By the time we finished there it would be at least high noon and the only available respite from the sun & heat was to get in the car and do an errand for the camp. On the first day, we used that period to go to the infamous Convention Center where the U.S. Army had set up an amazing, gargantuan indoor tent city called a Combat Surgical Hospital or "C*A*S*H Unit" to treat all comers for free. After the stench had jolted us awake the first night, Rickie had stumbled to the Port-a-Johns, another olfactory delight, and had cut open her toe on that unsavory hut. The vets back at Winn-Dixie thought it should be treated so we went to the C*A*S*H Unit and got our first close look at what massive resources the country can muster when so ordered, and at central New Orleans itself.

C*A*S*H UNIT The Civic Center where the enormous medical tent city comprising the Combat Surgical Hospital was housed.

On another noon break we went to Christ Church Cathedral in the Garden District to replenish the camp's water supply. The Episcopal church has bought a filtration system and dispenses clean water to all who come.

CHRIST CHURCH CATHEDRAL

One day we took a rescuer who wanted a real room to a once-fancy downtown hotel that, despite no electricity or water, was supposedly renting rooms above the third floor for $25 a night. The lobby was deserted, wide open, demolished & sinister and we wouldn't leave her there. I showed my husband a picture of it; he thinks he once stayed there on business.

HOTEL LOBBY

Another day we took a delightful older British woman, who lives in New York, to the airport. She had come to the Winn-Dixie operation all by herself to live in the parking lot and do what she could; her pluck put us all to shame.

CONTINUE WITH
IN THE EYE OF THE STORM:
KATRINA "A-TEAM" TRIP HERE