Posted on 11/05/2005 5:53:43 AM PST by Our_Man_In_Gough_Island
The royal couple surveyed the damage from a levee Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall have met survivors of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans. They visited the lower Ninth Ward, one of the areas worst hit, and climbed a levee to view the storm's destruction.
When asked by a reporter what struck him most, the prince said: "Incredible resilience, despite awful loss. Where there's life, there's hope."
The royal couple, on the fifth day of their US tour, also went to a Catholic school in the French Quarter.
The couple travelled to the lower Ninth Ward in a convoy of 17 vehicles and 14 police motorbikes.
There were many uprooted trees, damaged homes and upturned cars in the area one resident described as "New Orleans' Ground Zero".
BBC News royal correspondent Peter Hunt said: "It was a grim vista wherever they looked."
The royal couple met emergency workers and the Jones family, who lost their home in the hurricane.
The family are among people temporarily living in one of two cruise ships brought in to provide emergency accommodation.
On top of the windy levee the prince was shown photographs of the destruction immediately after Katrina struck and how the barrier was repaired by the US Army Corps of Engineers.
Red Cross worker Frances Barker told reporters at the levee: "They were really gracious people. He just said 'keep up the good work'".
Mardi reminder
At the school, Cathedral Academy, they were greeted by a crowd of around 500 people.
The couple were given traditional colourful Mardi Gras beads which they wore around their necks for the visit.
Earlier, their flight from Washington was greeted by an airport ceremony.
The royal visit is seen as helping to focus international attention on the recovery effort following Katrina, which killed around 1,200 people.
About 80% of New Orleans was left underwater after August's hurricane.
On Thursday, Prince Charles donated $25,000 (£14,000) from an architecture prize he received in Washington to help in the reconstruction of hurricane-hit towns.
The couple's US visit has included a stop at Ground Zero in Manhattan where they honoured victims of the 11 September attacks.
They will later fly to San Francisco where their tour will end.
Did the Dutchess of Cornhole "earn" any beads?
I wonder if they met looter guy also? That would make a fine "photo". ;-)
Fetch my lady a Heineken, Jeeves!
Ha haa! Good good!
Pray for W and Our Freedom Fighters
White House Halts Royal Visit to New Orleans to 'Save Face'
Little Nickie Wapshott, the author, writes for The Guardian/ The Observer (UK).
Classy? How 'bout Photo Op for the new Lady in the Prince's life?
Did they pray to 'allah' about it?
It's good to see that at least one person sees this and it gets reported. The majority of the people here are resilient and resourceful.
Pray for W and Our Troops
no credit here. It was a photo op plain and simple even the Brits said that as they were all watching Camilla very closely to see how she behaved and acted in her first official role. I wasn't impressed one way or another. How come they waited all this time to vist Ground Zero? Oh yes, they made a historic trip to NO to see the damage. Why?
I give you credit for giving them credit but like I said...no credit given them here.
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