From the St. Bernard Parrish website:
11:00 a.m. - The National Weather Service reported that a levee broke on the Industrial Canal near the St. Bernard-Orleans parish line (Tennessee St.), and 3 to 10 feet of flooding was possible (with Arabi (MAP) receiving some degree of rising water). (Info: The Industrial Canal is the 5.5-mile waterway that connects the Mississippi River to the Intracoastal Waterway).
St. Bernard Parish Office of Emergency Preparedness says the parish's two shelters at Chalmette High and St. Bernard High are suffering much damage with flooding. He said Chalmette High shelter is losing its roof, and St. Bernard High has many broken windows/glass. There are estimates of 300-plus refugees at the two sites. "We cannot see the tops of the levees!" --Director OEP, Larry Ingargiola
12:00 P.M. - Most of the parish has no power and widespread flooding is reported. Phone services are severely hampered into/out of the parish. Estimated 40,000 Homes are flooded.
12:30 P.M. - Chalmette's Gibb Drive and community is reported underwater to roof. Some citizens were driven to rooftops.
2:00 P.M. - Communications into the New Orleans/St. Bernard area are little to none due to power and downed telecommunications equipment and massive calls into state .
2:30 PM. - National Guard Armory submerged. Reports about the 911 Center on St. Bernard Parish (near the Palms) was severely damaged as well as the Meraux Food Store in Meraux.
3:00 P.M. - Approximately 150 people were sighted on rooftops where approx. 8-10 feet (perhaps more) of water in area. Included on roofs were WDSU reporter (and St. Bernard resident) Heath Allen & photographer on a Government Complex rooftop). Search and Rescue teams are being dispensed to areas hard hit. Presently no deaths have been reported as was sighted in New Orleans.
3:30 P.M. - Reports about area around Violet Canal had 8-12 Feet of Water. Officials plan on an aerial view to access information in the parish at its earliest opportunity. Parish and Federal officials plan on its own teamwork to help determine degree of damage in order to seek Federal assistance. President Bush, perhaps and Governor Blanco who has ordered officials to block re-entry to communities deemed affected by Katrina until authorities can access the damage. "Please be patient and calm."
4:00 P.M. - Entergy reports: 700,000 or 92% of the utility's 770,000 customers in metro New Orleans are without power on storm day.
4:30 P.M. - CNN reports that "It's like Armageddon!" (Describing how she feels about Katrina's miserable appearance).
5:00 P.M. - "Boats manned by Wildlife and Fisheries officials have been deployed to rescue residents stranded in St. Bernard AND Mobile medical teams are prepared to act quickly." (-Gov. Blanco). It's entirely possible in many places that water is contaminated, and it may take quite a while to restore power to the metro area.
http://www.st-bernard.la.us/
Thank you.