Habitat for Humanity ... Musicians RowWell our work week here is done, but there is SO much more work that needs to be done that I hate to leave. It is almost impossible to comprehend the destruction that the flooding caused not only to property, but to people's lives.
New Orleans borders a huge lake and is located below sea level. The city has a series of canals that run through the city to carry rain run off water which is then pumped back into the lake. The canals have tall walls on each side which make the levees. A combination of the pressure of the huge amounts of water on the levee walls and the failure of the pumps to pump the water back to the lake caused a breach in the levees and the water from the lake just started to empty into the city.
The residents were warned of the hurricane and encouraged to evacuate and the majority of the city did. Many if those that stayed never thought that the storm would be that bad as they had lived through several others. For others who relied on public transportation - there was none in the evacuation plan, so there was no way for them to leave.
The levees broke very early in the morning and the water levels rose in some areas at a rate of more than a 1 foot an hour. At that point there was no time to gather belongings and leave. We heard many stories of folks who kept going to higher levels in their homes and ended up on roof tops and needed rescue.
Because the city is below sea level, none of the homes have basements and are built on cement slabs. During our tour we visited 2 areas where the levees failed and homes were literally swept off their foundations. Throughout the city homes were filled with as much as 9 feet of water. As we drove through 1 area (Lower Ninth District) that bordered the levee, it was gut wrenching to see blank slabs where homes had been and sets of cement stairs leading to nowhere. It was like visiting a cemetary, and in that area it truly was the death of a community. More than 1800 people in New Orleans lost their lives as a result of Katrina and many more were injured. More than 1000 of those lives lost were from the lower ninth district.
We look around and see so many homes and businesses 3 1/2 years after Katrina that are still boarded up. It is sad and discouraging and you wonder if they will ever come back. But the good news is New Orleans IS coming back!!!!! Rebuilding IS happening. FEMA trailers are starting to disappear. People are rebuilding their homes and their lives. One of the things that personally touched my heart was the wonderful job that Habitat For Humanity is doing down here in conjunction with The Musician Build. They have rebuilt a whole neighborhood in the Ninth District. The homes are painted bright colors and are all in a row. They really look like a beautiful garden. It makes me very proud and grateful to be involved with Habitat at home.
Blessings and Smiles
Elaine
