Posted on 09/06/2005 1:22:38 PM PDT by Uncle Joe Cannon
Water Receding Noticeably in New Orleans
By DOUG SIMPSON, Associated Press Writer 27 minutes ago
NEW ORLEANS - With a major levee break finally plugged, engineers struggled to pump out the flooded city Tuesday as authorities braced for the horrors the receding water is certain to reveal. "It's going to be awful and it's going to wake the nation up again," the mayor warned.
The Army Corps of Engineers began pumping the water out after using rocks and sandbags to close a levee break that swamped 80 percent of the bowl-shaped, below-sea-level city in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Across the city, the water was dropping noticeably, and the Corps said Tuesday the area under water had fallen to about 60 percent.
"I'm starting to see water levels much lower than I've seen," Mayor Ray Nagin said after surveying his city from the air. "Even in areas where the water was as high as the rooftops, I started to see parts of the buildings." He added: "I'm starting to see rays of light."
Still, he warned that what awaits authorities below the toxic muck would be gruesome. A day earlier, he said the death toll in New Orleans could reach 10,000.
Walter Baumy, a Corps manager in charge of the engineering job, said it will take 24 to 80 days to drain the city.
"We're working every aveunue to do whatever we can to get things back in order," he said.
Exactly how long the job will take depends on a number of factors. Among other things, the condition of the pumps — especially whether they were submerged and damaged — is not yet fully known, the Corps said. Also, the water is full of debris, and while there are screens on the pumps, it may be necessary to stop and clean them from time to time.
The Pentagon, meanwhile, began sending paratroopers from the Army's storied 82nd Airborne Division to New Orleans to use small boats, including inflatable Zodiac craft, to launch a new search-and-rescue effort in flooded sections of the city. Maj. Gen. William B. Caldwell IV, division commander, said about 5,000 paratroopers would be in place by Tuesday.
Boat rescue crews and a caravan of law enforcement vehicles from around the country also searched for people to rescue.
"In some cases, it's real easy. They're sitting on the porch with their bags packed," said Joe Youdell of the Kentucky Air National Guard. "But some don't want to leave and we can't force them."
Nagin warned: "We have to convince them to leave. It's not safe here. There is toxic waste in the water and dead bodies and mosquitoes and gas. We are pumping about a million dollars' worth a gas a day in the air. Fires have been started and we don't have running water."
Nagin said some dry sections of the city may have running water within 36 hours. The system needs to be flushed out before that can happen, he said.
Early Tuesday, fire broke out at a big house in the city's historic Garden District — a neighborhood with lots of antebellum mansions. National Guardsmen cordoned off the area as firefighters battled the blaze by helicopter. In all, firefighters battled at least four major fires in New Orleans by midafternoon.
At the same time, the effort to get the evacuees back on their feet continued on several fronts.
Patrick Rhode, deputy director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, said evacuees would receive debit cards so that they could begin buying necessary personal items. He said the agency was going from shelter to shelter to make sure that evacuees received cards quickly and that the paperwork usually required would be reduced or eliminated.
"We're eliminating as much red tape as humanly possible," Rhode said on ABC's "Good Morning America."
The Air Force late Monday concluded its huge airlift of elderly and serious ill patients from New Orleans' major airport. A total of 9,788 patients and other evacuees were evacuated by air from the New Orleans area.
Local officials bitterly expressed frustration with the federal government's sluggish response as the tragedy unfolded.
"Bureaucracy has murdered people in the greater New Orleans area. And bureaucracy needs to stand trial before Congress today," Aaron Broussard, president of Jefferson Parish, said on CBS' "The Early Show."
"So I'm asking Congress, please investigate this now. Take whatever idiot they have at the top of whatever agency and give me a better idiot. Give me a caring idiot. Give me a sensitive idiot. Just don't give me the same idiot."
In New Orleans, Deputy Police Superintendent W.J. Riley estimated that fewer than 10,000 people were left in the city. Some simply did not want to leave their homes, while others were hanging back to loot or commit other crimes, authorities said.
The mayor said the city had the authority to force residents to evacuate but didn't say if it was taking that step. He denied reports that the city will no longer hand out water to people who refuse to leave.
The leader of troops patrolling New Orleans declared the city largely free of the lawlessness that plagued it in the days following the hurricane. He lashed out at suggestions that search-and-rescue operations were being stymied by random gunfire and lawlessness.
"Go on the streets of New Orleans — it's secure," Army Lt. Gen. Russel Honore said to a reporter. "Have you been to New Orleans? Did anybody accost you?"
In neighboring Jefferson Parish, some of its 460,000 residents got a chance to briefly see their flooded homes, and to scoop up soaked wedding pictures and other cherished mementos.
"I won't be getting inside today unless I get some scuba gear," said Jack Rabito, a 61-year-old bar owner whose one-story home had water lapping at the gutters.
___
"Some simply did not want to leave their homes, while others were hanging back to loot or commit other crimes, authorities said."
So where are these death estimates coming from? I expect some were trapped in their homes, some in autos, and 2 or 3 were settling old scores. But where has this number come from? Or is he just pulling the number out of the air?
Nagin's secret agenda---send more and more and more MONEY.
Impressive, but I don't think I'd drink it just yet.
So I'm asking Congress, please investigate this now. Take whatever idiot they have at the top of whatever agency and give me a better idiot. Give me a caring idiot. Give me a sensitive idiot. Just don't give me the same idiot."
Don't need congress to find the idiot, a mirror will work just fine...
You only hope, you filthy, slimy liberal incompetent Clintonite democrat!
Man, I hate these political opportunists--massively incompetent at doing anything remotely similar to their JOB, but expert at crying and whining and blaming GWB for everything.
I sure hope my wild guess is better than his wild guess.
"Nagin said some dry sections of the city may have running water within 36 hours."
Is this to be credited to Bush when it happens, Mr. Nagin?
Be careful what you wish for, Mr. Broussard. The people voting for Jefferson Parish President, Mayor of New Orleans and State Governor might be thinking the same thing at the next election.
Oh no, he will say something like
"I have been working tirelessly to get clean water back in operation for the people of New Orleans"
Mr. Broussard, that's what happens when people place all their faith in government. A little personal initiative might have saved a few lives. Let that be a lesson to you, and to the people of your parish.
Wait a second -- you dismiss the reports of water contamination in New Orleans based on your experience when your backyard floods? I'm presuming your backyard does not have petrochemical plants, oil refineries or 15 thousand people pooping in water that might hold hundreds of rotting corpses.
Nagin warned: "We are pumping about a million dollars' worth a gas a day in the air. Fires have been started and we don't have running water."
"Couldn't find the keys to the buses and now he can't remember where the main gas valve is...."
LOL!
Keystone cops routine continues ...
There...fixed
Did he say anything about his back yard?
You smug piece of crap. You sit there on your fat butt and make pronouncements about personal initiative to people who have just been through hell. There will be time enough to lay blame on people; now is the time to show a little compassion for your fellow countrymen. If you can manage it.
Note to Aaron: That idiot(s) was/were Ms. Blanco and Mr. Nagin. I think we should add you to the list.
"Wait a second -- you dismiss the reports of water contamination in New Orleans based on your experience when your backyard floods? I'm presuming your backyard does not have petrochemical plants, oil refineries or 15 thousand people pooping in water that might hold hundreds of rotting corpses."
I'm just having a hard time getting a handle on all this gloom and doom. I'll reserve judgement after all this is over with. How many times have the MSM press got anything right?
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