New Orleans – A thoroughfare that ends where the water begins has become a launching point for rescue workers and for residents looking for anything left behind – especially pets.
After Hurricane Katrina’s devastation, residents walked along Veterans Memorial Boulevard into New Orleans from neighboring Jefferson Parish, only to be stopped by floodwaters lapping the street where it dips lower. Homes on both sides of the ramp and as far as residents could see were flooded up to the eaves last week.
Almost all other access points into New Orleans have been blocked by soldiers or are being used as launching points for official search-and-rescue crews.
Search crews and ambulances gathered at Veterans Memorial Boulevard to save anyone still stuck in the flooded city. But some residents brought hopes of finding pets, while others wanted to reclaim anything that would allow them to move forward with their lives.
Others just stood there and cried.
“My son’s house, my mother’s house, our first house are all in there,” said one sobbing woman who wanted to remain anonymous. “Anything but this water we could deal with. This water is unforgivable. The lives this is going to ruin…”
The street was littered with water bottles, old clothing and other trash washed up by the water, which has receded in recent days. A toy shark lay in the median in grass that became mud closer to the water.
Most were disappointed by what they found or could not even get to their homes. Others were luckier, able to retrieve clothing, and one woman walked away with her two rescued cats.
Throughout last week, trucks backed down the boulevard, dropping motorboats, paddleboats and even Jet Skis into the water. Those without boats asked for rides, trading gallons of gas or cash for trips to their homes.
Others just “borrowed” boats left behind.
After asking a few people for rides, Robert Krowl took the motor off a boat and paddled to his home. He was desperate to get to Snoopy, his 4-year-old dachshund, and Boots, a 12-year-old cat.
“I would gladly give money to anyone to help get my pets,” he said. “I put food for them on the bottom floor. I didn’t think the water would get that high. I thought we’d be back in five or six days.”
More than an hour later, Krowl returned to the landing without his beloved dog and cat. He was near tears.
“I just couldn’t get close enough,” he said. Downed power lines and trees blocked passage to the house.
As he left, others were getting into the water. They sought remnants of anything that could help them get on with their lives.
For Matt Kerrigan and Todd Musgrave, that meant going in for their suits so they could begin to work again.
After climbing into a second- story window, Musgrave also retrieved birth certificates as well as other clothing from his Lakeview home, which is still surrounded by 4 feet of water.
A large wooden swing set in his backyard was turned upside down on the house.
Richard LeBanc and Mike Goodrich brought many of the stranded to safety at the landing during the first several days after the storm.
The pair did not evacuate, living in the top floor of a neighbor’s house since Katrina hit.
But over the weekend, the two neighbors who met during the storm decided to pack it in and join those living on dry land.
“We’re sick; it’s time to go,” LeBanc said. “We can’t go back out. It smells like sewage. We are both getting sick.”
While the odds were often against those who got on boats looking for lost animals, they came anyway.
The risk paid off for one woman.
Ellen White broke out in tears when her friend Bob Lewis returned to the landing in a boat, her two cats cradled in his arms wrapped in towels.
Domino and Destiny were found on furniture – Domino on a floating bookshelf in the living room looking out the window and Destiny in the bedroom on a floating mattress. The house still had 5 feet of water inside.
“I had them on Science Diet Light because they were getting fat, but I guess it was a good thing they were fat,” she said through her tears. “This was the only reason to come back.”
Staff writer Elizabeth Aguilera can be reached at 303-820-1372 or eaguilera@denverpost.com.
