[Blueflag]

IF you go to the Drudgereport you'll see a pic of a flooded restaurant in Akers, LA. This seafood joint is on the North shore of Lake Maurepas, just west of Lake Pontchartrain -- NW of New Orleans. It sits REAL close to the water's edge below Interstate 55 which is elevated probably 25 feet (guessing) above the ground below. I am postulating this shows what the storm surge there has done, as opposed to rainfall.

This link shold take you to a street view where you can just about duplicate the pic on the Drudgereport.

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=middendorf's+seafood-manchac+la&ll=30.289514,-90.402589&spn=0.003029,0.00486&fb=1&gl=us&hq=middendorf's+seafood-manchac+la&cid=0,0,6392791585389205583&t=h&z=18&layer=c&cbll=30.289711,-90.402629&panoid=xPsDGbpc-o6PR-5IA3YkRA&cbp=12,93.54,,0,-5.74

Shift the view to the east and you can see Middendorf's two buildings, sans flooding and the stranded sheriff's car.

I only post this 'cuz I have been RIGHT THERE several times.

Prayers for our fellow FReepers and others in the area.

[Blueflag]

active link I hope:

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=middendorf’s+seafood-manchac+la&ll=30.289514,-90.402589&spn=0.003029,0.00486&fb=1&gl=us&hq=middendorf’s+seafood-manchac+la&cid=0,0,6392791585389205583&t=h&z=18&layer=c&cbll=30.289711,-90.402629&panoid=xPsDGbpc-o6PR-5IA3YkRA&cbp=12,93.54,,0,-5.74

[chris37]

After seeing some of the damage this category 1 storm has done, I’m very happy I left New Orleans.

I know they lucked out on this storm, and some of the surrounding areas did not, but every tropical event is going to be a hold your breath situation for New orleans.

If the city ever gets hit by the wrong storm going in the right direction, it is going to be erased by the Gulf. If a cat 4 or 5 ever hovered in the gulf for a day or 2 south of the city, it’s over.

I still live in the south, but I’m about 100 ft above sea level now instead of 10 ft below. I think New Orleans has exactly as much time as Mother Nature gives her, and Mother Nature is a ruthless :O

[Uncle Slayton]

You would think with the days upon days of hurricane and flood warnings, that all those folks would have evacuated, but for some reason they failed to act, just like all those folks in New Orleans during Katrina.

You would think that the folks on the North Shore would have learned a lesson from the New Orleans people.

[Stonewall Jackson]

A lot of folks don't realize just how dangerous storm surges can be. My great-grandfather was killed by the storm surge caused by the Galveston Hurricane of 1915.

He was a conductor on the Galveston-Houston Inner Urban Railway and was trying to evacuate some of the women and children from the island when the surge caught them on the causeway.

[Spartan79]

Nooooooo!!! Middendorf’s had some of the best fried catfish available anywhere! I always tried to time my travel up or down I-55 to be able to have lunch or dinner at the place.

They are a Louisiana institution. I’m sure the restaurant will be rebuilt/renovated and reopened within a few months. Check it out if you’re ever motoring along on I-55 on the north side of Ponchartrain.

[PhiloBedo]

I got the same picture on MSN.com page when going to my hotmail.

Drudge? He’s dead to me...sorry no clicks for the homo.

[Eye of Unk]

I was on Galveston Island when Hurricane Alicia came through heading for Houston, I think this was 1985 or so, earlier across the causeway the water was far below the roadway, I was one of the very few (or dumb enough) that stayed almost too late before crossing the causeway, with 100 mph winds the waves were swept up and over the causeway heavy enough I was driving over fish, true story.

And on the trip back to Houston I could nearly have kept the truck in neutral with the winds behind me pushing me at over 50mph.

I still have that old 1974 Chevy Pu all the way up here in Alaska.

I think I drove far enough to get away from hurricanes....