Where to Begin: Some Personal Impressions of
Hurricane Katrina from Lafayette, LA
(09-14-05)
I don't quite know where to begin. I thought this month I
would be writing about Festivals Acadians, and some great
new bands that have been playing here recently (the best of
which is Bonsoir Catin - an all woman group that debuted at
the Blue Moon last month and featured Christine Balfa,
Kristi Guillory, Anya Schoenegge and Yvette Landry and
KICKED BUTT - this may be sexist but if you had your eyes
closed you would have thought there were some young guys up
there...but I digress...) I feel totally inadequate. The
disaster that is Hurricane Katrina is so overwhelming, the
government response is unconscionable, and the range of
emotion reaction... from fear to outrage to helplessness to
tears to gratitude to hopefulness is ever-changing. I will
try to share some of my experiences and impressions, living
here in Lafayette, Louisiana, about 120 miles northwest of
New Orleans, for you. Posted (and updated as needed) on my
website as sfbayou.com and at the end of this column is
also information on ways to help in general and more
specifically the Acadiana area and the musicians and
artists who are gathering here in Lafayette. There's an
interesting article published by the LA Times on that
phenomena ("It's Not Bourbon Street But It'll Do") posted
at:
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-artists_sep12,1,2609276.story
Lafayette luckily experienced only light rains and some
gusts of wind during the storm If you didn't know there was
a hurricane going on, you would have been out running
errands on Monday. Due to the mandatory evacuation of New
Orleans, many NO folks slowly made there way here on jammed
roads and the local hotels were filled up by Sunday night.
The immediate aftermath everyone knows... the unimaginable
(but not unpredictable) flooding, the unconscionable
government response the environmental disaster for humans,
animals, birds, wetlands, vegetation, the concern for your
friends living in the affected area, the individual stories
of horror and heroism. It is too much to get your mind
around... often it felt like you would start thinking about
one result of the storm.... start following that particular
thread of thought and then the fabric of your mind would
unravel as you keep thinking of the implications of one
small aspect of the disaster.
After the storm, evacuees were everywhere but in particular
the Cajun Dome (about a mile from my house) held over seven
thousand people and Blackham Coliseum (about a half mile
away) was turned into a pet shelter. I would drive out of
my neighborhood and while waiting at the traffic light see
dozens of people walking their dogs. The local newspaper
had a section of where to bring donations and what was
needed... bedding and towels at the Salvation Army,
clothes, underwear, toiletries at Goodwill, school supplies
and uniforms at one local church, bottled water at another,
pet supplies at Blackham, small cooking appliances at a
community center, etc... etc... You'd go through your house
looking for things to donate, drop them off, and then go
through everything again. Giving money doesn't seem enough
so you go to the blood donation center. You drive through
neighborhoods and see driveways overflowing with cars...
the lucky ones who made it to safe haves. Many of us are
beset by "survivor's guilt". I try to stay focused and feel
useful in some small way by updating my website with news
and information on how to help. Others did much more.
Everyone has a story:
For example, I met Mama Ledell who works at Louisiana
Heritage and Gifts. She was called by a small church in the
area, which had a building full of evacuees and was
struggling to shelter them. Mama showed up, and with no
prior experience, took charge and started organizing the
place. She had folks create a food pantry and sort the
donations so they could assess their supplies and needs,
set up donated cots and mattresses into a sleeping area,
set up a children's area, an eating area and then called
the local authorities to find a refrigerator and freezer to
store all the excess prepared food that local residents
were bringing to the church so it would last longer. The
next day, a church a few miles away asked her to do the
same for them... and a few days later, she organized a
third church shelter and then networked the three churches
together so that they could share and exchange excess
resources.. In addition, she called the local town
authorities and helped them set up food and clothing
donation sites.
On the other side of the coin, I've heard awful tales from
personal acquaintances of those who were in New Orleans and
witnessed the floods, the looting, and worse... Things that
you might see in a battle zone, things they are now are
seeking counseling for because they can't get the horrid
images of savagery out of their heads. I never thought I
was a Pollyanna, but I know I mentally dismissed certain
reports of street behavior as media exaggeration until some
recent conversations.
