Four years ago this weekend .......... I was rolling on the Interstate driving North from DC to NYC.......... listening to the BBC World Service on Satellite Radio.......... They were reporting on the preparation for ......... and as it turns out..... totally inadequate evacuation of New Orleans as it became clear the massive Hurricane Katrina would soon strike the city and surrounding towns.
It also became clear........ I was driving in the wrong direction.......... even though it was gone 1AM......... suddenly I was speaking to Matt on the phone......... and he started making arrangements for me to get to New Orleans........ there were no flights going in of course........ and no rental cars for miles (as they had all been rented by people leaving)........ and no gas....... in the end I flew to Atlanta then drove down to NO with Matt in his car............. we took tanks of gas and supplies................. luckily we had some contacts with the worldwide critical disaster teams with the leading insurance adjusters....... so we had some help with logistics along the way in keeping fueled up etc.........
But when we went in to the actual city we were on our own........... what I saw there shocked, revolted and saddened me....... I never thought you could see such a thing in America.............
I wrote this (below)......... and put it on my brand new blog ........ with the two pictures above.............. together they were the first pictures and story on ............ www.jezblog.com ................ So its the 4 year anniversary of the terrible Katrina disaster.......... and the the 4 year anniversary of the start of the jezblog you see today ..........
Photos by Jez Coulson/Insight-Visual
Don’t photograph the dead,’ he told me. ‘Have some respect!’ A FEMA press officer he looked about 20. Have some respect? Christ I could have shouted that back in his face. Have some respect! You call this having respect? It’s eight days later, the stinking bloated corpses still lie in the water covered only by a blue tarpaulin with an orange x spray painted on. Some chemicals have apparently been poured on to keep down the smell but it’s not working that well in the heat and humidity. What about them? Why don’t they show some respect for this dead man? His foot and a hand are now clearly protruding from the tarpaulin. His body lays face down in the water as it has all week not twenty feet from the launching point for scores of boats containing hundreds of different agency representatives. FEMA, Police, EMT, Coast Guard, Firemen even Marines and National Guard people have taken to the water from here. Yet no one has respected this man and his family enough to lift his body from the water. Sure: I understand priority must be given to the living. Still, I watch upwards of 60 people casually standing around waiting for boats to return. Maybe they are awaiting future orders or are just taking lunch. Certainly, they are chatting, maybe having a cigarette break with their 20 or so emergency vehicles standing by. Somehow they just don’t seem that busy. Within a twenty foot radius there are two bodies in the water, the man’s and another one completely covered by its tarpaulin is only about 10 feet from the boat launch ramp. Natural decency demands that these two bodies at least be respected. Even if thousands more wait trapped, hidden elsewhere to be discovered as the waters recede. I can’t believe the orders have to be so absolute, so all or nothing. No bodies to be collected until the rescue effort is completely over. Not even the corpses where it really takes an effort of will to ignore them? Cleaning crews have started to remove the trash from the convention centre. But no one is picking up the bodies. How can this city even begin to recover while bodies lie unclaimed and vilely deteriorate in the streets and in the water?
Another body, that of a black woman, covered only by a totally ineffective light bin bag is lying on the side of the raised highway not a mile further east. A group of firemen and EMT workers are gathered close by. A helicopter comes in to land not twenty feet from her body. Her body is deteriorating in the sun. She has lain dead in that hot sun for 8 days; I cannot photograph this sight. Not because they will not allow it: because I cannot look at it. I am walking away. The helicopter takes off now blasting the smell of the woman’s corpse around me. I am outraged and disgusted. How can FEMA and the other agencies avoid the charges of racism and inadequacy if they allow the bodies of American citizens just to rot on full display right next to their operations.
I have seen bodies lying in the streets unclaimed and rotting before but only in countries that have let go of all civilization, decency and humanity. Only ever in places that have descended into the anarchy and chaos of civil war as in Rwanda or Bosnia. I never thought I could see it in America. I never thought I could see the bodies of American citizens left rotting in the streets of America. In America: in America? Why are they allowing this? That arrogant young press officer and the rest of them should: “Have some respect!”
Unreal.........Like you said, this is America.......Yes, We understand about saving the living etc, but, come on, bodies that close!Man,tears must have been falling just to see that.......Great image with the bird.......just a shame about the devastation...........[reply]Paul S @ August 31, 2009, 7:02 am
Yeah Paul that was the time I was most disappointed and shocked by emergency response ever........ It certainly seemed to me some terribly callous inept things went on........ there was blame to go round ...... the City and the Mayor had failed to evacuate properly....... police had not responded in a great way...... Fema completely dropped the ball...... the State governor seemed overwhelmed..... the White House seemed to not know what was happening.... Core of Engineers had not been given the go ahead for rebuilding or making the the necessary repairs to the sea defences and Levees......... a perfect storm of ineptitude and optimistically hoping it would never happen ........ facing...... a real perfect storm.........
