Posted on 08/29/2005 11:47:04 PM PDT by Wolfstar
Just broke on CNN about five minutes ago. Rick Sanchez was interviewing the VP of Tulane University Hospital, which is located in downtown New Orleans. She said the water is rising around the hospital at a rate of about one inch per minute. She said if it continues at that rate, she will have to call FEMA to ask them to bring in helicopters to evacuate the hospital.
She said there are about 1000 patients in the hospital, and that it has a helipad on the roof. It would be the only way to get everyone out. Hospital officials have not made the decision yet to call FEMA.
The hospital VP also said that police officials told her there is a two-block long break in the 17th street levee which helps to hold back Lake Ponchatrain. She said the water is flowing so fast that there are whitecaps on Canal Street.
Admin moderator -- no online link for this story yet. Wanted to get it posted in case there are some people who may only be getting news via internet at this time.
Uh oh...
CNN doesnt seem concerend.....all theya re showing is recaps the last time I checked
Yes, big uh oh. The hospital VP sounded frightened, but in control. Did not see her. It was one of those phone interviews. Am going back to TV now to see if there's an update. Will be back.
Not good at all. The town is still not out of danger.
I pray they will be alright.
True. Just checked TV and they are talking about safety tips. Talk about closing the barn door after the horse has left. Sheesh!
However, the hospital VP Rick Sanchez interviewed less than a half hour ago did sound extremely concerned.
With a post like that you shouldn't need a link. Good job!
if the water is rising at a rate of 5 feet per hour...make the call.
~Hospital officials have not made the decision yet to call FEMA~
Get on the stick down there! Time is critical! Prayers offered.
Thanks. I do prefer a link if one is available. Not always possible, though.
Tiger Smack is right, however. CNN has "moved on" to recaps and such. I thought for sure Rick Sanchez would stay with that story. But then, he's always been more of a happy-talk news guy, and he did seem to have trouble understanding the importance of what the hospital VP was saying to him. He asked her to repeat it a couple of times.
That is not what she said; she said an inch every five minutes.
Then you are not watching CNN; they've had live coverage all night, right up to this very minute.
Okay. Who flushed? (j/k)
I need to get out more. Last time I saw Rick Sanchez he was on MSNBC. Wondered where slithered to?
Boats? Rafts?
While she was talking, I kept wondering how they could possibly get 1000 patients and the hospital staff out with just one helipad on the roof, even if FEMA sent a fleet of helicopters. Also, it's about 2:00am there. I couldn't begin to imagine what it would be like to try to evacuate all those people by air in the dark. So there may be good reasons for the hospital officials to wait as long as they can.
I was watching Wolf yesterday afternoon. CNN was doing a pretty good job.
Here is a link for you. Breaking nola.com
http://www.nola.com/newslogs/breakingtp/index.ssf?/mtlogs/nola_Times-Picayune/archives/2005_08.html#074994
Thanks for correcting me, Howlin. I tried to remember the details, but was concerned I might have gotten something wrong. At least your post confirmed the breaking news.
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