I invited a local volunteer supervisor for the Red Cross
over for a home cooked meal earlier this week. He says that
there are over 37,000 volunteers spread out over the Gulf
Coast, all exhausted, and all coming up towards the end of
their volunteer assignments. He is worried about who is
going to replace them all when they need to go back home
and where the training will come from. Even as the Cajun
Dome is emptying out (from 7000 to about 2000 right now),
there will be an on-going need to assist the evacuees until
they can get re-established.
I can't tell you how many friends I've spoke to who think
they lost everything because they lived in areas of New
Orleans that were flooded, but had no way of knowing.
Meantime, those that could searched satellite photos on the
web and guessed about their homes and businesses. The
uncertainly in their faces, the tears they were holding
back when you asked them how they were doing...
I was driving to Baton Rouge from Lafayette with a 'left
coast' friend over the weekend and we passed a convey of
military vehicles and supply trucks heading west, filled
with young men and women. One vehicle had a sign saying
"Colorado cares - New Orleans or Bust". We gave them the
thumbs up sign when we drove past them and they all honked
back at us. Forty years of 'liberal' politics melted away
and I was very grateful to see those folks heading out here
to provide much needed assistance.
I read in the local paper Lafayette now has the one of the
top ten fastest growing economy in the country and that
Baton Rouge's population doubled literally overnight, from
200,000 to 400,000. Lafayette went from 112,000 to 142,000,
although it is hard to tell how many people will stay. We
now have traffic jams now and real estate and rental
properties are in short supply. There are even reports of
bidding wars on residental and commercial property...shades
of the Bay Area. And yet... and yet... in Lafayette, you
can't help but see some, and I don't know quite how to put
this, "benefits" from this great Gulf Coast tragedy.
Lafayette, like much of Louisiana, is a tightly knit,
family oriented area. People live near where they grew up
and subsequently, prior to the hurricane, most of us who
moved here from elsewhere, no matter how accepted and
welcome we felt, were always the minority newcomers in a
town built on generations. After the storm, it was a funny
thing... all of a sudden we were the 'before' people, with
established friends and routines, and the 40,000 evacuees
became the 'new wave of emigrees' if you will, changing
forever the demographics of this town
And there are hundreds of artists and musicians in town.
The cultural community has come together to help provide
them with immediate needs - shelter/healthcare, replacement
of the tools of their trade (instruments, art supplies,
workspace) and find them gigs or places to exhibit their
work. On our monthly downtown Art Walk last weekend, there
were New Orleans artists selling their works on the
sidewalks and musicians on the street corners. Band Aid,
the benefit held here last week featuring music by Sonny
Landreth, Beausoleil, Roddy Romero, Lil Nathan and Zachary
Richard ended with the audience singing along to "Louisiana
1927" followed by hundreds of people second-lining to "When
The Saints Go Marching In". Meantime, Festivals Acadians is
a go, with New Orleans artists to be exhibiting along with
the local craftsman and New Orleans musicians are being
booked into local clubs and restaurants. I attended an
amazing Cajun twin-fiddles house concert/fundraiser last
night for New Orleans musician and evacuee, Jonno
Frishberg, accompanied by Mitch Reed (both of Charivari).
They are still playing exquisite music on these bittersweet
evenings.
HOW TO HELP: The best way to help is donate money. You can
donate to the Red Cross (redcross.org). Also the
United Way of Acadiana (unitedwayofacadiana.org) has 2
funds.. one that stays in the area for Acadiana evacuees
and one general Katrina response fund. These organizations
would then be able to use donations to get what
is most sorely needed.
Additionally, consider the new Lafayette Music Alliance set
up to specifically help musicians and music business
professionals which will be replacing Healthcare for
Musicians (see below) and covering a broader area. For now
you can direct your donations to Healthcare for Musicians
which has an emergency fund account set up through SW LA
Health Education Center, its sponsoring non-profit agency.
The address is: Healthcare for Musicians 103 Independence
Blvd. Lafayette, LA 70506.
