on our trip. We have one too many to leave a car at home. I’ve asked around to the CGT students, and may have one taker. We need two more people! If you want to have a life-changing experience in New Orleans, here are the facts:

We’ll be gone from March 4–11 over Pellssippi’s Spring Break.
The trip is CHEAP. $30 to cover transportation and enough $ to cover road food and a night out in the city.
You will help make a small difference to real people in New Orleans.
We’ll be gutting houses so they can de dried out and repaired. It’s dirty work, but doesn’t require strength or skill. Not much anyway…
Bottom line: I need forms from you and $30 ASAP! Email
me right away.

Crowbar Gear is Here!

2006-02-27T19:47:00.000-08:00

Jayson Mullen designed this great rooster and crowbar logo for our krewe. He's also managed to get a friend in the t-shirt business to print up a FREE shirt for the trip. Click here to shop for more cool gear including a trucker's hat and a wall clock. Order now to have for the trip, y'all.

And you thought all you'd get from the trip would be a warm feeling in your heart. No wait. That's not my heart...

Out and About in the Crescent City

2006-02-26T18:26:00.000-08:00

I've put together some ideas to keep us from getting bored and give us an authentic taste of the rich gumbo of New Orleans. I've got some prizes lined up for a digital photo scavenger hunt, so bring your camera. Besides a big night o the town on Thursday, we can do a little sightseeing after work each day too.

SATURDAY:We can drive to Algiers Point to take the freeCanal Street / Algiers Ferry From Jackson Square we can catch the Canal St. Streetcar to get an overview of New Orleans.
SUNDAY: Take a Haunted history walking tour of the French Quarter. A fun way to see the "dark side" of New Orleans.
MONDAY: Visit Donna's, a live brass band jazz place.
TUESDAY: We can go by the Maple Leaf an historic spot.
WEDNESDAY: We'll hit the Rock n' Bowl for Swing Night with Ingrid Lucia. You can watch her lattest video (on a PC) here.
THURSDAY NIGHT ON THE TOWN: Save your money for dinner in French Quarter Followed by a Digital Photo Scavenger Hunt starting at Cafe Du Monde. Finally, we'll drive out to Vaughn's for live jazz with Kermitt Ruffins.
FRIDAY: We'll visit Blaine Kern's Mardi Gras World. Mardi Gras may be over, but we can still see where the floats are made!

Neighbors Doing the Best They Can

2006-02-25T19:57:00.000-08:00

I just found the best news story so far on real people in a real a neighborhood in New Orleans and how Katrina has affected them. It's from National Public Radio. Gwendolyn Thompkins talks about Ponchartrain Park, an all-black suburb on the lake just east of the Industrial Canal. Her childhood home there was flooded. She talks to neighbors, reminescing about her childhood, and we hear some great music. It's worth downloading and installing Real Player (get the free version) just to hear this. This neighborhood is near where we will be working.

Worth a Thousand Words

2006-02-25T19:10:00.000-08:00

Each of these links goes to dozens (usually) of photos uploaded to Flickr, a photo sharing service. They show parades, New Orleans life, and the astounding damage done by post-Katrina and post-Rita flooding. Feast you eyes on the wreckage and hope of New Orleans.

Pre-Katrina

1991 New Orleans photos by Miss Kitty Remember before Katrina?
Jazz Funeral for Democracy by Editor B. Innuaguration Day 2005, New Orleans style.

Post Katrina

Katrina Aftermath, New Orleans by searingblue Day-after flooding and hurricane damage to house in uptown New Orleans near Tulane University.
Hurricane Katrina by boxchain A view from the porch in the Bywater, 8/29 - 9/3/05. Includes flooding, wind damage, a military chopper overhead, and an armed civilian in the street.
Shatterdome by Chris Martel Pictures from post-Katrina New Orleans, mainly Mid-City, taken Sept. 27-28 2005
NOLA Expedition by Editor B. Pictures taken in Mid-City showing hurricane damage.
Our House, Post-Katrina by spasticrobot House damage from 4' of flooding.
New Orleans by Madolan More post-Katrina damage
new orleans, november 2005 by elithea French Quarter three months after.
New Orleans by icki February 20-22 photos of heavy damage. One shows an art student painting landscapes among the ruins of the Ninth Ward. Weird.

