Dear friends of New Orleans, it is the 3rd Katrinaversary as we call it in New Orleans. Writing my annual Katrina letter is like giving birth. It is very painful, but it is worthit in the end. I think this may be my longest Katrina letter in three years. I have a lot on my mind so please bear with me…New Orleans is doing better than she was last year, but she still has a very long way to go. Many parts of the city remain devastated. Hurricane Katrina destroyed far more residential property than had any other recent hurricane, completely decimating an estimated 300,000 homes. So, you can imagine that it will take us many more years to get the REBUILD completed or I will use a phrase I learned while evacuated to Tulsa for 3 1/2 months, “to get R dun.” This REBUILD is a marathon not a sprint.
Without the help of volunteers from all over the country and the world much of the REBUILD could not have been completed. I would like to take this time to thank all of the volunteers who have come down here in the last three years to help us gut homes, build homes and loan a shoulder to cry on. I also would like to acknowledge the vast number of volunteers who have decided to make New Orleans their permanent home. Thanks to all of you for believing in our city and for wanting to be a part of this monumental task at hand. It is the largest REBUILD in American history. There are no books to tell us how this was done before. Not unless we look to how Europe was rebuilt after WWII. All of this being said, It is truly an exciting time to call New Orleans home.
Now, let me move onto some nagging issues. I cringe when I hear people say, “New Orleans will never be the same again.” Most often when this is said it is in a negative way. As if to say, New Orleans can’t be the wonderful city it was before. They are WRONG. New Orleans is striving everyday to be BETTER than she was before the storm. We don’t want the same ole’ New Orleans that was only known for booze and a good time. The citizens of this city desire much more. We are working to build a city with a cutting edge Bio-Med industry, Hollywood South and Technology sector.
Our young people were leaving the state of Louisianalong before Katrina hit. We were experiencing the “brain drain” many towns in America have been dealing with. Now, young people are moving back to be a part of our exciting rebirth. We have teachers, doctors, nurses, engineers just to name a few coming to NOLA to help breathe life into it once again. As I said before, it is an exciting time to call New Orleans home.
Post-Katrina NOLA has the opportunity to re-invent itself and be better than before. Our public schools are being overhauled. New Orleans Public Schools were recently featured in the New York Times for being a model for the rest of the country. Click here to read article WOW! Who would have ever thought our schools would be a role model for the whole United States? It is a true testament to the rebirth of New Orleans. There may be some nay-sayers out there. But, I know most locals are excited about this opportunity to finally make New Orleans Public Schools work for the children who need it so desperately.
Katrina ripped the veil off our eyes. She exposed gaping wounds in our city for all the world to see. These same wounds exist in every urban city in America. Unfortunately, NOLA had to be the city to show the United States what is happening in every city to its own poor and elderly. It’s bigger than New Orleans. The issues of poverty, crime and corruption are in your own backyard if you care to look hard enough. Most people don’t want to dig deeper and uncover these painful truths. Honestly, I think it is human nature to be non confrontational when it comes to serious problems. It is easier to just walk away than try to fix things. Thank God many have chosen NOT to walk away from their beloved New Orleans. It is because of the dedicated citizenry of New Orleans, that she is being REBUILT now.
When the veil was lifted 3 years ago, the citizens were awakened. We are vigilant about uncovering corruption. The storm has energized NOLA citizenry. We are angry and we are vocal. People are blogging, going to meetings and educating ourselves about potential political candidates. Yes, it’s a new day in New Orleans. Click here to read one of the citizen blogs
I also want to acknowledge the rebuilding of Lakeview and 9th ward. These two neighborhoods are very different from one another, but each one has determined citizens rebuilding it. First, I will address Lakeview. I participate in the Harrison Avenue Marketplace which is the monthly art market in Lakeview. I was stunned by the overwhelming support by Lakeview for the artists. The people in Lakeview have lost every tangible item in their lives and yet they give back so generously to the artists every month by making purchases. It is a characteristic that makes the people of New Orleans very special. It is one of the many reasons I love the people of New Orleans so much and will not ever leave.
The Ninth Ward is much slower to be rebuilt. I drive through the neighborhood every few months to see what is happening down there. For the first two years, I would leave there nearly in tears. It is only upon my last visit in early August 2008 that I had a smile on my face. There are some new homes being built both by owners and by charitable organizations. Brad Pitt’s Make It Right organization is building some homes on one of the main streets that sits parallel to the former federal levee breach. The homes are cutting edge green friendly. I know the owners of these new homes will be so proud to live in them. Please visit the Make It Right website to make a donation here. Thank you Brad Pitt for not forgetting about us!!! You are a blessing to us all.
