I have spent most of last night and today on the phone and e-mailing friends and family in Louisiana. It's been a long, tense, awful-feeling-in-your-stomach 24 hours.
My friend Fletcher Mackel sent out the e-mail below today, and I thought I would share it with you. It's just a little insight into how difficult this is emotionally -- not just physically -- for residents of the Crescent City.
Fletcher and his identical twin brother Travers are reporters at WDSU, the NBC station in New Orleans. They are about as authentic New Orleans as you can get. Fabulous people who will again be riding the storm out in the city. Please say many prayers for the Mackels, for the hundreds of other who are staying and all who hope they have something to come home to this time tomorrow.
Also - you should click on the link and watch the video. It's the story of when Fletcher escorted his mom to their family home a few days after Katrina.
http://www.wdsu.com/video/4996997/index.html
Email from Fletcher Mackel --- Sunday afternoon----before Gustav hits:
As all of you know by now (and to quote Yogi Berra) "it's like dejavu, all over again" down here in New Orleans.
3 years after Katrina a hurricane they've dubed "the storm of the century" has our city as it's bullseye.
We knew it was going to happen. Growing up here we all know hurricanes are a part of life. But after dealing with Katrina and her aftermath our psyches are all a little fragile when it comes to major storms.
No one could have fathomed the images Katrina caused....and no one will ever forget them.
We now know what the worst is and it's not pleasant to think about.
To be honest, I'm not concerned about some of the horrific scenes from the convention center and the Superdome recurring. Elected leaders have done a great job so far. Politicians seem to have learned from Katrina....they've activated the disaster plans very well. National guardsmen are securing our streets, buses and trains have been evacuating citizens and businesses are boarded up. This time around, people are heeding the warnings and doing the things they're supposed too.
What worrries me are the levees and the new pumps. Will they protect us? Will they keep the water out of our city?
It would be absolutely heartbreaking to see neighborhoods like Lakeview, Gentilly and New Orleans East inundated with water again. It's unimaginable to think that hard working people who've spent the last three years rebuilding the neighborhoods they love have once again lost everything.
Those of us who rode out Katrina wear the experience like a badge of honor. But as proud as I am for staying and reporting to people watching the TV and the internet what was happening.....I made very clear I never again wanted to take a boat to my house on Canal St. I never again wanted to see dead bodies floating down Elysian Fields Ave. I never again wanted to have to call my friends and tell them that their homes were destroyed. And I never want to have to take my mother back to her neighborhood and find it in ruin!
So lets hope this bastard storm makes a miraculous turn and stays away from us.
Let's hope a week from now we're talking about a Saints win over Tampa....laughing about how little damage Gustav did and patting ourselves on the back from being totally prepared.
Look, we New Orleanians are a pretty tough group. We'll get through anything, we just want our city to survive and continue to grow....so waiting for Gustav and wandering what he's going to do is the hardest part.
Travers and I will be here at the station the entire time. I'll try to send e-mails regarding what happens. If any of you have any special requests don't hesitate to ask.
-Fletch
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