Part 2 – DR404-12 SWLAFLD Saturday, Mar 17 2012

Second day with the Red Cross up in Carencro, Louisiana. For some great photos of the flooding (to the extent that pictures of a disaster can be called great) see here and here for an article  and videos about people still trapped in their homes.

We were getting ready this morning to go out to a couple homes to do casework when one of the Damage Assessment Teams called in to report a neighbourhood in need of clean-up kits. So we loaded the car and headed out. Sure enough, there was extensive flooding. The street was on a hill so those at the bottom had more flooding than those at the top. One house had four feet; most had two-three feet.

We met Miss V. first. She lives closer to the top of the street. Her lawn was covered in clothes. They belonged to her neighbours. Many of them. She was washing clothes and helping out in cleaning as much as she could. I mentioned this to my bf Joey and he said something like “That’s the way we do it in Louisiana.” I knew that, but at the same time it’s so great to see it in action.

We went door to door, talking to folks and handing out the cleaning kits. At the bottom of the street we came across Miss C. She had incurred four feet  of water in her house and showed us some pictures. When the flooding came she evacuated grabbing only her purse, her dogs, the clothes she had on and her car keys. When she got to the top of the street she realized she couldn’t go any further. All the exit roads were blocked with flooding so she spent the day there.

But she told us that she’s lucky; she has flood insurance, most of her neighbours don’t. Yet, as she told us her story, and pictures of her houses –she and her husband have already gutted it four feet up all around the first floor– her eyes welled up several times. But at one point, she said “If I had a choice, I would sell. I don’t want to go through this again” and started crying. Yet, she also admitted that it’s been less than a week and that her feelings may change.

Later that day most of the houses on that street were declared as having major damage so we were able to go back to start providing financial assistance. We only had time to do two houses and went to Miss C.’s house first.  Red Cross, when a disaster meets certain criteria, is able to provide disaster-related emergency assistance in certain areas; for this disaster that includes clothing/shoes, food/groceries, storage containers and bedding.

As I mentioned yesterday, 91% of Red Cross spending is for humanitarian services and programs. The amount of funding isn’t huge; it is, after all, intended to be emergency assistance. Red Cross is very cognizant that their funding, as an NGO, is from individuals; “donated by the American public” is a catch-phrase I heard yesterday and found myself using a couple times today.  What strikes me about important in terms of Red Cross funding is that it doesn’t require a ton of hoops on the client’s part. Once the damage has been assessed and Red Cross has determined its level of involvement, casework can be done in 45 minutes to an hour. At the end of that time clients are given a special credit card. While some people in this flood may get insurance money down the road – it is just that, down the road. People need help now and Red Cross is there to help today.

Miss C. and her husband were so grateful for the assistance we were able to provide. One question that we ask at the end is “Would you state that the Red Cross has been able to meet all of your disaster-related emergency needs?” Miss C said “oh yes, it’s more than I imagined we could get.” And started crying again. She gave us each a long hug as we left to head to the neighbours, saying “Thank you. thank you so much.”

Tomorrow we go back to the same street to provide assistance to a few of her neighbours. Can’t wait!!

From the Red Cross website: “The American Red Cross is where people mobilize to help their neighbors—across the street, across the country, and across the world—in emergencies. Each year, in communities large and small, victims of some 70,000 disasters turn to neighbors familiar and new—the more than half a million volunteers and 35,000 employees of the Red Cross.”

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Community, Schmunity: a look at New Orleans 2 years later Thursday, Aug 25 2011

A reflection from Jessica Hambleton:

When I registered for the CINT912 course back in 2009, I had no idea that the adventure I was embarking on would profoundly change my life. I had visited Flanders Fields as a child and had visited Ground Zero a few years ago but as devastating as those situations were, neither of them inspired me quite like my experience in NOLA almost two and a half years ago.

