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Heading to New Orleans--advice?
GoodOmens
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My wife and I are going to New Orleans in February (well, Metarie, to be specific) to help with some rebuilding efforts. We'll be there for 6 days, working with a local parish called the Celebration Church (who, based on their Website, appear to be fundies, so that won't be fun).
I'm looking for any advice or experiences that you might have. Not for touristy type stuff, because we won't have time for that; we might have one night in the French Quarter, otherwise we'll be sleeping on cots. Rather, stuff we should bring that we'd probably forget, things to watch out for while there, etc.
We've got the basics covered; got tetanus boosters, we're going shopping next weekend for work boots and gloves and such like that. Frankly, though, I'm somewhat worried; I've never done anything like this before at all, and I'd like to feel like I have all the bases covered before we go. Thanks in advance for any ideas.
I'm looking for any advice or experiences that you might have. Not for touristy type stuff, because we won't have time for that; we might have one night in the French Quarter, otherwise we'll be sleeping on cots. Rather, stuff we should bring that we'd probably forget, things to watch out for while there, etc.
We've got the basics covered; got tetanus boosters, we're going shopping next weekend for work boots and gloves and such like that. Frankly, though, I'm somewhat worried; I've never done anything like this before at all, and I'd like to feel like I have all the bases covered before we go. Thanks in advance for any ideas.
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Oh, and they may or may not provide these, but walkie talkies... I'm not sure the state of the cellular towers around there, but they'd make things alot easier if their down/broken/whatever.
I'm not sure how much driving we'll be doing; the impression that I get is that the church is near the homes we'll be working in, so it'll probably be mostly walking. The walkie-talkies are a great idea (especially given that my cell service sucks most of the time in the best conditions).
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Well, probably not so much rebuilding as demolishing. We're probably going to spend most of our time gutting houses. I'm brining a hand-held power saw, hammer, and hand saw; I might invest in a hatchet. Of course, all this depends on what is allowed on the plane, so I'll have to check in to that.
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Yeah, I'm sorting through my clothes now to find crap that I won't mind seeing destroyed/trashed. I'll be hitting up Wal-Mart or whatever to get lots of cheap clothes. What I really need to get are solid work gloves and boots; all I have is hiking boots, and I don't trust their protection.
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Also, how much tools are to be provided? cause lugging power tools cross country sounds like a lot of work for 6 days. Add that to the fact that they're gonna be used hard and may not survive... You may want to bring the second string tools, just in case.
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Like good, actual filtration masks, not just a 50-pack of dust filters from HomeDepot.
Go check out footage from Dirty Jobs when Mike went to Naw'lins; not a pretty site. May want to check your vaccinations too. Ditto the heavy work clothes.
The masks are being provided by someone at the church, and they're the real deal; I forget the specific rating off hand, but they're industrial. Got my tetanus shot, I'm looking in to hepatitis; all my other vaccinations are good to go. Mostly I'm worried about allergies; I'll need to get my hands on a nuclear-strength anti-histamine.
I don't think I'll watch that Dirty Jobs episode, because I don't want to be scared away from doing this. I'm already rather leery.
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Metairie is basically a middle-class suburb. Although crime is up a little since Katrina, you shouldn't really have to watch out for anything. All services are in place there. Your biggest concern is traffic and long lines at all stores, since people from the devastated areas tend to do their shopping in Metairie. The point is, I guess, that you can buy whatever you need there. It's not a wasteland.
If the actual work is taking place somewhere other than Metairie, there may be reason for caution. If you're going to be demolishing stuff, you need the proper safety equipment, but it seems like you've thought of that.
I lived in Metairie all my life until Katrina, if you have any specific questions.
Anyway, one bit of advice for what you are going to do, which is great by the way since even though I live several miles off the coast of MS, there's still a lot of crap messed up here from Katrina.
But yeah, don't be afraid to ask questions if you don't know what you're doing. Everyone else has mentioned equipment and stuff like that but for the sake of not repeating, just don't be afraid to if you don't know what's up or are just curious. Just something I've learned over the years since I've helped groups and stuff like this with rebuilding efforts elsewhere.
I didn't even realize that I'd be there during Mardi Gras until my wife mentioned it. I figure that I'll be dead tired, though.
Oh, by the way, real shame about the Saints. If it was anyone but my hometown Bears, I'd be rooting for your guys to get to the big game.
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Identification. Always carry it with you. Police will stop you and some of them might not be the friendliest, so it's a must that you have a driver's license or something on your person at all times.
Bandanas/ baseball caps. If you're going to be doing demo or mold remediation, shit will get in your hair and depending on your housing, you might not get a shower each night.
As for your boots - definitely break them in as much as possible before heading out. Your feet will thank you if you do.
As for tools, I found that a basic pry bar was a lot more effective than a crowbar. It made it a lot easier to pull nails from the studs and tear out base boards and such.
Something like this
the greatest tool in the world
highly recommend this tool. When I was down there, that guy was my best friend.
Other than that, stay hydrated and stay safe. If you do go around and want to take photos, be aware of your surroundings, limit your walking to the daytime, and the usual unfamiliar city stuff. Don't be afraid to talk to the people down there. They want people to know what happened and they want people to know that things aren't okay down there.
I didn't think this would turn into a long post, but you'll find out after you've been down there that the city gets in your blood, man. I'm from Chicago and I had a hard time watching the game.
So yeah. Talk to people, take photos, tell your friends and try the gumbo!
I just wanted to add it's pretty awesome you're doing this.
I found the coverage of the NO aftermath more disturbing than the WTC; just seemed more human somehow.
PS: Da Bears!