9/09/2006 Community Gumbo

Democracy Now (9/08/06)

• New Yorkers Tell Federal Officials To Stop Ignoring 9/11's Health Effects
• Civilian Casualties, Civilian Solutions: Family Members of 9/11 Victims Spearhead Movement Against War and Violence
• Satyagraha 100 Years Later: Gandhi Launches Modern Non-Violent Resistance Movement on Sept. 11, 1906

The Arabi Wrecking Krewe

New Orleans code enforcement officials posted over 3,000 notices on New Orleans buildings that haven’t been gutted according to a September 8th Times-Picayune story. The City Council set an August 29th deadline for property owners to clean up their flood damaged buildings and lots, or face fines and property confiscation.

The Arabi Wrecking Krewe was formed to help New Orleans musicians fix their storm- and flood-damaged homes.

Louisiana bloggers helped gut Cora Foster's house as an activity associated with the Rising Tide conference. They include Ray of Ray in New Orleans, Oyster of Your Right Hand Thief, Scout Prime of First Draft, Karen of Northwest Carrollton, and Schroeder of People Get Ready (am I missing anyone bloggers?).

Arabi Wrecking Krewe volunteers

This is additional interview material not used in the longer feature. Heard in this interview is a New Orleans blogger from Madison, Wisconsin, scout_prime.

Ms. Regina drove 1300 miles from Michigan, where she was displaced with her mother and sister after Hurricane Katrina, to try to do something with their mother's house.


Ms. Regina wore Virgin Mary and St. Jude pins on her blouse.


Ms. Regina's sister, Sondra.


Cora Foster's Hollygrove house was flooded to the ceiling when the New Orleans levees failed.


A ramp for wheelbarrows fashioned out of a sign and the damaged dining room table.


A warning to rescuers about the neighbor's dog.


Arabi Wrecking Krewe volunteer Richard Stevens removing debris from Cora Foster's house.


A common sight inside flooded homes -- furniture floated around inside the house for weeks, finally coming to rest in a pile.


The house is so damaged that it will have to be bulldozed.


The refrigerator (and everything contained therein for almost a year) was quickly moved out onto the street.








Ms. Regina goes through her family's flood-damaged possessions to salvage what she can.


Ms. Regina's son was an NCAA champion.


The hummingbird music box salvaged from the flooded house was rusty, but still played.


Part of the coin collection once hidden by Mrs. Foster inside the house.


The Virgin Mary and St. Jude statues which stood in front of the house.


Arabi Wrecking Krewe volunteers from as far away as Chicago, and Germany take a break.


Shade is a welcome relief under the hot August sun.


Arabi Wrecking Krewe organizer Brian West is also a Jefferson Parish firefighter who performed rescue operations in the Hollygrove neighborhood when it flooded. Also a talented musician, West is pictured here with a flood-damaged cornet salvaged from Leroy Jone's house.




Removing the house numbers to be used on the new house when it's built.


The Archangel Michael, protector, salvaged from the house and left on the porch.


Neighbors catching up on news, stand alongside an exceptionally low-lying section of the 17th Street Canal.


A pumping station.




Covered sandbags stacked at the Jefferson Parish line. Jefferson Parish flooded at Airline Highway from the Orleans side of the 17th Street Canal (pictured here).

Related:

People Get Ready -- New Orleans, 1 A.K.