CJ Experience: Hurricane Katrina

MSNBC is asking people to send in their experiences with Hurricane Katrina:

Returning home to East New Orleans

Gennith Johnson / Gennith Johnson, New Orleans Gennith Johnson shares an image of her parents' kitchen in East New Orleans

We been living in the home for 3 years and it has 4 bedrooms and 2 1/2 bath.  At its highest, the water reached four feet in the home.  Although it will be a lot of work,  we will return to the home and re-build as soon as we are able.
--Gennith Johnson, New Orleans
To see more photos of the Johnson home, click here

Saved by her N.O. angels
An excerpt from a submission by Diana Jackson, Orinda, Calif.:
Tuesday morning, the hotel announced that there was some water rising on Canal, and that we would have to wear bracelets identifying us as guests.  They had reports of looting and gunfire, so all but one door were locked.  They also announced that they would only be serving one meal each day, and that the backup generator would probably last only another hour or two.  They strongly encouraged anyone with a car to leave the hotel, as there was word that roads to the west were open.  I asked if they might try to arrange carpools, and they said no.

I packed my bags and went down to the lobby to see if I could get a ride anywhere, with anyone.  There were a lot of people leaving who did not want to take any passengers.  I spoke to a woman who said that a man had accepted her offer of $1,000 to take her and friends out of N.O.  She said that while the valet was getting the car, a manager of the hotel approached the driver and advised him not to take strangers!  They eventually found a stray cab.

I waited until the lobby was nearly empty, and cried for the first time. 

To read the remainder of Diana Jackson's story, click here

Surviving in St. Tammany Parish
I am in Pearl River, LA (St. Tammany Parish). We hear very little about our parish on the only radio station we can receive WWL-AM 870. We survived the storm and now we are struggling to survive the aftermath. We have downed power lines, with poles ripped completely out of the ground, trees uprooted, and water in some of our homes. I do not have electricity, running water, and just got phone service. I am using (2) generators to keep my refrigerator and freezer from spoiling. I am using a 5 gallon bucket with kitty litter for restroom facilities (I am the Kitty). I heard about FEMA on Thursday giving water, ice and MRE meals. Southern Alabama Churches are passing out personal hygiene items. Gas lines are one mile long and we had to drive 100 miles for the nearest grocery store that was working. I would like to thank all the FEMA employees for being here to help us your supplies are a GOD send. I would also like to commend the power company CLECO for working so very very hard to return electricity to the businesses via generators so we all can survive the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. THANK ALL OF YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND PRAYERS SO THAT WE WILL SURVIVE.
--Marilyn Wallace, Pearl River, La.

A city of heavy silence

Jade Boneff-Walsh

I just returned to DC from New Orleans after volunteering with relief organizations. It was hard to imagine I had been enjoying the Mardi Gras there only a few months ago. My first impression of the city was heavy silence. Unless a helicopter is flying over or a convoy of trucks is nearby, once you venture into the side streets you are very much alone. New Orleans had been a city with ghosts but now it feels like a city of ghosts. If you've read "The Stand" by Stephen King, you know what I mean. My most faithful companions in the city were the flies. They are everywhere, and they followed me to the edge of town, like good hosts bidding me to come back again soon. The smell is almost solid, and as I treaded carefully between branches and debris in flooded areas, I couldn't help remembering the sinful smells of New Orleans - the beignets, gumbos and exotic perfume coming from voodoo and palm reading little shops. Colorful shiny beads are everywhere, hanging from trees and half-buried in stinky mud. As I was leaving the city, one of the other volunteers reminded me that it is bad luck to leave New Orleans without beads. I felt like a half-looter half-priestess as I picked up a strong of silver beads from a tree and squeezed it in my hand all the way to Baton Rouge.
--Jade Boneff-Walsh, Alexandria, Va.

Lost business, found family
We had taken a loan against our house to open a pottery business.  We made hand made pottery and I had all the equipment -- four kilns, a slip machine, molds, slab table, as well as clays of various types and glazes and $1,000.00 of Chemicals just purchased to mix our own glazes.

