We need a "finger" in the dike

[juajen]

Two large super ships in the breach should help fill the gap until the corps of engineeers can reseal, like the Dutch did in WWII after the Nazis breached their dike. They need to think outside the box. If not ships, then oil rigs.

[Catherine Vincent]

1. Here's one....

[justabob]

2. Sums it up nicely

[Seabiscuit]

4. Yup!

[fooj]

11. BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Off to bed! Can't top that one!

Peace.

[Catherine Vincent]

19. ...

:-)

:hi:

[Drewskie]

3. outside the box?

I'm sure they've thought of everything... Two blocks is quite a span. Don't think there's any way they could seal that up tight with ships.

[juajen]

5. I'm talking a large boat here. Have you ever visited the

port of New Orleans?

[Drewskie]

7. No

No

[justabob]

9. question

How do you get such a large boat through the debris etc? Boats the size you are talking about need a little depth and room to maneouver. I admit I don't know the geography of the area, but it seems it would be very difficult without cranes and such things available port or no port. And isn't there land (though maybe under a few feet of water) between the port and where the breach is? I am really curious here, not just being difficult.

[sasquatch]

6. Locking...No sex threads

[juajen]

8. Serious post, for a serious subject

This is no sex thread. Whacha thinkin' man?

[SeveneightyWhoa]

22. Um, what are you thinking?

It was clearly a joke.

A funny one at that. :P

[sasquatch]

29. Thank you

:hi:

[crispini]

10. Lake Ponchatrain is about 15 feet deep.

That't not much depth for a ship.

[Drewskie]

12. shallow

wow that is shallow. And any ship too small would likely end up in the city... Anyway, if this idea had/has any merit I'm sure they would try it.

[juajen]

15. Oh ye of little faith

It worked for the Dutch in WWII. Believe me, there is a ship to fit that breach, or maybe two ships; and, sometimes the simplest solution is the best solution. Something should be done and fast. I don't see losing anything if it doesn't work. Would probably not even hurt the ships used, and could save a city. Ships are a lot larger than a finger, anyway.

[fooj]

13. Hi Crispini!

Merh is in North Biloxi tonight. The first floor of the house she is in is flooded. Do you think she'll be ok? Sounds like you're familiar with the area.

Peace.

[crispini]

14. Hi!

Never been to Biloxi. It's a good piece from New Orleans. If she made it through the storm she should be OK.

[fooj]

16. Thanks. I just needed some reassurance. I'm worried about her.

:hug:

Peace.

[juajen]

17. There's a whole thread about merh. I'm also glad she's ok

However, an opinion about the posted thread would be appreciated. We don't have much time to save NO. Do you have an alternative or better idea to heal the breach?

[juajen]

18. Shameless kick

I think this is a useful thread and am hoping more people will have ideas.

[expatriate]

20. Problem is that the lake is quite shallow.

There is a channel dredged in the middle for larger boats, but you couldn't get two ships up to the places where the breaches in the levee are. Lake Ponchartrain covers a large area, but is shallow.

[Ficus Benjamin]

21. Why a boat ?

You can do it with barges or pontons, they are designed for shallow rivers...

[juajen]

23. Exactly, FB

Sorry, I had to take a nap. We've been up here for days, it seems, so we are all taking catnaps when we can.

I understand they are now attempting to sandbag this breach, which makes sense, but seems to me our idea of some kind of base is a valid one. I personally do not believe just sandbagging will work.

Thanks for your replies to this thread; sorry I fell asleep.

[Ficus Benjamin]

24. If they're sandbagging

then the breach cannot be huge. I live close to the netherlands, have seen the breaches in Flanders during WWI (on photo of course). If you can sandbag the hole, you're not talking about a major breach, sorry.

[spuddonna]

25. Well, this breach is supposed to be 2 blocks long...

Do they have such a thing as 'super sand bags' that could be used in a case like this? I have no idea how they're going to be able to do this with sand bags, if this water is flowing at all...

[Ficus Benjamin]

26. It's simple...

You don't. You can have a breach as wide as two blocks and you can sandbag the fucker perfectly. What i was talking about is, that i have questions about the depth of the breach. You would be amazed how few the inches in depth are on a two block wide breach, to have a rise of an inch an hour ( Ask the Dutch....)in water levels. But if you can clog the bastard with sandbags, there is no way you need a ship of any kind to help stop the overflow to keep the sandbags in place (What was exactly the plan of the Duth during WWII)

[spuddonna]

27. Yeah, and it looks like that's the plan by the ACOE...

God, I hope it works...

Hey, BTW - welcome to DU!! :)

[Ficus Benjamin]

28. Anytime

guys, i am far away from y'all in mileage, but very close in my mind :-)
Thx :-)