"Patricia Byrd's Gut"

More pictures without words

Random photos that deserve to be posted.



Amy Edgar from WEA Atlanta.



Becky Wagner and Amanda Howell outside the Mother In Law Lounge



Morning Chaos, a.k.a. Breakfast



James entertains Dana and Raena in his spacious apartment

Wednesday/Thursday

The following was written on the plane home...

The day started with a whimper as we were awaken at 5:45am from our slumber party at Our Lady of the Air Mattress to "“pee and brush our teeth" before the city shut the water off to the church. 100 sleepy people stumbled through the back passageways of our temporary host in a daze, following orders. The actual wake-up call came an hour later in the form of Starbucks coffee and Dunkin Donuts. The team quickly piled into waiting vehicles and were shuttled off to the Lower ninth ward for our day of work.

This day was set up differently then the others. The entire population of Hands On New Orleans was working in the same block radius and we were not allowed to sign up for projects until we arrived on site. The options consisted of several gutting projects, a couple of mold-—removal projects and a huge landscaping endeavor. Barbara Bolan and her daughter Amanda Howell joined Rachael, Raena and myself on a gutting project for their first day's work.

The house was extremely small. I have no concept of square-footage but I would guess the 4 rooms making up the residence were only slightly larger in area than my studio apartment. This residence made up one quarter of a four family dwelling, each sharing two common walls only the thickness of a piece of drywall. This house had not been entered since the storm, 15 months earlier. Debris still needed to be cleared as nothing in the house was salvageable. Among the objects I found was a child's grade school picture that had adhered itself to the cement under the carpet. It was difficult, both emotionally and physically to remove and throw away.

One point I want to make is that although this work took place in an area of deep tragedy, within each project was a work crew filled with fun and laughter. Although I do suppose the hilarity of my landing accidentally in the debris pile is more of a "you just had to be there" situation. The same with Rachael yelling at the top of her lungs in the respirator mask "“BECKY!" only to have me pop up behind her, thus proving the person in the Tyvek suit she was so adamantly trying to get their attention was actually Barbara.

All the teams broke for lunch at 1:30 when we were treated to a huge feast cooked up by Miss Antoinette.

Wednesday night-—
Most of the Rhino crew took some time to escape the bunkhouse and head to the French Quarter for some seafood at Red Fish Grill. This gave us a chance to get to know some of our satellite crew member, Amy Edgar who had just arrived at Hands On. The rowdy crowd included 10 of the remaining 15 Rhinos (Drue, Jason, Michael, Faith and Quincee departed earlier that day).

Thursday, Thanksgiving-

Although Thursday was not an official project work day we had several opportunities to be of service if we so chose. Many of our crew accepted Honorary-Rhino Amanda-from-South-Africa'’s invitation to join her with serving dinner at the convention center. This is an annual meal presented by the sheriff'’s department currently in its 32nd year. The hardy souls getting up early on this day off included Amanda Smith, Barbara Bolan, Amanda Howell, James O'Toole, Rachael Bickerton, Anna & Sarah Skaggs and myself. Unfortunately for most of the volunteers outnumbered the diners. (Several theories have developed in regards to this; primarily that the homeless and underemployed populations of the city have been displaced because of the storm and have not yet returned, coupled with the fact that the Convention Center brings back too many heartbreaking memories for most residents.) Regardless, those in attendance were well fed and entertained by world-renowned musicians, including Miss Irma Thomas.

"Usher Out of the Bunkhouse"

The idea of blogging every day sounds good in theory but at the end of a long workday it may not actually happen. That is why it is Friday and I still haven't explained what happened Tuesday night.

On Tuesday we learned that Usher was going to be doing a press junket from our humble bunkhouse. So the good news is more press for Hands On, the bad news is all the volunteers had to sleep somewhere else. So 100 volunteers packed up most of their belongings and were shuttled across town to a church hall where we all slept on air mattresses like a big, annoying, slumber party. Some of the Rhinos escaped to the Maple Leaf Bar to see the Rebirth Brass Band.

Wednesday was a very, very busy day. All Hands On crews were working in the same block of the Lower 9th Ward to support some of Usher's press stuff. Miss Antoinette supplied lunch for the entire group with some amazing Southern Thanksgiving fixings.

Wednesday was a stinky stinky stinky day.

Tuesday via Thursday

Don't let the timestamp on the blog fool you, it is really 2:53 am as I start this post. I can't sleep. The bunkhouse is at capacity of over 100 sleeping souls. My quick focus group tells me that while 20% of the population snores, they prevent the remaining 80% from sleeping. Earplugs are a wonderous thing but sometimes once you are up, you are up. I figured I might as well take this opportunity to add my own little typing sounds to the chorus of the night and catch you up on our activities.