Project HEAL was just created in Lafayette, LA to assist
artists impacted by the hurricane. Project HEAL (Helping
Employ Artists Locally) offers displaced artists, including
those working in dance, design arts, folklife, literature,
music, theatre, visual arts and media, employment
opportunities in local communities. This program will
quickly and directly assist those artists in immediate need
of financial assistance. Project HEAL partners include
Acadiana Arts Council, Louisiana Crossroads, Louisiana Folk
Roots, Festival International de Louisiane, Performing Arts
Society of Acadiana, Lafayette Convention and Visitors
Commission and Lafayette Economic Development Authority. To
make a tax-deductible donation to Project HEAL, register as
an artist or inquire about volunteer opportunities, please
contact: Acadiana Arts Council, P.O. Box 53762 Lafayette,
LA 70505 (337) 233-7060, (337) 233-7062 fax
info@AcadianaArtsCouncil.org A 501(c)3 Non-profit
organization EIN: 51-0138288 Visa, MasterCard and Discover
accepted
If you are a Registered Nurse or other medical
professional, the area hospitals and triage centers are
actively looking for help. The governor has signed an
executive order allowing medical professionals licensed in
other states to work here. One phone number to call is the
Lafayette Parish Medical Society at 337-232-2860.
I also learned from a Red Cross volunteer that volunteers
usually get 2-3 assignments and then get sent home. There
are over 37,000 volunteers in the Gulf Coast region right
now, many of whom will be going home soon, and for which
they will need replacements for a long time to come. If you
can get away for a few weeks and want to help here, contact
your local Red Cross office.
Hurricane Katrina - Update from Lafayette
HOW TO HELP: The best way to help is donate money. You can
donate to the Red Cross or check out the United Way of
Acadiana website which has 2 funds.. one that stays in the
area for Acadiana evacuees and one general Katrina response
fund. They would then be able to use donations to get what
is most sorely needed.
Additionally, consider the new Lafayette Music Alliance set
up to specifically help musicians and music business
professionals which will be replacing Healthcare for
Musicians (see below) and covering a broader area. For now
you can direct your donations to Healthcare for Musicians
which has an emergency fund account set up through SW LA
Health Education Center, its sponsoring non-profit agency.
The address is: Healthcare for Musicians 103 Independence
Blvd. Lafayette, LA 70506.
Project HEAL was just created in Lafayette, LA to assist
artists impacted by the hurricane. Project HEAL (Helping
Employ Artists Locally) offers displaced artists, including
those working in dance, design arts, folklife, literature,
music, theatre, visual arts and media, employment
opportunities in local communities. This program will
quickly and directly assist those artists in immediate need
of financial assistance. Project HEAL partners include
Acadiana Arts Council, Louisiana Crossroads, Louisiana Folk
Roots, Festival International de Louisiane, Performing Arts
Society of Acadiana, Lafayette Convention and Visitors
Commission and Lafayette Economic Development Authority. To
make a tax-deductible donation to Project HEAL, register as
an artist or inquire about volunteer opportunities, please
contact: Acadiana Arts Council, P.O. Box 53762 Lafayette,
LA 70505 (337) 233-7060, (337) 233-7062 fax
info@AcadianaArtsCouncil.org A 501(c)3 Non-profit
organization EIN: 51-0138288 Visa, MasterCard and Discover
accepted
If you are a Registered Nurse or other medical
professional, the area hospitals and triage centers are
actively looking for help. The governor has signed an
executive order allowing medical professionals licensed in
other states to work here. One phone number to call is the
Lafayette Parish Medical Society at 337-232-2860.
To find out what is happening in Lafayette, check our local
newspaper (The Daily Advertiser) or TV station (KATC).
9/2/05 6:30 pm CT
Help for Musicians
From Marce Lacouture:
Healthcare for Musicians and several other organizations,
including the Grammy's MusiCares program and The New
Orleans Musicians Clinic, have joined to create the
Lafayette Music Alliance to specifically help musicians and
music business professionals.
People can send money donations to Healthcare for Musicians
which has an emergency fund account set up through SW LA
Health Education Center, its sponsoring non-profit agency.
The address is: Healthcare for Musicians 103 Independence
Blvd. Lafayette, LA 70506
If anyone knows of any displaced musicians who need help
please let them know to call Healthcare for Musicians at
337-988-1583 Through MusiCares they can get financial help
for all basic needs.
9/2/05 130pm CT
Baton Rouge is now Louisiana's largest city. An AP article
says the airport traffic may increase from 700,000 to over
3 million passengers per year and that many evacuees from
the hurricane affected areas are there to stay.
