We thought we were going to a house on Coronado that another group had been working on to dismantle a pool. There was a change is plans. Marcie, the volunteer director, asked us to go to another house where the owner is desparate to return. So off we went.
The directions were interesting. The house, located at 2501 Galaxy Way. Go out North Claiborne. It turns into Judge Perez Boulevard. Okay. Keep going and look for Uranus where you turn right. Of course, there are no signs. (By now we are a bit tired, silly, etc., so each time we thought about looking for Uranus, we of course thought about..........Star Trek.
Anyway. We finally found the house. It was a disaster, untouched since the storm. It was in a newer neighborhood, brick, modest, but nice. The grass in front was so high, we almost couldn't see the front door. It was obvious the water had risen above the roof. There was debris and a large tree limb on top. The add-on breezeway had partially collapsed. There were a fridge and freeze in that area...something we all dreaded. Marcy said it was unsafe to go in that area, so to just leave it. We were, to say the least, relieved.
But the rest of the house was a shambles. The ceiling had fallen in. Furniture was upside and piled in strange positions. It was soon apparent there was little to save. So we began.
Remarkably, the job went quickly. We shovelled debris into wheelbarrows, carried out the wreckage of the furniture, including TV's, a computer, radios, telephones, and stuff from the kitchen. We thought we might get one room done. We wound up emptying the house and then tearing out the drywall and panelling in the living room and back bedroom. It was amazing to us and to Marcy when she returned. And again there was a big pile in front of the house, so high, that when you stood in the street, you almost could not see the house.
This was our last job here. This one went so quickly, I don't think we "connected" to it like the one on Felicana. Or maybe we have already become a bit desensitized. No, not that, because, if I really stop and think about it, I can still feel a sense of overwhelming sadness. Yep, this will remain with me for a long time. And I will share this story because it needs to be heard. It must be heard. Because it could happen to any one of us and I wonder who will come help us?
R
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Katrina Came In..
It was all gone. gone with the wind and water...
3 comments:
Here is a letter to President Bush right after the storm. We were in St. Bernard Parrish today.
August 29, 2005; 7:30 PM CST
Dear President Bush:
My name is Henry “Junior” Rodriguez and I am President of St. Bernard Parish Louisiana.
My parish is completely flooded from the recent passage of hurricane Katrina. The eye of the hurricane passed directly over my parish and has caused mass destruction and complete flooding.
Of our community of 67,000 citizens, many are surrounded by water and have no place to go. We have NO food, NO water, NO sanitation, NO power, and NO communication.
We have no way to rescue or recover our citizens.
Absolutely no attempt has been made to communicate with me regarding the catastrophe that has occurred to the citizens that I represent.
I cannot believe that in a country as sophisticated as the United States of America that the leadership in the White House cannot somehow communicate NOW with me and the local government that I represent.
This disaster is a direct outgrowth of the neglect of the Federal Government to address the costal erosion problem of southern Louisiana.
I implore you to please contact me directly or have the appropriate federal agency respond IMMEDIATELY to this disaster. I am in danger of having many citizens die if they are not rescued now.
On behalf of the citizens of St. Bernard Parish, Louisiana, I am begging for your help.
Sincerely,
Henry “Junior” Rodriguez
President, St. Bernard Parish, Louisiana
FCC Riverside Friends and family:
Thank you from the bottom of my heart for all the hard work, support and passion that you all gave so freely of. I have read each day's blog with interest and profound sadness that in our country we have forgotten so many of our brethren.
Thank you for remembering them. Our prayers have been with all week. May your travels be safe.
Sherry Pope
Yesterday was our last day of work on the houses. There was no weather prediction for sleet, but this time that is what we got. It was so cold on arrival that I was shivering. Then to see the house...it looked overwhelming for our last day of work. But we went to work. Everything in this house was covered in a one inch layer of dried mud. The ceiling in the back bedrooms had collapsed and trees were uprooted in the backyard and on the roof. In the midst of the dried mud, scattered debris and the sludge, we discovered some signs of mercy....a tiny porcelin tea set in a plastic box had survived intact. We also found several angels that were dirty but in good shape and a couple of photos of who we thought was the son. We also found a photo of a cat. We hoped he had survived. The last item I found was in a pile of dirt that could have easily been swept up and thrown away. As I sifted through the pile, there was an angel. You know, often we are overwhelmed by the grime, the hardships, the work in front of us, but if we open our eyes and look, we are able to see the mercy of God everywhere! New Orleans is a sad city right now, but God is present in wonderful ways. I am thankful for the opportunity to have served God and the people of New Orleans. I am also thankful to have served with this wonderful team. We have grown close here!
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