Former Racinians left stranded by Katrina

By Robert Gutsche Jr

Friday, September 2, 2005 2:03 AM CDT

RACINE - Chuck Rogers hopes to be home by Thanksgiving.

The former Racinian, who lived here for roughly 20 years, has a house just miles from complete devastation in New Orleans.

Hurricane Katrina swept through the area over the weekend, leaving thousands dead or homeless.

Rogers was in Racine when the storm hit, visiting a friend who underwent emergency surgery. Rogers graduated from Park High School in 1976; his son, Cary Rogers, graduated from St. Catherine's in 1999. Chuck has two other children This week, the father and son watched as parts of their hometown of four years were completely obliterated.

"New Orleans will be completely different than it was two weeks ago," he said in an interview Thursday.

The Rogers are both stranded in Racine without more than a couple suitcase of clothes. They have a rental car, cell phones and the homes of friends throughout the Midwest where they will have to stay until they are allowed back into New Orleans.

Chuck Rogers' wife, Janis, is on her way out of the wreckage. When she first left in heavy traffic, a 7-minute drive took at least five hours. The three will reunite in Illinois over the weekend.

While his family is split and some friends and family have yet to check in about their condition, Rogers has built a Web site to keep people connected. He's posted family updates, as well as photos of flooding in New Orleans and a place where people can donate to families.

The family's home is off of the Garden District in New Orleans and appears to be dry, Rogers said, but city officials are keeping people out of the area and may be for weeks.

His Thanksgiving deadline is optimistic, said Rogers, a computer consultant who can work from anywhere that has an Internet connection. Cary, who works as a bartender in New Orleans, is out of work and may still be when he returns to the city.

"The job will still be there," he said. "I don't know if the bar will be."

Chuck Rogers has been stuck to his cell phone for most of the week, talking with his wife, friends and clients. Still, he is unsure what to expect when he gets home and where they will live in the meantime without relying on loved ones.

"That's how you do it," he said. "Friends and family."

Rogers said people need to know Hurricane Katrina is affecting people who are local in more ways than in higher gas prices and being glued to the TV news stations.

"I just want people to know this is a local story," he said. "People who live here ... were affected."

On The Net: Rogers family Web site: http://www.macchuck.com

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