It did all lead to misery and destruction on a scale that is hard to convey........ and hard to forget when you have actually witnessed it........
Paul thanks so much for dropping in on Jezblog and taking time to comment bro :-) :-) :-) :-) :-)) :-)) :-)) :-))
We watched from the safety of our home, way up here in the north, far from the disaster, and wondered in disbelief and amazement at the same questions you asked in your blog post. We could not believe what we were seeing. "You're doing a heck of a job Brownie." I literally gagged when I saw, and heard Mr. Bush mouth those words; live on CNN. It appeared as if FEMA and the administration were not watching the same news everyone else was seeing. It was obvious they were hearing a different story and seeing a different picture of the event, than what the rest of the world was experiencing. Or, perhaps their spin doctors felt the public was gullible and apathetic and would take their words as the real story, rather than what they were seeing in real time on the news. I enjoy viewing and reading your blog every day. Thanks for sharing.[reply]Robert @ August 31, 2009, 7:14 am
Yeah those were shocking times ....... sad...... even shaking Americas view of herself.....
Thanks so much for dropping in on Jezblog and commenting ...... Its great to know people are enjoying it...... and dropping in on a regular basis ......... I love to hear that....... again thanks so much...... Hope all is good up North ..... :-) :-) : -) :-) :-) :-)) :-))
hi jc
congrats on 4 years of jezblog, it's still looking great
Look at this, somebody has invented a laptop for you. I can just see you in the middle seat of a plane with this on your lap
cheers from Ghana
morris
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/6105506/Dual-screen-laptop-on-sale-by-Christmas.html[reply]morris @ August 31, 2009, 9:29 am
Its the one for me baby.......... especially for the middle seat when when really crushed in on some BA flight near the rank toilets....... this is the way forward........ its a good way to make the other people on your row take you seriously...... and force them to take part in the editing process with you ..... Although it may be too technically demanding for me as I am someone unable to overcome a few slight techie problems.... like the cellphone and wifi black-hole on the Isle of White......... sorry about that baby....... next time....... hope all is good and not too manic in your neck of the woods.........anyway Its time for me to take another trip to Accra or maybe the rain forests of Ghana again..... yeah that would be great........ thats a crazy but fantastic place to live Morris I really hope you guys are having a great time....... :-)) :-)) :-)) :-)) :-)) :-)) :-))
Cheers Jez XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
PS... is it you who writes me all those please open a bank account letters...... I transfer the money in.... then you never call me back? hehehehehe......... :-)) :-)) :-))[reply]Jezblog back in the big ATL @ August 31, 2009, 10:40 am
Jez, congratulations on 4 years of Jezblog and, hey, what a way to start the thing... Your pictures of NO were mindblowing - Lynda showed me the Salvation Army book that you had given images to - very, very powerful stuff and hauntingly beautiful too. They pics do exactly what excellent photojournalism should do in showing us the truth - and YOUR truth is always particularly interesting.
I'd like to grab a couple of images for photo-dialogue.com if I may... will drop an email to let you know details and permissions etc. Gotta rush - congrats again on 4 years![reply]Steve Marshall @ September 1, 2009, 3:45 am
More+
Four years ago this weekend .......... I was rolling on the Interstate driving North from DC to NYC.......... listening to the BBC World Service on Satellite Radio.......... They were reporting on the preparation for ......... and as it turns out..... totally inadequate evacuation of New Orleans as it became clear the massive Hurricane Katrina would soon strike the city and surrounding towns.
It also became clear........ I was driving in the wrong direction.......... even though it was gone 1AM......... suddenly I was speaking to Matt on the phone......... and he started making arrangements for me to get to New Orleans........ there were no flights going in of course........ and no rental cars for miles (as they had all been rented by people leaving)........ and no gas....... in the end I flew to Atlanta then drove down to NO with Matt in his car............. we took tanks of gas and supplies................. luckily we had some contacts with the worldwide critical disaster teams with the leading insurance adjusters....... so we had some help with logistics along the way in keeping fueled up etc.........
But when we went in to the actual city we were on our own........... what I saw there shocked, revolted and saddened me....... I never thought you could see such a thing in America.............
I wrote this (below)......... and put it on my brand new blog ........ with the two pictures above.............. together they were the first pictures and story on ............ www.jezblog.com ................ So its the 4 year anniversary of the terrible Katrina disaster.......... and the the 4 year anniversary of the start of the jezblog you see today ..........
