We Just got off the phone with a friend in Algiers Point. He can take calls, but can't dial out.
He has had little contact with the outside world since Katrina and the flooding ravaged New Orleans. He seemed to be unaware of the devastation on the other side of the river, since the West Bank has not experienced such extensive flooding. We were the first people to tell him that there is a massive evacuation of New Orleans and the surrounding parishes. He is not ignorant, dumb, or senile, but this is the current state of affairs in the city.
More after Flip:
He told us that there is group calling itself the Algiers Point Militia patrolling the neighborhood. He said at least one person had been shot for what he described as looting, and that there was probably more bloodshed. He hears gunfire regularly. He told us that Oakwood Mall in Terrytown is burning to the ground. This mall is in Jefferson Parrish, but is not to far from Algiers Point. He explained that a man in night vision goggles, a weapon, and a camouflage uniform walks the streets as if he were the military, but he is not.
He did explain that they had heard the National Guard was supposed to be arriving soon. They keep seeing helicopters overhead and hoping that they will land. He then said we should tell my mother-in-law that it would be safe to return soon. We tried to explain that when the Guard did arrive it would be to evacuate them not to make it safe for people to return. He did not believe us on this point, but his partner did and is desperate to get out of New Orleans and has been for some time.
We were happy to discover that he is alive, but we fear for both his safety and his state of mind.