Over 60% of people responding to poll in the Daily
Advertiser says they won't move back to New Orleans, even
if they could.["If your home was in New Orleans and you
could choose whether to return after the city recovers from
Hurricane Katrina, would you?"]
Update 9/2/05 11AM CT
Note: I have not checked out these ad hoc relief
organizations. Please check them out before you decide to
donate to them.
From LEAF (Lake Eden Arts Festival).
--------------------
LEAF in Schools & Streets & Tipitina's Foundation
of New Orleans team up to
help find temporary homes for New Orleans artists,
musicians & their
families. HOW CAN YOU HELP? Be a "foster family" and offer
your spare
room(s) to Katrina Refugees!
http://www.theleaf.com/hurricanesupport.php or
email hurricanesupport@theLEAF.com with
* YOUR NAME:
* BEST CONTACT EMAIL OR #:
* LOCATION OF HOME (City or area):
* How many adults welcomed:
* How many kids welcomed:
* Pets welcome? If so, what kind?
* Period of time available (days, weeks, months):
* Any other information that would help us find a good
match ( Some
families are willing to sponsor kids while their parents go
home to rebuild.
If this applies to you please note.)
With deep deep thanks & appreciation that we have a
LEAF community that I
know is willing to help and be there for the world of music
and arts that
has brought us all so much happiness. Now they need us-
lets help.
Thank you!
Jennifer, Kerri, Leigh (LEAF) & Bill from Tipitina's
9-1-05 1130 pm CT
KATC-TV reports that the Cajun Dome in Lafayette is now
filled to capacity with 7000 evacuees and that all hotels
in the Lafayette area are filled for the next 2 months. If
you are planning to visit this area for a "fun" event,
please try to make arrangements to stay with friends and
leave your hotel rooms for those who have nowhere else to
go.
And for those of you who have emailed me, I do not have any
information about Festival Acadians (I assume it will go
on) or how to donate money specifically to help one segment
of the population here ...ie zydeco or Cajun musicians. The
Greater Lafayette area was NOT hit by the hurricane. We are
an area that the hurricane refugees are coming to for
shelter and assistance. There is information on how to
donate to the United Way of Acadiana or the Red Cross
below.
9-1-05 3pm CT
Thanks to everyone for their emails about what's happening
in Lafayette after Hurricane Katrina, how the Bay Area
folks who moved here are doing, and requests to find out
how they can help.
Here's a quick update:
Linda Castle and 2 other friends who recently moved here
from the West Coast (Madeline Powers, Susan Kiefer) stayed
over my house in Lafayette the Sunday night before the
storm, expecting the worst, which never came. We had just a
light rain and some gusts of wind on Monday... not even
lightning or thunder sound effects, and lucky for us, no
power outages. If you didn't know there was a
hurricane going on, you would have been outside running
errands. We played Cajun music on the back porch Monday
morning and watched reruns of Sex and the City when the
Weather channel and CNN became too much to bear. Jim and
Christy drove north of Shreveport and are fine too. Linda
has spoken to them since the storm and I believe they are
back in their home in Opelousas now. Gary Thibodeaux
and his father Larry are ok (in Lawtell) as well.
Lafayette is filled with evacuees now (over 4000), as it is
one of the closest cities to New Orleans (after Baton
Rouge) that was not affected by the storm. About a mile
from my house is the Cajun Dome, which is now serving as a
refugee shelter, and Blackham Coliseum, which is serving as
a pet shelter. The local news is filled with instructions
on how to have our new temporary residents enroll their
children in school and where to go to donate water,
clothing and other needed supplies to the evacuees.
Traffic in this small town is a mess.
Almost all area lodging is booked solid for miles around.
The Yambilee building location that was going to be used
for the Zydeco Throwdown in Opelousas over Labor Day
weekend is now being used as a refugee shelter. If you are
planning to visit this area any time soon and can stay with
friends and free up hotel rooms for the newly homeless that
really need them, that would be a good thing.
To find out what is happening in Lafayette, check our local
newspaper (The Daily Advertiser) or TV station (KATC).
This is a tough time and the consequences - human, health,
environmental and economic to name just a few - are just
too enormous to grasp.
As I know more, I will post updates on this website