The pictures shown below reflect the chaotic and frenetic sense of our rebuilding. Some people are home and some are not. You often will see a newly built home and then a blighted home right beside or across the street from it. This is the story of our rebuild at this time. 300,000 homes are going to take many years to be rebuilt. And, don’t forget about the hospitals, police stations and fire stations that still have to be built!
If you live ANYWHERE near a body of water please visit areweatrisk.org to learn if your levees are safe. Also, please take a moment to sign the petition to ask that there be an 8/29 investigation into the Federal Levee failure that drowned New Orleans at levees.org. The Army Corps of Engineers investigated ITSELF after the federal levee failures. That is just not acceptable. America deserves more from its government. Here is a video entitled Why do we need an 8/29 Investigation? to learn more about the 8/29 Investigation.
Please continue to come visit us if you live out of town. The French Quarter is pretty as ever and the food is some of the best in the world. We need each of you to keep visiting New Orleans in order for her to stay healthy and vibrant. New Orleans businesses still your support and will for many years to come.
Most of the nation has moved on with the natural ebb and flow of life. New Orleanians can’t move on until we can put the REBUILD and the levee failures behind us. As the years progress, please remember that New Orleans is not finished rebuilding and still needs your help.
* this was written 4 days before Gustav was forecasted to move into the Gulf of Mexico and possibly hit South East Louisiana
Much New Orleans Love to All,
Heather Elizabeth
-
-
Ninth Ward near breach. Sky high weeds.
-
-
Ninth ward neighbor noting where their home and tree in backyard used to be located prior to the storm.
-
-
Ninth Ward Neighbor’s tree in backyard, so lovingly described in note on front tree.
-
-
Ninth Ward. Wooden silhouettes are scattered around the neighborhood to inspire visions of what could be…bringing the people back.
-
-
Ninth Ward lonely mailbox. I wonder where it’s owners are now.
-
-
Ninth ward street corner.
-
-
Ninth Ward. This is where major breech occured on August 29, 2005. Note levee wall repair.
-
-
Ninth Ward. Common Ground’s dog house. A great comment on the feeling espoused by many New Orleanians.
-
-
Ninth Ward. Common Ground headquarters. Working to rebuild the Ninth Ward and still needs volunteers.
-
-
Ninth Ward. Directly across from breech of August 29, 2005.
-
-
New Pumps installed Post-K in the 17th Street Canal
-
-
9th Ward
-
-
A street that was once lined with homes in the 9th ward. Construction happening there now.
-
-
Across from 17th Street Canal Breech in Lakeview
-
-
Across from 17th Street Canal Breech in Lakeview
-
-
Blighted home across the street from freshly remodeled home in Lakeview.
-
-
Blighted home directly across the street from new homes in Lakeview.
-
-
Blighted Home in Lakeview. Right down the street from freshly built homes.
-
-
Brother Martin Crusaders Football team in Gentilly. A flooded neighborhood near Lakeview. These guys are a sign of hope for our community. I was thrilled to see them. Post-K I am so happy to see kids around. They are our future. Best of luck to you this year, guys!!
-
-
Bus stop in 9th Ward. Note cans of food on back of seating area.
-
-
Each Make It Right Home gets a sign…
-
-
Freshly built homes in Lakeview near 17th St. Canal Breech. Next picture is DIRECTLY across the street from these houses.
-
-
Going up HIGH in Lakeview. You will note I have been photographing the progress of this home for three years. Please see my website for previous pictures.
-
-
Great remodel job on home deeper into the Lakeview neighborhood. Next picture is the house across the street.
-
-
Homes in 9th ward
-
-
Katrina Memorial in 9th Ward
-
-
17th Street Canal Levee Breech repair from street
-
-
Make It Right home in 9th Ward
-
-
Make It Right Home in 9th Ward.
-
-
Repaired 17th Street wall
-
-
New Pumps installed Post-K in the 17th Street Canal
-
-
Rebuilt Home in Lakeview near 17th Canal Breech. Next picture is home down the same street.
-
-
-
Rebuilt homes directly behind federal levee failure of 17th Street Canal. Note signs in yard.