Mardi Gras 2006

Barkus Parade by Chris Martel Photos from an all-dog Mardi Gras parade on February 19.
Mardi Gras 2006 by boxchain Krewe du Viex parade.
Mardi Gras Mambo by Bee Recluse Pegasus and Barkus parades.
Mardi Gras 2006 by searingblue Krewe du Viex parade

Government Failed in Response to Katrina

2006-02-23T15:10:00.000-08:00

We have a government to do for individuals what they cannot do for themselves, and protecting people from natural disasters is a perfect example. But with friends like FEMA, who needs enemies? Now that the dust has settled and the investigations are completed, it looks like there is plenty of blame to go around. The mayor failed to evacuate the poor, the governor failed to ask for help from the Feds, and the Feds were clueless all around.

The official response from all government leaders and agencies was inadequate, misinformed, or completely absent. That’s not just my opinion, but that of three government reports released recently. Here’s the story from National Public Radio, with links to the reports.

Mardi Gras

2006-02-22T20:57:00.000-08:00

As the days count down to fat Tuesday on February 28, each day brings more parades, each night brings more masked balls, and there's another crazy sight around every corner. Mardi Gras has gotten the reputation as a "Girls Gone Wild" event, but it is really a family festival outside the French Quarter.

There are lots of unique traditions that are part of Mardi Gras: King Cakes, Mardi Gras Indians, Krewes, beads, and more. Here are a few links:

Andy Hardy Mardi Gras Guide

Mardi Gras photos from past years

Mardi Gras photo gallery

Mardi Gras Indians

King cake information

Krewes and parades

TEXT

Pellissippi Publicity

2006-02-22T18:47:00.000-08:00

Michael Cover came by and spoke to me last week. His article made it into The Pellissippi Press. Give it a read.

Eat Well New Orleans Style

2006-02-20T17:45:00.000-08:00

This town has its own unique food, and an amazing list of restauarants. Here’s a list culled and edited from Fodor’s:

Best Restaurant in the Quarter: It’s right on the edge — of the neighborhood, but not this category. Marisol’s, 437 Esplanade Ave. (tel. 504/943-1912), has the most interesting and inventive food in the city at this time. Each night, the menu changes according to the chef’s whim. This means chances are taken, both by the chef and by the diners, but in a town that too often features culinary followers rather than leaders, we are glad someone is so boldly forging ahead. Open for business.

Best for cheap scenery: Listen to the jazz at Café du Monde, 800 Decatur St. (tel. 504/581-2914), where getting powdered sugar all over yourself is half the fun. It’s large and open-air, and street performers are always around. Open for business.

Best Gumbo: More fighting words, but you can’t go wrong at Dooky Chase, 2301 Orleans Ave. (tel. 504/821-0600), or Galatoire’s,
209 Bourbon St. (tel. 504/525-2021).

Best Barbecued Shrimp: That’s Cajun-style, in a spicy, garlicky butter sauce, and while Pascal’s Manale, 1838 Napoleon Ave. (tel. 504/895-4877), invented it (and has the largest shrimp), And for fans, Liuzza’s by the Track up in Mid-Town does it on a po’ boy!

Best Oysters: Or “ersters” as the locals would say. Locals insist that Felix’s Restaurant & Oyster Bar, 739 Iberville St. (tel. 504/522-4440), has the best.

Best Contemporary Creole: The food at Brigtsen’s, 723 Dante St. (tel. 504/861-7610), and Upperline, 1413 Upperline St. (tel. 504/891-9822), is consistently interesting, innovative, and delicious.

