Katrina's aftermath

Gumbo Krewe cooking up comfort food

Littice Bacon-Blood
River Parishes bureau

When Shawn and Danielle Bradley returned from Shreveport to their Norco home late Monday, they had cooking on their minds. They were thinking about gumbo, and lots of it.

On Thursday, the founders of the Gumbo Krewe, transformed their covered patio on Good Hope Street in Norco into an al fresco kitchen. The group, which gained national acclaim in 2001 for packing up its pots and heading to ground zero to feed hundreds of emergency workers in New York following the Sept. 11 terrorists attacks, now wants to spread a little comfort closer to home.

And by 12:30 p.m., according to Shawn Bradley's estimate, they had cooked up, dished out and delivered more than 100 gallons of chicken gumbo, jambalaya and red beans to emergency workers in St. Charles Parish and Kenner, with plans to feed many more.

"We're trying to feed whoever we can,'' Bradley said. "We're feeding cops and rescue workers first."

However, unlike 911, when the krewe was able to mobilize its kitchen and feed people on site, safety concerns this time around have members delivering the food to certain locations.

"We have drop-off points, drop-off points that are safe, '' Bradley said. "We have to have security wherever we go."

Bradley said Whole Foods in Metairie donated food, seasoning and paper products, he said. "They have given us everything we need,'' he said. "They've promised to send a truckload every day."

Bradley and his band of volunteers say feeding the workers - and whoever else happens by - is their way of giving back during a time of a national crisis.

"I've got to do my part,'' said Greg Lassiter of LaPlace as he readied ham hocks for stewing with red beans.

Gage Alleman, 10, of LaPlace came to Norco with his mother Debbie to help with the food preparations.

Earlier, he had onion duty. Did he cry?

"Once,'' he said with a smile.

Despite having roof damage from the hurricane, Debbie Alleman said she came simply because she heard the Bradleys needed help.

"Everyone said that they were working for blessings,'' Alleman said. "I thought that was nice."

With large fans sending the smell of simmering chicken, roux and onions through the air, your sense of smell could have guided you to Bradley's house. If not, the four flags - two American, one Louisiana, one Mardi Gras - posted high in the air and whipping in the wind could be easily spotted more than a block away. A banner stripped across the front porch proclaimed: Gumbo Krewe "Food for the Soul."

The Bradleys say they have not put a time limit on their service. They'll dish out comfort and comfort food, they said, "until the need is not there."

Many people had dogs and they cannot take them on the bus. A police officer took one from a little boy, who cried until he vomited. "Snowball, snowball," he cried. The policeman told a reporter he didn't know what would happen to the dog.

New Orleans under water

Much of New Orleans was flooded after Hurricane Katrina broke levees that protect the low-lying city. Click on the satellite image, taken August 31, 2005, to see sections of the city in closer detail. Water appears green in the photograph; dry areas are brown.

http://i.cnn.net/cnn/SPECIALS/2005/hurricanes/interactive/fullpage.nola.flood/images/map/map00.jpg

http://i.cnn.net/cnn/SPECIALS/2005/hurricanes/interactive/fullpage.nola.flood/images/map/before.jpg
http://i.cnn.net/cnn/SPECIALS/2005/hurricanes/interactive/fullpage.nola.flood/images/map/after.jpg

I'm glad Spencer posted that pic. At the same time, I just fucking lost it right now.

http://i.a.cnn.net/cnn/2005/WEATHER/09/01/katrina.impact/vert.sandbag.drop.pool.jpg

Worse, dude. A lawnchair.

I think describing this would have been way more effective than removing the sheet. Removing the sheet is kinda disgusting.

The singer and boogie-woogie pianist, born Antoine Domino, has sold
over 110 million records in his nearly five-decade career highlighted
by the jukebox staples "Blueberry Hill" and "Ain't That a Shame." The
New Orleans music fixture's 1949 recording of "The Fat Man" is
considered by some to be the first rock 'n' roll record, and Domino was
among the inaugural group of inductees into the Rock and Roll Hall of
Fame in 1986.

is she named after chico marx's "chicolini" character from duck soup? am i the only one thinking this?

(xpost)

That made me think of this. End times, people.

If Alan comes back by this thread, tell him that NBC News reported tonight that 28% of people in New Orleans live below the poverty line.

I'm going to volunteer for Red Cross tomorrow and help out with aid and whatnot. A whole bunch of volunteers were dispatched from here yesterday and I've been inspired to go out there. I'm going to feel so drained and despondent and my senses will doubtlessly feel assaulted by the devastation and whatever else I'll potentially see, but they need all the help they can get and I'm not up to much of anything here. My job schedule's very sporadic and I'm simply wasting electricity by being here and being unable to find a full-time position now that the 70,000 college students have returned.

We have a general distrust of the British.

TO: All Law Enforcement Agencies
FROM: Madison County Sheriff Communications Canton, MS
SUB: Hurricane Relief

**********************REQUEST NATIONWIDE BROADCAST***********************************

We received a call from Hancock County Sheriff Steve Garber this date requesting any and all assistance with clothing for his deputies. The only clothes these men and woman have is what they were wearing when Katrina hit Monday.

Their needs are basic, including underwear, boots, socks, t-shirts, pants and toiletries. The sizes we were given range from 34-36 waist and sm-xxx shirts. These items are desperately and immediately needed.

Any donations can be sent to the following address:

Madison County Sheriffs Office
ATTN: Sheriff Toby Trowbridge Jr
2941 Hwy 51 South
Canton, MS 39046

If you have any questions, feel free to contact our agency at (601)859-2345. Thanks in advance.

Madison County Sheriffs Communications, Canton, MS
Auth: Sheriff Toby Trowbridge, Jr. Madison