NOLA blog:"New Orleans is sinking - I don't want to swim"(sea rising fast)

[expatriot]

We are not used to media's doomsday hype coming true... N.O. might make it, it might not. Pray, hope, wish like hell.... what ever you do... do it.


New Orleans is sinking . . . I don't want to swim

9:34 - Reports of widespread flooding now, although not at the doomsday scenario levels. But we've got several hours to go before we've seen the worst past. Scanner traffic is busy with calls of rising water, including 18 inches and rising against the levee in the French Quarter. Dispatchers questioning officers on the scene, trying to determine if there is a break in the river levee, or if water is pouring over the top. Independently, NOLA has received a flooding alert for the French Market area.

Fairly heavy street flooding in front and behind the Times-Picayune . . . water appears about knee deep, whipped by the steady wind into whitecaps and breakers. Water is hubcap deep on the furthest vehicles in the employee parking lot, and rising quickly

[soothsayer]

1. The reported demise of New Orleans was premature. It's going

to be ok. Muddy, messy, flooded in places, but it's going to still be there. They'll start to see a break in the weather soon. And she'll mostly still be standing as she was. Ashe!

[jsamuel]

3. new reports of water coming in on 2nd floor in NO!

From Roland99

Posted By: UFGATORDON at 3:01 PM GMT on August 29, 2005.
LA governor says water rising 1 ft per hour in NO. Major breeching of levees

Posted By: Orleans77 at 3:01 PM GMT on August 29, 2005.
also the refinery in NO is sustaining serious damage while the refinery in Baton Rogue is sustaining light to moderate damage...these tow refineries refine 1 million barrels a day of oil into gas...

the offshore terminal where 25% of oil comes into the US is also sustaingin serious damage


Posted By: Orleans77 at 3:03 PM GMT on August 29, 2005.
just talked to my friend...water is coming on to the second floor where he is..hes is panicked...rightfully so..has no roof so has nowhere to go...jesus

[expatriot]

5. i wish i had your optimism.... it's only half over, multi-story buildings

are collapsing like sand castles against the tide.

[northzax]

6. as long as the Lake Pontrachrain levees hold

the crescent city will make it. If the Gulf breaks into the Lake, and floods those levees, the place won't be worth fixing up. But there are no reports this is happening.

[KyndCulture]

2. Flooding reports coming in from everywhere.... oh dear oh dear.

[Bridget Burke]

4. Houston often floods--even in minor storms.

But we're mostly flat, not in a bowl like New Orleans. So our floods subside quickly.

In New Orleans, the water needs to be pumped out. It may take a long time--adding to the misery of the post-hurricane environment. Even those who survive with somewhat damaged homes face weeks of no power, no water & limited food.

[Junkdrawer]

7. And the first job will be pumping out and repairing the pumps...

That's what the said on a CNN special yesterday...

[bvar22]

8. Most of New Orleans floods in heavy rain.

Levee "breaches" can cause some flooding, but this is NOT the doomsday scenario of the levees being "topped" by the storm surge.
Calm Down everybody.


There are NO reports of widespread collapses of building. The Apartment buildings on Manhatten Ave are mostly 2 story 4-plexes.
There will be some flood damage due to rainwater accumulation, and some wind damage, but this will be minor and survivable.

There appears to be some moderate flooding in Eastern New Orleans. This is a particularly low lying area, the same one that flooded during Betsy.

The WORST is over. There will be MORE deaths due to the Forced Evacuation and Media Hype than actual storm damage.

This was NO Camile or Andrew....not even close. I guessing (based on experience) that the STORM SURGE (the real killer) will be 10' or less. (not the predicted 25')

[earthmama]

9. My favorite "HIP" song ...

but I hate it might happen.