For those wanting to see the real story on what happened in New Orleans before and after Hurricane Katrina check out this diary of photos from someone who was there and live through it.

Here is a quick synopsis of the photo diary. On Day One the hurricane did cause some damage that a storm of it’s caliber would be expected to cause. Damaged building windows, vehicles smashed by falling debris, downed power lines and trees, etc. On Day Two people were actually out barbequing and generally having a good time. There was even bars open selling beer to people on the sidewalks. At the end of Day Two everything seemed okay.

Canal Street on Day Two After the Hurricane. Some damage but not to bad. People are obeying the law and minding their own business.

On Day Three that is when the water levels started to rise. With the rising water levels that is when people began to panic. The looting started with people taking food and the police stood by and let them. Things got steadily worse as the day progressed. On Day Four the looting was out of control and no one was stopping it. Of course the media was there to further fan the flames of anger by spreading rumors and disinformation. I have alluded to this before to treat what the media puts out with a grain of salt. There not about facts but ratings.

On Day 3 the flood waters begin to rise on Canal Street and the looting began.

On Day Five the military moved in and began to get things under control and the author made his way out of town in a stolen truck because he could not evacuate out of the city by bus from the Convention Center because they were afraid the people there may harm them.

Helpless citizens of New Orleans looking for food in a Foot Locker store.

I can’t help but think if things could have been different if the New Orleans Police would of stopped the looting from the beginning. By allowing people to loot for food that only caused the next natural step to happen which is to loot for whatever you wanted because the police are not going to stop you. The mob mentality took over from there. I really don’t expect to see people wearing NOPD hats after this tragedy, like people still wear NYPD hats today after 9/11. NYPD ran into a burning skyscraper to save lives, NOPD ran into Wal-Mart to find some loot.

I also cannot help but think that if the city was so navigable on Day Two how come the local and state government was not using city buses to transport people out of the city? The flooding didn’t start until Day Three and all the buses they had for evacuating people got flooded. Why didn’t the mayor use them on Day Two? Why wasn’t any aid brought in from the state on Day Two?

I really think that there is lot more blame to go around on the local and state level after seeing this slide show. However, it is easier to blame President Bush.

Once again click here at get the real story that you can’t count on the media to give you.

Hat Tip: Greyhawk