Brian Courtney

I had business insurance but did not have flood insurance.  When I went to our shop the floor had two plus inches of mud on it.  The shelves in the store had been pushed around as if someone drove throw the shop.  This was caused by the surge of water from Lake Ponchatrain.  Our shop was located in Old Town Slidell, which is about four miles from the lake.  According to the water line in the shop we had about 5 feet of water. This has destroyed all the equipment, which was new as of December 18, 2004.

Needless to say our business has been destroyed and we don't know what we can do going forward.

On another note: my brother is missing and my sister is missing.  My brother Joe Courtney, who lived in Kenner, La., decided to ride the storm out at a friend’s place in Metairie, La., which is just outside New Orleans city limits.  I have been trying to get in touch with him since last Tuesday after the storm had past. I cannot seem to get any information from anyone on my brother he as a birthday coming in five days and I don't know if he is even alive.  My sister, Donna Wexiel, lived in Chalmette, Louisiana has not been heard of since the storm.

UPDATE (Sept. 6, 6:48 p.m., ET): Good news! Found my sister in Texas, and just moments ago got in touch with my brother.  Have him and his family coming to my house as they lost everything.
--Brian Courtney, Slidell, La.

Feeling fortunate
My husband and I live in McComb, MS, about 90 minutes north of New Orleans. We were w/o water for four days and remain w/o electricity to date. We were lucky and suffered no property damage; we lost trees only. We were not prepared for the destruction of this storm and had little food, water, and gas to get by. My father-in-law brought us a generator, gas, water, and food from Texas to help us survive. His generosity has been a lifesaver and has helped us get by on the long, hot days. Yesterday, my neighbors and I cooked breakfast on the grill and served those in the neighborhood who wanted to eat. Afterwards, we had Bible study because we could not go to church. This was the first time my neighbors and I have conversed to such length. It's a shame that it took such despair to bring us together. Nevertheless, our neighborhood has banded together and learned from this tragic situation. We are truly blessed here in McComb, MS. We have undergone nothing compared to what others have experienced. We have been temporarily inconvenienced only, and our lives will soon resume to the status quo. Our hearts and prayers are with those less fortunate than we.
--Mindi Blalock Selman, McComb, Miss.

No quick fixes
A temporary fix is not enough. I am a minister living in Mobile, Alabama. Eleven miles south of us in the city of Bayou La Batre.  A 12'4" tidal surge took out homes, vehicles, and fishing boats of hundreds of families. This is a fishing community. The mayor of Bayou La Batre brought many families to the doorstep of the Bayou Weslyan Church, pastored by a devoted man, Roger Bowers. Even though hundreds of pounds of food, water and clothing have been donated, the church needs large army tents to store the goods that are still being donated. Used trucks, cars and boats need to be donated for the people to pick up supplies and return to their livelihoods.
--Jeff Givens, Mobile, Ala.

Destruction in Bogalusa
I am from Mobile, Ala. I went to Bogalusa, La., which is 90 miles NE of New Orleans, on Friday to spend time with my husband his family to help them move. By the time we realized that Katrina was headed our way it was too late. He has elderly grandparents who need oxygen, insulin, and is in a wheelchair and we could not leave. I was forced to remain in Bogalusa to ride out the storm. New Orleans is not the only affected area in Louisiana. Bogalusa was torn to shreds.

The house that we moved out of just one day before Katrina hit has almost completely collapsed. The roof fell in and the floors were buckling. Trees down on homes and businesses everywhere. Water as high at 3 to 4 feet deep. Absolutely no power, water, or most of all communication is available. People's homes are destroyed. I was finally able to make it out of the city on Thursday morning to return to Mobile, where conditions, though bad are still much better than Bogalusa.

My family is using a generator to supply oxygen to my husband's grandmother. However due to gas shortages, I fear that gas will soon run out for the generator which is a necessity for her to live. I've never seen such destruction. Brand new buildings torn to shreds. Insultation flying around everywhere. Hundred foot pine trees and oak trees completely ripped from the ground and thrown 20-30 feet from where they originally stood. I plan to bring them more supplies this weekend. They are in need of help also.

