Rest in Peace Sub_Umbra

StarHalo said:

I've always referred new CPFers to the posts of "our resident Katrina survivor." I might not get to read the book on urban survival I wish he'd written, but he'll always be the professor on the subject to me..

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Sub_Umbra said:

Hey all,

I'm sorry it has taken me so long to check in. I've been in New
Orleans, in the 'Top of the Triangle' in the Marigny, just a couple
blocks from the French Quarter for the whole event. I was afraid to
leave my house much of the time for fear that NOPD thugs would
strong-arm me out of the city. With the NOPD in total collapse the
mayor jumped on a strategy of forcing everyone to evacuate so his
thieving toothless minions would be less of a political embarrassment
to him. My house was not damaged by wind or rain. We did not flood.
That made no difference to the City. Dealing with the City was
actually far more of a challenge than the storm. Untold millions in
property damage from the storm and looters is directly attributable to
this poorly thought out policy that kept home owners from even evaluating,
let alone tarping their damaged roofs. The restoration of services
continues to be bogged down by this decision as utility crews must either
break into properties for routine access to meters -- or wait for
locksmiths to arrive to pick the locks. In my part of town every
gas meter must be disconnected and they are ALL behind locked doors
or gates. Looters go behind the utility crews with the knowledge that
the B&E part of their job has already been done for them.

On the other hand, all of the Federal agents I dealt with were top
notch. The same was true for the 82nd Airborne and ALL of the other
military/National Guard troops. In our daily dealings with all of
the various Feds and troops, none of them ever gave us away to the
NOPD. The utility guys were thrilled to find anyone at home
who could just let them in so they could get their work done more
quickly -- so they never pimped us out to the NOPD either.

My power came back on six weeks after the storm; the City announced
that the water was drinkable the day before. So they say. My land-line
is down and may stay that way for another month or two so I'm posting
this on someone else's box. I probably won't be posting much for the
foreseeable future. The gas utility situation is just as bad as the
phones. No garbage pickup yet, either.

We were pretty well prepared for this event. I looked for this
apartment for over a year with just this storm in mind. My primary
water system can treat 32,000 gal (no typo) without needing city
water pressure or electricity. We've still got enough food to last
for another three months. I didn't realize until recently that we
have enough batteries to last a couple years.

Mrs Umbra and Stinky the cat are fine, too.

All three of us refuse to accept "Katrina Victim" status.

I miss you all very much.

Hope to be back soon.

Sub

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