Katrina

In October of 2005 a crew of us from Kansas City, St Louis and El Paseo went down to New Orleans (N'awlins) to work in the Katrina restoration. What we saw was quite a shock. Waterlines on houses were marked with oil and debris that left a "bathtub ring" around neighborhoods. The salt water was contaminated with corrosive agents that leached out of submerged cars, Oil Refineries, Gas Stations, Sewers etc. It is impossible to convey the destruction to our friends and families but it is like walking in to a ghost town with stench, and mold that you can taste. Houses were comlpetely moved off their foundations, cars and boats were tossed around. Things appeared in the most bizzare places. (the out of place became common place) The NEWS shows always talked about the "9th ward" and their hardships, but you never heard about the little towns like Chalmette and St. Bernard Parish that were almost wiped off the map. They are just normal working people who pay their bills and try to raise their families. I kept reminding myself that every house used to be someone's home. Here are some pictures...