Charity Hospital

The back of Charity Hospital, where the water was high enough for Nick to approach a second floor window by boat.

Orleans Parish Criminal District Court

Nick approached the front steps by boat. Tulane Avenue is in the foreground; it was completely flooded. The basement of the courthouse was underwater, threatening to destroy evidence for countless cases.

Graveyard

Many New Orleans graveyards are above ground due to the high water table in the city. Many caskets floated free after the flood and had to be rounded up later.

Lakeview

The area where LaTourneau lived. Many houses still remain, but many were destroyed in the flood. Notice the bare foundation in the foreground.

Overpasses

One of the tall overpasses that provided the only dry ground for many evacuees after the flood

Convention Center

This is where Nick intended for J.T. to spend the night--but J.T. had other ideas.

New Orleans Superdome

The Superdome, where Nick and Jerry waded ashore. The facility and the sidewalks around it were a sea of people.

Industrial Canal

Looking south down the Industrial Canal. The Mississippi River is just over the horizon. This is taken from the N. Claiborne Ave. bridge.

Lower Nine House

Notice the broken roof where someone chopped through to escape the rising water. In low-lying areas of New Orleans it's customary to keep an axe in the attic--just in case.

Lower Ninth Ward

This is the spot where the levee broke and allowed the Industrial Canal to flood the Lower Ninth Ward. The houses are all gone here; only concrete slabs remain.

The Spirit of New Orleans

A sign posted in one of the yards in the Lower Nine shows the city's spirit and commitment to rebuild.

St. Claude Avenue

This is the route Nick took every morning to launch his boat into the Lower Ninth Ward. The road flooded not far ahead, and Nick hid his boat under a tree on the right.

St. Claude Ave Bridge

The counterweight at the east end of the old bascule type bridge. It reminds me of a dinosaur!

Industrial Locks

The Industrial Locks, where ships are raised and lowered to pass from the Mississippi River to Lake Pontchartrain. The Lower Ninth Ward is on the right. This is taken from the St. Claude Avenue bridge.

St. Claude Ave Bridge

Another view of the unique design of the St. Claude Avenue bridge. It reminds me of an old Erector set!

The Flooded City

The rainbow reflection in this photo reveals the polluted water that flooded the city.

New Orleans

A satellite photo of the entire flooded city

Flooded Lower Nine

The Mississippi River is at the bottom; the Industrial Canal runs vertically through the photo. St. Claude Avenue crosses the canal near the top; you can see where the street disappears underwater. This is where Nick launched his boat each day.

Surekote Breach

Just above the N. Claiborne Ave. bridge the breach in the Surekote Levee is visible. The Lower Ninth Ward is to the right--and underwater.