I left off my previous post with Tuesday afternoon's gut. This second house my Tuesday crew was assigned to was in the heart of the Lower 9. If not for the few FEMA trailers parked on some properties it would be hard to say anyone lived in a 2 mile radius. With us dressed in our Tyvek suits, respirators, goggles and hardhats it was as if we were a hazmat crew responding to a town eradicated from radiation or a horror-flick plague.

The house was rather small, 4-5 rooms total I believe, but I never made it past the first two rooms so I'm not sure. There was a visible waterline slightly higher than my waist circling the room. Black mold was visible on every possible surface with paint peeling in sheets 5 feet wide. But the truly horrific part was the floor, the carpeting and the wood underneath were still sopping wet. It was a slimy sludge that was slippery to walk on, much less stake a ladder on while you climb up with a crowbar to rip out the sagging ceiling. And once all the "dry"wall has been pulled down from the ceilings and walls it must be shovelled into trashcans and hauled to the street. After all the debris has been cleared we pulled up the carpet to expose the still-wet wood underneath which finally gave way in some spots. The final duty when gutting a house is to pull each and every nail from the wood studs to make a smooth surface for the de-molding crew. Many of the nails below the waterline simply dissolved on contact; 6-8 inch framing nails reduced to dust, thus is the power of the levee break.

The amazing part of this work was not that a crew of about 8 can completely gut a house in a few hours, it is that they do it willingly, without hesitation, without a freakin' "org chart". You pick up the closest tool and attack whatever surface needs to be done, no questions asked. The only heirarchy on the work site is the two Team Leaders who are entrusted with our safety in the situation and take that on with the utmost respect. The TLs on this day's project, Reggie and Elliot, are no more than 20 years old. I cannot think of anywhere else in my life that I have encountered such a classless society. Age, race, sex, income, education, and what kind of car you drive don't mean a damn thing in the Lower 9. So the most disgusting house I've ever seen was also one of the most beautiful sites I've ever witnessed. My gratitude towards my team that day, which included Rhinos Jason, James, Sarah, Dana, Jean as well as to everyone who made my trip possible is immeasurable.

Belated Blogging

I am so sorry for not posting in several days but we have just been so busy with work and fun. When was the last time we talked, Sunday? Monday was our first full work day. It started at 7am with loud Kenny Wayne Sheppard blasting from the kitchen signaling breakfast is served. Breakfast consists of bread, some bagels, random bags of cereal and anything else they may have dragged out. While preparing your breakfast you also must pack your lunch (pb&j with cheeze nips or cookies). Monday being the first day we all underestimated our hunger. Word to the wise, bring at least 2 sandwiches! I would also like to announce that Rachael ate her very first peanut butter and jelly sandwich on Monday.

The crew I was on was gutting Professor Longhair's house. The crew also included Amanda, Dana, Jean, Rachael, Drue, Jason and JO'T. (I may have forgotten someone since we all look alike in our white Tyvex suits, no offense meant to anyone left out). The work is strenuous in physical and mental ability. We had to sort through clothing, furniture and random documents that have been in the house since the storm, salvaging anything possible. Once that is done we attack the drywall, tearing the house down to the studs. The first floor was our goal for the first day and we were pleased to accomplish our goal. During the afternoon Professor Longhair's daughter, Patricia, stopped by to see us and thank us for our work. Word had gotten back to her that we were from Rhino and she was very touched by the personal connection. I'll let one of the other Rhino's describe the meeting in more detail.

Monday night, what did we do? I don't even remember but it probably involved Igor's.

Tuesday morning a group headed out to finish the second floor gutting of Ms. Patricia's house but it was cut short about an hour into it when someone knocked the valve off the gas line and we had to evacuate. The main shut off valve could not be found and the gas company had no record of the house when called. But during the searching for the main valve we did find live ammo. An awesome combination! That ended the work at that house for the day.

The crew came back to basecamp to regroup and be assigned to a new project. The second project was another gut but this time in the 9th Ward area of New Orleans. In all of my work in Biloxi and to date this was the most disgusting situation I've ever experienced. And on that note, dinner is served. I'll report back later.

late night blogging

It's 11:45 pm, and despite a long day of walking around New Orleans and painting primer on a halfway-rebuilt house, I can't sleep. Maybe what's keeping me awake is the existential sadness that such a beautiful city can be ignored and forgotten by the men we elected to keep our country safe and strong.

But more likely, it's because the chump in the next bunk won't stop snoring. Compassion be damned...sometimes you just wanna kick someone in the face. So, in the hopes that my neighbor's nasal passages will clear out with time, I'm up and blogging.