Jessica and Joy at the 2009 Jazz Fest

Although the above two tragedies were in fact tragedies, there was a sharp difference between those two events and hurricane Katrina: they had the support of their government during the aftermath.  It was saddening to read and watch the devastation prior to arriving in NOLA but it was a whole other level of sad upon arriving.  The first home we came to was owned by a lovely woman named Rebecca who had everyone in tears as she was sharing her story and her joy at finally having her home insulated and started towards rebuilding.  What I began to notice was that even though the stories were emotional for all of us, the residents of New Orleans had this spunk about them that was undeniable.  It wasn’t until our second week of the trip that I realized what that spunk was: determination.  By the time the second week rolled around I was amazed at the sense of community that I was seeing all around.  Even though the city, state and federal government was continuing to let them down, the citizens of New Orleans didn’t let that stop them from reconstructing the city that they loved.  Now don’t get me wrong, they were definitely bitter, and understandably so, but their collaboration and progress they achieved was not only outstanding but also had the added bonus of a ‘screw you we don’t need you’ to all three levels of government.

Jessica digging a community garden in Mid-City

The way the members of the community had come together to change their city was unlike anything I had not only ever experienced but that I had even ever read about.  It was absolutely inspiring.  People who may not have ever talked to each other had Katrina not have hit the city, were now on committees, executive boards, part of community organizations together and changing what was happening in their city, and all without any government help.  It is a committment that was creating successful change. I can only hope that this inspiration can penetrate others’ visions and remind them that anything is possible, literally.

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2 years later – Reflections from Chris Monday, Aug 22 2011

In May 2009 my group was the initial group to go to New Orleans to help with the rebuild, and there isn’t a week that goes by that I don’t think about our experience there. It’s been 2 years and I still can’t get it out of my mind. Do I want to get it out of my mind? NEVER!! But it’s also sad to think about New Orleans because the time spent there can never be duplicated. I think everyone whoever’s been there as a class can resonate with this feeling.

We were there to rebuild homes and that’s what we did. I can remember the first house we did, and we polished that off in a day, when it was supposed to take two. It was a lot of hard work, but it was also a lot of fun. We were rewarded with a lovely lunch (who remembers that carrot cake yum!!!) I can remember the demolition crew and us killing ourselves in the sweltering heat, but it was all worth it for that final moment when the shed came down.

Jeanette's first wall - 4 years after the storm. Shown (L-R) Jeanette, India, Lily, Chris, FM

The damage that we witnessed 4 years after Katrina was insane, I don’t think any of us believed it would still be that bad, and I think that was a motivating factor that kept us pushing, day in and day out. It still baffles me how a country such as the United States could abandon its own. The images that I witnessed on tv when the disaster was taking place, only hit me harder when visiting the same places that were destroyed.

Fong-Ming, Rojyan and Chris planting trees to aid in wetlands redevelopment.

I may not see or talk to anyone as much as I would like, other than randomly seeing Ahmed or Said downtown, but we’re still a family. Our second mom Tanya had it pretty rough, in those days there was no Pascal so she had to deal with all of us, and we stressed her out (you know what I’m referring to). But for her to put together this brilliant idea still amazes me. In many ways, the tragedy of Katrina brought together a group of people who may have never met before to accomplish so much.

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New Orleans: A collection of photos Tuesday, Aug 16 2011

I’ve been back to New Orleans now 3 times since my first trip down in 2009, with one more visit planned for the end of the month. I still can’t explain what it is about the city that gets under your skin and refuses to leave your head, but it has to be something about the character and personality of New Orleans, the spirit and resilience of its inhabitants. As a volunteer, I’ve had the incredible opportunity to meet people from all over the world who are just as baffled as me. How can this place seem so much like home? How can spending any amount of time here change your life so completely? In all honesty, if I could, I would pack up and move there for good.

I last spent months at a time living in the Lower Ninth Ward, but with every visit, no matter the length, I am still as completely captivated by the neighbourhood as I was the first time I stayed there. There is a quiet, eerie beauty. With every intersection, another empty lot. Around every corner, another house sitting abandoned. But the pace of change surprises me. A year after my first visit, a small community has popped up with more houses than empty lots at one intersection. Granted, the recovery is soon entering it’s 7th year, and with the anniversary of Katrina looming around the corner most residents of the city should be home. This isn’t the case, so I try to see every individual homecoming as a small victory. People haven’t given up trying to come home yet, and I can’t help but feel optimistic.

