These people never dreamed there was money just waiting for themthat is, until the day Dateline came knocking on their doors. You're in the sheriff's office, but you're getting reports and deputies. But the truth is, the winds wasn't like this. After gathering strength over the Gulf of Mexico, Hurricane Katrina struck Louisiana and Mississippi on August 29, 2005, eventually carving a path up the East Coast. As New Orleans residents deal with a parish-wide power outage, small communities just outside the city and its levee protection system are being pummeled by Hurricane Ida, with hundreds of people asking for help but unable to be reached due to catastrophic flooding from several feet of stormwater. There those coins stayed until 2005, when hurricane Katrina knocked down the oak tree, revealing the treasure entombed in its roots. Everybody knows that it would be bad. So I don't know where it's going to stop. Can Nigeria's election result be overturned? I mean it's rare. Residents told of hours of harsh winds and rising water as the storm blew through. Now, he's got new company while he is on his hunts. There is no way to know that these coins are his, but the timing, location, and the fact that it is buried treasure all hint toward not only a pirate, but the pirate Jean Lafitte. He told me the government tried digging but was denied by the owner. It's dirty. MR: We've got, I think from what I understand, I think they've got about 200 National Guard, which is that's great but nobody can do anything right now. This is going to be a nightmare. SC: Thank you so much, Sheriff Rodriguez, I can only imagine what's going through your mind right now, and please stay in touch and keep us updated. His adventures take him to dirty places that could be hiding prized possessions and pure gems. And the odd thing is, these sudden fortunes may never have come to light had it not been for the catastrophe called Katrina. Residents surveying the damage to their home in Houma, La. hide caption. How many people do you think stayed behind and and and why do you think they stayed behind? But he expected fewer actually stayed once they saw Idas strength. The full extent of the wreckage in places like Houma remained unclear. Huge beautiful tree. Mears has a personal collection at home and said he shares the rest of the treasures he digs up with local libraries. And dont say It could never happen to me. Some states have billions of dollars to give away. Thats the way I do, help somebody who really needs help and those children are it. Updated: 6:19 PM CDT June 21, 2018 HOUSTON It's the treasure hunt of a lifetime, and now it's landed them on national TV. In 1825 somebody had a large stash of coins buried under an oak tree just outside of the city of New Orleans. Its not coming anymore. Its part of living in this community. The storm had his mobile home vibrating then it popped a skylight over the bathroom, dumping water inside. His aunt and uncle, Diane and Buddy Nolan, had ridden out the fierce Category 4 storm at home in the hardy fishing village of Jean Lafitte. The concentration is still on search and rescue in Lafitte, Jefferson Parish President Cynthia Lee Sheng said Tuesday. ", Beachcombers find Spanish coins, pieces of shipwreck. Anyone can read what you share. This hobby became a true passion for Mears after Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast in 2005. TREASURE COAST, Fla. Right after and believe it or not even during hurricanes, there is a group of brave souls who take to the shoreline. As of Tuesday, rescues were still being made with Louisiana's National Guard reporting that personnel have rescued 359 citizens and 55 pets either by high-water vehicles, by boats or by air during the aftermath from Hurricane Ida. The one I am thinking of was found. This is a no reserve auction with an opening bid of only $0.99. When the storm came in, he was in the process of building his dream home. However, since it pointed toward someone else's land, he never did or said anything about it. The water was out. And, you know, I'm 70 years old. Aerial image of LaPlace, La. Poking at the can was the first step in uncovering a buried treasure of rare coins estimated to be worth $10 million. Satellite image 2021 Maxar Technologies Im scared. More a thousand people died, and at least 800,000 were left homeless. MR: I'm hearing that they feel like theyre trapped and they understand that nobody can get there, but they are in panic mode and they've got a good right to be. You know, people say, I'm a worrier, I do worry. Atlanta, Georgia 30328 | 877.481.5750. It was a book on the treasures of Galveston and the surrounding area. Mears told Wadell he doesn't by any means hope for a tropical storm or hurricane to impact New Orleans again, but if such a storm does hit, he expects floodwaters to resurface more artifacts to be discovered. And thats when the unclaimed property office found the most remarkable story of all From disabled vet to millionaireBack in the 1970s, Jimmy was a regional supervisor for what was then a small Southern hardware chain named Lowes. Today, hes a millionaire. The roof of Lady of the Sea Hospital in the town was blown off in Ida's winds. Hurricane Katrina was among the most destructive storms ever to hit U.S. shores. Keep in mind that the Lake was not there it there would be a river in its place. The irony is not lost on Mears who explained that as the river has gone up and down over the years, the water has taken a lot with it, but it has also