Hurricane Katrina Aftermath

Well, the effects of Katrina have passed by Baton Rouge. We've got about half the city without power. Crews should start working this afternoon, and I am hopeful that we won't be without power for too long. Several substations are out, though, so it could be several days. Plus, of course, crews will also be very busy trying to restore power to New Orleans, which was hit so badly.

As the winds were dying down, I walked through my neighborhood and took a few pictures of the local damage. The aftermath of Hurricane Andrew (which I also rode out) was worse.

1. That's my dog, Sadie, in the middle of the street. This was what most of the streets look like, no major damage, just a bunch of leaves and small limbs littering the road.

2. Fortunately, this tree fell across the street and not onto my friend's house behind where I was standing to take the picture. It's pulled down a power line.

3. Old Glory got knocked over. I'm sure the owners will set her right shortly.

4. & 5. This was the only serious property damage I saw. Half a tree came crashing across the road and onto a parked car. It also clipped a pickup truck which was driving underneath when it fell.

6. & 7. These are the broken parts of the limb which fell in 4 & 5. The green beads up in what's left of the tree are throws from a St. Patrick's Day parade which goes through our neighborhood. There are left over beads hanging in the trees all year round.

8. Very minor roof damage from a tiny little branch.

9. This has nothing to do with any damage, but the little fellow was so cute I had to take a picture. Never noticed him before, even though he's right down the street.

10. A telephone pole went down. I was kind of surprised by this one, I didn't think there was enough there for the wind to catch hold of.

11. Pecan trees are dangerous! Most of the fallen trees and broken branches around my neighborhood were pecans. They have shallow root systems, and after a certain age, they're just weak inside. Plus, even in good weather they drip the stickiest sap all over your car or anything else left underneath them.

12. & 13. My neighbor's house. This is the only actual home damage I saw in my 2 hour walk today. The tree split down the middle. Half went across the road, and half went right on top of the poor guy's house. Damage could have been much worse, though.

14. & 15. This is about half a mile from my house. Most of the downed trees I saw today were very considerate; if they could fall away from a house or a car, they did. Only a couple of them misbehaved and caused any property damage at all. You can again see the St. Patrick's Day parade beads stuck up (well, it used to be up) in the tree top.

So, that's my neighborhood. I'm grateful the damage wasn't far, far worse. Reports I hear from New Orleans are still very sketchy, so I hope and pray that they didn't suffer too much. From what I've put together, the damage was bad, but a last minute shift to the east made it not be the cataclysmic event it could have been. My prayers also go out to all along the Gulf coast who have been battered by this storm. Mobile is being hit very hard, I understand.