Update and Thanks
1. There is a mass exodus for the Mississippi River Bridges (Crescent City Connection) from the CBD. We are not sure what's going on, but we are assuming until we hear differently that people are fleeing the city. So if you're watching the feeds, that's what you're seeing -- throngs of people moving toward the bridges.

2. Cannot confirm any of the following: Superdome fire, 2 shot police officers this morning. We hear all kinds of stuff, but no way to verify those.

3. Can confirm: The National Guard, FEMA, the NOPD, and City authorities DO NOT have the city under control. There are live radio feeds for the National Guard comms and NOPD comms which have been circulating the web, and you can listen to the chaos and disarray for yourselves. I am not going to post the links, but I'm sure others have and will. I doubt the government's ability to reestablish order without a full active duty military presence to crush the mob mentality. This of course will mean no civil rights and everyone being treated equally -- as a criminal. Rock | Hard Place.

4. I'm happy to report that my parents are accounted for. My mother made it out to Jackson, Mississippi, and my father, the only person more strong-willed than myself, is still in Harahan, healthy but refusing to leave. Mounting a rescue operation to bring him into the Outpost Crystal is a very low priority mission at this point. He's gonna have to tough it out for the time being. For him to read later, when this is all over: "Dad, I love you. I have to say it -- I told you so." Stubborn guy, my dad.

5. More pics coming soon.

More later.

(71 comments) - (Post a new comment)

	(Anonymous) 2005-09-01 03:27 pm UTC (link)
	Great news about your parents. Keep up the good work. (Reply to this)

	lheena 2005-09-01 03:27 pm UTC (link)
	If it helps, http://forums.fark.com/cgi/fark/comments.pl?IDLink=1647609 is the farkers who've been listening to the radio streams all morning. ... I firmly believe the fire, at least, as they were all listening to the same police radios. (Reply to this)

	malathion 2005-09-01 03:28 pm UTC (link)
	I'm happy to report that my parents are accounted for. Awesome. I'm glad to hear this. (Reply to this)

	uberbitsch 2005-09-01 03:28 pm UTC (link)
	'Allo there. Just a few brief words of encouragement or something from a London-based red cross worker. What's happened in your neck of the woods is absolutely unbelievable. But your continued updates are an invaluable insight to what's happening to news junkies such as myself. Good luck with it all, and stay safe. (Reply to this)

	unprotectedtext 2005-09-01 03:29 pm UTC (link)
	cnn shows shots fired at choppers no more evacuations from superdome - everybody is walking down 10 to buses numerous natural gas leaks on fire (Reply to this) (Thread)

	irishelf 2005-09-01 03:32 pm UTC (link)
	There was a supply truck held up, as well, and hospitals are also being evacuated. I don't know if you know yet, but the mayor has declared an official-type evacuation, and ordered the police to abandon search-and-rescue in order to stop the looting. (Reply to this) (Parent)

princesca 2005-09-01 03:29 pm UTC (link)

CNN is saying that, at least around the convention center, which has become the 'refuge of second to last resort' (ha ha) there are no cops, no National Guard. People think someone's coming for them, but no one can verify that and no one's bringing anything, be it exit vehicles or water. Apparently, people are starting to die there, and the conditions are as bad or worse as those at the Superdome. (Reply to this) (Thread)

	knobee 2005-09-01 03:34 pm UTC (link)
	People that went there first probably didn't know it from the superdome... where one or two gather, a throng will follow. (Reply to this) (Parent)

	Donation agentace 2005-09-01 03:30 pm UTC (link)
	Just got an email from the president of my company that we're sending a donation to the Red Cross for the relief effort in New Orleans and the surrounding areas. He's also urging all employees to contribute individually, in addition to what the company is sending. Hope it helps, guys! (Reply to this) (Thread)

	Re: Donation takami826 2005-09-01 04:03 pm UTC (link)
	my company, too, is donating to red cross and apparently medical equip as well as matching employee donations so hopefully it gets into the right hands (Reply to this) (Parent)