Best Classic New Orleans Restaurant: Of the three mainstays of New Orleans dining (the others being Galatoire’s and Antoine’s), Arnaud’s, 813 Bienville St. (tel. 504/523-5433), is the one where you can count on getting a consistently good (and maybe even great) meal in the same way, and in the exact same surroundings, that generations of New Orleanians have done before you. A word of caution: bring your VISA, ‘cause this food ain’t cheap.

Best Po’ Boys: The drippy monster creations at Mother’s, 401 Poydras St. (tel. 504/523-9656), are the bomb and the buttah.

Best Muffulettas: You really haven’t had a sandwich until you’ve tried a muffuletta, and no one beats Central Grocery, 923 Decatur St. (tel. 504/523-1620).

Best Hot Dogs: Lucky Dogs are so good they are the only puchcart vendors licensed in the French Quarter. These dawgs are legendary.

Dress Like a Local

2006-02-20T16:44:00.000-08:00

Sure, you could go to New Orleans and buy a tourists t-shirt and look just like every other goofball, but why not dress like a local with these great designs.

Make Levees Not War t-shirt Buy the t-shirt and read the brilliant comments by esteemed novelist and humanist Kurt Vonnegut.
Zulu t-shirt The original African American carnival Krewe, and the kewlest krewe of all.
Abita Beer Restoration t-shirt Brrwed right in NOLA, and part of the profits go to rebuild.

Laissez les bon temps rouler (Let the good times roll!)

2006-02-18T18:12:00.001-08:00

It’s Saturday night, I’m home in front of the Mac, and it’s snowing here in Knoxville. Seems like the perfect time to dream about good times in New Orleans. Music is the lifeblood of the city where jazz was born. Here are some ideas for our night out. Leave a comment and tell me what you like.

Rock ‘n’ Bowl: Retro bowling and live retro music
Pat O’Brien’s: Original home of the hurricane. Are they proud of that at the moment?
The Blue Nile: Live music on Frenchman Street
Donna’s: A local favorite for music
The Funky Butt: Live jazz New Orleans style
Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop: A real pirate hangout and the oldest bar in America. The only cool place on Bourbon Street.
The Red Room: Plush and swanky, as the name and the velvet (it’s everywhere!) implies.
Snug Harbor: Great food and music on Frenchman Street.
Titpitina’s: Live music nightly. One of the best — just ask the locals.
Saturn Bar:A local hangout in the Ninth Ward that used to be a junk store. very funky!
Vaughn’s:Another Ninth Ward joint, this place is the hip place to hear jazz. Kermit Ruffins is the up-and-coming jazzman that packs the place on Thursday nights.

Reservations Confirmed

2006-02-18T10:43:00.000-08:00

I just got a reply from Diana at ACORN confirming our reservations for March 4-10. We'll have six cars and 24 people, assuming all show up. I'm now past the worry stage and into the fun planning stage. New Orleans is still a great city post- Mardi Gras and even post-Katrina. Here's Dianna's email responing to some quetions I had. I thought our video person Melissa might want to interview Wade Radke, the founder of ACORN.

Thank you for the finalized list of names! I have submitted it to FEMA and this is a confirmation. We are so excited to have your group join us on March 4.
We encourage the home owners to be at the home while we are gutting it. However, it is often the case that the owners are still living in the cities where they evacuated to or it is emotionally difficult for them to witness the contents of their homes being put in a pile on the street. I would say that the owners are at about 1/2 of the homes we work on.
We encourage the volunteers to enjoy themselves in New Orleans. After 3:00 you are free to do whatever you please. There is no curfew at FEMA however they do not allow alcohol on the premises.
3:00 would be a good time each day for your group to explore different parts of the town. Have you all lined up transportation for your group yet?
Most people do sleep with their bags under their beds. Many leave there bags there during the day and only lock in the car their valuables. It is up to you. I think you will find tent city to be secure and safe.
The ACORN van will be used for the people that come individually and not with a group. I doubt that we will have room.
We are working on creating a message board on our website where future and past volunteers and share their stories.
I am sure you will be able to have a moment to interview Wade while you are here. I will shoot an email to him letting him know your interest and dates.

