Two weeks after I arrived in NC Hurricane Dennis plowed ashore. Two weeks later a monster Cat 4 called Floyd churned right up the same pathway.

Princeville, NC and much of the area we call "down east", the east-central portion of the state were completely obliterated.

Princeville went from a thriving, historic town to row upon row of trailers provided by FEMA. Fewer than 100,000 people lived in that area and getting everything rebuilt took more than 4 years. I can only imagine what this will mean for a city like New Orleans.... what can be done for SO MANY people....

Housing and economic concerns will drive those who can afford it away from the city, which can only increase the problems of poverty and despair in the urban center. New Orleans is already among the US' poorest cities.

Five weeks is a minimal estimate. And what happens if a second storm comes?

I feel lucky to have been able to visit New Orleans two years ago. It was always on our list that DH and I would go there together someday and explore the city, go to the zoo (which used to be fantastic, you could ride a riverboat there), listen to some Jazz. Now I wonder if that will ever happen. My impression of New Orleans was a city of conflicts and compromises, radical urban poverty side by side with genteel historic homes. Small artisans' shops and big tourist traps. An easy city to walk around. Lots of things to see and do, and some amazing restaurants.

It is my hope that this will be again, and that won't take long, either.

Posted by: caltechgirl at 11:58 AM | Comments (1) | Add Comment
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