AP: Experts Expect Katrina To Turn N.O. Into Atlantis; 1 Million Homeless

[Hissyspit]

Ivor van Heerden, deputy director of the Louisiana State University Hurricane Center, says in the article that in essence we may be "having - in the continental United States - having a refugee camp of a million people"

http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGBQ70O5YCE.html

Experts Expect Katrina to Turn New Orleans Into Atlantis, Leaving Up to 1 Million Homeless
By Matt Crenson The Associated Press

When Hurricane Katrina hits New Orleans on Monday, it could turn one of America's most charming cities into a vast cesspool tainted with toxic chemicals, human waste and even coffins released by floodwaters from the city's legendary cemeteries.

- snip -

That's exactly what Katrina was as it churned toward the city. With top winds of 160 mph and the power to lift sea level by as much as 28 feet above normal, the storm threatened an environmental disaster of biblical proportions, one that could leave more than 1 million people homeless.

- snip -

The center's latest computer simulations indicate that by Tuesday, vast swaths of New Orleans could be under water up to 30 feet deep. In the French Quarter, the water could reach 20 feet, easily submerging the district's iconic cast-iron balconies and bars.

Estimates predict that 60 percent to 80 percent of the city's houses will be destroyed by wind. With the flood damage, most of the people who live in and around New Orleans could be homeless.

MORE

[Raiden]

1. Well that's cheerful

I'm really frightened for NOLA, and the rest of the Gulf Coast


Praying for a miracle overnight

[Davis_X_Machina]

2. New Orleans is a terribly poor city...

...and a very black one. LA is a terribly poor state... and a very black one.

It's gut-check time for the rest of the country.
Do we mean what we say when we say 'We, the people'?
Do we mean 'We, all the people'?

I guess we're gonna find out....

[Endangered Specie]

13. my relatives there describe it as a "third world state"

and you are right, we will really see what we are made of.

[Daphne08]

23. Parts of it are, but there are also parts of Louisiana

with some very wealthy people.

[AlGore-08.com]

3. On CNN now - - interviewing the emergency staff at Tulane U Hospital

They've moved everything up to the third floor in case the hospital floods.

[chookie]

8. Liberals' hearts bleed for a reason

And this is one of them.

Think of sick people in hospitals. Elderly in nursing homes. Homeless psychotic people massing in the Superdome. The zoo.

We ALWAYS think about vulnerable people. That's something to be proud of.

If this hits as hard as experts predict -- this will be the end of the philosophy of selfishness.

[Erika]

4. Bushbots will have no sympathy

These people should have been born rich instead of lazy. Why should we help them for not being born rich and white? Bushbot off.

[goforit]

35. Either that or they may see it as a sign from God.

Or they may just PRETEND that they care!

Just what Bush did for the Tsunami victims.

[chookie]

5. We will be grieving soon

Barring a miracle -- like Hurricane Floyd turning away from Florida at the last minute -- we may be living history -- a Cat 5 on a major population center which is extremely vulnerable to the sea.

I'm not an expert, but it would appear we are going to have an Indian Ocean tsunami type disaster in our own nation.

I love New Orleans. Like I loved the WTC....

This could wipe out Cajun culture.

[lebkuchen]

6. What's the status of the LA National Guard?

Already occupied in Iraq and Afghanistan, securing the oil/natural gas for the Bushies?

[AlGore-08.com]

9. Some are definately stationed in Iraq

http://www.la.ngb.army.mil/

[Hissyspit]

10. Thanks, I was wondering about that.

Post if you find any specific statistics.

[Bumblebee]

12. I heard 3K are in Iraq and 1.5K on hand

[Hissyspit]

17. Good god... Not to mention how much disaster relief could be bought for...

$200 billion +

[Ian David]

32. 7,000 LA Guardsmen in Iraq. So is much of their equipment

See related threads:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=4484962&mesg_id=4485007

[Olney Blue]

7. This is so unfair....

:cry:

[wli]

11. I wonder how the prisons are doing...

The prisoners have probably been left to die.

[Endangered Specie]

14. Thats actually a good question...

are there any prisons in NO? (seems like a bad place to put one)

[orleans]

19. i was also thinking about everyones pets

i'm assuming the superdome wasn't letting people bring in their cats, dogs, birds, etc.

this whole thing is just heartbreaking

i feel so sad for all of them

everyone on the coast and in the path....

[justabob]

34. Press conference yesterday

Yesterday they said that the prisoners were staying put. That may have changed since then, but the powers that be seemed to think it best not to try and move them. At least the jails are structurally sound and probably not a bad place to be as far as shelter from a hurricane. What happens if they flood, I don't know...

[dasmarian]

Something not mentioned yet . . .

