Posted on 08/30/2005 4:17:24 PM PDT by Paleo Conservative
NEW ORLEANS - The historic city of New Orleans was steadily filling with water from nearby Lake Ponchartrain today after its defenses were breached by the ferocity of Hurricane Katrina.
Water began rising in the streets this morning after a levee broke along a canal leading to Lake Pontchartrain, and many of the pumps relied upon by New Orleans -- built below sea level -- have failed.
Officials planned to use helicopters to drop 3,000-pound sandbags into the breach, but rising floodwaters were threatening the French Quarter, residents were plucked from the roofs of their homes, bodies were seen floating in the streets and rescuers searched the city in boats and helicopters.
Portions of the Interstate 10 high-rise bridge over the mouth of Lake Pontchartrain east of New Orleans have collapsed. Another bridge, the causeway running across the middle of the lake, has structural damage, and engineers are inspecting U.S. 11, which also crosses the lake, to determine if it is structurally sound.
"We probably have 80 percent of our city under water; with some sections of our city the water is as deep as 20 feet. Both airports are underwater,'' Mayor Ray Nagin told a radio interviewer.
New Orleans, a city that usually throbs with the life of its carnivals and the sound of jazz and blues, was in a "state of devastation,'' Nagin said.
Much of New Orleans, a city of some 500,000, lies in a bowl below sea level, bounded by the lake and the Mississippi River, which curves along the south of the city before discharging in the Gulf of Mexico.
"We always were afraid the bowl that is New Orleans would fill quickly,'' Walter Maestri, emergency management coordinator for Jefferson Parish, said in a radio interview.
"The water is rising so fast I cannot begin to describe how quickly it's rising,'' Tulane University Medical Center Vice President Karen Troyer-Caraway told CNN. "We have whitecaps on Canal Street, the water is moving so fast.''
The downtown hospital was surrounded by 6 feet of water and considering evacuating its 1,000 patients.
The New Orleans VA Medical Center began to evacuate this morning after the floodwaters disrupted its generators, endangering patients on ventilators.
"The devastation is greater than our worst fears,'' Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Blanco said in a news conference. "It's totally overwhelming.''
Weather experts had predicted the city would be quickly overwhelmed by the impact of Katrina, which tore across the coast on Monday, but initially damage appeared less than catastrophic.
By today, however, the full impact was clear as the water rose and overwhelmed pumps, part of an elaborate system of walls, canals and other devices built to protect the city from just such a disaster.
Fears grew about pollution, with the water believed to be carrying sewage, spilled fuel and other pollutants from residential and commercial districts inundated in the flood.
Reporters said there was waist-high water round the Superdome, the huge covered football stadium near downtown New Orleans that had been used as an emergency evacuation center for thousands of residents.
Local television showed people and dogs sitting on rooftops, the houses below them invisible in brackish water. A hand was visible through a window in a house surrounded by chest-high water.
One man was seen using an ice chest as a flotation device. Another clung to metal scaffolding to escape the deluge, which ironically occurred in sunshine and blue skies today.
No deaths were officially confirmed, but Nagin said bodies were seen floating.
State Sen. Ann Duplessis, who owns a home in eastern New Orleans, said she had reports from neighbors in the gated Eastover subdivision of bodies floating in the floodwaters.
Officials went on television to urge people not to try to return to their homes yet. "You need to get used to where you're at right now because this may take us some time.'' said U.S. Rep. Bobby Jindal.
"There will be neighborhoods where people just can't get back into their homes for weeks, if not months," said Michael Brown, director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Even if they wanted to, New Orleans residents would have a difficult time just getting back to their hometown.
Much of Interstate 10 is closed on either side of New Orleans. Some sections of Lake Ponchartrain's I-10 twin span — a lifeline between the south and north shores of the lake — are missing; others have shifted position but are still standing.
"We know that the I-10 twin span has blown over, is no longer with us," said Mark Smith, spokesman for the Louisiana Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness.