This is a series of photos taken since 2009, mostly in or around the Lower Ninth Ward and St. Bernard Parish.
© Amanda Fotes 

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Do You Know What It Means? Monday, Aug 15 2011

A two year out reflection from Stephanie – one of the 2009 NOLA students.

Stephanie Cleaning post-insulation installation. Her favourite job.

This is my attempt to fully articulate  the impact New Orleans has had on me. First of all, I’ll start by admitting that going to New Orleans was tough, but coming back was a lot tougher. Preparing for this trip took more courage than I ever imagined and I really had to step outside of my comfort zone in order to pursue this two week journey. I went back and forth debating whether or not I could actually go through with it until one day I bought a plane ticket and locked myself in… No regrets since that day.

I’ll begin by saying that I have extreme anxiety when it comes to flying and I’ll never forget my traumatizing experience flying home from NOLA. It was a small plane, a lot of turbulence, and we went through a thunder-storm.

Royjan, Stephanie and Jo land in Buffalo after an eventful plane ride

I cried a lot that day, but when I sat down and reflected on that experience, I felt selfish. How could I possibly feel traumatized traveling by something that is way safer than being in a car? How could these irrational feelings actually compare to the devastation, physical and emotional trauma the residents of New Orleans almost 6 years ago? How could anything I’ve ever been through compare to the pain and suffering thousands of people endured at this time?

So what do you say to someone you meet in New Orleans?
Nothing.
You listen.
You listen to the individual experiences people have prior to Katrina, during Katrina and their ongoing struggle to maintain the bright spirits that they have today.
You listen to the stories of strength, hope as well as what it takes to truly survive something so catastrophic.
You listen to how they were able to overcome obstacles that many of us will never have to experience in our lifetime.

You might even wonder how they can possibly be the most optimistic people you will ever meet.

Prior to leaving for New Orleans, I remember looking at as much footage as possible in order to prepare myself for what was to come.
Nothing could have prepared me for what I saw. I remember thinking that after 4 years, every single house should have been inspected and at least well on their way to repair. There was an overwhelming amount of houses that had not been searched, or had been searched, but abandoned. One of the most intense moments for me personally was to see a yellow sided house that read, “Lisa + Donnie R OK” in person. This is an image that came up in several types of media and at this moment, I was actually standing in front of the house. It was so surreal.

One of the first days that our group was in New Orleans, we were touring around, taking in the scenery and I can’t even count how many people offered to grill us something on the barbecue or drive us where we needed to go. On our first day of work, we met a lovely lady that was rebuilding her house.

She was STILL living in a FEMA trailer and while we were putting up insulation in her house, she made us nine different Louisiana dishes (from her trailer). We definitely did not ask  her to do this for us, but we were grateful that she did. I know that it exposed me to many dishes that I might not have been able to experience and it allowed me to fully understand what Southern hospitality was…first hand!

MIss Rebecca's meal...

Over the course of two weeks, I met so many people who were willing to share their stories with me and I brought them home to my family and friends. For the first two months after coming home, all I did was talk about New Orleans. Over 2 years has gone by and it’s still a regular topic of conversation.

Do you know what it means to miss New Orleans?
I do.
Everyday.

Sign on the wall of St Charles Guesthouse

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Taste of a Hurricane Wednesday, Jun 29 2011

Taste of a Hurricane

 The sky is believe blue

and I am running

the taste of a hurricane

lots and lots of vacant lots

and glowing cat eyes dawn

through city streets gone wild

tall grass and empty space

cut short.

 

Sweating in Cynthia’s house

masked, air close, like a tomb

we scale ladders, balance the beams

Up, down, and side to side

circle, circle, cut the pie

scraping away the dead

skin of this place

attic, kitchen, closet,

leaving our hearts behind.

 

Running in the night

street-corner celebration

urine, vomit, beads, dance

to the jazz parade playing,

trombones long.

Band in a van

drum beat pounding

the taste of a hurricane.

 

Miss Josephine feeds us

jambalaya, bread pudding,

sweet and thick.

Thirty-six months to get back

to her kitchen

but she made it all

with thanks for her life, and us

and in one lunch she gives more

than we could ever return.

 

Juan carries pirate

in his blood, struggling.

His disappearing land: water, palmetto, silt.