Today's expedition around the French Quarter was fun but bittersweet. We all had a great time eating, shopping, walking, and taking goofy pictures, and I definitely did my part to support New Orleans' economy. But it's sad to see the stark difference between the "tourist" neighborhoods and the block where our Hands On base is situated. The "new" New Orleans definitely has two sides -- the strong, positive, optimistic side that is promoted to the outside world as proof that the city will thrive, and the distressed, chaotic, and dangerous side where gang activity runs high and damaged houses & debris stand waiting to be repaired or demolished.

On our first night, we heard from a speaker & activist whose message was "WE WILL NOT BE SILENT". I realize now how vital it is to speak up about the issues facing New Orleans, and to confront the fact that tourism dollars and Saints games are good, but they won't bring the city back to the level of stability needed for real re-development. That stability can only be accomplished by spreading awareness of the "other", unseen side of New Orleans and mobilizing the efforts of local & federal government and volunteer organizations to counteract the negative, destructive, and corrupting influences that are burrowing into the heart of the city. It's good to have Mardi Gras, and it's good for Americans to see that New Orleans is not dead. But it's also important to acknowledge that much work still remains to be done, and the embattled citizens of this proud city can't do it all by themselves.

I've only been here a day and I already want to come back and work with Hands On again.
I urge any of you with a desire to help to look into volunteering. Hands On makes it incredibly easy...they give you a place to stay, food to eat, and well-organized volunteer projects. All you have to do is show up and work. But if you can't come volunteer, at the very least, don't be silent. Tell your friends and family about the situation and spread the word. The more people we reach, the better chance we have of helping this struggling city get back up on its feet.

-- Jason

p.s. - here are some more photos from our trip so far. Sorry if they're a little blurry...my camera-phone is tempermental.

visiting an old friend...

It was an official day off for the Hands On volunteers, so, even though the WMG team was ready and willing to tear down some walls, we spent our first day in town exploring the French Quarter and visiting our old friend Shirley instead. Some of you may have heard about Shirley from our last volunteer trip in April. A waitress at the Coffee Pot restaurant in the FQ, Shirley had evacuated the city before Katrina hit, but due to the aftermath, was unable to move back into her apartment, and in April was still commuting all the way from Baton Rouge to work. She was happy to still have a job, but suffering in a million small ways from having her life turned upside down. As with everyone we'd met, Shirley was extremely grateful for the presence of hundreds of volunteers in town helping to rebuild, and after serving us a delicious meal of catfish poboys, expressed her gratitude to us in song... "take me to heart, and I'll always love you..." We recognized it immediately as Aretha Franklin's "Do Right Woman" (a Rhino legacy artist), but it was imbued with a special poignancy in light of all she'd been through. It brought most of us to tears and was one of the most powerful experiences of our April trip. Of course, Shirley was high on our list of things to do/people to see in the French Quarter, and we were relieved to find her still there at the Coffee Pot today. It was a very happy reunion for all of us -- she told us that she had found an apartment in the city three months ago (prices are more than double what they had been pre-Katrina) and that her life was improving. She serenaded us with another song, "Amazing Grace" this time, because "it's Sunday" she said.

After our visit with Shirley, we caught some amazing street performers and happily plowed some money into the local economy before heading back to Hands On. Jason, Drue, Dana, Jean, Rachael, James and I all worked for a few hours on a house across the street from the Hand On home base... cleaning up debris from their new roof and painting. Tomorrow the real heavy lifting begins!

Amanda Smith, c/o Becky

Pictures from Saturday

We made it, well some of us did.

It is after 11 on Saturday night, our first night here. Currently we have me, Drue, Deidre, Sarah, Anna, Michael, Faith, Alessandra, Roxy, Jason, Amanda and Jean in camp. (Pardon my spelling as it is already past "lights out" and I'm trying to type as quietly as possible.) Raena missed her morning flight but we believe she caught the same evening flight as James. I don't believe they have arrived to the homebase just yet but they should be here any minute.

Since we are all coming in on separate flights and airlines through various connecting cities it seems every few hours another "rhino" shows up at the door. The church we are stationed in is certainly not on the main tourist route so even the cab drivers are having difficulty finding it. I was part of the first group to arrive (Drue, Deidre, Becky) so I guess I've had the most time to settle in.

In the bunkhouse I chose an upper bunk, completely forgetting that a lower bunk can quickly become a private cocoon with a simple sheet. Instead I am up here in the open like a plastic figurine on a storebought birthday cake. I may have to make a move tomorrow. Some of the group supported the local watering hole tonight where we played some pool and dusted off the jukebox. Drue, Jason and Deidra are joining some fellow Hands On people going to Tipatina's tonight.

Tomorrow is an "off" day for the volunteers so I think most of our group is going to take advantage of it and explore the city. Of course Deidre scored a free ticket to the Saints game so she has a date with the Superdome.

