Nature Conquers Man: Katrina
By John Linton
20 Jun 2009
Like so many other storms, Katrina began as a tropical depression in the Atlantic not far from the Windward Islands of the Caribbean.
25 August: By the time it had churned its way to the southern tip of Florida it had become a category 1 hurricane. It plowed through Miami-Dade and Broward counties.
27 August: The National Hurricane Center extended a Hurricane Watch for Louisiana and the President declared a state of emergency in Louisiana as Katrina became a category 3 Hurricane over the Gulf of Mexico and began to make the turn from west to north.
28 August: Katrina became a category 5 hurricane with sustained winds of 160 mph. Mandatory evacuation orders were issued as millions of people along the Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama Gulf coast try to leave the area.
29 August: Katrina drops to a category 4 and then category 3 Hurricane as it hits the Gulf coast.
30 August: Sections of the Industrial Canal, 17th Street Canal, and London Street Canal levees break flooding 80% of New Orleans. In 15 minutes the water level rose 16-20 feet in some areas.
The homes damaged or destroyed stands at 200,000.
The estimated time needed to rebuild is 3 to 5 years.
The demolition of some 25,000 homes in the Lakeview and 9th Ward were scheduled to begin March 6, 2006.
Deaths from Katrina:
Alabama 2
Florida 14
Georgia 2
Kentucky 1
Louisiana 1,577
Mississippi 238
Ohio 2
Total 1,836
Missing 705
Cost $90 billion (and counting)
Fri Feb 10: I left home about 3:15 AM with Bruce Loeckler and Andrew Marengo in Bruce's truck. We drove Interstates 95, 78, 81, & 40, stopping for the night at a Super 8 outside of Knoxville, TN (about 850 miles). We were sponsored by the Dunn's Corners Community Church Presbyterian (DCCCP).
Sat Feb 11: We left Knoxville, TN about 6:30 AM and drove Interstates 40, 75, 24, 59, & 12, stopping at our destination, Grace Disciples of Christ Church (DOC), Covington, LA (about another 600 miles). The Congregation at Grace DOC welcomed us with open arms and gracious hospitality. We checked out the HOPE Village Habitat for Humanity site in Covington where we would start work on Monday.
Sun Feb 12: After the church service Shanon Mangum told our group that starting Monday we were to shower at her home because there were three other groups (two from NY, five from KY, and eight from KS-not to mention one student from Baton Rouge) staying at the church and the septic system couldn't deal with all of us. She also told us that people in the devastated area had come to rely on churches for help rather than government organizations.
Mon Feb 13: The groups from NY, KS, & KY headed into New Orleans to gut some more homes while we headed for Habitat for Humanity. We spent the day installing 3 pull down attic stairs and a storm door. Then it was off to New Orleans Airport to pick up Bob and Dorothy Lohmann.
Tue Feb 14: We were off again to Habitat where we noticed a group starting a new home and wandered over to see if we could get in on it. It was all rough framing work, which suited my lack of talent perfectly. I rarely ever saw the other five members of my team after that. Bruce and I left work early to once again go to New Orleans Airport, this time to pick up the sixth and last member of our group, Jason Kayarian.
Wed Feb 15: All six of us crammed into Bruce's truck and headed for Habitat for Humanity. I pounded more nails.
Thu Feb 16: I pounded plenty of nails for Habitat.
Fri Feb 17: This proved to be the last day all six of us were at Habitat for Humanity. That evening we watched the Mandeville Mardi Gras parade. It was the beginning of a series of Mardi Gras parades in Greater New Orleans that continue until Fat Tuesday. Shanon explained that this one was a women's parade (there are men's and mixed as well) and that they were libel to through must anything from the floats. I stood by and waved as the women on the floats threw 111 strands of Mardi Gras beads, a garter belt, large plastic tooth brush, and four different plastic cups my way.
The groups from KY and NY left today.
Sat Feb 18: We decided to spend our day off in French Quarter of New Orleans. Bob had a tourist book and became our tour guide. We checked out Saint Louis Cathedral, Old Ursuline Convent, the French Market and streets to numerous to mention. There was a nip in the air so we stopped at the Café du Monde. The French café au lait and beignets hit the spot.
At 2 PM we caught a jazz concert at the New Orleans Jazz NHP Visitors Center. A local, John Boutté, was singing backed by a band of first-rate local musicians. The show ended at 3:30 PM and several of us bought John's latest CD. As we left the Quarter I slipped into Hard Rock Café to get a couple of gifts and a T-shirt.
