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Posted on 08/29/2005 2:08:51 PM PDT by NautiNurse
From the Knight Ridder papers:
High water blocks routes into most of New Orleans
BY BILL HANNA
Knight Ridder Newspapers
NEW ORLEANS - (KRT) - When Felix Salande drove back toward New Orleans late Monday afternoon, he started to tell himself that the Crescent City had been spared a devastating blow.
But after he had navigated to within about 12 miles of downtown New Orleans, he started seeing row upon row of wind-damaged and flooded buildings.
He finally stopped, and took in the sights from the elevated Interstate 10 roadway. What he was seeing was a new extension of Lake Pontchartrain.
"I'm 39 years old and I've never seen it this bad before," Salande said. "When I came through Kenner it looked like Beirut out there."
Salande said he couldn't even imagine how long it would take for the floodwaters to recede.
"I'm guessing I'm not getting home for days," he said as watched other frustrated drivers realize that they, too, were at the end of the line. They might be close, but there would be no going home on this day. The interstate had simply dead-ended into a murky sea of floodwater. The downtown skyline poked up through the gray sky, just four or so miles away.
The hundreds of stranded drivers were quickly turning Interstate 10 into a makeshift campground Monday night. Small children were kicking soccer balls and others were gingerly walking to the new shoreline and guessing how long it would take for the water to drop.
"This isn't good," said New Orleans resident Bill Tamlin. "If it's this bad here, then the whole city must be under water."
Nearby, New Orleans police officer W. A. Johnson reaffirmed what many New Orleans residents were just starting to comprehend.
Asked how much of the city was under water, Johnson replied: "All of it."
And how long did he think it would take for the floodwaters to recede?
"Days."
In Metairie, just west of New Orleans, even would-be rescuers were stranded alongside the interstate.
About 30 state wildlife division boats were parked along the freeway, unable to reach the flooded neighborhoods that needed the most help. Meanwhile, hundreds of other emergency vehicles were racing toward New Orleans from Baton Rouge along I-10, although it was a mystery as to how they would reach the city center.
Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Blanco said at a Monday night news conference that more rescue boats had been requested from Texas and Arkansas to help conduct searches.
State officials said as many as 80 water rescues had been conducted in the St. Bernard area near New Orleans, with many boats picking up three or four people at a time. No one knew how many people were still in the city.
While portions of the elevated interstate were passable into the western side of New Orleans, virtually every other route into the city was closed by high water. Waves were lapping up to the very edge of the New Orleans International Airport in Kenner.
Airport hotels had sustained considerable wind damage and many homes in the Kenner area had portions of their roofs missing. Along the freeway in Kenner, powerful winds had peeled open a large storage facility as if it were a tin can.
Blanco cautioned that the roadways may be terrible to navigate for some time.
"It may be very difficult to enter the city from most directions," Blanco said. She said some sections of I-10 bridge spans near New Orleans may have suffered structural damage. She couldn't say how long it would be before the road reopens to traffic.
Back at the makeshift campground along I-10, many anxious drivers were contemplating turning around and making the hourlong trek back to Baton Rouge, where the power was out but the damage was minimal.
New Orleans resident Tomesha Carter and her husband, Bruce, were debating whether to take their two children back to the capital city.
"It could be another week before we get home even though we can almost see it from here," Tomesha Carter said. "Our home is in the lower Garden District and we left our car and everything. With what we're seeing here, who knows how much water is in our home?"
http://www.timesleader.com/mld/timesleader/news/nation/12509413.htm
suspended for an hour
"Can anyone give an opinion of damage to houses across from Jackson School in the 1400 block Lower Garden district New Orleans?? I have a cousin who needs the information."
I wish I could help you, but I haven't heard anything on this. Maybe someone else here knows the status of that area. Perhaps you could try posting to WWL TV's Discussion Board. Maybe you can get some answers from there. I wish you and your cousin the best of luck.
she says she is 5 miles to the east of NO.
LOL
Just as well -- I'll dig in and try to work it out.
:)
Sad, but 100% preventable. That's what a storm surge does, people!!!
Your profile page made me all teary-eyed. The pictures of the President and the First Lady are beautiful. You make a good "hopeless romantic."
"Can anyone give an opinion of damage to houses across from Jackson School in the 1400 block Lower Garden district New Orleans?? I have a cousin who needs the information."
I wish I could help you, but I haven't heard anything on this. Maybe someone else here knows the status of that area. Perhaps you could try posting to WWL TV's Discussion Board. Maybe you can get some answers from there. I wish you and your cousin the best of luck.
Oh! I forgot the link. I'm sorry about that. It's been a real rough two days...
http://www.wwltv.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=2418
That was the name of the emergency preparedness store I used to have.
Don't blame you at all. Too many threads to wade through.
Fair enough.
Meserve totally breaking down right now.
He's cracking up himself a little bit.
That quote when the reporter asked him what he was most afraid of..."I'm afraid were going to find a lot of dead people."
And of course, Brown ruins her sincerity.
"Sad, but 100% preventable. That's what a storm surge does, people!!!"
It is tragic - but I am not about to make a judgment as to why some people left and some didn't. I wasn't in their shoes. We should say prayers for survivors and families in any case.
WBRZ talking about Mandeville
any info would be appreciated..
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