	News site with good info (Anonymous) 2005-09-01 03:30 pm UTC (link)
	http://www.wwltv.com/local/stories/WWLBLOG.ac3fcea.html (Reply to this)

	carmen 2005-09-01 03:31 pm UTC (link)
	Glad to know your parents are safe! (Reply to this)

	(Anonymous) 2005-09-01 03:32 pm UTC (link)
	Thanks for the update - I was curious about all those people! Thank you, too, for not giving up your humanity in this horrific situation. best wishes and best of luck! (Reply to this)

You Guys Rock (Anonymous) 2005-09-01 03:32 pm UTC (link)

Just found your blog, You've made Headline News on The Register (www.theregister.co.uk) I'm really impressed by how well you seem to be doing, i guess that you all have the right mindset and skills. Afraid i cant help at all really, other than moral support (which you probably have plenty of) but good luck in getting in the diesil and food and water as you may need it over the coming days/weeks. I have to go back to college tomorrow but i'll be keeping up to date on your blog as much as possible. Does anyone know if LJ's offer RSS? If nothing else this is great publicity for directNIC, i'd use you guys for hosting! (just read you have diesel in now, just wanted to say :D and good luck pumping it! (Reply to this) (Thread)

	RSS Feeds firewallender 2005-09-01 03:34 pm UTC (link)
	All LJ accounts have feeds... here's theirs: http://www.livejournal.com/users/interdictor/data/rss http://www.livejournal.com/users/interdictor/data/atom (Reply to this) (Parent)

Re: You Guys Rock - (Anonymous), 2005-09-01 03:37 pm UTC

Re: You Guys Rock - (Anonymous), 2005-09-01 03:41 pm UTC

	maps of the area before and after (Anonymous) 2005-09-01 03:32 pm UTC (link)
	http://www.spaceimaging.com/gallery/default.htm just so people can get an idea of the mess. notice, btw, how effective "Homeland Security" is working. insert rolling eyes. --- new yorker looking on! (Reply to this)

	Thanks (Anonymous) 2005-09-01 03:32 pm UTC (link)
	Thank you for taking time to give an inside look at what is going on there. I am worried sick about the people in NO - I am safe and sound in Chicago but just can't stop worrying about everyone there. Stay strong - you are an inspiration. (Reply to this)

	rjlippincott 2005-09-01 03:32 pm UTC (link)
	I know you guys are exhausted, but for many of us you're supplying the only clear picture of what is happening in the city. Keep the faith. Your work is important. You are making a difference. (Reply to this)

	bdu 2005-09-01 03:33 pm UTC (link)
	Well, cnn is reporting small fires at the superdome. I'm not sure how confirmed you can call that though... (Reply to this)

	icefacade 2005-09-01 03:34 pm UTC (link)
	well you made the metafilter feed: here you & zipa & directnic & something awful exact quote "color me impressed" (Reply to this)

	helenangel 2005-09-01 03:35 pm UTC (link)
	Glad to hear your parents are safe! My thoughts & prayers continue to be with you and everyone else at Camp Crystal. =) (Reply to this)

	Confirm overheard 2 officers shot on scanner nyscannerlisten 2005-09-01 03:35 pm UTC (link)
	I can confirm that a medivac request for 2 officers shot was heard on police scanner at approx. 10:30 EST - mention of coordinating with fish and wildlife? or some such for pickup. (Reply to this) (Thread)

	Re: Confirm overheard 2 officers shot on scanner witchofthedogs 2005-09-01 03:43 pm UTC (link)
	Dept. of Fish and Wildlife has the flatbottomed boats that they have been using for a lot of the rescues, so is probably what you heard. (Reply to this) (Parent)

	audio feeds (Anonymous) 2005-09-01 03:35 pm UTC (link)
	I realize posting may flood them with requests, but does anybody have links to the police/rescue audio feeds? --thanks (Reply to this) (Thread)

