Harrahs New Orleans

[feelixthegreek]

Glad to hear that, though I wonder how it applies to tip-oriented positions like poker dealers and cocktail servers.

[BeerMoney]

[ QUOTE ]
which I think is a very classy move.

[/ QUOTE ]

Very classy. Those who work for smaller companies probably won't be afforded the same luxury.

If I was a Harrah's employee, I'd feel like I worked for a good company that cared for me, and I think it would make me work even harder for them.

[malo]

It appears the French Quarter and parts of the Garden District might have been spared the worst...

http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/09/03/kat...ter/index.html

At any rate.....here is a timeline for recovery a friend emailed me:

60 days....pump out water.
90 days.....search for and remove bodies.
90 days.....inspect buildings to see what is salvagable/beyond repair.
120 days....bulldoze what can't be fixed.
120 days.....remove trash and bulldozed buildings.

It seems there would be some overlap with these processes, but still, a long haul.

Also, this timeline makes no mention of bridge and road repair, and that is a big factor also.

Of course, if NOLA gets hits with another storm (even as small as just a thunderstorm dumping an inch of rain)it sets all this back a bit.

[mhlandry]

Ehhhhhh. I live in St. Charles parish, about 20 miles east of the city and we barely got any damage compared to the city, but things are just barely starting to get to normal even around here.

As far as opening Harrahs goes, I'd be surprised if they're not opened for limited operations within the next month. There actually was a few feet of water on Canal Street
(think streetcar, palm trees, saks fifth avenue--you may have seen it on tv), but I think I remember the main floor of the building being five or so feet above ground level. The underground parking garage and tunnels may need some work, but that won't prevent them from opening. Another question is whether any looters broke in and ransacked the place (it's right across the street from the convention center). I have to imagine that Harrahs did everything they could to protect their property though.

The main problem, I think, is going to be staffing the joint. So many homes aren't livable. So many people are scattered everywhere. They're just now letting people back into New Orleans. Water still isn't drinkable. Every single open store (more and more are opening up each day!) has help wanted/now hiring signs out front.

On an anecdotal note, they were building a hotel across the street for the casino. I've never seen a building go up so fast. They had people working on that thing around the clock. Lesson: money talks. If there's going to be a business open, its going to be Harrahs.

So if you've planned a trip, keep an eye out. We can sure use the business.

- Matt

[joeboe2001]

Wasn't it on the news yesterday that one of the NOLA casinos was open for business?

[mhlandry]

Yeah, Boomtown casino. It was on the westbank and didn't get much damage. Small card room tho.