The mayor of Bogalusa completely lost his home but Tuesday morning he was at city hall doing everything in his power to get running water. If someone could please get the word out that these people are in need also. I understand that many parishes in Louisiana are. Washington Parish was hit hard. Covington, and Mandeville are also in Washington Parish. There is still no communication here so there is no way for me to contact my family except to simply go over there. Someone please help them and everyone please join me in prayers for their community as well as the other communities affected by Katrina's wrath. I love the Gulf Coast. I've lived here my entire life and Katrina has destroyed my home, everything I know. God bless all the victims.
--Tara Madison, Mobile, Ala.

Feeling blessed
Our community has been completely destroyed. I live in Stark Bayou, a neighborhood of 90 homes. My home is still standing with only some slight flood damage, my neighbors are living there until they can repair their flood damage. My parents took us in further north in Meridian Miss. We all feel extremely blessed. We still have our family, health, home, and our jobs. We will be helping many, return their lives to normal as soon as we are allowed to go home. God Bless the USA, and thank you to all the good people of the world for your prayers and financial support of our communities.
--Terry Ward and Family, Ocean Springs Miss.

Emotional in Mobile
I live in Grand Bay, Alabama, and we felt the power of Katrina, too. However, I know I am blessed because my 4-month-old son is fine, I know where all of my family members are, I have a house to go to. I waited in line two hours on Wednesday to get water and ice only to be turned away, I waited again Thursday for 4 hours and was able to get water, ice and MRE, I was so happy I just cried. I needed to bottled water for my son's formula bottles. I was afraid I was going to run out. I feel so sorry for those people who have nothing left, especially those who are trapped in New Orleans. Those horrible fools who are hindering the rescues of other people in New Orleans, I pray that GOD will rain down his wrath upon them! They will answer for their hatefulness and evil ways, maybe not in this lifetime, but in the hereafter, they will answer heavily!
--Jessica, Mobile, Ala.

Shelters sprouting
The monumental task of caring for thousands of evacuees at Houston's Astrodome is being repeated in smaller scale in dozens of shelters throughout southeast Texas. Beaumont has sheltered 1,200 persons in the Ford Center, the county's convention complex; Orange, Port Arthur as well as the smaller towns of Lumberton, Kountz, and others are housing persons in community centers and churches in groups of 100 to 250. The outpouring of support of clothing, bedding, & food from individuals, churches, as well as the local chapters of the Red Cross and Salvation Army is enormous. Similar micro-stories of support & aid are being repeated from Texas to Tennessee to Georgia.
--Ryan Smith, Beaumont, Texas

Getting out of control
Baton Rouge is like a war-zone. STILL no electrical power even though there wasn't that much damage to the city. No power trucks to be seen. They have started shooting and looting here. No gasoline, no motel rooms, no rental cars. I am worried going to work about leaving my home unattended. I-10 has people parked everywhere sleeping in their cars. The shelters and hospitals here are full. This area doesn't need politicians visiting, it doesn't need money....IT NEEDS LEADERSHIP & ORDER. God help us all if somebody doesn't step up and get control of this situation. True, Monday we were "in disaster mode", but it's Friday today and it's getting worse.
--Wayne Roberts, Baton Rouge, La.

'As long as needed'
I volunteered at the Red Cross Shelter located at Hirsch Coliseum in Shreveport, La., today. Close to 600 refugees were brought in by school bus from the New Orleans area. More may have arrived after I left for the day. They were mostly orderly, appreciative, exhausted and treated with love and respect. They received triage, medical care if needed, mental health counseling, showers, food, toys, diapers, clothing and a safe place to sleep. The children were being enrolled in school and school supplies were plentiful. We will love on them as long as needed! Louisianans are faithful and generous!!
--Lisa Richardson, Bossier City, LA

Escaping from 'Armageddon'
From Anthony Smith, Sterling Heights, Mich.: My wife and I arrived in New Orleans on Friday, August 26th and were staying at the Holiday Inn in the French Quarter when the hurricane arrived. We lost power and running water on Monday morning around 6:30 a.m. The Hotel Manager, Mr. Darius Grey, and his staff were very professional and compassionate at the same time, they made sure the guests had something to eat and bottled water to drink. A portion of the New Orleans police used the lobby as a command center. As the situation continued to deteriorate in the streets the guests were asked to evacuate to the Convention Center on Tuesday, August 30th.

