Katrina Update #16

September 04, 2005; 4:09 PM

A short update today.

I added a What's New page to the site.

Janis, Jarret, and Andrea were reunited with Cary and I last night at her Aunt Viv's house after Uncle Joe's funeral. Adam and Megan flew into Chicago last night and stayed, with Jarret, at Janis' sister's house in Libertyville. They are coming down to where we are staying in Manteno (south of Chicago) later today. So we will all be together again, finally.

I am at a Starbuck's near Kankakee IL, which was the closest connectivity I could find. It costs $4 for 2 hours, and I am running short on both connectivity time and battery power as I write this. Here are quick notes:

I spoke with Lia Ivison this morning, and heard from Juli Green via email. I also spoke with Coop today by phone. Lia gave me more details about a lot of people as well as contact information. I hope to have contact info on the site by the end of the coming week, but I need people's permission before I publish it. You can see the latest at www.macchuck.com/updates.

New Orleans continues to be the #1 story. Yesterday, Canal Place was set on fire. It is hard to tell how much damage may have been done due to the fact that Canal Place is largely concrete and stone on the outside - which may help save it. It is owned by Roger Ogden, who is one of my client's in New Orleans.
Also on fire is the Governor Nichol's wharf. "Fortunately" the part on fire is the part furthest from the French Quarter, but the lone fireboat trying to keep the fire from spreading had to abandon it at dark.
The first indications of disease are starting to manifest themselves in the refugees, some of whom are being flown as far away as Arizona and Boston.
The population of Baton Rouge has doubled in size.
Texas says they have reached capacity in terms of receiving evacuees.
It has been reported that some areas with water would be dry in as little as 36 days, while others will take as many as 80 to fully pump the water out.
Of major concern is the toxic mold. It was reported by a health official is that buildings affected will be bulldozed and then set ablaze to keep the mold from spreading.

I have a lot more to share, but no time to share it. I will try to get online tomorrow, but the next opportunity may not be until Tuesday evening.

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