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- Subscribe - Contact Us - Rate Card - Place an Ad Archives Revels Classifieds Real Estate Menu Guide Wedding Weather Subscribe Contact Us September 16, 2005 Guard goes to work in deserted city streets Hanson Photos and story by SFC Cameron Hanson 1-186 In Bn Public Affairs Officer Oregon Army National Guard NEW ORLEANS — Elements of the 1st Battalion 186th Infantry (“Guardians”) of the 41st Brigade Combat Team (BCT), Oregon Army National Guard, headquartered in Ashland, are slowly moving into the “recovery phase” of their operation, after spending the last week searching on foot and by boat for survivors, residents ready to evacuate, and human remains. First off, all our soldiers are safe and sound. We have shelter, food, water — everything we need. It is an austere life, but it gets easier as the days go on. We now have a shower point, and the headquarters where I am has Internet. New Orleans is drying up faster than anticipated, but there are still areas that are under water that we are patrolling. Orleans Parish seems the hardest hit. From Lake Pontchartrain down to the Mississippi, chaos was the norm. The streets are empty except for law enforcement and military. A Bravo company jeep is parked just outside a flooded neighborhood in New Orleans. Cameron Hanson | For the Tidings Driving down the deserted streets of New Orleans can only be described as eerie. I’m reminded of some post-apocalyptic, or post-pandemic movie in which the only survivors struggle for survival. And I need to remember that there are people in this city still who are trying to survive: Those who don’t want to be evacuated for whatever reason. The streets are mostly empty of humanity but filled with trash, debris, boats, trees — you name it. The bulk of human existence has been swept into the roadways. Vehicles fill the medians. Law enforcement agencies and military units patrol constantly. The roads are being cleared for traffic and moving is easier. Now, in the heavily flooded areas, we are having trouble with suspected looters. We are using boats to patrol the area and chase them off or detain them. Our mission is threefold: 1) Assess the area: infrastructure, civilians etc; 2) Provide security for ourselves and civilian property; 3) Evacuate anyone who wants to go. We have been very successful so far. Civilians are starting to come back in limited numbers. Above: Members of Oregon National Guard head to a disaster area. A strip mall parking lot remains flooded many days after Katrina. A neighborhood remains partially submerged in floodwater. Old Glory is a bit tattered and torn in the wake of being ravaged by Katrina. Boats used in rescue efforts sit beside a freeway where floodwaters once covered the area. We are staying at Delgado Community College in a building that wasn’t heavily damaged in the storm and was not flooded. We cleaned it up quite nicely. The vice chancellor of the college was here yesterday and he was very pleased with what we’ve done to clean up the place. I’ll keep you updated. Until next time. Cameron Hanson is an Ashland resident, and former city councilor, and a member of the National Guard. He is now serving in New Orleans and will provide Tidings’ readers periodic reports on the guard’s ongoing efforts. DailyTidings.com Home Page Archives | Revels | Classifieds | Real Estate Guide | Weather | Subscribe | Contact Us Copyright 2005 Ashland Daily Tidings and Ottaway Newspapers All Rights Reserved Deep Muscle Stimulator Ceramic Piggy Banks FREE Entertainment Guide Women's & Men's Slippers Accelerate Weightloss Products Backpacks Generic Viagra Vegas Travel Guide Search Engine Optimization Sportsbook Absinthe Supply Student Loans Hotel & Airline Reservations African Safari Hammocks Helzberg Diamonds Online Casinos Community Bonus Casino King of Spirits ink cartridges Mortgage Calculator Security Systems Mailing Lists Click Here Advertisement .:Advertisements:. Site Search: RESOURCES - Mail Tribune News - ODOT Road Cams