By: Daiyu Tang & The Observer News Team
Preamble: Well Reader it looks like the storm is beginning to die down… We’ve got more updates for you and our reporters have been down in Laveau, near the Asylum (one of the shelters) and down to Columtreal to take a look as well. You can read about this below!
Live Reporting – Afternoon 11th August
For the first time in a while we carry an update from Mayor Bobby Boxer. This was e-mailed over to us as the storm appears to be dying down and represents one of the first messages from the Mayor, other than his initial warning.
“Mayor Boxer: “I am grateful to hear that hurricane Blanche is falling apart like all those lawsuits. Our best weather forecasters say that it is losing strength, but I urge all citizens who are not as strong as me, Mayor Bobby Boxer, to be safe, take care, watch out for WKRK broadcasts, local authority updates and news from the Ragserver… If you have suffered losses, my heart is with your wife. If you have suffered injustice, then I have full faith in the Hathian PD to investigate. Well done all… For another successful hurricane season!”
Well, that was informative and yes, you can trust the Observer and WKRK to give you the latest… Sadly, we’ve not had any updates on the looting yet, so instead we’ve picked up photos from around Laveau and other areas. We’ve also had no tips or updates on the missing Tori…
After struggling to get to Laveau we pushed on towards the Asylum, somewhere we had heard was another shelter…
A local witness reported that
Witness: “I heard loads of screaming coming from Stillwaters Asylum. I thought that a bit odd mind as normally they’re all kept nice and calm like with drugs… so something must have been doing on… I myself saw large rats around the place, but don’t know everything… maybe the Police should check it out…”
We’ll return to the story at the asylum when we can get a chance, but for our last update we turn to our final shelter at Columtreal where we met Tomiko, a student from Japan.
Observer: “How has your storm experience been?”
Tomiko: “It was scary for me, not as scary back when I was living in Japan during the Earthquake but this was pretty scary for someone fairly new to this country.”
Live Reporting – Morning 11th August
Gators & Missing Leaders
Readers, we’ve not been able to get more details yet from FDH, HPD or anyone on the results of the confrontation we mentioned below. Having left the area the Observer team ran into a mechanical issue and couldn’t get the van started again for a while.
However, our reporter Viv, based in HGH was part of a group who spotted a very large Gator trying to make it into HGH.
Viv (Observer): “Be-careful exiting buildings where there has been a flood warning given! Gators have been seen outside HGH and other places. Over here at HGH a couple of women were seen shooting at the animal! Apparently for a while HPD didn’t respond…”
Missing Persons
With the flood water high and the looters out, it’s no surprise that some people might have road accidents or go missing… it’s just surprising that one of them is Yuugen gang leader Hitori, (‘Tori’). With a fearsome reputation and a penchant for destruction and pain dealt to others, it appears her disappearance has spooked close friends who have posted pleas on Twitter to locate her.
With Zoey, a close and sensitive friend of Tori checking HGH and now providing security camera feeds of the potential incident it remains to be seen what has happened to Tori.
There are a number of potential suspects. As well as Zoey confirming that HPD officers were seen removing property from the crashed car (although we are confused as to why she thus doesn’t know who removed Tori herself) we’ve seen both HPD Officer Carter Ellis and Reject member Eamon both providing threats against Tori. If anyone was in need of a motive, Eamon kindly provides:
Well, we’re sure there are other people missing, so if you need any help finding anyone MIA just drop a reporter a note.
Live Reporting – Afternoon 10th August
Fire Flood & War?
At around 1pm we arrived on Bourbon to be confronted to the rather apocalyptic scenes of a car crash, a truck crash (and fire) and then as we drove another way to get out, high flood waters that were swamping the diner.
The truck, which we’re not sure entirely why… is on fire. Was it an attack? Was it a bad driver?
Was it a dangerous load and if so what are in those boxes? We probably expect aid supplies and food, but if you have any tips reader do let us know!
With FDH starting to appear on the scene it looked well controlled, that was until a familiar lot of faces appeared to arrive in the distance…
With what appeared to be a Reject ‘collection’ party approaching, it seemed that the security guard or the HPD officer (I couldn’t tell from a distance) was either hiding, or staging a tactical ambush… But this didn’t appear to be a great place for our team to be standing, so we drove away… into floods.
As we left we saw officers from the HPD appear to be converging on the spot… Watch this space!
Live Reporting – Morning 10th August
The Observer was contacted by a local concerned resident who advised us to check our security cameras. Sadly, they seem to have been damaged, but once inside the office we were under little illusion as to who was responsible for damage and theft from our office.
Thanks Rejects. May your weddings be cursed with a thousand years of bad luck (and lack of press coverage)
Truck Accident?
The Observer is hearing that an accident has happened down near the bridge at Bourbon. We’re surprised it isn’t under water, but we are on our way there as best we can… the old news van isn’t made for much wading… or rather I prefer not to drive with water coming in to my feet!
We’ll update this more as we find out…
Live Reporting Night 1 – HGH Is Basecamp
Citizens Offer Help
Over in Hathian and before the weekend we had been around town finding people to speak with but also observing how different people came together to do their ‘Hathian thing’ and hustle. Above, NATO (former Hathian Next Top Model) and Fitz setup outside the bakery and were selling building suppliers and toilet paper to residents. With previous storms having reduced supplies for an extended period this was a smart move and there was some interest from citizens, as well… as unexpected interest in Fitz himself from one of the ladies.