Fish and oil, scarce and spilled

with recklessness.

He will work on the rig

once the shrimp and crabs are caught

running tours and calling:

Viens ici, cher bayou,

Viens ici!

 

We are running on the beach

like in Baywatch

diving in water and sand

after a lopsided ball

we will get sunburned

and see stars

bring home the Gulf shore, in our shoes

and sleep sound, through the snoring.

 

Mississippi rising

behind the sugar plant, too close to home.

and Tanya worries

the taste of a hurricane.

Sorting boards in the lumberyard,

muddy smell of cypress in the heat

No pools to cool kids in summer

and Joby has the car packed, just in case

he would swim, if he had to

because this is home.

 

May Day rain at Magnolia, students blooming

playing Duck, Duck Goose with Justin

and the beanbag toss, the dunk-tank.

Robert paints teeth, asks us to write

while Adam flips the bird, grins.

After the talent show we pick

out art to pack in our suitcases

learning like we never learned

at school before:

how the most valuable things

are packed up on the inside.

 

We are running along the levee

to the shore of the industrial canal

to see the ships, the shore

lifting with the bridge

climbing concrete in the sun.

If we could keep running

away from home

we would run to here

to find out what it means,

New Orleans, already missing

the taste of a hurricane.

 

-Daphne Paszterko, June 2011.

I wrote this poem as a series of flashes of our experience in NOLA – the different places we worked and some of the amazing people that we met during the trip.  I also wanted to capture how I think we were captivated by New Orleans, and how so many of us want to go back.

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“If you build it, they will come” Saturday, May 14 2011

“If you build it, they will come”–an infamous quote from the infamous Field of Dreams novel. As this trip is nearing an end, I can’t help but think and feel that this quote is so applicable down here in NOLA and in any community that has experienced any kind of trauma or devastation.”Building it” doesn’t necessarily have to be an object. It can be a relationship, a dream, a movement of sorts, a partnership, or anything that requires a vision, a passion, and an action. And all of these have certainly been relevant and present in the past 2 weeks.

This week has been pretty intense to say the least! Beginning off the week in Tuscaloosa was not easy to say the least. But who said disaster response was easy anyway? But walking through communities that used to once house families, that used to once share memories, that used to once have stories and finding them reduced to rubble on the street was not an easy one to swallow. Remembering the situation in retrospect, I am reminded of the implications of this quote in this community. I am reminded of the inspiring school groups that came to the warehouse we were volunteering in for a class period; I am reminded of the little girl who was sorting toys with her nana when she could have been at home playing with them; I am reminded of the beautiful couple who drove down from Austin, Texas to lend a helping hand. Working alongside these volunteers was extremely inspiring that I actually took a few breaks just to admire their efforts. Building all these partnerships within the community are in my opinion how people will come not only to volunteer and give back, but also to come back to rebuild their homes, lives, and to re-patch any devastating experiences. Beginning off the week in Tuscaloosa was very emotional, and while I am still processing everything in my mind, there is one great lesson I learned: The act of “building” (whether physically building a structure or building community partnerships) draws people from all walks of life. And whether that’s drawing volunteers or drawing people back to their communities that have been hit, one thing is certain: coming back to a community that has been reduced to nothing breathes life back into it, which is a very positive sign.

And speaking of positivity, a real highlight was having Tanya Harris speak to us on Wednesday night. The title of this entry was actually inspired by her answer to a question of “what does it take to get people to come back to the Lower Ninth and New Orleans in general?” What was so intriguing about Tanya was her fiery passion for protecting her community and her contagious spark that hits you at your core. But Tanya’s talk was more inspirational than anything. I feel like with all odds against people in Lower Ninth and with all the neglect that these people faced in the wake of Katrina, she took a stance to not be a passive bystander and is still continuing to evoke change 6 years later. To me, Tanya and the many that stand for a cause to protect a community that would have probably otherwise been wiped out, are examples of builders. Builders of partnerships, builders of change, builders of communities that naturally draw people to stand and fight alongside them for the same cause. If it wasn’t for activists and organizations being present and loud about the social, political, and economical injustices surrounding Katrina, I probably would have never come to NOLA myself. But understanding this from the perspective of people who lost their American Dream that they had been building for generations, it puts things into perspective. I have a real respect for activists like Tanya because it sheds light on experiences of community members that are not necessarily portrayed in the media. And for that I am thankful.

