Uptown/Garden District Pictures, Thoughts

I spent nearly two hours driving throughout Uptown, the Garden District and the Lower Garden District. After finegling my way in (it took 30 minutes) to get past a checkpoint - they are only allowing in Federal or State Government officials - I immediately headed straight for St. Charles Ave. I expected to see similar damage as Jefferson parish except magnified by looting, ransacking and pillaging.

Remarkably St. Charles is fairly clean. The Parish had obviously opened up the road, but it was weird, there are more trees down in Jeff.

On St. Charles I saw NO evidence of the looting of homes.


I turned off near De La Salle to check on a friends house (De La Salle and the JCC appear to be fine) expecting the worst... His typical Uptownie home was perfect. Not a shutter down and not a pane of glass broken. The only damage was a large tree which fell onto his shed.

I next cruised up and down Magazine St. going as far as Jackson Ave. Again, remarkably, I was expecting to see the entire street looted... this was NOT the case. There were some signs of break-ins into shops, mainly shoe stores, clothing stores and Time Savers.

The military presence is HIGH. There are large foot patrols eveywhere, countless suburbans cruising around with elite swat-like troops hanging off the doors, to unmarked unknown agency vehicles everywhere.

In certain neighborhoods which can already appear to be carribbean in nature, they are thrust completely into this perception by M-16 armed, camoflauged soldiers patrolling seriously down streets off Magazine.

I next tracked straight into the Garden District where a fire was raging. Swarms of helicopters carrying large water buckets which are filled and refilled in the Mississippi River were passing overhead and discharging their contents on the blaze. I was close enough that water dripped down on me from helos passing overhead. The security and press were high.

Leaving and having other homes to check, I ventured down Jefferson Ave. only to be caught up by an ABC News crew who asked to interview me while checking on homes of my friends. I agreed and together we made it back over to Pitt St. and went inside a buddy's house. (I have a key).

They interviewed me on the balconey and walking through talking mainly about the incredible condition of Uptown and the Garden District. I explained that every neighborhood in New Orleans is historice, so that even if these two appeared to be ok, it doesn't mean that we've lost a hell of lot in neighborhoods such as Lakeview, Gentilly, the Bywater, etc.

Afterwards I headed back to the Freret and Jefferson area... this is where the flood waters start. Basically anywhere from two to three blocks on the river side of Freret the waters begin and deepen. Trust me, that water is nasty - it ain't no typical New Orleans flood waters.

I tried again on Carrollton Ave. and was greeted by soldiers again at Freret. They asked me what my business was and all that rigamarole. The soldier while examining my ID, explained that there was a pocket of looting happening and that the troops were "taking care of it". He passed me through, but before I drove on , this soldier - probably only 18 - began apologizing to me. "I'm so sorry that we didn't get here sooner." I kept telling him to not be sorry, and thanked him over and over for being here now.

Streets that I traveled on: State, Nashville, Prytania, Jefferon, Magazine, Jackson, Carrollton, Palmer, Calhoun, 1st, Camp, Napoleon, Broadway, and some minor side streets. All appeared the same. There was only one home that I saw which was caved in - probably termite infestation. Also, I saw NO evidence of cars broken into.

My overall takeaway from this first foray into the city is that much of the looting in at least these residential areas is overblown. The actual hurricane damage is relegated to downed trees. There is effectively only light to moderate roof damage which is pretty much the same thing we've seen along the river in Jefferson Parish.

Oh yeah, St. Joe's Bar looks like it could open tonight.











Sorry about the quality of these photos... I had to dumb them down - I'm on dial-up. I do have hi-res copies of each though and the many more I haven't posted.

























































































Some things don't change.......