I would post some pictures of our homebase but I forgot my camera cord in my bag under the bottom bunk and that is where it will stay for the night. So pictures tomorrow, I promise!
Good night-
Becky

Mold, maggots in New Orleans homes left to rot.

New Orleans remains in the news, thank you to all who have helped make our trip possible...

By Matthew Bigg
NEW ORLEANS (Reuters) - More than a year after Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans, thousands of homes damaged by flooding still stand empty, stained by black mold and some of them infested with maggots.

City authorities are now cranking up a $20 million drive to deal with a problem until now addressed mainly by charities, home-owners and contractors who have worked to gut the properties and eliminate the health hazard they pose.

Volunteers from the charity Acorn began the two-day process of gutting one such house belonging to Gwen Brown in New Orleans East suburb in late October, removing damaged goods and stripping the house to its walls, floorboards and ceilings.

They wore white full-body protective suits and put on gas masks, goggles and thick gloves because the spores infested every corner of the house.

"There's nothing like a maggot-filled refrigerator," said Daryl Durham, the team leader, as he hauled one into the street to join a growing pile of possessions. The stench from the fridge filled the road.

Flood waters that surged into the famed city of jazz in August last year churned the house contents around like a whirlpool and then sat at a depth of 5 feet for weeks before receding. Since then the house, like thousands of others, has been left untouched.

Acorn says its volunteers have gutted around 1,600 homes at a rate of around 20 per month and around 2,000 homes remain on its list to be cleared out, though many other residents have signed up with other groups to have their houses dealt with.

"People ... just think it was a city that was demolished. If people realized that these were people's lives then more things would happen quicker," said Lauren Pembo, 19, a student volunteer and New Orleans native.

CITY PLAN

As part of the Good Neighbor Program, Mayor Ray Nagin proposed $15 million in his $419 million November budget to strip 5,000 homes and $5 million to demolish 10,000 more, said Anthony Faciane, chief of development in the mayor's office.

The program, which started a year after the storm, involves a three-step, 120-day process for homeowners who have not cleaned out or demolished damaged homes or applied to a volunteer agency to do the job.

Homeowners are first given notice that they are in violation of local laws, then after 30 days a notice is put on the property and on a Web site and 30 days after that authorities can seek permission to demolish or to gut and board up a property.

"It is crucial that most of our resources have to be given for making a high-quality of life for the pioneers, the people who came back and started to rebuild. We need to clean neighborhoods up," Faciane told Reuters.

Around 120,000 properties were damaged by flooding in New Orleans. Permits had been issued for around 100,000 to be gutted or repaired, leaving around 20,000 untouched. Of those, around 15,000 would have to be demolished, Faciane said.

Many homeowners, traumatized by their experience of losing so much, were reluctant to make a decision on whether to return and rebuild so the city was setting deadlines to help them decide, he said.

"What people don't realize is that this was the first time in history is that an entire American city was shut down," Faciane said.

CROWBARS, SENSITIVITY

Volunteers use crowbars to prize sheetrock from walls in damaged homes. But they have to be careful -- items that look worthless may be of intense personal value.

For many people, seeing the contents of their flooded houses piled up in the street is traumatic.

Brown, whose New Orleans East home yielded the maggot-infested fridge and who fled to Houston, Texas, just before the storm, maintained telephone contact with the team clearing her single-story home and the next day returned to see it.

"This was my first place. I was so happy here. I would sit on this patio after work," said Brown, 51, as she picked through old records, carpets, plastic flowers and other items.

A neighbor who failed to get out before the storm drowned in her back yard. The body was removed in the immediate aftermath of the storm, she said.

Almost every item she found triggered memories. A framed print of jazz singer Billie Holliday had survived as had a bottle stuffed with coins her daughter used as a piggy bank.

Insurance money she received went to pay off the mortgage and she planned, one day, to rebuild the house and move back.

But Brown was unsentimental about her ruined possessions and marveled how much "junk" she'd accumulated over the years.

"It's a closure because this part of our life is over," she said as she surveyed her stuff. "We loved this house but I can't get none of it back."

Less than two weeks away

Wow, we are less than two weeks away from landing in New Orleans. The group is getting very excited! We are also very close to reaching our fundraising goal and offer a huge thanks to everyone who has made this trip possible.

This afternoon Amanda and I are going shopping at the "survival store" for respirators, work gloves and eye protection which will be needed by each of the team members. When our work in NOLA is done we will leave these behind for future workers who may not be able to purchase the items themselves.

We are also busy with the various travel arrangements since we have team members from all over the country joining us this time around.

We will be posting daily entries with pictures of our experiences so please check back often!

Thanks again for all of your support.
-Becky