[HAL9000]

Before Katrina hit New Orleans, it hit Plaquemines Parish, where the Mississippi River empties into the Gulf of Mexico -

There has been virtually no media coverage of this remote area - but hundreds or thousands of people may have died here. The residents who were sensible enough to evacuate the area have been pleading with the news networks and state government for any information, to no avail. This is the most underreported aspect of the disaster, in my opinion.

I'm interested in this parish because I spent a few days in Venice, LA many years ago. After searching for the last few days, these are the ONLY photos I could find of the devastation -

NOAA aerial image for larger view of south Plaquemines Parish, La., near Empire, Buras and Boothville where Hurricane Katrina made landfall on Aug. 29, 2005, at approximately 7:10 a.m. EDT. The vessel pushed on shore demonstrates Katrina’s power -

NOAA aerial image for larger view of south Plaquemines Parish, La., near Empire, Buras and Boothville where Hurricane Katrina made landfall on Aug. 29, 2005, at approximately 7:10 a.m. EDT -

NOAA aerial image for larger view of south Plaquemines Parish, La., near Empire, Buras and Boothville where Hurricane Katrina made landfall on Aug. 29, 2005, at approximately 7:10 a.m. EDT -

The buildings, the fiercely independent people and the land are gone - perhaps forever. All that remains is the Mississippi River and a road to nowhere.

[texas booster]

There has been virtually no media coverage of this remote area - but hundreds or thousands of people may have died here. The residents who were sensible enough to evacuate the area have been pleading with the news networks and state government for any information, to no avail. This is the most underreported aspect of the disaster, in my opinion.

Thanks, Hal9000. I was wondering about those seven people in Grand Isle that decided to ride out the storm.

I heard that there were several helicopter trips to survey damage, and that LOOP workers made it out to restart the transfer system. Someone surely has video, if the national press would stop mouring the loss of their favorite dive in NO. I also would like to learn more of the situation down south.