The water surge, the house and the rebuilding

I have spoken with so many members here that have asked me about what happened here where i live for Katrina. What happened to my house and did i rebuild. I feel obligated to show you these videos. The first is of the storm and my house. The second and third is of the rebuilding. All of the video was shot by me, except for the actual storm footage. That was shot by friends who stayed behind.

im 1/2 way thru the second one chalm.... the music score is great! think i caught a glimpse of you in the mirror there : )

past 1/2 way point the music changes... the house perfect... bright colors and trim.... everything in its place...... the pictures reflect the light and room around flawlessly clean...

a grand music score... a grand home ..... love is all around there...

theres a symbol like the one on the helmet of the New Orleans Saints.... framed on the wall and the symbol is in other rooms as well...

in the third video, the paint chipped toy house nearly broke my heart ((((Chalm)))))

and the Slugger is still in the rafters..... : )

the peek over the fence near the end gives a bigger view....

((((((Chalmette)))))))

((((((((((((((Chalmette))))))))))))))

I lost most of my personal things and living space due to someone else's rages and actions but I cannot imagine losing my entire way of life the way that you did. You are a brave woman and your stories and videos give me hope that things can change for me one day.

Thank you for opening up your life and showing your strength and determination. You are a blessing. You give hope that others can draw from. Thank you for that.

Thank you dearest (((((((((((( chalm )))))))))))))

For showing us the devestation and the rebuilding of your life.

You have done a phenomenal job in restoring your home. It's absolutely beautiful. I can see that so much care and love went into your home....every bit of it a testament to you...your strength and your resolve to begin again.

My heart goes out to you chalm.....for your loss and for what you have fought so hard to gain back. You are a true inspiration to all of us.

Thank you my friend for sharing with us.

Much love & respect to you


sabby

chal hon I can not begin to imagine the pain of losing everything like that. My heart breaks for you but you have come so far hon. I truely admire your strength and courage to rebuild and to grow from it. You are in my heart forever my friend.

(((((Chalm)))))))))))
You are one of the most amazing ppl I have met.
Your strength, Your talent is amazing
Katrina needs to be never forgotten
The ppl need to not be forgotten
You have moved it from a really bad thing to a healing thing for you
(((((((((chalm)))))))) I am so proud of you

((((Chalmette))))

Wow - thanks for sharing those videos. You have so much strength to come back and rebuild. I can't even begin to imagine the pain of your loss from the storm.

You have incrdible courage.

-splitimage

(nowheretorun))))))

thanks, most of the music is my friends side project. I'm glad you liked it. and yeah, thats me in the mirror, a few times.

We are huge Saints fans here and the fleur de lis is a big symbol for the metro area of the city. It means flower of the lily. Pretty cool huh

That paint chipped toy house is actually the Lighthouse we had here at Lake Pontchartrain. It was totally destroyed by the storm. There has been talk of rebuilding it. But honestly i dont think that will happen. So, that little piece we have is worth more than just a material object to us. It use to guide my grandfather into harbor when he worked on a barge in his 30's and 40's.

Yes, thats my trusty old bat. I'm gonna get that thing down and paint it i think. I can't beat up on houses anymore around here. The houses are all under LRA or other rulings now. And ones to be destroyed or locked up. Ummm, i could break the doors down and get in. Naw, dont wanna go to jail for that. lol

Behind that fence was over a thousand homes that were torn down due to the judges ruling of the Murphy Oil spill. The first four blocks were deemed uninhabitable. Ha Ha, it stopped at my street. In the first video you can see the oil on alot of the fence and the glare of it in the house when i show myself walking through the muck.

((((((wanttoheal))))))

For the both of us, I hope that.

And down here, i'm hoping that the rebuilding moves much faster than what it is moving. I hear more and more people, family and friends saying that want to come back home, but they just can't live here and see this devastation everyday. So , we gotta get it cleaned up and get them back.

I hope i do. And life for you will get better too. I just know it.

love ya ((((wanttoheal)))

Wow, ((Sabby))) . You know that this house is totally rebuilt. Most of it started with reframing. Heck. We had to take it to the stud. So, we moved this and that around. Closed in the garage and did alot more. It looks nothing like it did before the storm. I wish i had pictures of that to show you guys. But, those went with the water surge.

Thank you,
chal

As you are in mine (((((((bebop)))). The material things i can do without. Well, 'cept for pictures and those certain family heirlooms. But its the community that died with the storm that kills me. I want that back more than anything in this world.

((((((((Muffy)))))))))) I thank you. You have been a driving force for me. I can't thank you enough.

love ya,
chal

Hey ((((((split))))))))). I bet you know how many cases of beer and gallons of daiquiris i went through now. lol

Thank you. Your words mean alot to me.

love ya my friend,
chal

((((chal))))

(((((Chal))))) Your home is beautiful and you deserve it!

((((((((((((( chalmette )))))))))))))

(((((((((Bebop)))))))))), ((((((((((((((Fuzzy)))))))))))))) and
(((((((((((AAAAA))))))))))))))

Thank you all so much. We put and still are putting alot of hard work into the house and the outside. We finally got the side gate today. And tomorrow the wood goes up on it. And sometime next week, the plumber will be here to fill in that humongous hole they dug under the house to replace the plumbing. Slow, but sure. It's coming along. Doesnt seem to be one step ahead and 20 back now. It is getting alittle better with that.

Thanks so much for caring and sending your thoughts and hugs this way.

love ya'll
chal

(((((((((((chalmette))))))))) i couldn't imagine the devastation that came with this tragedy. I admire you for you strength and resolve to start over again. The new place is beautiful and i hope you make many new happy memories there.

recluse1

If and when i ever get meds straight i will do a video of what the area i live in looks like to show you guys. Right now, its too much for me to handle. Next weekend is a parade down here to celebrate the Irish, Italian and Islenos cultures. I will video some of that and post it.

Thank you and we just do what we gotta do to get through the day. Alot of days suck, but some arent so bad.

love ya my friend
chal

(((Chalmette)))

I'm from the New Orleans area, though around where I was sustained much less damage. I can't tell you how bad I've felt for St. Bernard, and how much I've admired the people there who have chosen to stay and fight for their community and rebuild. I know what you mean about community. Each area of New Orleans is its own community, in such a deep way.

I'm betting the lighthouse will be rebuilt. New Orleans has always treasured its history, and now more than ever.

I love to see the rebuilding. There are so many empty spaces inside me.

((((((Dinah)))))))) It feels so good to hear someone from the N.O. metro area say something good about St. Bernard. Thank you. Thats one thing getting to me bad. People around here putting us down cause we wear our white boots. lol

I'm so happy to hear you didnt suffer much damage. And hopefully its all taken care of by now.

Thanks for posting and feel free to pm me anytime you would like.

your neighbor,
chalmette

Well, for what it's worth, no one I know puts you guys down for the white boots. It's more of a fond acknowledgment of the individual character of New Orleans neighborhoods.

It's nice to know someone else who knows how sad it can be to listen to Benny Grunch. I hope it really is "(Temporarily)" Ain't Dere No More.

As long as we got our 'momma and 'dem, we should all be fine. Long distance, but still there.

you know, you are a survivor. i think you'd win those survivor shows, no doubt. i know it was very hard for you. you have been an inspiration to many here.

Thank you (((wings))). I'm glad to hear you doing better. Miss talking to you.