This experience has been amazing to say the least. The Southern hospitality has been surreal. The sights and remnants of Katrina have been shocking. But the community members I came across have been truly inspirational to say the least.

To Tanya Gulliver and Pascal and to everyone in the group, thank you for keepin it real spicy in New Orleans and I really enjoyed sharing this experience with ya’ll (I had to!!).

To the people of NOLA, thank you for building an amazing place and community. You built it and that’s why I came. And for that I am forever grateful!

Smiles,

Karen

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A day and a half in Tuscaloosa Tuesday, May 10 2011

So, a couple of hours ago we arrived back from a day and half in Tuscaloosa. What a roller coaster that was. I think the first day we were there I felt every emotion possible.

There was excitement….of the car ride there, getting to know some people better and having some fun. When we got to Tuscaloosa we went to register as volunteers with Give Tuscaloosa ( http://www.givetuscaloosa.com), and were sent off to a warehouse for the day.

Then there was confusion…. The warehouse was quite chaotic. There was more stuff coming in than anyone really knew what to do with. We started with a motivating assembly line to work efficiently and then approximately fourty trucks came with even more stuff. No one was really sure what to do with it all.

Piles of donations

Then there was a feeling I really can’t explain…. The amount of clothes was too much to even sort through and be helpful for those who needed it, and as a result much of it was to be shipped to Honduras by the end of the week. Spirits were down, people were angry, confused, upset, frustrated, etc. There were complaints that Tuscaloosa was not the only city that needed help, and while there were over 40 trucks here in that couple hours, some places were only getting two trucks a week…

Then there was pure sadness… After the workday we took a drive through Tuscaloosa to see some of the damage done by the tornadoes. I was in absolute shock and essentially speechless at much of what we saw. Most people described it as surreal, and it truly was that. There was a point on our drive where we got out to walk around a bit and take some pictures. It was at this point I wasn’t really sure how to handle any of it. I got out of the car and walked closer to the water we were by to look at the surrounding houses and damage, and had to turn back to the car to collect myself and hold back tears. I could not believe it. Most of these houses were just piles of debris. Everything that was inside that person’s home was gone. There were Xs everywhere, like those still on many houses in New Orleans, they were even on the cars that were in the areas. There was an older women who was looking through some of the debris and as we drove by I could see the shock and sadness on her face.

destroyed home in Tuscaloosa

The craziest thing about it was that here you see all this debris and half-standing houses, and across the street the buildings are fine or there are maybe a couple broken windows. Even on the same side of the street where there was extensive damage, there was somehow one cell phone store still open. I don’t know how, or why it was not damaged, but it was shocking to see. Seeing everything just broke my heart.

This difference in the damage really made me understand that the tornadoes in Tuscaloosa were a disaster, whereas Katrina was a pure catastrophe. I’ve been reading A Paradise Built in Hell and Solnit describes catastrophe as a turning over, an upset of what is expected, to emerge into the unexpected. Disaster has many of the same impacts, but not to the same extent; it’s a “misfortune due to astrologically generated trouble”. There was damage, but there were others still there to help keep those in need kicking. There were still stores and restaurants and so many things open. There were people coming together from the areas in Tuscaloosa there weren’t hit that were volunteering their help. On the other hand in New Orleans essentially everything was damaged. After the feelings I experienced in Tuscaloosa, I can’t even imagine the feelings of seeing New Orleans after Katrina hit. Whether the disaster/catastrophe is human made or natural, it’s devastating.

Even through everything it was inspiring to see the people who did come together, from in town and from out of town. Even though the amount of stuff that was donated was overwhelming, it was inspiring to see that people do care and want to help. As depressing as it may be good things can truly eventually come from disaster. The door above the warehouse yesterday said something along the lines of, if you think it can’t be done don’t get in the way of those who are doing it. It’s these types of things that really keep me going through the feelings of confusion, frustration and sadness.

Alright, that was enough rambling for me.

