Two of our sisters returned to the New Orleans convent this week. Here is Sr. Julia with a report from the ground:
The Book Center and House are basically the same, and except for water damage around the ceiling in the back work room and in the hallway downstairs, everything looks the same as the day we evacuated over six weeks ago. The Book Center was completely dry...no flooding. Smells musty, but there was no mold at all. This is no small miracle considering what our neighborhood looks like. We drove around yesterday taking pictures so you can see it.... almost looks like the inside of every house is on the sidewalk (refrigerators, stoves, carpets, walls, furniture....for miles!) Huge trees were uprooted or split. Sr. Mark said when she came last week, the roads were impassable in the back streets. At least you can drive almost anywhere in Metairie...all the debris is now on the sidewalk waiting to be picked up. It really does look like a war zone.
People are going to the grocery store every day getting what they need in small quantities (a lot of them are still without a refrigerator or freezer). When we went to Sears yesterday to get a freezer, people had to take a number to be waited on. and then everything had to be ordered since they were all sold out.
The daily newspaper is half the size and mostly hurricane info. Almost every street corner has signs (the kind you see at election time!) telling you what stores are now open etc. I tried to get pictures of some of those.
Anyhow, just wanted to let you know we're ok and trying to get the house cleaned up and back in order. Hopefully a friend will come today (with a few other strong friends) and take away the dead freezer and refrigerator in our back room. The smell is not something I can describe....but both of us are VERY grateful that we have two doors we can close to contain the odor!
Our phones are working. The mail is starting to be delivered. UPS and Fedex are working.
And here is the latest from my mom's lifelong friend, who has relocated to Ohio, with the help of her niece:
I can't move into the house I've bought and the yard I've fenced because the former inhabitants have not moved out! I was promised I could be in no later than Oct. 1. I'm waiting to see if I get my retirement check in Monday's mail. Meanwhile everything is up in the air. Yet when I think of the condition of so many others, I'm ashamed to feel this way! My little house is up for sale in NO, and 3 of my nephews cleaned up the yard. They then went to my nephew's in Chalmette. Total destruction. Mud and filth and they are afraid
more in the swimming pool since a water moccasin had made his home in the family room!
more in the swimming pool since a water moccasin had made his home in the family room!
No comments:
Post a Comment