Editor’s note: Here are excerpts from blogs written from the scene of Katrina’s fury.
The scene out the windows is frightening, and it’s just beginning. Gusts slamming the big windows and people reflexively ducking, knowing the windows have got to break. Trees whipping as if they’re about to be uprooted. There is a tooth-grinding whistle from the wind … Scanner traffic now is all about storm emergencies – windows popping and frantic calls for help. People urged to move to interior hallways. Some structural collapses being reported … police trying to aid victims.
The (New Orleans) Times Picayune
www.nola.com
Posted: Monday, Aug. 29
One more reason to hate Katrina
I turned down Iberville to get down to Irish Hills, and I wanted to see if the home of the best steak sandwich on the coast survived: The Project Lounge. The best thing to say is that what was also the Darkest Place on Earth now has a skylight. The part of the roof facing Iberville is ripped off, and if Katrina did any damage to that grill … well, I can’t do anything to her, but it’ll be one more reason to hate her. Hate. Her.
Don Hammack, The Biloxi (Miss.) Sun Herald
www.sunherald.com
Posted: Saturday, Sept. 3
An offer to help families
Chris Ryan sends:
We (Fort Worth Little Leaguers) played D’Iberville Little League in the Junior Baseball Tournament held in Grand Junction, Colo., last month. You had an article in your paper on Aug. 26 about the team. We are trying to find out if we can help any of the families that may have had damage.
The Biloxi (Miss.) Sun Herald
www.sunherald.com
Posted: Friday, Sept. 2
Sight of surviving crucifix brings tears
St. Paul’s Church in the Pass (Christian, Miss.). People have been falling to their knees and crying at the sight of this crucifix, as it’s the only thing left (standing) in the church.
Josh Norman, “Eye of the Storm”
dancingwithkatrina.blogspot.com/
Posted Sunday, Sept. 4
New Orleans likely to lose some luster
In a nation so concerned with military response and activity overseas, we can now only hope that a city steeped rich in history and welcoming tourism will not ultimately lie in ruins. The New Orleans depicted in travel brochures, movies and even the popular Mardi Gras draw will undoubtedly no longer have its strangely inviting wonder and beauty.
“Laurin,” Deadly Katrina
www.deadlykatrina.com
Posted: Thursday, Sept. 1
A plea to not assign blame
This is a situation we haven’t found ourselves in before. The city of New Orleans is basically destroyed. It isn’t so easy to take supplies in or bring people out. The roads are destroyed. There is no gasoline. There are no stores. We mustn’t go around blaming America for not being prepared or for not responding faster.
“Lady Jane,” New Orleans Met Blogs
neworleans.metblogs.com
Posted: Friday, Sept. 2
Flooded in a witch’s brew of liquid death
I mean, I think it’s really nifty you got your Internet access back and all, but my entire home is flooded in a witch’s brew of liquid death – and yet, I’m one of the LUCKY ones!!
“Oyster,” The Right Hand Thief
righthandthief.blogspot.com/
Posted: Sunday, Sept. 4
Desperate to impress authorities
The people are so desperate that they’re doing anything they can think of to impress the authorities enough to bring some buses. These things include standing in single-file lines with the elderly in front, women and children next; sweeping up the area and cleaning the windows and anything else that would show the people are not barbarians. The buses never stop.
The Interdictor
www.livejournal.com/users/interdictor/
Posted: Thursday, Sept. 1
Frigate birds an unusual sight
It took us eight hours to drive the approximately 80 miles here and I am exhausted. The only cool part was that as we drove through Bayou Sauvage, we saw about a hundred magnificent frigate birds hovering low over the highway. You seldom see these birds over land unless a hurricane is coming or has just passed. These appeared to be all females and juvies – I guess the men ride out the storm and send their families inland.
“Poppy Z. Brite,” Dispatches from Tanganyika
www.livejournal.com/users/docbrite/
Posted: Sunday, Aug. 28