"This will be the story for some time to come,"said Lt. Lawrence J. McLeary, spokesman for the Louisiana State Police.
Many roads and highways south and north of New Orleans are either flooded and impassable or have been closed by state police to keep people from entering damaged areas until emergency workers can rescue stranded residents and other crews can make damage assessments.
Blanco said 700 people had been rescued so far, but she said it was still too early to count the casualties.
"We have no counts whatsoever," she said, "but we know many lives have been lost."
Another liberal leader! Must be related to a Klinton or Kennedy. What a weak person. It is totally overwhelming? What an a$$hole! How freekin motivating. Why not call for Auntie Em?
Have you ever personally been through a hurricane that severe? I have and the severity caught everyone offguard, because Celia had been predicted to be a category 1 hurricane with 90 mph winds. When it started to hit land it contracted so that instead of having 90 mph winds it had up to 180+ mph winds. I understand what it is like to have a the effects of a hurricane exceed what was thought to be the worst case.
Paleo..our government has spent billions of dollars 'studying' the plight of NO in just this scenario for over 20 years...lol(in a moment of dark humor)..for years the LA politicos have ignored the studies and even used the monies for 'other' things..all the while they ignored the realities of the danger. LA is a cesspool of democrat incompetency and corruption in state and local government. We are seeing what they are capable of and so far it is the same as it always is from democrats...:"SEND IN THE FEDERAL bureaucracy ....SEND IN THE CLOWNS" Don't worry..thank the God lord Bush in in office right now..so the 'Clowns' are a dying breed in government..but look for them to muck up the mighty mississippi with utter bs in the coming days.
www.redcross.org
I was in no way excusing any incompetence. I was simply pointing out that the job of dealing with a disaster such as Katrina would take its toll on anyone. The hard truth remains that as much as our elected leaders can plan for emergency management we still have to depend on ourselves to heed their advice. I noticed after the hurricanes hit here last year that many people were unprepared. The attitude seemed to be, don't worry FEMA, etc. will take care of us if anything happens.
I may not agree with the politics of some of the leaders but I do not think they are indifferent to the suffering of so many. I hope difference can be set aside in mounting a rescue and recovery.
The true test of politics will come in the future when Louisiana and Mississippi have to take look at such things as building codes, flood plain ordinances and budgets for services involved in emergency management.
Oh by the way as a general rule I do not trust liberals and am pretty sure the blame game will begin real soon.
There were no ordinances against building in flood plains when the French founded New Orleans.
I did not think there was. I know one factor that will be very prominent in any rebuilding of New Orleans is the insurance industry. A lot of the big name companies are pulling out of Florida. Oh they'll still take our money for auto insurance and they will still insure commercial interests but joe and jane homeowner are tough out of luck.
I bet you will see the same thing in LA, Al and MS. The insurance companies will push for stricter codes. Without stricter codes insurance companies may just pull out of the region. Since most mortgage companies will not make loans on uninsured property you can imagine what the lack of available insurance would do to any rebuilding effort.
Alchohol is an estringent.
Hello, you have been on my mind and I was wondering if you have gotten any news yet.
Thanks so much... I really appreciate it...
The Salvation Army has a link on First Coast News ABC25. It is sent up to find missing persons due to the hurricane. But, I could not get through because it was so busy. I will try tonight maybe I can get through. As for the Red Cross, you cannot get through to them even on the phones. But, I will keep trying.
No, I have not heard anything yet. But, I am still trying... Where there is a will there is a way...
Ok take care and prayers for you all.
Yes, Hugo in Charleston. It takes courage and support by everyone. Looters need not apply.
I am so glad that your brother is safe and sound. What a lift it must give your heart. Please know that I join you in your rejoicing in spirit if not in body.
God be thanked for His mercy endures forever.
AWESOME!!!!! Tears of joy for you and your family. Your post made my day.
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