You can check in to FEMA 24 hours a day. They will have a list with everyone's names and they will check ID’s. The next morning your group can drive to our office where we meet at 8:00 each morning. The address is 1016 Elysian Fields Ave. Thanks, Diana

Catching the Volunteer Spirit

2006-02-17T15:50:00.000-08:00

Lot’s of folks in New Orleans and around the country are stepping to help out the city in rebuilding. Here are a few inspiring stories about how everyone from piano tuners to medical students are helping out.

Cindy Knows What it Means to Miss New Orleans

2006-02-14T19:16:00.000-08:00

Peace activist Cindy Sheehan, a personal hero of mine, turned up in St. Bernard Parish today, leading a protest aimed at rebuilding. Sheehan is the mother of a slain soldier who led a camp-in at the President's ranch in Crawford, TX awhile back.

The New Battle of New Orleans

2006-02-14T19:05:00.000-08:00

As we head south from Tennessee to New Orleans, it’s cool to know about our historic connection with this great American city. In 1814 General Andrew Jackson marched Tennesseans south along the Mississippi River to fight off the British during the War of 1812. They’d already burned Washington an were planning to capture New Orleans.

When Tennesseans were asked to volunteer, ten times the requested number stepped forward. That’s where the Tennessee Vols got their name. Anyway, when the Americans encountered the British outside of New Orleans, they attacked at night, backed off, and dug in. This group of citizen soldiers was a real ragtag bunch too. There was U.S. Army, New Orleans militia, freed black Haitian slaves, and long hunters from Tennessee and Kentucky. Oh, and there were pirates. Real pirates, led by John Lafitte, whose bar/blacksmith shop is still in the French Quarter. Jackson’s forces were outnumbered two to one.

Jackson and his men waited until they “saw the whites of their eyes” and opened up with field artillery fired a a low angle. The redcoats were slaughtered. The cannon shells skipped across the swamp water, ripping holes in the British lines and saving the city from invasion.

You know the square in New Orleans where President Bush made his speech promising to rebuild? That’s Jackson Square, named for our Tennessee General who saved the city along with the pirate Lafitte. There’s even a statue of Jackson, jauntily waving his hat atop a rearing horse. The only other copy is in Nashville, outside the state capitol.

So here we come again — a bunch of Tennesseans riding south to help out the Crescent City. Of course this battle may take a little longer to win…

Greetings from “Greetings”

2006-02-13T16:57:00.000-08:00

Just got this email today from Justin Lundgren, a New Orleans photographer who shot this amazing photo of kids reaching for beads at a Carnival parade before Katrina.

Hi Todd, Thank you for the kind words about “GREETINGS”. I just found out on Friday that the New Orleans Contemporary Art Center is going to exhibit it over the second Jazzfest weekend which is kind of exciting.

Anyway, it’s great that you’re organizing this trip. We need all the help we can get. I returned here a day after Rita with my wife and dog and we’re all comfortably settled in Uptown Nola. The intact part of the city — i.e. the “sliver on the river” — is the historically interesting part of town and if you have no reason to wander through Mid-City or Lakeview or Gentilly or the Lower 9th, you can live under the delusion that nothing major has occurred. Of course, this delusion is shattered every time you look into the melancholy eyes of virtually every person walking by.

I don’t know where you and your students will be staying; be prepared for a lot of visual clutter. New Orleans has never been a “together” kind of place, as you know, but right now we’re a super messy place. And with Mardi Gras coming up it’s only gonna get worse. As far as safety goes, the city has never been less threatening. To me, anyway. I would feel comfortable running through the Magnolia projects at 2 a.m. these days. Your students may want to explore the night life, and there’s still plenty to do after a day of cleaning houses — get your musical tips from the Lagniappe and Gambit online.