deposited a lot of artifacts. At the last I heard, it was still a Cat 4. "The minute that you start thinking about Lafitte's treasure or buried this and buried that, I think you go crazy and people already say I'm crazy," he said. IE 11 is not supported. Storm-hit New Orleans under curfew amid blackout, In pictures: Hurricane Ida lashes Gulf Coast, Street fighting in Bakhmut but Russia not in control, Saving Private Ryan actor Tom Sizemore dies at 61, Alex Murdaugh's legal troubles are far from over, The children left behind in Cuba's mass exodus, Xi Jinping's power grab - and why it matters, Snow, Fire and Lights: Photos of the Week. The networks all-original programming slate features a roster of hit series, premium documentaries, and scripted event programming. Your credit card or PayPal account will be charged. Over the years, Hendrick's Lake near Tatum has been a place where many people have visited in search of a legendary treasure that was supposedly left at the site by Pirate Jean LaFitte. But with parts of Louisiana still unreachable, the full extent of the wreckage remained unclear. Our residents have gone through this their whole lives and they didn't think that this would happen.. Other variations of the mystery say Lafitte buried the treasure in multiple locations along the Gulf Coast. But I think some of them, which is the ones that my heart goes out, that my heart goes out to all of them, God bless them. Jean Lafitte was a French pirate and privateer who was active in the Gulf of Mexico region from the early 19th century, and who is rumored to have buried treasure and gold in many locations, including sites along coastal Louisiana. hide caption. Items in the Price Guide are obtained exclusively from licensors and partners solely for our members research needs. Aerial image of Jean Lafitte, La. None of them like this one, he repeated. Marcel Rodriguez: I'm hearing that it's not good. "They feel the wind. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. The coins were attributed to the pirate Jean Lafitte because of the hoard location near his base of operations. I mean I'm lost for words it's so rare. What are you hearing? John Bel Edwards as of Monday about 80% of all the rescues done Monday were carried out in St. John the Baptist Parish. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Lea Joseph took her children to try to sleep in the trembling car once the power went out; the wind was whipping her house, uprooting trees and peeling roof shingles. Here is a transcription of their conversation: Shalina Chatlani: Hi, Sheriff Rodriguez. He kept asking, When is the eye passing, when is the eye passing?. (AccuWeather / Bill Wadell). hide caption. Satellite image 2021 Maxar Technologies I still have no idea if it was really a JL marker, or if so, it treasure was ever found. He sent the chopper anyway to see if it could spot his 10 deputies who remained in a bunker on the isle during the storm. Oak Island the Strange, the Bizarre, and Maybe the "Truth! Never again.. Hurricane Ida had turned the road into a makeshift boat launch, and Mr. Roque was on a mission to find his relatives. after Hurricane Ida. MR: Just pray, you know. Aerial image of Jean Lafitte, La. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Another man just learned his late father had an investment account no one in the family knew about. after Hurricane Ida hit. Residents there faced brutal winds and heavy rainfall. SC: I do know that the state had requested help from the National Guard and had activated the entire National Guard and even got help from FEMA resources. John Bel Edwards said no major levees failed during Ida, thanks to a $14 billion hurricane risk-reduction system that was built in the greater New Orleans area following Katrina in 2005. That includes the town of Jean Lafitte, as well as Crown Point, lower Lafitte and Barataria, all of south Jefferson Parish, where sustained winds reached up to 70 mph and floodwater was reportedly between 10 to 12 feet. What do you do? Best of all, Dateline was one of the ones who get to deliver the good news in person. No one had heard from the Nolans since Sunday morning, and now the village, along with much of the southeastern Louisiana bayou area, was underwater. In LaPlace, in St. John the Baptist Parish, along the east of the Mississippi River, homes and businesses were torn from their foundations and left without roofs. "We just pulled it out yesterday at this privy I'm telling you about. Evacuees consoled each other after leaving Jean Lafitte, La. It seem to be one less treasure for us to find. Here ya go Bum, Passed by it again on Tuesday. New Orleans and its hardened storm infrastructure appeared to have held up, though the city had no electricity. MR: Oh, I can't take it. Because the water system parish-wide is still being repaired, Lee Sheng said residents must limit how much wastewater goes down the drain for now. after Hurricane Ida. He told me there is an old, very old oak tree. "We're looking for old Civil War artifacts.". Edmund D. Fountain for The New York Times. (AccuWeather / Bill Wadell), "I do it for the thrills and the booty," Mears quipped. At least one person, an older woman, died in her home, Ms. Lee Sheng said. "The MinuteCast has just has been a blessing. before Hurricane Ida. "That's why we're out here. I found this site just now from a google search for Lafitte's treasure and it brought me here. That's got to be heart-wrenching for them. I was born and raised in East Texas. MR: