We began with a final walk through of the building, somehow discovering more clutter that needed to be tossed or placed where it belonged. Then our very own tour guide, Michael Hitch directed our bus through the narrow lanes of the city as I dodged pot holes, parked cars and road debris. We went through some of the areas still suffering from Katrina damage. We drove along streets where one house had been meticulously restored, the next razed and replaced by a modern energy efficient home, and the next empty, abandoned, and crumbling. We watched and heard a New Orleans double line funeral procession.
Then we drove to the 9th Ward. Hitch's description of the Katrina flood as we drove through the most damaged area was riveting. Crossing the bridge he pointed out the levy and flood wall. He described how poorly anchored barges broke loose and crashed into the flood wall, creating a breech that immediately washed away both wall and levy allowing a 20 foot high wall of water to bury the Lower 9th Ward in mere seconds. When it all settled the sea water was 8 feet high across the parish. Ultimately, 1836 people lost their lives during and after the storm.
As we drove along Hitch pointed out walls of businesses and homes with dark horizontal lines 15 feet above the ground - the water line. He pointed out vacant lots where the city came in and bulldozed away any homes seemingly abandoned, leaving no remnant of a structure, all without owner's permission.
Hitch described the various ministries that are attempting to make a difference in the area. He talked about the lack of churches in the community. Most churches were washed away with the homes and have not returned. In many ways it is a community truffling to make it with fewer resources, fewer people, and no support. Promised government support was wasted on trivial infrastructure or was given to investors as "buy backs" of their worthless damaged rental properties, sometimes at double market value. Additional promised funds dried up as newer natural disasters took precedence in the news, and thus, in the public and political eye.
After the tour we enjoyed a picnic lunch at the historical Chelmette battlefield, climbed trees, learned a bit about the history if the city, and talked about the city, the recovery efforts, and the ways various on-profits are working together to meet the ongoing needs of the communities. We dropped a few team members at Hitch's house so they could he Julie pack up some more things for the big move tomorrow. The rest of us when to the park to play with anyone who might come out to play.
At Cominsky Park we tossed a frisbee and kicked a few soccer balls, showing off our lack of skills. It did not take long to be joined by a few children who were in town staying with their grandmother for a few days since school was out for the summer. Two little girls and a boy joined in the fray. The good thing was they didn't know anything about soccer or frisbee so we looked like pros to them.
We talked to the grandmother a while and heard from her heat it was like to ride out a storm like Katrina. She said while she sought shelter in their home they watched the house next door literally split in half when the waters hit. Her home was flooded but spared any structural damage. When she dared to walk outside 7 days later the water was chin high. They were rescued from the standing flood water a few days later. She thanked God that her family made it through without any permanent scars.
After a quick shower back at the church Hitch treated us to "pancakes as big as a pizza" at City Diner. We had tried to go on Sunday evening, but the diner was short staffed. It was worth the wait! We had such a good time talking through the week, getting to know each other better, eating too many slices of pancakes (served on pizza pans - blueberry, strawberry, banana, pecan, and plain), and being entertained by Nick's magic tricks. It was a very fun evening and the perfect ending to the day.
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