New Orleans: Breach closed in 17th Street Canal levee

Times Picayune ^ | Sept. 4, 2005 7:32 p.m. | joe darby

[jonatron]

The breach in the 17th Street Canal levee that had put the city of New Orleans underwater was essentially closed early Sunday evening after days of work and the use of "ingenuity to the max," a top U.S. Corps of Engineers general said.

[NonValueAdded]

"Buses were running (regular routes) to other places," he said. "If you own a bus company and had that many buses available, you would be out of business."

Yeah, Doc, that or a school system.

[_Jim]

I saw a guy on tonight from the Army Corps of Engineers and he said it wasn't a levee, it was a canal retaining wall (?).....I may be wrong about what he called it. But he definitely said it wasn't a levee.

Pictures and accounts show these to be concrete 'walls' about 2' thick; these are canals created by retaining walls ...

These 'canals', BTW, are what the large PUMPS pump water into - there are some closed canals, and underground 'piping' as well, but quite a number of miles of open 'canals' as well.

Exact figures upon request.

[bobwoodard]

Fox interviewed one of the Army Corps guys and evidently there are some (he didn't give a number/percentage) pumps that are in fine shape and they were waiting on the breach to be closed before attempting to pump the water back out.

[Howlin]

He needs to be tranquilized.

I'm particularly fond of all his "hip" lingo.

[Howlin]

That's exactly what he said....2 feet thick.

Thanks for that information!

Why do they keep calling them levees?

[kabar]

With the closure of the 17th Street Canal breach, the process of pumping out the water can begin. There is always the danger that the drawing down of the water could weaken intact levees, “but I don’t think that’s going to be a problem,” Riley said, because the operation is expected to be slow and take days.

In eastern New Orleans, 24 pumps were draining 700 cubic feet of water per second. In St. Bernard Parish, water was being drained through breaches in the levee. In Plaquemines Parish, the Corps was “notching” levees with gaps up to 100-feet wide so that water could flow back into the gulf. The notches will be plugged with rocks after the area is drained.

[Mike Darancette]

If that levee broke, it would be game over for New Orleans.

Maybe the Mississippi will finally find it's proper course.

[_Jim]

Why do they keep calling them levees?

News mediots.

They don't know any better; they are not trained in anything except looking good and sounding 'informed' ...

[Paul C. Jesup]

Would it make a difference if it's not a levee? I saw a guy on tonight from the Army Corps of Engineers and he said it wasn't a levee, it was a canal retaining wall (?).....I may be wrong about what he called it. But he definitely said it wasn't a levee.

A rose is a rose no matter what name you call it.

A levee is a levee no matter what name you call it.

Now everyone; reporters, Freepers, survivors have been calling it a LEVEE for SIX damn DAYS. If you have a problem with it being called a levee, take it up with them and leave me be.

[ErnBatavia]

Geraldo's "with it".

(Here's his latest 'multiple-organism' wet dream...Rita Cosby's "source" sent it to me....exclusive!)

[RGSpincich]

I was thinking that the erosion may have already taken place. The water pressure on both sides of the wall could be the only thing holding it up. I'm no expert by a long shot, though.

[Mike Darancette]

Bush came out and told Nagin that he had given Blanco two options, and she requested a full day to decide.

Bush probably gave her the option get a competent person on your end or I will Federalize your National Guard. Blank-o got Witt.

[ForGod'sSake]

My Aunt lives 2 blocks from the Lake levee (she was pulled by C.G.) She said it ruptured when it was hit by a barge!

Huh? Are you saying the 17th St. levee was breached when a barge ran into it?

[lawdude]

"If it's a good thing, it can't be Bush's fault."

Nagin has been elected for the Nobel for suggesting last Wednesday, "Hey, let's fix dat dere hole." The Nobel committee claimed it was the idea of a genius!

They also issued an admonishment, "Bad Bush..Bad Bush!"

[plain talk]

My brother finally got into Harahan via River Road. Lots of tree damage but no flooding in Harahan area where he lives. No flooding even in the street. His neighbor across the street stayed during the hurricane and a tree came smashing down into his house and he had to ride out the peak of the hurricane outside holding on to whatever he could grab.

My brother said those in Harahan have til Wed to get their things and then they will not allow anyone back for 2 weeks or so. Those already there can stay but must stay inside their homes or they would be arrested. One reason for this (besides security) is for the utility companies to come in and blitz the repair work. They estimated Jefferson parish, i.e. Metairie, Kenner, Harahan would take 6-8 weeks but with a massive blitz effort and with no locals to get in the way they hope to repair the power in 2 weeks. I think this cleanup may go faster than expected - at least in many areas of N.O. Some areas may be out for months but others may be up and working much sooner than we are hearing. We'll see.

He also took the Huey P. Long bridge over to Harvey. Some areas flooded that normally flood. But for the most part the West Bank area he saw did not flood as levees held.

He saw lots of NG and firepower everywhere. Water and MREs were being made available at several stations including on West bank which we don't hear about. Those people are in a different situation. Those that stayed are sitting in the homes, many still intact, without power but have no civilization. I looked at some satellite photos of the West Bank and the West Bank Expressway is completely dead. No one is driving because there's nowhere to drive to.

[deport]

Fox interviewed one of the Army Corps guys and evidently there are some (he didn't give a number/percentage) pumps that are in fine shape and they were waiting on the breach to be closed before attempting to pump the water back out.

---

Thanks... There was a thread earlier about some of the pumps being unfit for duty or something to that effect in that they couldn't be replaced. I know that if they have been underwater the drivers [electrical, diesel or gasoline] will have to be reconditioned or maintained. I'm not sure where electrical power will come from at this stage. But all said apparently they are progressing and will be pumping shortly. In East NO they have some pumps up and running.

They have broken the levees in other Parishes to allow the water to flow out on it's own I think. So with some luck maybe they can begin the process of removing the water from the region where it's contained behind levees..

[patriciaruth]

Blank-o got Witt.

Correction:

The Clintons got Witt when Blanco asked them what to do.

[Fred Hayek]

Good Lord, can 25 Hz electrical equipment still be obtained? If the 25 Hz motors were to be replaced w/ 60Hz motors, the pumps would need to be replaced due to different running speeds (unless the poles on the 60Hz motors are done differently to run slower - twice the number of poles. Then the pumps would still be running ~20% faster rpm, so the pumps will still need to be re-evaluated).

Also as far as the 25 Hz motors are concerned, where are the frequency converters? Local switchgear? Still using old rotary converters (like what the old Pennsylvania Railroad used, besides their own power plant in Maryland)?

That said, even 6kV 60 Hz motors have a long lead time (order to delivery). Westinghouse dropped the product line from US manufacture to Spain (at least in 1987).

[Howlin]

Thank you for taking time to answer me civilly.

As you can see, not everybody is as nice as you are/were.