Hurricane Katrina
Damage
Update 28 September 2005
Camp Moore is now reopened to the public. We still have much work to do on the grounds and are doing this as quickly as possible. However, we do have all facilities back and a full staff of volunteers so we have reopened this week. The second storm only gave us more limbs and trees to remove. The Board of Directors has voted to continue planning to have the annual reenactment on November 19 and 20, 2005 so please make plans to attend if you can. See our Reenactment page for registration information.
Update: 8 September 2005
Camp Moore had power restored today, much to our surprise. However, the Camp will remain closed indefinitely until such time as all of our volunteers have been accounted for and are once again able to man the building and grounds. Please bear with us in this. We will announce at this site when we expect to reopen. Please see the additional photos of war sites in Louisiana and their impact from the hurricane.
Update: 1 September 2005
Thankfully, Camp Moore was spared the worst of Hurricane Katrina. We are currently shut down, pending a fairly large cleanup of the grounds, repair to our maintenance building and the establishment of electricity to the facility. Additionally, we have heard from very few of our volunteers as most lived in the Tangipahoa/St. Tammany area and those areas were very hard hit. It is only after cleanup and the ability to man the museum that we can expect to reopen. It is expected that this may take several weeks to more than a couple of months. The collection is untouched and the museum was virtually untouched, almost miracuously considering the damage to the surrounding area. Below are some images of the grounds, depicting the damage to the area. We will have any updates about our volunteers and assessment of our reopening possibilities on this site. Additionally, we will certainly have to rethink about the idea of holding a reenactment in November. We will keep you advised. Thank you for your thoughts and prayers for all associated with Camp Moore.
The garrison flag, though tattered from the storm, still flies defiantly over the Memorial Courtyard in front of the museum. You will notice in the image of the cemetery that the 2nd National flag still floats above the cemetery, as it did during the storm. Keep all in your prayers!
Memorial Hall Update
This is a satellite image of the warehouse district of New Orleans. In the upper left corner is the Superdome. At the extreme lower right is the Convention Centery you have been seeing on TV. The dark areas in the left and upper portions of the image are flood waters. You can clearly see where they stop. In the lower center of the image, just above the highway, you can make out the green circular Lee Circle. Just to the immediate right, the red roofed building is Confederate Memorial Hall and the Taylor Library. They are clearly not in the flooded area, however, there could be damage from sewage backed up in the basement. We will keep you advised as we learn more. Keep the staff of Memorial Hall in your thoughts and prayers as virtually every one of them lives in New Orleans and have lost their homes.
This satellite image was unfortunately taken when there was a shadow from clouds on Lee Circle. Just above Lee Circle is the "L" shaped Ogden Museum and to its right the red-roofed Taylor Library. Sandwiched in between is the roof of Confederate Memorial Hall. It is difficult to tell from this image if the roof sustained any damage but if so, it is not catastrophic, for sure. The upper atrium is still intact. Also, there would not appear to be any damage to the Lee Monument at this time.
This is the Army of Tennessee tomb at Metairie Cemetery. It appears to be dry although much of the cemetery is under water and even on the streets visible just outside the cemetery. The dark areas are encroaching water.
This is the Army of Northern Virginia tomb at Metairie Cemetery and appears to be very flooded. The dark areas in the right and middle of the photograph are of standing water and you can see water in the approach to the tomb. The left side of the image appears to be dry as it is somewhat of a dividing line for the entire cemetery.
This is a view of Fort Jackson, below New Orleans on Hwy. 23. As you can see, all approaches, the grounds and inside the fort are completely under water. The glistening that you see in the right side of the image is the sun glistening off the water. St. Bernard Parish below Port Sulphur is still completely under water.
This image of Fort St. Phillip is across the river from Fort Jackson and it is difficult to determine its condition. It was already in very poor shape. There appears to be a large barge washed up onto the fort so one can surmise the depth of the water at one time.
I have not been able to get images of Fort Pike so do not know its condition. Likewise, it will be some time before we know more about Confederate Memorial Hall. Will keep you informed as we learn more.