Photos by Jez Coulson/Insight-Visual
Don’t photograph the dead,’ he told me. ‘Have some respect!’ A FEMA press officer he looked about 20. Have some respect? Christ I could have shouted that back in his face. Have some respect! You call this having respect? It’s eight days later, the stinking bloated corpses still lie in the water covered only by a blue tarpaulin with an orange x spray painted on. Some chemicals have apparently been poured on to keep down the smell but it’s not working that well in the heat and humidity. What about them? Why don’t they show some respect for this dead man? His foot and a hand are now clearly protruding from the tarpaulin. His body lays face down in the water as it has all week not twenty feet from the launching point for scores of boats containing hundreds of different agency representatives. FEMA, Police, EMT, Coast Guard, Firemen even Marines and National Guard people have taken to the water from here. Yet no one has respected this man and his family enough to lift his body from the water. Sure: I understand priority must be given to the living. Still, I watch upwards of 60 people casually standing around waiting for boats to return. Maybe they are awaiting future orders or are just taking lunch. Certainly, they are chatting, maybe having a cigarette break with their 20 or so emergency vehicles standing by. Somehow they just don’t seem that busy. Within a twenty foot radius there are two bodies in the water, the man’s and another one completely covered by its tarpaulin is only about 10 feet from the boat launch ramp. Natural decency demands that these two bodies at least be respected. Even if thousands more wait trapped, hidden elsewhere to be discovered as the waters recede. I can’t believe the orders have to be so absolute, so all or nothing. No bodies to be collected until the rescue effort is completely over. Not even the corpses where it really takes an effort of will to ignore them? Cleaning crews have started to remove the trash from the convention centre. But no one is picking up the bodies. How can this city even begin to recover while bodies lie unclaimed and vilely deteriorate in the streets and in the water?
Another body, that of a black woman, covered only by a totally ineffective light bin bag is lying on the side of the raised highway not a mile further east. A group of firemen and EMT workers are gathered close by. A helicopter comes in to land not twenty feet from her body. Her body is deteriorating in the sun. She has lain dead in that hot sun for 8 days; I cannot photograph this sight. Not because they will not allow it: because I cannot look at it. I am walking away. The helicopter takes off now blasting the smell of the woman’s corpse around me. I am outraged and disgusted. How can FEMA and the other agencies avoid the charges of racism and inadequacy if they allow the bodies of American citizens just to rot on full display right next to their operations.
I have seen bodies lying in the streets unclaimed and rotting before but only in countries that have let go of all civilization, decency and humanity. Only ever in places that have descended into the anarchy and chaos of civil war as in Rwanda or Bosnia. I never thought I could see it in America. I never thought I could see the bodies of American citizens left rotting in the streets of America. In America: in America? Why are they allowing this? That arrogant young press officer and the rest of them should: “Have some respect!”
Jez Coulson
Cheers Jez XXXXXXXXXXXX
[reply]Paul S @ August 31, 2009, 7:02 am
It did all lead to misery and destruction on a scale that is hard to convey........ and hard to forget when you have actually witnessed it........
Paul thanks so much for dropping in on Jezblog and taking time to comment bro :-) :-) :-) :-) :-)) :-)) :-)) :-))
Cheers Jez XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
[reply]Jezblog back in the big ATL @ August 31, 2009, 11:10 am
[reply]Robert @ August 31, 2009, 7:14 am
Thanks so much for dropping in on Jezblog and commenting ...... Its great to know people are enjoying it...... and dropping in on a regular basis ......... I love to hear that....... again thanks so much...... Hope all is good up North ..... :-) :-) : -) :-) :-) :-)) :-))
Cheers Jez XXXXXXXXXXXXXX
[reply]Jezblog back in the big ATL @ August 31, 2009, 10:49 am
congrats on 4 years of jezblog, it's still looking great
Look at this, somebody has invented a laptop for you. I can just see you in the middle seat of a plane with this on your lap
cheers from Ghana
morris
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/6105506/Dual-screen-laptop-on-sale-by-Christmas.html
[reply]morris @ August 31, 2009, 9:29 am
Cheers Jez XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
PS... is it you who writes me all those please open a bank account letters...... I transfer the money in.... then you never call me back? hehehehehe......... :-)) :-)) :-))
[reply]Jezblog back in the big ATL @ August 31, 2009, 10:40 am
I'd like to grab a couple of images for photo-dialogue.com if I may... will drop an email to let you know details and permissions etc. Gotta rush - congrats again on 4 years!
[reply]Steve Marshall @ September 1, 2009, 3:45 am
[reply]Jezblog back in the big ATL @ September 1, 2009, 4:44 am
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