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.

[Publius6961]

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

Not a very useful common, specially at this point where survivors are still being rescued.

The Dutch, particularly, can give you lots of reasons why that simply won't happen. Ever seen the documentary of their "big flood"?
In addition to where would they go, the connection to the land for generations makes it totally unlikely that everyone would want to just give up and move.
Human nature.

[defenderSD]

I think the only sure way to prevent disease-causing organisms from growing in the water is to get rid of the water. We're about to see the biggest emergency water pumping project in history.

[Republic]

With canal street really looking like a canal street, I got to wondering, about the rebuilding, and, fancifully, thinking about the hard working pumps and sea level and below geographic situation, and just thought...why don't they rebuild using Venice as an example...turn their major streets into real canals, build up the rest for driving and walking, building support, etc., in other words, allow real canals to control the water flow thru a system of gates like the Panama canal at the Gulf, and simply go with their given geography instead of battling it with pumps dependent upon electricy.

It would increase tourism and add to the beauty of the city...add jobs like crazy and provide fabulous gondola like tours of this fabulous place.

[Mount Athos]

I was on the phone to a friend of mine night before it hit.
She chose to stay in New Orleans, she said, because "somebody has to work the hospital" (she's a local senior nurse). The first thing that came to my mind was an cholera and dysentary epidemic from all that standing water. I said if you have to stay then at least send your kids and husband out of the city, but she didn't. Now I can't reach her and she would have called if she could.

[Wolfstar]

All: I just posted this thread quickly while home on my lunch hour. Am returning to work now and won't be able to monitor the thread. Please help keep it free from disruptors. This is a staggering disaster. Threads like this, yesterday's photo thread, the live hurricane threads, etc., are meant to help keep people informed. That can't happen if we let the numbskulls take over. Thanks.

Admin Moderator: Just FYI since I can't be around to monitor this thread myself.

[Blueflag]

If you get the people out, typhoid is not a problem


Salmonella typhosa.

[CIB-173RDABN]

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

Mexico City is build over a lake that has been filled in over the years, but the lake is still there somewhere.

[Wolfstar]

Now I can't reach her and she would have called if she could.

This thread is intended especially for people like you. Please don't dispair. Nearly all communications are out in New Orleans and other Gulf Coast localities. Your friend and her family may be OK, just unable to call. Hang in there.

[D_Idaho]

Wolfstar-
When I was a little boy living in New Orleans, I used to go to the Circle Market shown in your post with my grandmother. I haven't been to N.O. in a few years but it's still my home. It's almost more than I can bear to see my hometown devastated like this.
D

[mlc9852]

Natural disasters can happen anywhere. Should everyone just move inland 20 miles? Get away from the earthquake-prone areas? How about the midwest with tornadoes? We just rebuild - it's all we can do.

[conserv13]

I think it will cost $1 trillion to rebuild

[vikk]

It's incredible that this was not the worst-case scenario.

[conserv13]

I think this was the worst case scenario. I don't think we'll know the full extent of the death and damage for another week. : (

[mlc9852]

Don't worry - I'm sure the relief will start pouring in from around the world any day now.

[auto power]

looks like something out of the movie "Day After Tomorrow"

[Lancey Howard]

You both make good points, but I based my comment on an earlier post which explained that the land that New Orleans is built on is a silt bed which has basically been washing out to sea for some time. I do indeed wonder if the rebuilding should take place on higher ground.

[The Red Zone]

How can a city sink like that and not have problems with the integrity of building foundations?

[webstersII]

"I think this was the worst case scenario. "

Actually they said on TV that if the storm had been just a few miles west of where it made landfall that it would have filled up Lake Ponchartrain even more and caused even more flooding, made the levees even more likely to burst, etc.

If the water levels are at 10 feet now, they may have been at 20 under the worst case scenario.

[bigsigh]

When we went to NO a couple of years ago, we were told by many locals that they thought the city had anopther 75-90 years before being inundated by the natural progression of the water. If this is anywhere close to true, then they should either do Venice or move out and give boat tours.

[laishly]

"Why did 'they' build a city in a spot 8 feet below sea level?"

There is some logical appeal to the question. The left wing MSM has also been saying that this catastrophe is due to humans interfering with the environment and trying to control the forces of nature. Well, the Dutch started doing this centuries ago--and on a far grander scale. No one is criticizing them nor did anyone make those kinds of remarks when the Dutch suffered catastrophic flooding from the North sea in the 1950s.