Dear Friends:
I am sure that you joined all of us here at Tourism Cares earlier this week as we held
our breath as Gustav churned its way across the Gulf of Mexico toward the Gulf Coast
and, in particular Biloxi/Gulfport and New Orleans. Thankfully, these areas escaped
the brunt of the storm while others weren’t as lucky.
I asked Mike Valentino, (mikev@frenchquarter.com) our “man on the ground” in New
Orleans whose coordination assistance was so critical to all of us who worked at
Armstrong Park last April to give us an update or the effects of the storm on the region
and our work at the park. Please read his comments below.
Thank you all for your continued support of Tourism Cares and in particular, our
friends who face these challenges year in and year out.
Sincerely,
Bruce
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Bruce,
I’m back in New Orleans and have surveyed all of the properties. The good news is
there is very little physical damage and we are grateful that there was no flooding or
significant wind damage. We should be able to reopen the hotels on Monday
September 8th. The communities that took the brunt of the storm are Golden
Meadow, Houma, Baton Rouge, Lafayette, New Iberia, Alexandria. Luckily, doesn’t
look like there was much loss of life or injury.
Armstrong Park is OK – not much more than tree limbs and wind debris on the
ground – no apparent serious damage. The lovely work done by our volunteers still
looks great!
The bad news is that a major American urban center has totally evacuated for a
second time in three years; closing businesses, dislocating residents, stopping
commerce, reinforcing a national image of “danger zone” and stunting our Katrina
recovery. Once again, the poorest of the community and the elderly are the hardest
hit. It is truly unbelievable that we have endured this another time.
80% of the region is without electricity. The re-population re-entry process in the next
72 hours will likely be chaotic.
People are tired, frustrated, and financially tapped-out. The real cost of evacuation is
mind-boggling, both in dollars and in emotional cache – whatever remains. While
we can celebrate the fact that the storm “missed” us, the total success of a massive
urban evacuation, the minimal loss of life, personal injury and property, the support of
our nation and friends, we will mourn the incredible toll inflicted on the community.
But, we’ll persevere, repopulate, reopen and rebuild, because it’s our community.
Thanks to all of our friends for their concern and support. We’ll be fine – in time.
Michael