Don't despair, folks. Every one of those high-rise hotels and other buildings in New Orleans is built upon steel pilings that are embedded in bedrock. By law they have to be, because New Orleans' soft soil will not support multistory construction built upon surface foundations. These structures will survive the winds and floods. The people in these buildings can survive as well as long as they stay above the fourth floor and lie low to avoid flying glass and other missiles during the strike itself.
As far as the aftermath goes, a big-city hotel is actually a pretty good survival shelter: solid concrete and steel construction, wide stairways, and plenty of sleeping space. Water is readily available in a hotel: every toilet in the building will have 1-3 gallons of clean, drinkable water in its tank, and then there are the big hot water heater tanks and indoor swimming pools that can be drained. The toilets won't flush anymore of course, but human waste can be disposed of by simply throwing it off a balcony. As far as food goes, it's a fact that healthy people can survive two to three weeks without any food at all, but then again there are are vending machines on every floor and you'd be surprised how long a person can live on a diet of Fritos and Diet Dr Pepper provided they have access to potable water. The pantries and minibars will contain food as well. Liquor from the bar can be used as a disinfectant, tranquilizer, and anesthetic if necessary. And there are clothes, blankets, soap, and other amenities to spare.
In short, those people trapped in high-rise buildings stand a good chance of living through this thing, so don't give up hope yet. In the end, we are Americans, and Americans are notoriously difficult to kill. Chins up, gang.
The main problem with high rise hotels is that the windows do not open. So once the A/C goes off in a hot, humid situation, the conditions can become stifling.
Thanks for your words of encouragement. It's nice to hear a calm, steady voice on this thread. :>)
If the evac route was near my home, I would open my home up to the stranded. I'm sure there are poor people who just got into cars not knowing whether they had anyplace to go. I know I would just leave. Live in my car if I had to. We are all Americans. We need to help any way that we can.
I liked this. I thought it bore repeating.
Love that spirit!
"Don't despair, folks. Every one of those high-rise hotels and other buildings in New Orleans is built upon steel pilings that are embedded in bedrock. By law they have to be, because New Orleans' soft soil will not support multistory construction built upon surface foundations. These structures will survive the winds and floods. The people in these buildings can survive as well as long as they stay above the fourth floor and lie low to avoid flying glass and other missiles during the strike itself.
As far as the aftermath goes, a big-city hotel is actually a pretty good survival shelter: solid concrete and steel construction, wide stairways, and plenty of sleeping space. Water is readily available in a hotel: every toilet in the building will have 1-3 gallons of clean, drinkable water in its tank, and then there are the big hot water heater tanks and indoor swimming pools that can be drained. The toilets won't flush anymore of course, but human waste can be disposed of by simply throwing it off a balcony. As far as food goes, it's a fact that healthy people can survive two to three weeks without any food at all, but then again there are are vending machines on every floor and you'd be surprised how long a person can live on a diet of Fritos and Diet Dr Pepper provided they have access to potable water. The pantries and minibars will contain food as well. Liquor from the bar can be used as a disinfectant, tranquilizer, and anesthetic if necessary. And there are clothes, blankets, soap, and other amenities to spare. "
Worth Repeating!!
I think some self defense (12 ga.) is another wish list tem.
Maybe fuel too for some cooking - keeps the spirits up too.
Thanks for saying that. I needed to hear it.
Agreed. It'll be bad, but I highly doubt as bad as folks here are making it out to be. I'll wager that the casualty count may be in the hundreds, but not the 40-100K that we've seen predicted by some.
Yes, but can we get room service?
I stayed in the highrise NOLA Westin right on Canal Street overlooking the French Quarter. Don't think I'd want to be there today, but it would be a fascinating place from which to watch the storm. And people and stuff flying past the windows.
I'm not taking this lightly. I went to church this morning here on the left coast to pray for NOLA.
Why not open up all high-rise buildings and use the top floors as temporary shelters for people to ride out the storm?
Better than leaving them at ground level to perish in the floods.