No alligators in the Lower 9th... Yet

Immediately following Katrina, there were wild rumours of alligators in the Lower 9th Ward. Today there are no alligators swimming among the ruins, but it's not such a long shot. The Lower 9th is overgrown with weeds growing to head high in many places, and broken water pipes creating swampland. Although some clean up of condemned buildings has occurred, the overgrown gardens and streets actually makes the situation look much better than it is, masking and softening the stark images of abandoned buildings.

Cycling around the Lower 9th is somewhat reminiscent of a ride in the rural England area I grew up in. It's green and verdant; we even had a few run down barns which double for the former homes of the Lower 9th. The number of buildings of course makes this seem more like the ghost towns of California and Nevada.

The reality here is clear, the Lower 9th is being abandoned to nature. There are clearly no services being delivered to the area; no one is helping the residents return. Looking around, it's difficult to refute the conspiracy theorists who believe the decisions were made long ago to let the Lower 9th revert to swamp. I have said frequently, these decisions need to be made, but it is key to let former residents know what the status is. The reality is clear. The alligators are coming.