	Re: audio feeds daidreamer5 2005-09-01 04:27 pm UTC (link)
	They are on one of the threads at Http://www.fark.com. They are also posting what they hear from the feed on the same thread, so it won't be completely flooded. (Reply to this) (Parent)

	glad to hear your family is safe (Anonymous) 2005-09-01 03:35 pm UTC (link)
	i'm a sysop in dallas, i would be more then happy to add routers or servers to my monitoring setups if you want/need someone to watch things from the outside. i feel pretty bad about the situation in the region and tech. is the only thing i have to offer. if there's anything i can do tell me. AIM: chasd00 (Reply to this)

jenniekiger 2005-09-01 03:36 pm UTC (link)

I was listening to the police scanner hookup this morning when they were talking about the fire. Apparently it was a small fire in a garbage chute, quickly gotten under control, but they were concerned about the smoke (it sounded like they had the equipment in place to clear it out, but it was hard to make out for sure if it *was* there or if they were saying it was still needed there). (Reply to this) (Thread)

	scanner hookup (Anonymous) 2005-09-01 03:52 pm UTC (link)
	where/how can I connect to the scanner audio? (Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)

Re: scanner hookup - synthbaron, 2005-09-01 04:39 pm UTC

Kansas City Star reporter wanting to interview you (Anonymous) 2005-09-01 03:39 pm UTC (link)

Hello. I am a Kansas City Star reporter who has been faithfully following your blog for the past few days. I worked four years at The Advocate in Baton Rouge before moving to KC in 2000 so I've spent much time in New Orleans during that period and even before that visiting friends. I am working on a story about people blogging from New Orleans during this nightmare of nightmares. I would appreciate the opportunity to "talk" to you for a few minutes view telephone or email. My email address is dsmith at kcstar dot com Thank you so much and all the best. DeAnn Smith (Reply to this)

Diesel suggestions and general intel (Anonymous) 2005-09-01 03:39 pm UTC (link)

I don't know if there's a rail line near you, but at the very least you may be able to get diesel from the tank of a locomotive (contact the owning railroad first, they may be willing to sell) and at the most, locomotives are diesel-electric, which means that the electricity they generate can be used externally (with some modification). As for general intel reports, here's what I've got: FEMA is quite desperate to get things under control, but the guard is having a hard time finding the chain of command that remains and reinstating it. Reports of arson are supposedly exaggerated, but there is some happening. Martial law will continue until all looters are stopped, and the curfew is effective at this time, so anyone seen on the street is assumed to be a looter and will be dealt with accordingly. They are attempting to plug the levees, but shots being fired at helicopters are making the job harder and far more dangerous. Several squadrons of heavy-lift choppers are inbound to the metro area to assist in the task, as well as possibly military choppers with armed troops to stop hostile fire. The oil infrastructure in the area seems to be largely fine, with little damage and will be back online fully rather soon. The market is reflecting this with pulling back oil prices and allowing things to settle. In longer term outlooks, it seems the economy will experience a minor shudder, but not be seriously affected. Emergency legislation may be coming to allow newer oil/fuel refinery capacity to be built to offset the affect, but this is just hearsay. That's it for my intel right now, I'll keep it updated if you guys want. (Reply to this) (Thread)

	Re: Diesel suggestions and general intel no1topaz 2005-09-01 04:08 pm UTC (link)
	I don't know about anyone else, bur I appreciate the information and would love to hear more as you receive it. (Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)

Re: Diesel suggestions and general intel - (Anonymous), 2005-09-01 04:09 pm UTC

	God bless, still praying (Anonymous) 2005-09-01 03:40 pm UTC (link)
	Thanks for hanging in there. I know you don't have time to read all these msgs. 6 a few seconds ago and now 20! Be safe. Glad your parents are safe and glad you're getting more diesel. My brother lives/d in Gulfport but he always leaves long before a hurricane arrives, thank God. With my sister in GA now. Sylvia (Reply to this)

	cluebyfour 2005-09-01 03:41 pm UTC (link)
	So glad to hear your parents are OK, Michael. The evacuations from the Superdome have been halted due to gunfire, so that may explain why you're seeing people heading in the opposite direction. I'm sure they're desperate for any way out at this point. (Reply to this)

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