URGENT: Latest photos of New Orleans flooding

Yahoo News Photos ^ | 8/30/05

[Wolfstar]

The morning's collection of flooding conditions in New Orleans. There were few fresh photos of other devastated areas available in the short time I had available to collect these. Will try to update this thread later.

These photos are being posted especially for the benefit of FReepers and others who may have relatives or friends in the area, and who may not be able to get images any other way.

[PLMerite]

Fighting the River (or any other unstoppable force of nature) is a losing game. They should just recover what they can and *move* inland.

[jpsb]

Well since Mexico City is many thousands of feet above sea level it will take a while.

[Terabitten]

I heard an interesting suggestion. If they have to rebuild the city, which is likely, then take advantage of the fact it's below sea level. Turn it into the American Venice.

[Wolfstar]

Hi Howlin. I posted this separate thread rather than add to yesterday's photo thread for two reasons:

(1) From long experience with the "Day in the life of..." threads, many FReepers do not have fast computers and internet connections. A single multi-page thread with tons of photos is difficult for them to view. Breaking up the photo threads, as has been happening with the live thread, makes more sense.

(2) When I left the house this morning, the cable news networks were still doing a poor job of covering the hurricane. CNN was the best, but the best of a bad lot, in my opinion. There are many people out there who may need or want to know conditions in New Orleans and the other hardest hit localities. Pics are one way to help them.

[Dane]

Pictures of I-10 on cable networks.

The I-10 causeway is severely damaged.

[MIT-Elephant]

Well, the city was built atop an aquifer or somesuch, and so it is sinking and become unstable. So the land will be unbuildable at some point.

[Publius6961]

Well since Mexico City is many thousands of feet above sea level it will take a while.

Well, not to worry about the ocean for sure, but since it's built on an old lake (literally) the water problem is just as severe, and immediate.

[msnimje]

This is just breaking my heart.
Also, the irony of those buildings being destroyed by fire while surrounded by water is particularly striking.

[Victor]

ping

[kaktuskid]

2) Standing water in areas like this are breeding grounds for all types of pestilence that we have not seen in our generation; e.g. typhoid.

Would it be wise to dump large quantities of chlorine in the flood water?

[Publius6961]

I was muttering to myself up until this post appeared, about the dearth of images from this disaster.
Then I asked myself, "why do I need to see images?"

I stopped thinking about it. I suppose, even if we have no relatives or close friends living in the area, it is a normal part of human nature, our common kinship, to want to see...

Thank you for the images.

[Lancey Howard]

There doesn't seem to be any point in rebuilding. For what? The hope that another Katrina doesn't come around for awhile?

[defenderSD]

What a disaster. It's going to take months to get rid of all the flood water. This is one of the worst floods in US history in terms of the number of people affected.

[SnarlinCubBear]

ping

[jpsb]

"it's built on an old lake (literally) the water problem is just as severe"

Hmmm, did not know that, eathquakes could be a serious problem if the lake bed turns to quick sand, very nasty. I've read something like that can happen if condition are right (water/soil mix).

[Arthalion]

Not exactly. Mexico City is built on the floor of a huge lake that was drained in the 16th century. It's subsiding, but it's bigger problem is that lakes tend to form in low spots, so the city is one big low spot. That can be a problem when it rains hard, for an extended period (the lake tries to come back).

[Wolfstar]

You're welcome. Happy to do what I can to keep people informed.

[TheForceOfOne]

Pompeii?

[JimSEA]

Bangladesh, in a great river delta for the most part, and NO have basically the same problems. The land isn't suited for permanent settlements and those who live there are going to be repeatedly be the victims of disaster. The difference is that we can build the infrastructure to resist all but the most extreme disaster. The question is, "Is it worth it in view of the fact that eventually nature will overwhelm whatever we put up at our current levels of technology and economy?"

[Wolfstar]

mfccinsd: I saw your request about Kurt on the breaking news thread I put up last night about the levee break in NOLA. I will be happy to send you updates about him if I hear any. Please just be aware that I live in the Pacific time zone. I'm home for lunch now and took the time to post these pics. I can't be on the internet at work, so the next chance I get to post any updates will be around 7:00pm tonight my time. I know that's pretty late for many people in other time zones. Nevertheless, I'll try to catch updates on him and let you know.

Peach and Jonny: Just pinging you FYI.