I don't want to sound negative, and I am glad the levee is closed. But after several days, the clay foundations on the town side of the levee have been soaked thoroughly. It is possible parts of the levee will brust open as water is trying to be pumped out of New Orleans.
I would think the Army Corp of Engineers is already doing, preparing or otherwise planning full inspection.
Anything less would be, well, ....
Unfortunately that makes alot of sense. Right now the pressure is equalized.
It is possible parts of the levee will brust open as water is trying to be pumped out of New Orleans.Just d*mn!
(But true.)
I wonder if they will pump it slow just to let the outer layer to dry
Are the levees just clay or is there a rock foundation of any kind?
How thick is the levee? How high?
Since the water will be pumped out slowly, maybe it won't be so bad.
Agreed, I would think about some 3 or 4 inch railroad ballast fill behind it now, and Plenty of it.
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.
The entrance to the canal from the lake has been blocked, and water's being pumped back into the lake, not the canal. Even if the water in the city is somehow helping support part of the levee, and it fails, the inundation will be relatively minor.
And the reason they bury their dead above ground is why? The ground is always soaked. You ever try digging a hole there. One foot down, you strike water.
Good point. According to my contacts at COE, during
flood events of large and sustained period, supersaturation
occurs. When waters receed, releiving pressure causing
"slumps" that will have to be repaired. Happened here
in Missouri during the 93 flood.
I wonder if ultimately the whole levee can be encased in concrete? Seems to me that forms could be built and then pump it full of concrete.
But what do I know....
They said they want to remove the water slowly to avoid what you described. I'm sure the locals would like to see the water pulled out as fast as possible.