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Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend September 12, 2005 Members of the 1st Battalion of the 186th Infantry, Oregon Army National Guard, search a Catholic school in New Orleans for survivors. Unlike many buildings and homes taken over by evacuees or looters, Cabrini High School was untouched. Mail Tribune / Jim Craven Alone in the big city As National Guard troops act to secure homes, evacuation’s silence is deafening Mail Tribune reporter Paris Achen and photographer Jim Craven are following Southern Oregon soldiers of the National Guard as they assist in the daunting task of cleaning up New Orleans. Today’s story: Troops patrolling northern New Orleans secure houses, report broken water lines and feed pets left behind. Tuesday: A reconnaissance unit from Grants Pass is scheduled to patrol floodwaters by boat to assess water levels, rescue residents and identify bodies for recovery in an area where failed levees flooded homes up to their rooftops. By PARIS ACHEN Mail Tribune Army National Guard Pvt. Zachary Ward of Medford and Cpl. Andy Conrad of Central Point cautiously swing open the porch door of an evacuated house in a middle-class New Orleans neighborhood, holding rifles at attention. Inside, a wide-eyed white bunny with a black eye-patch marking stares back at them from its cage. "Poor guy," Conrad says. "His water is dry." Conrad pours some water from his Camelbak in the rabbit’s bowl. There is no sign of food, save some loose rabbit pellets that fell from the cage onto the floor. Ward carefully scoops up the pellets and drops them in the cage. Advertisement "He is going to starve to death," Conrad laments. "That sucks." To everyone’s relief, a metal trash can packed with rabbit food is found, and the pet is fed. "See you later, buddy," Conrad says. "Hang in there." Since being deployed in the Big Easy last Tuesday, patrols by the Medford Alpha Company of the 1st Battalion of the 186th Infantry have been lonely. Few residents remain in this hurricane-torn city, where trees still lie over sidewalks, cars sit in garages of empty houses and mattresses, couches and other debris line the streets. "It’s been pretty easy," said Sgt. Seth Rivera of Medford. "I anticipate as we get closer to the water line it’ll pick up quite a bit." About 80 percent of the battalion’s area of responsibility in northern New Orleans is under water. With most survivors evacuated, Medford battalion members have focused on securing houses, identifying and reporting broken water lines and rendering comfort to pets left behind. Initially, residents evacuating to shelters were not allowed to bring their pets. A nine-member squad from Medford, which spent Sunday afternoon patrolling Esplanade Avenue and its offshoots in sweltering weather, found evidence of possible looting in one home. A Toyota Camry was parked in the open garage, but inside, the home was empty except for a generator that had a full supply of fuel. Other buildings, such as Cabrini High School, were remarkably untouched. The Catholic school’s front door was unlocked, but the school’s interior was immaculate. A statue of Mary stood at the entryway. Antique furnishings appeared to be in place. The floors were free of debris found in other homes, where survivors holed up or looters broke in. Soldiers say the lack of residents is striking. "It’s like an apocalypse," said battalion Chaplain Ron McKay of Ruch. "It’s like the rapture took place." Still, troops say the city, with its colorful houses and intricate architecture, is intriguing. "I’d like to see this city when it’s all fixed up," said Spec. Benjamin Cortez of Medford. After feeding the bunny, Ward and Conrad enter the house to find another rabbit hopping around the living room and cat feces in the dining room. The soldiers rummage through the kitchen to find cat food and bowls and dispense bottled water for the animals from a water cooler. "I wanted to let the rabbit go," Ward said later, moments before being authorized to depart for Oregon to start college. "We are supposed to be here for two months. We don’t know when the people are coming back." Reach reporter Paris Achen at 776-4496 or e-mail Alone in the big city ">[email protected] . Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2005 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback www.bingo.com Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker dvd-r Distance Education Computer Security Ztechmedia Website Hosting Student Loans tcg student loan consolidation Online Pharmacy online casino Myspace Home Equity Loans Windermere Van Vleet Rogue Valley Travel Reservationstogo Hotel Reservations Southern Oregon Loans Online Casino News Natto Kinase Nattokinase Casino Gambling Sites Budget Website Templates Advertisement s