Tuesday, August 30, 2005
This is what's left of my old home. I recognise these places, just barely.
It looks like the house that I lived in for 9 years of my life and the bulk of my childhood might have survived the floodwaters and 175 mph gusts of wind that consumed Slidell. But it might not have, since our neighbourhood was right on the bayou of the Pearl River.
Right now it's difficult to get any news from Slidell -- the southern part of the town is extensively flooded and damaged after a huge tidal surge from Lake Ponchartrain swept through the area. The twin spans over the lake connecting Slidell with New Orleans are damaged or destroyed. The arterial roads are blocked by water -- Old Town Slidell is completely underwater, though the flood is beginning to recede. The mall is a lake. The roof is ripped off of the hotel we stayed in last time we visited. The gas station near the Wal-Mart is gone. The power could take two months to restore. Fortunately most people, as in New Orleans, had evacuated.
Getting in touch with people is nearly impossible with power lines and cell towers down. Even the police and emergency crews are having difficulties. St. Tammany Parish is blocked off; no one is supposed to be entering or exiting. A 24/7 cufew is in place.
Eight years ago this would have been me and my family. Today, it is our old friends and neighbours.
Perspective is horrifying.
| 12:57 PM |
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