I'm hoping tomorrow morning, but to be honest with you, I don't know. Coins & Currency Oak Island the Strange, the Bizarre, and Maybe the "Truth! Woodblock print of the death of Jean Lafitte from The Pirates Own Book, published in 1837. I know this thread is quite old now, but I'm wondering if any other information has been discovered about this? Huffman is a community of some historical significance, but is hard to define as a town. The . He went all the way to lower Lafitte, he said, but found few takers for a boat ride. Coin #3, Russia Three Copies Of The Bills Of The Soviets Year 1925-34 UNC, SH284A JAPAN ORIGINAL Hansatsu By FUTAKATA Gun Cash 100 Mon 1870 HYOGO K, 1824 Liberty Large Cent 189 Year Old Coin -, Lot Of 12 World War 2 Nickles 35% Silver Dates As Shown, 1946 1946c Newfoundland Ten 10 Cents Only 38,400 Minted. B. C., To A. D. 621. "This still happens on the Treasure Coast. Aerial images show whole neighbourhoods submerged. Hurricanes, cold fronts are great," Martinez said. The muddy man on a mission wades along the banks of the Mississippi River and has been searching for unique finds since the 1980s when he first ventured out with his dad. Ida traveled about 100 miles inland in the first 12 hours after landfall Sunday, while Katrina moved about 240 miles inland in its first 12 hours after landfall . He was also a ham radio operator. You know, this is horrible. Aerial image of Barataria, La. There are many stories about what happened to Lafitte and where he died. It also has references to other lost treasure spots in Texas. This is the first time in my lifetime that I've left back there where I'm not actually looking at it. Hurricane Nicole unearths possible Native American burial ground. At conservative gathering, Trump is still the favourite. ", "It's definitely 'go time.' "I had never found a silver coin. These hunters were busy combing the beaches and unearthing shiny pieces of Treasure Coast history. New Orleans, Louisiana after Hurricane Katrina, as seen in the new documentary Katrina Babies . Your device may not be able to access the slider. Around this time 17 years ago, Hurricane Katrina bore down on New Orleans, and permanently changed . (AccuWeather / Bill Wadell). The Louisiana town of Jean Lafitte has been "totally devastated" by Hurricane Ida, with rescuers unable to reach hundreds of stranded residents after a vehicle wiped out a bridge, Mayor Tim Kerner . On Whitlow Court, a strip of mobile homes, every truck attempting to drive down the street stirred a wake. He started with the company as a kid , fresh from the battlefields of Vietnam. Her 13-year-old son, Cesar, showed videos he had shared with friends on Snapchat of the wind and water descending on the familys home. "The treasure," he added. "People like doing this, and that's how stuff gets found, and they rewrite history.". Accuweather National Reporter Bill Wadell didn't mind getting dirty to take viewers along a journey with a history buff in New Orleans who searches for Louisiana's forgotten past. So was the electricity. Keep checking back on AccuWeather.com and stay tuned to the AccuWeather Network on DirecTV, Frontier, Spectrum, FuboTV, Philo, and Verizon Fios. "The deepest I've gone is over 15 feet, but this one, in particular, is about 8 feet deep and it's just incredible. And I don't know what's going to happen. The feature is available in the free AccuWeather app and on AccuWeather.com. I was looking at the weather on the TV, but it went out. This is one 1806 real from the hoard featuring King Charles IV with a Certificate of Authenticity. We find old coins. When the river levels drop, Mears and his exploration buddy, Susanna French, load up and head out with shovels, a probe and a metal detector. I'm thinking tomorrow morning, I don't know if I'm going to be there at four o'clock in the morning, at three o'clock in the morning, I just don't know. SC: I understand that this area was under a mandatory evacuation. The Mystery of the Final Years of Jean Lafitte . The Hix boys from Baytown were featured on Discovery Channel's. The two-bedroom trailer was wrecked, with only the air-conditioner intact among piles of mangled furniture, kitchen supplies and personal belongings. That's my real deal. You know, the sheriff brought up a good point with me. Bye. Hurricane Ian gave her her first taste of treasure. They were being stubborn everyone told them to leave, but they were like, Oh, were staying, Mr. Roque, 23, said. Jordan Roque pulled his Chevy pickup truck onto the last stretch of highway outside of town that was not inundated by water on Monday, hauling an airboat. So, they hope to keep finding items that Hurricane Nicole brought to the surface. In the 1950s, the Sabine River and the nearby lake (Hendrick's Lake) experienced a new onslaught of treasure seekers when the story of Laffite's silver was published by the True West magazine. And looking it up, it's so rare. Do you have any closing thoughts on the situation? He's got hunting for long-lost coins, jewels and artifacts from Spanish shipwrecks down to a science. Lafitte attempt to placate Monroe by hanging the miscreant, but the chief executive sent a war-brig to Campeche whose captain issued an ultimatum to Lafitte and his pirates: Vacate Campeche or face expulsion by U.S. armed forces. Jean Lafitte Police Chief Marcel Rodriguez believes there are at least 400 people left in the area who, for financial or physical reasons, were not able to heed the mandatory evacuation issued ahead of the storm.