In New Orleans, fewer luxuries for the holidays

updated 4:11 p.m. ET Nov. 21, 2005

NEW ORLEANS - As Glenn Poche looked for sales in the hardware department and his wife combed through racks of clothing, luxuries like grand turkey dinners and festive holiday shopping were far from their minds.

For the Poches, the date on the calendar is the only indication the holiday season has arrived. There’s not enough space in their federally issued trailer to have a traditional Thanksgiving dinner — even the oven is too small for a turkey — and there’s certainly not enough room under a Christmas tree to replace what they have lost.

Since Hurricane Katrina hit Aug. 29 and their home was flooded by Hurricane Rita just weeks later, the Poches have been focused on rebuilding. But even if they and thousands of other New Orleans-area residents try to celebrate a traditional holiday season, they’ll have a hard time — damaged stores have found it hard to reopen, there’s a shortage of workers and inventory is limited. Long waits in lines are common, whether it’s a shopping trip for household items or popular gifts like iPods.

Still, merchants are doing their best to bring holiday cheer. Christmas trees, holiday wreaths and decorative garlands have gone up in malls and shopping centers. Royal Street store owners have offered to expand their traditional decorating into other parts of the city’s French Quarter.

But even the fanciest lights and ornaments cannot conceal the destruction. A giant wreath strewn with red ribbon hangs in the shadow of stories-tall scaffolding loaded with workers resurfacing a mall’s exterior. At some stores, shoppers walk around caution tape where floors are stripped bare and lower walls are ripped out.

The Sears just across the Mississippi River from New Orleans is the only store in Oakwood Mall open since the shopping center was gutted by fire and looting. Large portions of the store remain closed off by blue drapes because of damage or lack of merchandise.

Sections that are open are packed with rows of chain saws, refrigerators, freezers, washers, dryers, as well as sheets, towels and clothing. Missing are the singing and dancing Elmo dolls, Finding Nemo toys and Hello Kitty purses.

“I don’t know if I can get into Christmas, to tell you the truth,” Poche said, lugging a large sabre saw, one of the replacement tools on his list since his shed was wiped out by floodwater. He said he plans to shop for his grandchildren, eventually, but won’t be able to spend as much as he usually does.

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