Any advice on New Orleans?

I'm volunteering in July for a week rebuilding. What areas should I avoid? What should I expect?


Thanks.Any advice on New Orleans?
As long as you are with a group, there shouldn't be any problems; besides, I don't think any volunteers work on rebuilding after dark. I assume you have contacts with a group or group that is co-ordinating volunteers for rebuilding. If not, I would recommend contacting Habitat for Humanity in New Orleans. I think they would be your best source of info in this regard. As for what to expect, as far as rebuilding goes, you would be asked what your skills are, or what you would like to do specifically. Again, as long as you are with some other people in the area where you are rebuilding, it won't be a problem. You don't say how old you are or if this will be your first time in New Orleans.


In general, I would not venture into areas being rebuilt after dark, like the Lower 9th Ward.


In the downtown area, have at least one other person with you if you are going around after dark, and stay in well-traveled areas.Any advice on New Orleans?
bring a pistol
thanks for coming to help! as long as your in a group you should be fine, no one will bother you are try and mug you or anything. use the same common since you use anywhere, and make sur eyou take time out to enjoy yourself
My advice on New Orleans: Try Des Moines, or St. Louis or Seattle or Phoenix. But if you DO go to New Orleans expect to be hasseled by the cops, accosted, robbed, mugged, beat up, pickpocketed and/or killed by the criminals. Stay safe and go help some place where your efforts will not just be blown away by another hurricane in a very short while.
John,our situations are simular and heres the information I wish I had recieved when I arrived here a couple of months ago.New Orleans is full of some of the nicest people you will meet,along with the worst you will ever meet.Its not all bad and it can be very rewarding contributing in the rebuilding effort.Our group has devised a set of rules of thumb when navigating the area.Kenner,Meterie and slidell are safe havens and have a good police force that has regained controll of their citys.Regaurdless of what some people will lead you to belive,new orleans is not safe for the most part.The police force has not yet regained control of the city,and the responce you recieve in an emergency can very greatly.At dusk its a good practice to head north of I-10(610) and end your day in a safer place.Their are people who will bash new orleans at a drop of a hat,and their are those who will tell you that its just like any big city.Both are wrong and I question their motives in doing so.If you need anything while your here,feel free to contact me by email and I will be happy to help in any way I can.
Katrina flooded about 80% of New Orleans with salt water, and the water stayed for almost a month. Much of the city is still struggling to recover and all you have to do to see devastation is drive around. It will take years for NOLA to fully recover from Katrina.





However, the parts of the city that tourists usually visit were not flooded. It's not a coincidence - the French Quarter and other old parts of the city were built on relatively high ground and only suffered wind damage from Katrina. Almost all of the damage has been repaired and you have to look closely in the FQ and city center to see that Katrina happened at all.





You can drink the water, the electricity %26amp; phones work, and services like the post office, hospitals, schools, police/fire/EMS, and stores %26amp; shopping centers are operating.





Municipal services like street cleaning %26amp; trash collection collapsed after Katrina and that is why you may see answers warning about the “smelly” or ';dirty'; French Quarter. Those services were fully restored in late 2006 and it is no longer an issue.





You don't need a car to get around in the French Quarter, Central Business District, or Warehouse District. Also, the parking regulations are Byzantine and there are lots of Parking Control Agents. If you drive or rent a car, leave it in a lot or garage unless you are traveling away from downtown.





The regional transit authority (www.norta.com) sells 1 and 3 day passes that offer unlimited use of buses and streetcars for the day(s) you select. There are also lots of taxicabs.





Regarding crime, use the same common sense you need in every major city in the world and there is little chance you will be a victim of anything except a need to visit the gym: Pay attention to your surroundings. Stay away from anywhere dark %26amp; deserted. Pay attention to your feelings - if anyone or anywhere gives you a bad feeling, leave the area. Don't leave something like a camera-bag or backpack unattended on a park bench while you wander off to take photos. Etc.





New Orleans has mild weather from October to May and the city stays green all year most years (rarely freezes and almost never snows). Summers are hot %26amp; humid, particularly in July and August - the usual advice is to take it easy or stick to indoor activities during the middle of the day at that time of year.





However, you will be doing volunteer work and that could include gutting houses or other hard, hot activity.





Wear light cotton clothing, stay hydrated, use insect repellant %26amp; sunscreen, and report any injuries to your group leader asap.





Thank you for helping!
I TOTALLY COMMEND YOU ON VOLUNTEERING! Kudos to you - it is such a wonderful gift to give of your time. I wish I had time off and could go myself.





On your downtime, make sure to visit Johnny's Po'Boys, Central Grocer for a Mulfaletta, Cafe du Monde for breakfast beignets. Also the Gumbo Shop is excellent for lunch...as is Yo Mommas off of Bourbon Street.