People seem anxious to tell you their story. Almost everyone here seems to have suffered. We went to Pat O'Brien's on Burbon Street where the waiter told us about his experience, spending a considerable amount of time talking. I think they want you to know, understand, what the city has suffered.
He escaped the flood by walking and swimming out, and has been displaced in Austin. He finally came back about 6 months ago. The house where he lived is gone, not worth fixing. The water was to the second story when he escaped and was 8 feet higher later on.
He was unable to find work as a waiter in Austin and had to do other work that he didn't like as well. He said there is a great shortage of housing and a place similar to what he had before now costs twice as much. It is hard for businesses to find service people due to the housing situation.
He is from New York originally but loves New Orleans, so he came back. But he said the city has changed. The tourists are not coming like they used to. The French Quarter was not flooded like the rest of the city, but it is not the same. Burbon Street is up and running, but it's heart is wounded. It believes it will recover sometime, but it will be a long, long time.
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