What happens when the water runs into the city and the sewers stop working . . . and all of the people in the 130 degree superdome can't flush the toilet for 5 days . . .

[Mabus]

20. I'm going to miss the JFK connections

we went to NO for the 2003 Final Four games. We spent one day tracking down sites mentioned in the various JFK books. We found out a federal courthouse now sits on the infamous Guy Bannister-Lee Harvey building site. We talked to some guy about Clay Shaw and the NO mafia. He had some interesting tales.

[area51]

29. Welcome.

Welcome to DU, dasmarian.

[intheflow]

15. Bet this AP article won't be picked up by Yahoo. Nominated. n/t

[NIGHT TRIPPER]

16. I think this is hyped a little-I grew up in N.O. and saw many hurricanes

I'm sure it will do some damage but I think the media is blowing this out a bit.

I moved to L.A. years ago but like everyone from N.O, I've been through lots of Hurricanes---My parents dealt with Hurricane Betsy, --I was around for Camille (it did tear up my grandparents' house in Pass Christian Missisipi)--I've seen tornadoes rip through my neighborhood and seen the New Orleans underwater before---


With modern warnings, modern technology, evacuation, and preparation, I'm sure it will not be nearly as bad as predicted--
The older buildings of New Oreleans have had to withstand hurricanes since the 1700's--The new buildings may take a beating--
The poor will be hurt the worst since they can't evacuate as easily-The city should set aside some places for the homeless WELL in advance.

maybe in the future the Corps of Engineers should hot rod the pump system and cement the levees (like the sea walls of Lake Ponchatrain (created by the WPA under Roosevelt) to compensate for major storms.

..but as usual, things don't get done in New Orleans unless absolutely necessary, absolutely profitable, or if it's around election time.

[Media_Lies_Daily]

18. Betsy was a Cat 4 at 155 mph when it hit the coast with a.......

...941 mb pressure. It dropped rapidly to a Cat 2 at landfall, not nearly the same thing as Katrina, a Cat 5 storm with a current 908 mb pressure. Additionally, the flooding from Betsy was not nearly as bad as what's being predicted for Katrina.

<http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2002/of02-206/phy-environment/recent-hurricanes.html>

Some of those buildings won't be worth saving if it floods. If 15-20 feet of water get into New Orleans, we're talking about a nasty stew of seawater, sewage, and some bad chemicals from the nearby industrial plants/oil storage facilities. That will mean six months to get the place emptied out, and another 1-2 years to begin construction.

[NIGHT TRIPPER]

22. could be bad--but I'm still hoping for it to lose its force hitting land

live coverage:
http://www.wwltv.com/

hoping for the best-hate to see the worst case scenario-
The toxic factor will really be bad you're right--sewage/industrial chems will get everywhere--.
The eels come out in swarms after flooding-as kids we would play in the floods--ride our bikes --but you couldn't see our bicycles (completely submerged!)

[AndyTiedye]

27. CNN Reported the City Had Made NO PLANS to Evacuate With City Buses

[malaise]

33. You are correct n/t

[tedzbear]

21. Homeless, they will be dead.

The government sure fucked them over this time. They should have had people evacuate a lot sooner than Sunday. The superdome could very well be a mass grave waiting to happen.

[CountAllVotes]

24. that is my fear too

... this horrible feeling about that dome gives me the creeps. I hope this feeling goes away. ugh ... not good.

:scared: to death for everyone!

:kick:

[Radio_Lady]

25. I thought I might be the only person thinking that thought --

I just feel so agitated and helpless.

I've got to get some sleep.

[CountAllVotes]

26. try to get some sleep

I can't get to sleep either.

I ask God to help these poor people, especially those in that god awful "dome". Perhaps a huge coffin I fear! :scared: :( :( :( :(

:kick:

[wli]

28. and they don't have TV's or radios to hear announcements

I'm quite sure Bushler won't shed a tear.

[4dsc]

30. I'm not much of a praying man until today

and I can only hope for the best at these very bad times.. This sounds worse than even I imagined last night!!

[BeFree]

31. Your prayers may have helped

From what I can tell Katrina is now moving to the NE, away from downtown NO. I estimate top wind of 110 at the Superdome. They may be ok there.

The worst thing now is that the wind blows Lake Ponchatrain (sp?) south into the city. But at the same time blowing the Mississipi river south, away from the city.

It appears the very worst will not occur for the heavily populated downtown of NO.

Biloxi however, is looking like it will get hit dead on.

It also appears that the storm is rapidly calming.

The worst thing might now be how much rain falls, but with the storm moving away from NO at 15 mph, the rain may be minimized.

Whew!

[Hissyspit]

36. kick