The only time I visited New Orleans was long before Hurricane Katrina, and it was a decadent visit. I overindulged in Bourbon Street pastimes and my memories of the city are hazy but delicious. I’ve yearned to go back ever since.
This weekend marks a horrific anniversary for the cradle of jazz, and three years later almost to the day, there’s a carefully planned city wide evacuation in the face of the category-four Hurricane Gustav. The news report I just saw on ABC indicated that Gustav could be a category five by Sunday.
I know how we here in Miami feel when our city is threatened by a hurricane — the frantic lines at the grocery store and the gas station, the pressure to safeguard your home and your worldly possessions, and to protect your family and pets. I can just imagine the fear and panic and emotion swirling in the hearts of Nawlins natives today, for whom the devastation of Katrina is a recent nightmare. I just wanted to offer support to everyone in New Orleans and up the coast all the way to Alabama. Be smart, stay safe, and our prayers are with you.
** photo courtesy Stereohyped.
I’m sending out prayers and good vibes to those in the Caribbean and Gulf Coast region.
My heart is heavy thinking about what may be in store for New Orleans again and I’ve been praying for God to intervene somehow and to be with all those having to go through this ordeal. Is it me or do the weather people seem to get a kick out of reporting the worst to come? I know, I know, it’s their job, but still…
I’m so scared for the Gulf Coast! I have friends there and I am constantly praying for their well-being.
I will say a prayer tonight for everyone to get out safe, and sound.
Prayers are always in need. My cousin’s house in JA was flooded, Gustav is no little storm. Remember to stay safe and stay together.
I’m a New Orleanian and I have been through Katrina and Hurricane Rita and I must say that one of the worst feelings in the world is not being able to go HOME. I’m sad to see that there are still some people that are not leaving, I pray from them. I also pray that 3 days don’t turn into 3 months like last time.
I was just reading an article on the Houston Chronicle about it (well chron.com) and you would not believe how the people of houston (well white houston) are responding. Its sad. http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/hurricane/5974981.html
If you read the comments it makes you want to fight somebody. They are beyond ignut here. Its sad and I grew up in Miami so Ive experienced 1st had the devestation a CAT 5 my senior yr of high school and I will never forget hiding in a closet with my parents and brother Coming out to find my parents bedroom gone. I am glad the are leaving early and being safe
I was just watching CNN and it is so good to see that this time things are more organized. I told my son I can’t image being separated from him or the rest of my family. I noticed that now they wrist bands to help identify the families. They flying everyone to other safe areas. My prayers go out to all in Gustav pathway.
I pray for the safety of everyone in the path of Gustav!
http://www.gustavimages.com let me know what you want to see, i will be right in the middle of it!
I feel so bad for those people. My prayers are with them. As if they haven’t already had enough of a raw deal. I have two first cousins down there. I’ll have to call my uncle in the morning, hopefully, they left the area already…
“MarriedToIt” should learn both sides of a story before commenting. The people of Houston opened their city to refugees of New Orleans and are still paying for their kindness. A marked increase in violent crimes, drug trafficking and other crimes. City wide school violence has sky-rocketed and test scores have plummeted. The only thing the refugees seemed to bring with them was violence, gangs, crime and drugs and you’re angry at them for not wanting that to come to their cities again? There is a saying. “Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.” I don’t blame them for not wanting any more of the filth to settle in their city. New Orleans should be permanently evacuated. It has sunk over 2 feet since the 1970′s. It’s not meant to be lived in. Why would anyone intentionally live below sea level?
I was living in NOLA during Katrina, going to grad school at Tulane. Luckily, I heeded my intuition and we evacuated well ahead of landfall. I made the choice not to go back, based on rent prices, levee issues, and a general feeling that we should not have to go thru what we did again. Now I am watching and hoping that utter destruction is not imminent for the Big Easy again.
For Keith: Based on your premise, Los Angeles should be abandoned as well, along with the wildfire corridors in Southern California. Why would anyone intentionally live over an earthquake fault, or in a place where, statistically, there is a large chance (about 50-75%) that if there is a wildfire, it will follow the same route, burning everything in its path?
Yes, NOLA is sinking. Yes, the city had huge issues with violence prior to Katrina, and after. But to make the statement that it should be “permanently evacuated” shows little insight into the situation. Who’s gonna pay residents to “permanently evacuate”? Do we (taxpayers via the government) foot the bill? We foot the bill for those who choose to rebuild their homes after wildfires, in the same spot.
The dynamics of the situation are unusual in NOLA. Some who live there (and the majority of person whom I knew when there) were born and raised in the immediate vicinity, and have not traveled far outside their comfort zones. Some were “scared” to travel to places like NYC or even Atlanta for vacations. Family and friends are very tightly knit there, and the allegiance to geography is strong. This is no reason or excuse for not having a plan for getting out of harm’s way, but it does influence the desire to return soon and not leave again.
The legal entanglements alone in “closing” the city permanently boggle the mind, let alone the financial impact. We all live where we live, and should take into account the natural disasters that could impact us.
Thanks, ya’ll!!
We’re busy evacuating and getting our affairs in order here in New Orleans. One thing differet for Gustav is that we’re all more prepared about what to do this go ’round having had such a catastrophic experience with Katrina.
afrobella – thanks so much for bringing attention to us with your posting! we really appreciate all your prayers! xo
I hope all who can will offer the support that is needed to all who need it. Stay safe people and support each other.
I’ve been there for the first time post-Katrina so I don’t really have anything to compare it too. Anyway, I’m very worried about this coming storm. I vowed to return the following year with my sister and nephew but beside that, I feel for the people I met and whose stories I listened to. New Orleans people for the most part are warm, welcoming people and they just want their lives to be back to normal, even three years after the mishandling of Katrina’s aftermath these good people want things to be normal. For people to say crap like the city should be evacuated shows a gross lack of respect for a major city. Just because this city doesn’t have Wall st. Or Rodeo Drive does NOT make it any less important in this nation’s history.
Anyway I’m off my soapbox and on my knees praying that Gustav just dies off or something.
KEITH ACTUALLY I DO KNOW BOTH SIDES OF THE STORY. I WAS IN THE ASTRODOME WHEN THE EVACUEES (NOT REFUGESS) WERE PLACED THERE I WORKED TO HELP SCARED PEOPLE. HUMAN BEINGS FIND A SAFE HAVEN. THESE ARE PEOPLE SOME GOOD SOME BAD BUT PEOPLE NOT THE LESS. I’VE LIVED THRU CAT 5 HURRICANES IN MIAMI WHICH IS AT SEA LEVEL. I GUESS YOU FEEL THE NEXT STORM THERE IT SHOULD JUST BE LEVELED. THATS CRAZY. FIRES AND EARTHQUAKES IN CALIFORNIA DOESNT STOP PEPLE FROM MOVING BACK, NOR DOES TORNADOS IN THE MID WEST, AND HURRICANES ARE NOT GOING TO STOP PEOPLE FROM LIVING IN THESE AREA. Since you like sayings all I’m saying is dont throw the baby out witht he bathwater. There is good and bad in every group and I feel for people I dont lump all people from NOLA as bad people. I take them as they come andjudge people on an individual bases.
Our prayers were answered! New Orleans itself was not hit as badly as it could have been. I believe the country as a whole did not want to witness another ordeal like Katrina with its horrific scenes of death and destruction. Thank you Jesus. I believe we can take it from here.
p.s. My new hero: Republican LA Governor Bobby Jindal. Wow.