Got a pass into NOLA on Tuesday. Trip Report:
1pm: I10 through Kenner/Metarie. Looks like a war zone. A storage rental facility was torn in half. Cloths falling out of it. A big metal billboard bent on to the ground. The "Galleria" has at least 100 windows blown out.
130pm: Metarie is busy. Houses are hidden behind piles of rotten carpet, furniture, tree limbs, and refridgerators they have been placed on the curb for pickup. Looks like bombs have gone off. A shopping center has no front wall. Looks like looters has had some great fun in Metarie.
200pm: Pass a National Guard checkpoint with little incident (a friend has a Mesquito Control Board Car tag. In NOLA. Rescue boats that couldn't be removed when the waters went down litter the roads and neighborhood yards. A thin layer of mud cakes cars and houses. Spray painted orange X's mark the dead. Okay that was kind of Geraldo-ish. Actually didn't see any mark the dead, but zeroes which means nothing was found.
230pm: The closer we get to the Quarter the water level lines receed. The Quarter has virtually no damage. We have a beer at one of the two open bars; Molly's. Also enjoy beers are a group of NY Firemen.
300pm: Leave the Quarter up Esplanade. Just some wind damage. First time that I've been to NOLA and wasn't afraid of being shot.
315pm: All the grass is dead near City Park. This area flooded.
320pm: WOW! Lakeview area. It's like a riverbed. Mud, rocks, and trash everywhere. Lakeview did not start to flood until the 17th street levee broke on Tuesday Morning. Erie sighting of a Lexus SUV, hatchback opened, kid's toys and strollers jammed inside. All of it completely covered in mud. Looked like someone tried to pack up and get out as the waters rose.
325pm: Close up view of the 17th St levee. Workmen tearing down temporary pumps. Backo's push dirt around on top of fixed levee breach.
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