Excerpts from the NORTH AMERICAN ROAD ATLAS AND SURVIVAL GUIDE, 3rd
Edition
By James Cambias
A land of swamps and bayous, long the industrial center of Louisiana and port for the entire
central United States, Southeast Louisiana has survived troubles and retains prosperity. Still
heavily dependant on foreign trade and offshore oil drilling, this region still looks to the river
and the sea for travel and transport, so driving can be an adventure.
History
After Texas, Louisiana was the second of the Free Oil States, and much of the political force
behind the secession came from the Southeastern part of the state. Disputes with the Federal
Government over drilling rights, oil pricing, and strong resentment of the lack of Federal aid to
combat rising ocean levels led to a powerful Secessionist movement.
Louisiana suffered greatly as erosion, subsidence, and rising sea levels from melting polar ice
combined to work dramatic changes in the first decade of the 21st Century. Much of the
coastal swamps disappeared, and thousands of displaced refugees fled to the cities along the
river, which had their own problems. The loss of agricultural land was partly alleviated by the
state's large fishing industry, reducing the severity of the Food Riots to come.
When the city of New Orleans was threatened by the rising waters, the state threw its entire
resources into the effort to save the city, but with only partial success. Most of the city's
inhabitants fled to upriver suburbs, and when Hurricane George demolished the floodwall
protecting the city in 2009, the water rolled in. Baton Rouge, the state capitol, became the
biggest city in Louisiana, and took over much of the port business. but a surprising number of
people remained in the flooded region, creating an unusual amphibious lifestyle.
S.E. Louisiana Today
The economy of Southeast Louisiana is based on two things: oil and the Mississippi. Oil and
gas from offshore rigs are piped to refineries along the river between Baton Rouge and New
Orleans, processed, and then exported. Most goes upriver on barges, although a fair amount
still goes overseas to the East Coast. A small amount of agricultural produce comes down the
river from the few farming regions that remain in the Midwest, as do industrial products from
the Ohio River Valley.
Most of the region today is water. Everything south of New Orleans was swallowed by the
oceans, and much former dry land has reverted to swamp. Outlaws occasionally find refuge in
the wetlands. Boats now outnumber cars in the area, with helicopters a strong third place, due
to their use in servicing offshore oil platforms.
Highways
Because of the flooding, only the major elevated highways survive. They are maintained as
well as can be, but nobody would call them good reads. Because they are so few and so
important, they are heavily patrolled. State Police cars travel in pairs, often with a helicopter
for support. Their primary concern is keeping the roads open. Duels are not interfered with as
long as the victors are considerate enough to push any wrecks off the road, and to clean up any
dropped weapons. Mines, however, are strictly prohibited as they tend to damage the road
surface.
The roads are thus relatively safe, as cycle gangs or other organized raiders soon run into one
of the patrols. But there is a kind or highway bandit the police are virtually helpless against:
Boat gangs. using fast boats, armed and armored much like cars, these criminals can speed
alongside the highway, firing at a lone car or even truck, until the victim can be forced to a
stop. The bandits then loot the vehicle and speed off into the swamp, safe from any pursuit.
Even helicopters are not much use as the thick tree cover in the swamp areas makes it
impossible to follow a boat for very long. The state Coast Guard has a few small boats
patrolling the swamp, but their main purpose is to protect oil pipelines from saboteurs and
"juice thieves."
Facilities
Supplies for travellers are available in most larger towns and the cities. Auto parts may be
expensive due to import duties on US goods, but oil and recharges are very cheap. Guns are
readily available, as even the smallest towns have a hunting supply store - usually with a
modest selection of duellist equipment.
Truck stops exist on the outskirts of Baton Rouge, Metairie, and Hammond, but the largest is in
downtown Slidell on Interstate 12. All have major repair facilities and towing in the
immediate vicinity, as well as food and recreation. In addition, the Welcome Center fortresses
near the borders have food and power available - but only for Louisiana citizens.
Towing and rescue services are spotty in most areas, with the exception of Interstate 10
between Baton Rouge and Metairie, where service is more dependable. The major towns all
have hospitals, and rescue helicopters are very common. There is one operator, Jim
Scramuzza of Metairie, who offers towing and repair anywhere on the Interstate. He only has
six trucks, though, so long delays are common.
Gold Cross has facilities in Baton Rouge and New Orleans, open to all card-holders. A local
company, Lazarus Associates, also honors the Gold Cross card. The Lazarus rescue teams fly
in two armed helicopters, and have been known to fire on Gold Cross crews in the hopes of
stealing the patients.
Autoduelling
Local tradition holds that the sport was invented in Louisiana, not California, and certainly the
driving habits of Louisiana natives gives credence to that claim. Organized arenas exist in
every town, and Baton Rouge has four. Even in flooded New Orleans, duels are held in the
Superdome, using cars floated in for the purpose. Impromptu road duels are common, since
most drivers reach for the trigger as readily as the horn. Duelling is prohibited by law in all
towns, but enforcement is lax, and usually a duellist will not be in trouble as long as no
bystanders are hurt.
Off-road duelling, as it is known in the rest of the country, does not exist, since "off-road" is
water over much of the area. But many boat owners have armed their boats, and boat duels are
a frequent occurrence on Lake Ponchatrain. The Superdome in New Orleans is also the scene
of occasional arena-style boat duels, with the stadium flooded for the event. Only in the
Mississippi is boat duelling prohibited, due to the danger of commerce. The Coast Guard does
not hesitate to sink first and ask questions later.
However lax they may be toward simple recreational duelling, both local and state police
forces are very firm against crime. The restricted road network makes roadblocks singularly
effective, so hit-and-run tactics often lead to stop-and-die conclusions. The high proportion of
armed cars and experienced combat drivers also means that the police have a large cadre of
willing, eager allies with respectable firepower.
Smuggling is difficult on the highways, and most South Louisiana operators prefer to leave that
to boats, both from tradition and practicality.
Organizations
Besides the State Police and local police forces, Southeast Louisiana is also host to chapters of
all major driving organisation, including the AADA, the Brotherhood, BLUD, and EDSEL.
These tend to take a back seat to local organizations, though, particularly the Carnival Krewes.
Originally, the sole purpose of these clubs was to put on the elaborate parades of the Mordi
Gras season. But during the Carnival of 2025, the Krewe of Elks and the Krewe of Crescent
City were assigned the same parade route at the same time. A spectacular battle resulted, and
the following year both organizations began arming their floats. In subsequent years, battles
between parades became common, until banned in 2031. Stymied by the ban, the Krewes
turned to autoduelling. Today, several Krewes exist which no longer even hold a parade,
being solely dedicated to autoduelling. The Krewes mostly consist of middle-aged, often
wealthy people, and are in no way 'gangs.' Krewe members are always ready to lend
assistance to people on the highway, usually helping the underdog in a battle. Their cars are
heavily ornamented, often with flashing lights, animated figures, and elaborate paintings.
Armament cam be quite expensive, as these people have the money to spend. The largest
Krewes are Elks and Crescent City in Metairie, and St. Tammany in Slidell.
Issue 5/2 Index
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