Sunday, September 11, 2005
Our city is wounded but intact
This report was posted today on the http://www.nola.com/forums/uptown/ by somebody with the username of EJlives, on 9/11/05 at 2:02 ET
It says...
Drove into uptown at 6:30am. Went via River Road, where there was a checkpoint near Live Bait. Incidentally joined a convoy and were waved thru as part of it. Checkpoints are more scruntinouslater in the day.
Our destination was Versailles and Walmsley; Delachaise and Chestnut, and the French Quarter. From checkpoint, we drove via Oak St. to Carrollton St. We turned left towards Claiborne. Within 2 blocks of Claiborne, the water begins. At this point it is putrid puddles less than a foot on the northbound lane of Carrollton. The first 3 side streets south of Carrollton-Claiborne intersectionremain deeper with significant tree damage.
To turn right onto Claiborne we drove around the pools by driving north up the southbound lane. The lake side of Claiborne remains dry up the intersection of Calhoun so drove up that lane (nooncoming traffic to worry about ).
From there, Audubon St., the whole length of Broadway, and Fountainbleu from Broadway to Calhoun is dry and passable, except for occasional pools and trees.
Versailles remains under 1-2 feet of water from Earhart to Claiborne. As does Calhoun for its entire length from Claiborne. All other streets within 6 blocks of this area have similar flooding beginning at Fountainbleu extending north.
Claiborne is not negotiable toward downtown after Calhoun.
At its peak, this area seems to have had 5-6 feet of water.
All points south from here in Uptown are now passable care of tree clearing by the Nat. Guard (thanks). Very few homes severely damaged or destroyed in the whole of uptown. More trees up than down. No residential looting seen. Some commercial looting, but far outnumbered by intact businesses.
Some Uptown notables:
Le Madeline (lower end of St. Charles): looted; All other businesses in area, including nice Mexican restaurant nearby are OK; Delachaise Bar: Three front windows smashed;Vincents: window damage;Magazine St.: Clean, moderate storm damage but little to no evidence of looting; New Orleans Tourist Center: damaged;Large live oaks felled on Robert St. and St. Charles
CBD was being cleaned up. All office buildings have windows with the exception of one or two panels out in most. Looting damage sporadic and limited mostly to convenient stores and small restaurants.
The French Quarter was in good shape. Cleaner than youll ever see it on a normal Saturday early morning.
Mid City, 9th Ward, Lakeview, New Orleans East remain the worst and most tragic.
But today there was more to be optimistic about than not. Our city is wounded but intact.
Today was the first time I felt confident that the city will be back a little wiser and better when its all done.
Hang in there everyone.