Lastly, all I can say is be prepared to get your mind blown. This thing is much much bigger than all the imagery that can be conveyed on TV. We’re disappointed that only 20% of Congress has made the effort to see the devastation. I’ve got to run now, dinner is ready. Feel free to copy this to your blog and good luck.

sincerely,
Justin

Organize a “Katrina Clean-Up” Spring Break at your college

2006-02-12T19:18:00.000-08:00

It’s easier than you might think to put together a trip to help rebuild New Orleans or other parts of the Gulf coast. There are several organizations actively seeking groups to come work. Most will provide food and simple lodging in exchange for volunteer work. Some charge a minimal fee. Why not put together a trip like this at your school?

First: Contact a group doing volunteer rebuilding work:
ACORN: Our hosting agency in New Orleans East. They’re great.
Common Ground Collective: A grassroots non-profit in New Orleans East.
Habitat for Humanity
Hands On USA: Active in Biloxi.
There are lots of faith-based organizations as well. Try Google to find one.

Second: Publicize your trip.
Start by typing up the facts. Next, email your students and faculty. Flyers, posters, and in-class announcements work well too. Notify the local media before you leave. Publicity may inspire others!

Third: Take a deposit and sign people up, and look for sponsors.
I put together a packet of materials describing the trip and including contact and medical info, a model release for photos and video, and a “hold harmless” form. Email me for these docs. Be sure to take a significant cash deposit to hold a spot, otherwise people may back out. You may find people who want to donate gas money too, in which case you can refund the deposit when you roll out on your trip.

Fourth: Go forth and get involved!
Keep in contact with your hosting agency, organize a carpool, passenger van, or bus, and do your trip. Prepare to be amazed at the impact your trip will have on you and the individuals you meet. This can be a life-changing experience!

Finally: Document your trip.
Take lots of pictures and video to show when you get back. If you can get on-site internet access, consider taking a laptop and blogging from the road. Typepad and Blogger are two free services that will allow you to set up blogs.

Deadline extended

2006-02-11T19:01:00.000-08:00

I talked to Diana with ACORN today, and she gave me another week to add people to our trip. So email your friends and have them let me know via email (just click the link below my face.)

So far we have 13 people, including 3 faculty members and 10 students and friends. Since this is not an official Pellissippi trip, anyone who's over 18 can go. We need more drivers too. Drivers would take their own vehicle with the other three passengers kicking in $30 each for gas. The trip is about 1200 miles round trip, so at $2.26 per gallon (the price here when I checked) driving a car that gets 25 mpg, $30 should just about cover it.

I'm also working on some nifty graphics for our trip. T-shirts and other stuff will be available to buy through Cafe Press. Anybody know a t-shirt printer willing to donate some shirts for a good cause?

Watch for posts about Mardi Gras and why the party must go on this year.

New Orleans here we come!

2006-02-10T00:02:00.000-08:00

A couple of weeks after deciding to do this thing, I've managed to find a hosting agency on the ground in New Orleans, announce the trip, started registering people, and get two sponsors. Not bad work I guess. Oh, and I started this blog to record the experience.

Trip begins: Saturday March 4, 8 a.m.
Trip ends: Saturday March 11, 10 p.m.
The work: Cleaning out houses with ACORN, a great organization in the Ninth Ward.
The food and beds: Courtesy of FEMA, the agency I thought I would never like again. We'll be sleeping and eating for free at Camp Algiers. Imagine a summer camp patrolled by the National Guard. Or a penitentiary with DSL connections. Pretty cool, actually.
How much? $30 for gas and enough dough for road food and a night on the town.
Are there forms? Ah, yes. Where would we be without forms? Pick them up from my office--room 225D in the Goings Building at Pellissippi.
Who's going? All the cool people. Actually, we want anyone over 18 who can swing a crowbar and sing Johnny Cash songs. No, you don't have to be a Pellissippi student or faculty member. Or staff. Or even be able to pronounce the name of the place.

Thanks to our sponsors! My colleague Vida Hashemian and a great guy from New Orleans named Dave Thomas have both sent me checks to help cover our gas costs.

I originally posted about the trip in bluenecks. Stay tuned here for more information, photos, and journal entries.