30th
This is an email from my cousin Rob who lives in New Orleans and is evacuating tomorrow.
“I just wanted to let everyone know that I will be leaving tomorrow afternoon or early evening. They are about to issue a mandatory evacuation for all of
southern La. This could be the storm that Katrina was not, a direct hit on the
city of New Orleans. SO much has been done in the three years since Katrina,
however, lots left to do. I pray that this Hurricane misses wide left..as they
are expecting it to grow to a category 4 by late Sunday to early Monday. This is a grand old lady, I dont know how much of a direct hit she can take. The infrastructure was weakened after 2006, there are still leaks in 3 areas that
breached last time, one on Lake Ponchartrain, one on the industrial canal and
one on the 17th st canal..The storm surge is expected to reach 20+ft. This city, that has meant so much to me..its history, both personal and musical, are without peer. Without NOLA, much of our family wouldn’t be here.. As much as I ever loved NYC..and still do, New Orleans is much more, in terms of artistic contributions to the world, there is no match, she gave the world jazz, when persons of color gathered in the area known then as Congo Square, today its is Louis Armstrong Park. Its vibrancy comes from its soul…and its soul is music.The first neighborhood, where people of color could own a home..was right here in Treme’.. live jazz in every corner of the city, from uptown, to Carollton..in the Marigny..the Bywater, the Irish Channel..the French Quarter.and Garden District..not to mention Jefferson Parrish.over 100 live JAZZ venues..not to mention Zydeco, and Cajun..or Swamp Pop..as someone that lives here, I ask that you say a prayer for New Orleans and its people..may god grant safety to its people and protect this grand old gal…I’ll be in touch. Rob”
