Updated 9/2 12:50 A.M.

My dear friends,

Never have I felt as helpless or as worthless or as useless as this past week. When the greatest disaster in the history of our city occurs, I cannot broadcast on either radio or TV or over the Internet. My wife and I are safe in Dallas where I will spend the next several weeks until told by management that fox 8 will resume broadcasting. The challenges we face are enormous. My TV station took in 4-5 feet of water making it totally inoperable. Our transmitter site in Chalmette was under 10-15 feet of water. Our owners, Emmis broadcasting, have assured us they will get us back on-air some way. We will probably be in a temporary building and I will broadcast out of our sister station, WALA-TV 10 in Mobile.

In the coming weeks, many of you will come home to find not much of a home. We will be there for you even though we can't be there for you now. Once power and water are restored and basic services are functioning again, we will rebuild our community one neighborhood at a time. Great character comes out when the darkest clouds appear. Our city will shine again!

From my travels around after the hurricane, the Westbank seemed to fare the best, except down in lower Plaquemines and below Marrero. Orleans & the French Quarter were ok...until the levees breeched. Jefferson had lots of water damage, but the wind damage was not catastrophic. Over to the Northshore, west of Covington we saw only minor tree damage. The farther east you went, the greater the tree and utility damage. Slidell south of Gause blvd. had severe flooding, especially Eden Isles, Oak Harbor, Treasure Isle. It got even worse as I drove into Mississippi. Diamondhead south of I-10 was trashed...crushed. Debris washed up onto the interstate. I could not venture down to the gulf coast, but you have seen the pictures. It is worse than Camille.

Some of you can return home next week to assess the damage to your property. It will take weeks to restore power and basic services. You do not want to come back until this happens as I went 4 days without showering or shaving and slept in hot, steamy non-air-conditioned buildings. Please be patient and don't come home too soon. Get with family or friends to help defer the costs. Above all, stay safe and be thankful we have our lives and loved ones. Coming home will not be an easy experience.

Bob Breck
Fox 8 chief meteorologist