- Shannon K

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Grateful to Be in New Orleans Friday, May 6 2011

Haiku for NOLA
Fire hydrant hides
Wading in a sea of grass
No house to put out

Our hearts stand in rows
Hammers ringing in a line
Notes to bring you home

- Daphne, May 2011

So we have been in NOLA for almost a full week — hard to believe, the time has flown by so quickly– I have already had so many amazing experiences and met some unbelievably kind people. I have been working with the group on a house being rebuilt by the St.Bernard project, where we’ve installed hurricane straps, hacked away at tile floor and its stubborn grout and worked on mold remediation. I must admit to finding some of this work — especially the mold remediation– challenging and at times tedious, but what has kept me going is knowing that the homeowner and her family, who currently live in Mississipi, will be able to come home one day soon, and they need help from volunteers to get here. One afternoon I was poking around in the back yard near the edge of the property line, framed by an old swing set (minus the swings), and my eye was caught by a patch of white. Looking more closely I realized this was actually an old soccor ball. I wondered if this ball belonged to the homeower’s son, or grandchildren, pictured them having a game on this patch of grass, and thought of the day they could kick the ball around again, in their own back yard. It is thoughts like this that helped to keep me going as I pounded, chiselled and brushed away.

I have also been moved by the unbeatable spirit and generosity of folks down here. We were lucky enough to be invited to a volunteer lunch hosted by a homeowner who had some work done on her home by St. Bernard Project Volunteers. As she told us her story, I was most struck with how fortunate and grateful she felt to have survived Katrina and to have volunteers help her rebuild her home, how she wanted to express her appreciation to us and give back to the communities that had supported her. How amazing, and inspiring that after the incredible struggle she has been though she is grateful and feels blessed. And so for the past couple of days I have been thinking a lot about gratitude, and have worked to open this up in my own heart. Gratitude for all my blessings in this life– my friends and family back home, incredible new friends I am making here, and gratidute for just being here and having the chance to experience New Orleans and its great people.

On the theme of gratitude, I have to thank our new poet friend, Tristan, who we met writing on Frenchman street tonight that I give him a plug and post his poem on the subject on my blog:

Who’s to say the great
middle man, the great sad
counter of Promethean
pebbles –

stolen fire, returned in
pain, the grateful giant
in perpetual being slain.

Grateful for the sun and
rain an all the pleasures
only for the living.

Tristan Bennet (May 5, 2011) freshpoetry.org

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TEN DAYS! Wednesday, Apr 20 2011

I cannot believe at this time, in ten days most of us (in the first group) will be on a plane or will have just arrived in New Orleans! I cannot wait! However,  I am not looking forward to waking up at 3:30 am to be able to catch my flight   , though I know it will be worth it.

Other than that, what am I excited about? …. Pretty much everything. Jazz fest, swamp tour, West Ship Island, exploring, getting to know a fantastic group of people, putting all my effort into something I know is helping others. We haven’t found out details of the volunteering we will be doing during the weeks, but I know whatever it is, it will be the most memorable part of this trip. The movies we’ve watched and readings we’ve completed will not compare in the slightest to the learning experience we will have while on New Orleans soil.

I’m also particularly looking forward to our speakers from the New Orleans Food Cooperative. Over the past few years one of the things I’ve taken interest in is food security. I think co-operatives such as this are a great community approach to tackling issues that many people face on a daily basis. Their website noted that… “It could be argued that human cooperation dates back prior to written history–that cooperation is natural, and that the survival of humans was once directly tied to the idea of working together for common welfare. ” While this makes the utter most sense, things today have drifted so far off…

Last summer, I read the book “The Edible City: Toronto’s Food from Farm to Fork”. It was interesting to read about everything that happens locally regarding our food, while many people are so consumed with heading to the nearest Metro or Sobeys to purchase their food, mainly out of convenience. I had no idea about some of the things within our city, but get excited to learn about it and take advantage of it whenever I can.

There’s so much good resting in every community and I think it’s really important to engage and indulge yourself in it. The greatest strength anywhere comes from working together, from being a team, everyone putting in their contribution and creating a whole. I’m really looking forward to working as a team with everyone in New Orleans, to work towards rebuilding their community!

- Shannon K

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