First Impressions
Last night we flew into New Orleans. I was a little disappointed since we didn't get in till night time, so I didn't get to see the city in day light. After we landed we went straight to Camp Hope, settled in, and rested up for the next day. On the ride to the camp I was taken aback. We drove through the lower ninth ward to get to Saint Bernard’s Parish. The lower ninth ward was very unsettling. Block after block was abandoned, and only a few lights could be seen in houses here and there.
Today was our first day and after orientation we headed to our first sight. It was a one story house that had water that reached about six feet up the walls. We completely gutted the house leaving only the toilets, showers, and wall studs. The only salvageable things were two mirrors and two sinks. The homeowner came and helped out. We talked to him and he told us that he had left long before the storm hit; however, many stayed. One man survived who had a two story house down the street, but one lady on the other street had drowned. The waters did not rise until the storm had left. One of the levies broke and that’s when the water rose. They said within a half hour the water had risen to its full level. It was sad to hear that he was not going to rebuild. He has lived in New Orleans all his life, but now he wants out. I can't blame him. In many areas some are rebuilding and some are just leaving their houses and the future of New Orleans is very up in the air. When we asked some residents about what the government was going to do in the future, they all didn't know and told us that they were just taking it one day at a time.
Tomorrow there is more work in store, but tonight we go to the French Quarter, which I am very excited about. Surprisingly, most of the French Quarter was spared since it was built on a hill.
