Thursday, September 15, 2005
Decatur Street
I just received my first post-hurricane report on my property in the French Quarter from a friend, Brian, who works across the street at Rings of Desire.
He said there were a number of broken windows, some roof tiles blown off, and some rain gutters damaged. However, no signs of anything more serious than that so far. So that's great news.
He also said that someone had gotten into the key safe that was attached to the front door. The front door was open, and the keys were still in the door. I've had no report yet as to what was going on inside the property... whether it was looted, and whether there may still be people squatting inside. Brian didn't want to venture inside the building until he could find a National Guard escort.
It is interesting that someone got into that safe somehow, but if they hadn't, it would have been easy enough to just kick the door in. I had already assumed that someone would've broken in looking for food, water, or valuables, and I'm prepared for news that anything of value was taken. The place was sparsely furnished, so there wasn't as much to steal as in most homes. But there was a fairly new TV, some hand tools, an electronic piano, books and DVDs, and other assorted items.
The main thing of value is the structure itself, and unlike the majority of buildings in New Orleans, it sounds like it escaped any significant harm.
He said there were a number of broken windows, some roof tiles blown off, and some rain gutters damaged. However, no signs of anything more serious than that so far. So that's great news.
He also said that someone had gotten into the key safe that was attached to the front door. The front door was open, and the keys were still in the door. I've had no report yet as to what was going on inside the property... whether it was looted, and whether there may still be people squatting inside. Brian didn't want to venture inside the building until he could find a National Guard escort.
It is interesting that someone got into that safe somehow, but if they hadn't, it would have been easy enough to just kick the door in. I had already assumed that someone would've broken in looking for food, water, or valuables, and I'm prepared for news that anything of value was taken. The place was sparsely furnished, so there wasn't as much to steal as in most homes. But there was a fairly new TV, some hand tools, an electronic piano, books and DVDs, and other assorted items.
The main thing of value is the structure itself, and unlike the majority of buildings in New Orleans, it sounds like it escaped any significant harm.