By the Grace of God we were sent a Savior in the form of William Johnson, Director of Security for the hotel. Mr. Johnson was evacuating to Galveston Texas,  where he had sent his family earlier in the week and offered to give us a ride to Galveston with him, this man didn't know my wife and me from the "Man in the Moon" but was willing to take us with him. Once he had secured the hotel with the help of some of his staff he packed us into his Saturn Ion and we began our trip from "Armageddon".
To read Anthony Smith's entire story, click here

Never planned for this
As I'm writing this, I may be experiencing some signs of early labor. I've been planning the birth of my second son for nine months, but I never planned for a hurricane evacuation. My home is in Slidell and sustained only roof damaged and downed trees, but many other homes in Slidell are destroyed and under water. Thank God most people did evacuate. My family and I are staying in Baton Rouge with a friend, and guardian angel. People here have been amazing. The hospital has a plan for all of the "displaced OB patients" and many doctors have volunteered to work with the hundreds of pregnant women who cannot contact their doctors and need prenatal care. Electricity in Baton Rouge is still sporadic. We spent the last two nights in the club house of another apartment complex. The outpouring of support is overwhelming. We are so thankful. Today, our electricity is back on and we now have AC and hot water. We are glued to the TV because we feel so out of touch with what is going on even though we are in the middle of it. We have heard reports of looters in and around Baton Rouge. Truckloads of evacuees are camped out in parking lots because there is nowhere else to go and gas is hard to find.
--Hilary Bordelon, Slidell, La.

Still in New Orleans
I am Donald A. Sauviac, Jr. a criminal defense attorney. As of Thursday Sept 1, 2005 at 7:49 a.m.  I am holed up in a third generation family home located at Weiblen and Vicksburg Streets in the Lakeview area of New Orleans. My wife and four daughters left just before the storm and managed to make it to Memphis, Tenn. where they have three rooms with friends who left Metairie. I have two collie dogs and a bird here with me. The dogs are holding up on the second story flat roof with the generator. I am on the second story of the house a converted double. I have a 22 ft. pontoon boat tied up on the side street. I have plenty of food and water. I keep using the generator to charge up my phone and listen to the radio to figure out what is going on around me. I just moved into this house from a house in Metairie, which is known for flooding. As fate would have it the Metairie house that was up for sale is high and dry with no apparent damage.

The house I'm in had calf high water up to the second step of the inside stairwell. The water has subsided in the last day it only covers the first step. (the house is up on piers and from the sidewalk it comes up to my chest standing -- I guess the total depth was about 5 ft. Until yesterday I had clear running water in the upstairs sink, toilet and tub -- probably ok for washing off but not to drink. In a two block are there seems to be about a dozen people who are staying at this time. We check in on each other and talk by wading down and/or from windows or rooftops.

For the past few days I was charging on neighbors cell phone with the generator and used that phone occasionally to get a call out. At this time I have cell service in the very early a.m. and late p.m. I even have wireless Internet service which just started working. My wife and children are frantic they want me to leave but I won't. This was my maternal grandparent's house that I as a child evacuated to during hurricane Betsy when my parents’ home in Gentily went underwater and we were evacuated by boat.
To read Donald’s entire story, click here.

Tough times in Baton Rouge
My family made it to Baton Rouge, La. All I can say is we are alive. Our area was just restored power yesterday. We had16 people living in one house. One has Alzheimer’s and it is devastating to her. The Baton Rouge area has had an influx of about 500,000 people and they are unable to support them. Even thought most stores (Wal-Mart, Winn Dixie, Albertson’s, Sam’s) are open, food and supplies are being consumed at a rate never seen before. McDonalds, Wendy’s, Arby's etc are already sold out of food and waiting re-supply. There needs to be an effort to move evacuees to other areas of the country. I see none. Gas supplies are extremely low and driving to get what food there is takes, in some areas 1 hour to go two miles.
--B. Bassett, Kenner, La.

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