![](http://scd.mm-c1.yimg.com/image/1171951933"/img)
If you would like on or off the Louisiana Ping list please FReepmail me and your name will be added or taken off of the list.
Posted on 12/27/2005 2:16:14 PM PST by CajunConservative
In a small corner of the world rocked by Hurricane Katrina, hundreds of people got to see the world differently now. They see it through a camera lens or a car window, up close for the first time.
In a city fighting to preserve one of its top industries, Lakeview has become a new destination for tourists in New Orleans. It seems to be a pilgrimage for many to go to the hardest hit areas. Some hope all the attention brings help.
"This is heart-wrenching is what it is; to actually see it for yourself in three dimensions,” said Morgan City resident Chris Price.
A place that used to be a pleasant little piece of the city is now a case study on what went wrong and how to fix it for the future. It's a lot to learn for those lined up for a look.
Kristin Mancina, who came to New Orleans all the way from Los Angeles, said seeing the damage on television does not compare to seeing it with your own eyes.
“This is the first place we wanted to come. We wanted to see the devastation, which we just can't believe it,” said Nancy Malooly of Dallas.
Most of the tourists said they were in town visiting family or friends, but some were here just to tour the city. All of them said the first place they wanted to go was to see the damage.
But even though it's something people want to see and many said they needed to see, for those who had homes here, it’s a sight those people have seen for four months. And they just hope something positive comes with this new perspective.
In the middle of the tourist traffic, Sean McArthur and his family cleaned out his grandmother's home. They have mixed feelings about all the sightseers.
“You kind of feel resentful a little bit of people walking or touring the area as if it was some kind of attraction. But on the other side, on the other hand, you want people to know what happened here as well,” McArthur said.
And for those who found out first hand, whether they came in by bike, or by foot, or by limo, they left with a new appreciation for the devastation of a city.
"The flip side of it is if people come down here and see what's happening, they might put pressure on their members of Congress to do the right thing and get money down here,” said Susan Alzner, who came to the town from Washington D.C.
Connecticut resident Lyndi Fusilier said she didn’t think the country was listening anymore to the plight of New Orleanians.
“I mean, hopefully if more people do come down here, they'll actually see and realize if this could have happened to them things might be different.”
If you would like on or off the Louisiana Ping list please FReepmail me and your name will be added or taken off of the list.
I'm sorry for your losses. What do you think of the tours? I know for me seeing the total devastation down in Cameron Parish in person is so different than tv or pictures. They just can't capture the magnitude and scope.
how mant billions of cubic yards of earth will it take to make it seem reasonable to "rebuild" NOLA?
(By that I mean to raise it to or above sea level)
What about the plight of those from Mississippi Lyndi?
I'm sure it would be more than my pea brain can figure out. Me =/= engineer. However, I do believe there are some great minds out there doing the math. I have read that three of the canals will be closed where the flood walls failed.
The tours don't bother me one bit. I'm not going to get all crying-martyr offended over someone wanting to see what happened for themselves. Besides, our economy needs the cash. And I'm used to the traffic.
We don't count.
Even if you filled it in, you'd just be putting a layer of solid on top of a seemingly bottomless bowl of jello
I know that the money is desperately needed there and it serves more than one purpose. This is the spirit of capitalism.
I wouldn't mind seeing it myself just because this was a historical event and I know that the economy needs a boost right now.
If you decide to swing on by, let me know.
Best wishes to you and your family. And I got a kick out the "new normal" quote lol. That's about says it all! It's going to be years before all this crap is cleaned up and sorted out. But on the bright side, I may start a "Tour guide" business up ;). Hang in there !
Jeff
You guys do count, most people only think of NOLA because that is all that the MSM ever showed. Heck do a google image search for Hurricane Rita and most of the pictures are from New Orleans. 250 miles east of the eye made landfall.
Yes your right. We're all in this together :) Just had a "sourpuss" moment lol
Exactly, cause while it's true New Orleans got flooded, they got what were basically gently entering floodwaters, waters which stayed along time, but, I've been in both New Orleans and Biloxi, and the difference I see between the two, I can already picture easily New Orleans's recovery.
Biloxi's I can see, though it will be unbelievably difficult. Pass Christian, Waveland, most of the rest of coastal Hancock, I just don't see them recovering, this is 10 times worse than Camille, and Camille left alot more standing too.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.