Katrina - 20 Years

 

Katrina was unlike anything we had ever seen. Everyone knows the story of New Orleans, but what’s often forgotten is how Mississippi and the rest of Louisiana were devastated too. By the time Katrina reached where I lived, she had weakened to a Category 1 hurricane—but she was still fierce. Our reservoir churned with 14-foot waves, and we were without power for two weeks. Even then, we considered ourselves lucky compared to the people to our south, who endured unimaginable loss.

We must never forget what happened in New Orleans. The people there were failed. And we must also remember the many others Katrina touched—their lives, too, were forever changed.

Below is an excerpt from my blog, written on August 28, 2005. 

Katrina is on her way

Katrina Packing Wind of Nearly 175 Mph 
AP - 1 hour, 11 minutes ago

NEW ORLEANS - Mayor Ray Nagin ordered an immediate evacuation Sunday for all of New Orleans, a city sitting below sea level with 485,000 inhabitants, as Hurricane Katrina bore down with wind revved up to nearly 175 mph and a threat of a massive storm surge. Acknowledging that large numbers of people, many of them stranded tourists, would be unable to leave, the city set up 10 places of last resort including the Superdome arena. "This is a once in a lifetime event," the mayor said. "The city of New Orleans has never seen a hurricane of this magnitude hit it directly." From Yahoo

This is going to be bad, I hope all my friends in NO and the Coast are Hitailing it out!! My thoughts are with you all!!!!

I can still vividly recall standing in the middle of my street, surrounded by darkness. The sky was full of stars, and the only sound was the low, steady hum of generators.

Cypress Reflections

Cypress trees rise majestically from the still waters of the Louisiana Oxbow lakes, formed by the meandering path of the mighty Mississippi River. These ancient trees, create a hauntingly beautiful landscape that feels suspended in time. The lakes, with their calm waters and tranquil surroundings, serve as peaceful havens for both reflection and recreation. It’s a place where nature’s quiet beauty invites a sense of serenity, offering the perfect backdrop for moments of contemplation or leisurely exploration.

 Also linked to: Sunday Best.

West Florida

There isn’t too much that can be said about this photo, since the photo itself says a lot about Old West Florida.   Pearl, Mississippi is a few miles within the historical boundary of West Florida, and I have been a resident of what was once West Florida my entire life.    This will not change, as in less than a month, I will be a resident of current west Florida and what was considered the eastern boundary of Old West Florida.   I have accepted a new opportunity with my company, with my friends and families blessing… I will soon be relocating. 

Good Life: A Photographic Glimpse at 2010

This is a view of my world from my eyes through just a few of my favourite photos from 2010.

Monument to the Immigrant

America is a country built from immigrants, and the "Monument to the Immigrant” in New Orleans immortalizes this fact. I know a bit about my history, my ancestors on my fathers side immigrated from England before the American Revolution, my mothers side is a bit more complicated and murky, with native American influences and nationalities that I am uncertain of. Throughout my day I see faces, few of which are native to the North American Continent, and I wonder what tribulations brought their ancestors here, and I wonder the same about mine. What decisions that long ago caused them to want to cross an ocean to a land that was new. Was it the opportunity for a new life, or escaping from some injustice…. I wonder if they found what they were looking for, or if it left them homesick. Either way they were brave people, and need to be remembered.

Humour

Well my last post featured Skippy, the globe trotting kangaroo… I guess to be fair it is only right for me to do a post featuring his American cousin Allie, all over the world. It is part of human existence to have serious matters and a sense of humour… it is very important to find a balance between the two. Sometimes we forget this, and the lack of humour leaves us bitter and a bit boring. However the opposite is also true, it takes a talent to find a middle ground and allow both silly and serious to work in harmony.

Rivers

Rivers are a mysterious part of the landscape; they provide a mode of transportation for man and water to the sea. The Mississippi river is the largest river and North America that provides just this purpose; it connects the American heartland to the sea, and effectively divides the continental United States into Eastern States and Western States.

On some nights, I have found that if you travel to a river… you can sense spirits travelling down with the water. Where they go I am not sure, but I can definitely see why so many ancient cultures revered rivers as paths to the other world.

The Mississippi

Anytime you fly out of Jackson, Mississippi (JAN) on American Eagle Airlines, you go to Dallas, Texas (DFW). In order to do this you fly over one of the greatest, if not the greatest river in North America… the Mississippi River. I remember seeing it when flying to DFW the first time, I was a little crest fallen… I expected something a little grander. And then I realised that you see the Mississippi River, and you do not see many other rivers from that height, so that gave me a clue to its size. Now I look forward to seeing it when I fly, almost like saying hello to an old friend.

Rue Bourbon

New Orleans is the southern city of sin, and I mean that in a loving way. Why there are many tourist destinations in the city, from the Audubon Zoo and Aquarium of the Americas, this is the one that most remember and love the most. With it’s many clubs covering a Varity of types of people and tastes, to its world class drinks and shops. Bourbon Street offers it all, usually at night when the centre of the French Quarter nightlife comes to life, and people walk in mass down this wonderful slice of beautiful sin.

Jackson Square

Jackson Square in New Orleans, Louisiana is one of the most wonderful places to visit. I love the feeling of history you get when you stand in the shadow of St. Louis Cathedral in a place that has not changed much since the Spanish and the French claimed this portion of America. The surrounding square is a small taste of what New Orleans is, it holds clowns, artists, Tarot Readers, and Fortune tellers… it is also surrounded by wonderful shops selling everything from pralines to alligator souvenirs. I had a chance to visit this wonderful place yesterday, I have seen it many times… but it never ceases to amaze me.