N.O. Elevation graphic.

[hootinholler]

I found this elevational cross section in a technical paper on this site:


Now, please tell me that I'm the first person to see that and think why not have big pumps on barges to keep up with the water flow to empty the bowl. I hate to think that someone else thought of this before and The Big Easy doesn't have them.

-Hoot

[OrlandoGator]

1. We are talking tens of millions of gallons here.

I'm not sure there's a feasible way.

[hootinholler]

3. Sure, but they can currently handle 1"/hour rains with ground-based pumps.

If the pumps can float, they won't stop due to flooding.

-Hoot

[NMDemDist2]

2. the city has huge turbine pumps

that won't work if there's no electricity or from under 15 foot of water.

They've known for decades it was a disaster waiting to happen.

[Endangered Specie]

15. Some are diesel powered too, but those dont work underwater either

[lpbk2713]

4. I'm afraid this is just going to be too overwhelming

for their facilities to handle. Earthen levees will be washed away and then so will ........

[hootinholler]

8. Yes, it would still flood, but...

The pumps will still work as the waters receede. I don't know how they will drain it with the pumps underwater.

-Hoot

[lpbk2713]

10. It would be an exercise in futility

to try to pump out water with the levees gone. There would be nothing to hold the water out.

[hootinholler]

13. You have to let it flood to preserve the levees n/t

[JHB]

5. They already have big pumps...

...but they're just not going to keep up if the dikes get topped.

[Renew Deal]

6. Thanks for posting this.

I can't wait to read this.

[Silverhair]

7. Even the Gentilly Ridge is in trouble. I lived there.

Words fail at the scope of this disaster.

[BrotherBuzz]

9. We've lost a couple of delta islands in California due to

levee breaks and it took took months to pump out. Hey, if they bring in the big guns it will still take weeks. That be a lot of water that's measured in acre feet, not gallons.

[pansypoo53219]

11. maybe they need canals

ala venice.

[hootinholler]

14. That could work...

Gondolas in the French Quarter, aahiee!

On second thought they'd have to be peroughs.

-Hoot

[tibbir]

12. I lived in New Orleans years ago.

and we always knew that if a large storm scored a direct hit on the city everything would be under water.