The group from Kansas had left in the morning.
Sun Feb 19: Rev. Jean Marie Peacock gave us a tour of the devastation in New Orleans.
Mon Feb 20: Andrew and I went with Mike Thompson (the college student from Baton Rouge) and George Smith (the person running the DOC effort in New Orleans) and the newly arrived group from Virginia into New Orleans East to gut a house not far from Peace Church Presbyterian. We donned our respirators, goggles, hardhat, and rubber gloves, stripped the house of all its contents, and then proceeded to gut it down to the studs. I hated to add the family photo albums to the pile out front, but they were completely ruined.
Meanwhile, Jason began work on installing a shower in another DOC church so they could start allowing groups to stay there. The job would take him all of Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday to finish.
The others had a ball painting at the Habitat site.
Tue Feb 21: More pounding of nails.
Wed Feb 22: My elbow was so sore from pounding nails that I had to find something else to do. I spent the day cutting stuff with a circular saw and carrying stuff. From time to time I would catch a glimpse of one or more of my team members.
Thu Feb 23: Our last day on the job. They were having a photo op at Habitat (HUD was giving them a check) so we hit the road early. Bruce took Bob to the airport to pick up their car (The Lohmann's were staying until Fat Tuesday to do some sight seeing).
Fri Feb 24: Jason left for the airport at 4 AM. We left Covington about 6 AM and took the same route back that we had taken down. We stopped in Roanoke, VA at a Days Inn for the night (after traveling about 850 miles).
Sat Feb 25: We left Roanoke, VA about 6:30 AM and arrived in Westerly about 4 PM (about another 600 miles).
21 responses
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dominic serrao gave props (20 Jun 2009):
powerful and touching story of nature and FEMA conquering man..
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Rey mos gave props (20 Jun 2009):
reminding us of the power of nature... nice story!
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Michaela Krumrey gave props (20 Jun 2009):
Got my vote!
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Meggie Schwendemann gave props (20 Jun 2009):
Perfect for the Theme. also your words !!! voted
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Jim Hart gave props (20 Jun 2009):
thanks for volunteering, and thanks for this photo essay -- yeah! this story should be published in JPG!
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J. Harris Blacklist gave props (20 Jun 2009):
My Yes!!!
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Deborah Downes gave props (20 Jun 2009):
Powerful words and images. My vote.
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Susan Littlefield gave props (20 Jun 2009):
You continue to inspire me, in your photos as well as your words and deeds. Amazing story, and pictures that really bring home the true story of devastation. Definite yes vote.
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Nelson Campbell gave props (20 Jun 2009):
Hell yes.
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Litz Go gave props (20 Jun 2009):
my vote.
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Regenia Brabham gave props (21 Jun 2009):
You Rock John!!!
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Karen K Smith gave props (21 Jun 2009):
Outstanding photo essay. What is so sad is how much devastation still remains today.
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Michael Ball gave props (21 Jun 2009):
Thanks for what you did! Incredible shots and facts!! Well done!! My vote for sure!!
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Martin E. Morris gave props (21 Jun 2009):
I'd give you a medal for this if I could John.I guess I'll have to make do with voting instead.Great story and image.Let's all hope it never happens again!!!
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francesco scipioni gave props (22 Jun 2009):
great! my vote
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Joy B gave props (23 Jun 2009):
We had friends that lost their home when the levees broke. We know the hell they went through for years. Thank you and all the others who put aside their lives to help in New Orleans.
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Beth Wode gave props (25 Jun 2009):
It ROCKS John.
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Watson Inglis said (25 Jun 2009):
Thanks for the story John
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dp * said (26 Jun 2009):
Very good John, Rocks the theme for sure. We've become accustomed to watching the Bermuda High which pretty much dictates the path of tropical systems along the USA East coast. I was glad that beeahch "Katrina" passed me but left me with a torn feeling of relief and sarrow for the lives this storm would touch. In the end it touched all of us in one way or another. dp
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Richard Knight said (15 Aug 2009):
Succinct and straightforward. Voted.
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Mario Scattoloni said (29 Oct 2009):
Touching....perhaps your list of ?´s as a homage for Aamora should include photojournalist as your response,you got a knack for it & its certain gotta be more interesting than being Gary´s real estate agent.
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Spotlight Thank You, Part 2
Personal Post — 12 Nov 2009
Just a thank you to those who have spotlighted a pic of mine.
