80% of New orleans is now under water..still rising

FOXNEWS

[janetjanet998]

20 feet high in places..2 huge levee breaks

[Our man in washington]

First, let me say I send my prayers to people of New Orleans and surrounding areas and I hope that things go as well as possible. All America is with them today.

And with that, I'm sorry, but a joke popped into my head this morning. For those who may be offended, remember: a joke won't cause even one extra drop of rain to fall in New Orleans.

Q: What's the difference between Los Angeles and New Orleans?
A: Los Angeles has a city, but no football team.

[ChefKeith]

Just ignore the SAPP's (self appointed posting police) they obviously have litte else to do.

As I scroll down the post page I also find 2 other threads on the same subject posted. One from Wolfstar and one from Prince Charles, but I found yours first.

[ABG(anybody but Gore)]

Give it a few days. Remember that most people in the hardest hit areas don't have power. Cell phone antennas can also be expected to be knocked down in the face of Cat-4 winds. Lili, which hit us 3 years ago, was only a Cat-2, but it knocked out power for nearly a month in some areas.

I know it sucks, but remember that some people simply can't get a message out saying "I'm Okay" or whatever.

[Ditter]

Don't forget to add that New Orleans was settled over 250 years ago. I think the topography has changed over the years. I don't see any place to lay blame today.

[jpsb]

"the news people were all talking about how N O "dodged a bullet".

That has been my point in several posts too, N.O. did NOT dodge a bullet N.O. took a direct hit from one of the worst hurricanes ever. But the levies held and N.O. survived. Well now it appears the levies are beginning to fail and just as you point out soon the rivers will swell with runoff waters from Katrina as she moves inland. Will more levies fail? River levies? N.O. could be in serious serious trouble. Can't get a feel for just how bad things in N.O. are, is the entire lake flowing into N.O?

[Fierce Allegiance]

Where do you suggest one build a home to be free from any sort of natural disaster?

[advance_copy]

CNN reporting now that water continues to rise in New Orleans (live call from reporter inside the city). The Lake Pontchartrain levee is breeched.

[ChefKeith]

It will involve Federal money

Read- more of our tax dollars wasted on a lost cause

[norton]

"Economics determined the location of New Orleans, not foolishness on the part of her residents."

History determined the location of NO.
A couple of hundred years ago it made sense, now we should know better.
The residents had/have little to do with it [you go where the jobs are].
Perhaps this event will force some badly needed reconsideration.

In any event it's going to be a massive project - or several of them.

[southlake_hoosier]

With the price of oil and gas right now, the big American oil companies are making more money then anyone. Then they are gifted billions more by our government. And, so far I have not heard anybody from any of these companies step forward to offer support.

[Aggie Mama]

AND they should also remember to BUILD UNDER SEA-LEVEL AGAIN because no hurricanes ever hit that area.

And all those New Yorkers should have known better than to build tall buildings and be a security risk.

I will take great delight when all of you up north are griping about how much your heating bills are this winter. Perhaps then, you will realize how important this area is to the rest of our great nation.

[zeugma]

AND they should also remember to BUILD UNDER SEA-LEVEL AGAIN because no hurricanes ever hit that area.

And G-d forbid they have insurance. I have no sympathy for those experiencing non-insured monetary losses.

[Sometimes A River]

Me either...

Although I would not deny the right of a private company to make a profit, I would deny them Corporate Welfare.

And, all public financing of sports stadiums should end as well.

As should all farm subsidies...

Big Business LOVES Big Government.

[gumboyaya]

Thanks I needed that. NOLA is my only contact and all messages are the same looking for info. If anybody has seen a reliable source please let me know.

[CMAC51]

The seaport is still there even if damaged. The refineries and petrochemical plants are still there, even if damaged. It will be less costly to repair than to relocate. They will do it because they have to. The rest of the country needs them to do it as quickly as humanly possible.

[chris1]

Talk about giving FR a bad name! Geez you are cruel.

[zeugma]

I'd like to qualify the above statement to say that my thoughts and prayers do go out to those being affected by this hurricane. I just don't want to hear bitching afterwards from those who didn't have the foresight to protect themselves economically.

I used to live in Houston. I know first hand what a hurricane is like.

[southlake_hoosier]

I would deny them Corporate Welfare.

I could not have said it better. I agree 100% with your statement.

[CMAC51]

And, so far I have not heard anybody from any of these companies step forward to offer support.

They don't have to step forward, they are in the thick of it. Between the oilrig workers, the refineries and petro chemical plants and the tanker facilities at the port, they are right in the middle of it. It is their facilities and thier people who are affected.

[Poodlebrain]

"History determined the location of NO.
A couple of hundred years ago it made sense, now we should know better.
The residents had/have little to do with it [you go where the jobs are].
Perhaps this event will force some badly needed reconsideration."

Let's suppose we relocate the port facilities, just how are we going to do so at less total economic cost than repairing, or rebuilding, where currently located? That means we have to take into consideration the economics of getting the ships to the port, the economics of running rail lines and roads to the new location, developing the warehouses and other facilities and building the housing, and other necessities, for the port workers.

There is no doubt that efforts should be made to prevent similar devastating circumstances from recurring when the rebuilding effort commences. However, it is difficult to conceive of abandoning one of the worlds largest ports and starting over somewhere else.