On our "Free" day we drove from Gulfport to New Orleans, about 75 miles. And about 75 miles of devastation... Neighborhoods, apartment complexes, shopping centers, schools, businesses blasted and open, a very few boarded up but most 'as left', cars in all stages of as-left, trees still down, and roads still torn up.
Those merchants we spoke to in the Quarter told us that business is down 50%+, and the population is down by that much or more in some areas. The Museum stated that attendance was down by 30%.
But our group leveled, framed, wired and plumbed one house, painted another and installed new roof structure, sheathing and shingles on a third. There are over 40 'approved' applicants still waiting.
Peter Wieck Wyncote, PA