With the Hathian Union also going around boarding up businesses and homes it was a fairly busy Hathian in the last few days. We hope everyone managed to secure their homes in whatever manner they chose.
The Rain Before The Storm
With extensive rain turning the streets into a messy morass of rubbish and dirt we went for a last wander round Hathian streets. Clouds whipped up by the storm were turning day into a grey early night and the Hathian Police Department looked perhaps spooky, if not menacing in the storm.
We also visited businesses, in this case those in low lying areas such as Rub N’ Tug where we met staff still working despite the impending storm.
Observer: “Don’t you think… ambitious to be out still, especially this close to the sea? Just wondered if you’d give me your thoughts on the storm!”
Jorge: “Did you know that this business has been running since 1989? We’ve never closed since. I mean, I’ve had a break, but I’m committed to providing a professional service to the people in this area! Don’t worry so much. We’re a long way from shore…”
Our Weather Report Worsened & Electrical Gremlins
“Are you holding on to something? Hurricane Blanche has made landfall! Winds at 96–110 mph, heavy rain and lowered visibility – Shit, did a cow just fly past? SEEK SHELTER immediately! Mayor Bobby Boxer urges you to shelter in place or find your nearest emergency shelter. Stay tuned for updates from local authorities, WKRK Radio and The Observer. Be safe out there.”
WKRD Radio
As the storm hit Hathian, we were glad to now be safe in the walls of the HGH which had been reasonably reinforced in weak points such as the doors and lobby area.
Unless something drastic happened, it appeared that HGH was going to weather the storm pretty well.
HGH also appeared to have a steadier power supply as while reports came into us that power had been going on and off prior to landfall, even with the wind whipping hard around the concrete of our building, the HGH generators were working. Perhaps those of us here, would ride out the storm in relative comfort.
Fighting? Not in HGH Please
On our first night, while I was recording a segment on the conditions here, an altercation broke out in the lobby between a woman I know to be an HPD officer and a man who is unknown to me. One of our reporters was even involved and while thankfully both the HGH staff and an HPD officer was available to calm down the situation, it showed just how tense things could be when people were cooped up and on edge because of a storm. Personal situation? Who knows… but thankfully no blood was spilled.
With this particular fight stopped, once I’d taken a bit of a nap to recharge the batteries (and no – not in the public lobby, I’m not that suicidal to be that obvious a target!) I and the team found it was around 2am on the 10th August and we went to ask a few questions of staff who were around.
Observer: “Dakota it’s the middle of the night, the first night… what’s the HGH report? I saw cuts and scrapes and arguments six or seven hours ago, but how is it now?”
Dakota: “Well so far we have had a few stutters in the flow of things but as far as a crisis situation… things are okay so far… We have food and water for the duration at this point in time, medication is being used sparing at this time.”
Observer: “Thank you, so you’d say that HGH is proving more than capable at this time of looking after people and ensuring that those with no shelter have somewhere to go? How is the security these days, all in hand still?”
Dakota: “At this point in time. security has been more than capable of handling HGH needs.”
Getting Some Shut Eye
And so it was at 3am on the first day, our team tried to get some more sleep, we had had reports of looting during the night and sadly while knew this would be likely, it was still a shame to start to get photos of damage. We’ll be covering this more soon readers and if your home, or business has been damaged by the storm or by looters please do let an Observer journalist know.
With Venus sleeping comfortably and the rest of the team on a break, the Observer hopes all citizens are safe and well.
We picked up a final report from WKRD and our affiliate media networks and as at circa 3am we can note the following:
“We have reports that the mains power is expected to comeback to life around 2am after having been out for the last 12 hours. Did you find something shiny or did you keep your hands and feet inside the vehicle at all times like the good little citizen you are? And while it seems the rain has temporarily stopped, if you venture out you’ll find yourself met with strong winds, flooding in parts of Hathian and Laveau, debris flung all over the place and an inconveniently fallen tree or two… Be safe Citizens!”
WKRD
Original intro posted to the Observer at the start of the storm
Well reader, it’s a real storm out there and the Observer is out and about in it, trying to find out what is going on, what the impact is and more. Blanche may not be as mean as some, but we’ll try and bring you updates from the Mayor, or others who are ‘in charge’, but with power and communication hampered, it might be difficult! If somehow you’ve been under a rock you can read Mayor Boxer’s comments on the storm and a bit more detail HERE.
You can contact us via e-mail if you have network, or for those in HGH we’re setup in the lobby! Come see Venus, Viv or myself if you have any stories or thoughts!
Readers should also note that the HGH isn’t the only shelter. If your home floods or suffers damage and it is safe to do so you may also find refuge in the gym at Columtreal University, the Asylum in Laveau (watch that one) or the Hathian Police Deparment where officer Blackheart advised me that:
“HPD has been authorized by Inspector O’Neil to dispense food for people that might need food and shelter if the storm hits and they become homeless. This is also for the homeless people. HPD will be offering canned food. Water bottles And or one warm meal a day. Porkins and other officers will be handling hand outs. That said people will be noted down so the distribution is fair and everyone gets a share.”
Vanora Blackheart (HPD Lt.)
((Stories welcome for being added to this – submit NC or photos to Daiyu or find a reporter in-world))
