They keep talking about using sandbags FOR DAYS, but haven't done it yet!

[jsamuel]

I am PISSED!

The mayor of NO is PISSED!

WTF IS GOING ON?!

[SacredCow]

1. As I understand it...

They tried dropping cement barriers into the breaks, but they either sank or were washed away immediately. They're going to try the enormous sandbags, but are going to use some kind of slings to hold them in place.

I don't guarantee the accuracy of this, as I wasn't watching or listening to the coverage all day. If anyone has better info, please correct me.

[Waya]

3. Nagin: White House ignores pleas to save New Orleans; helicopters diverted

8:07 pm CDT -- New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin has given a remarkable interview to WWL TV, broadcast on wwltv.com. Nagin said that the National Guard's Blackhawk helicopter carrying the sandbags to plug the hole in the levee on 17th St. Canal was diverted to rescue misssions.

Nagin said he called the governor, and that he and other state and local officials are unsuccesfully trying to get through to the White House to ask if the people in Washington know what they're doing.

The White House switchboard is 202-456-1414.

To ask the La. Air National Guard to ignore Bush's treasonous orders and plug the hole, call [phone] .



http://www.prisonplanet.com/articles/august2005/310805ignorespleas.htm

_________________________________________________________________

Mayor blasts failure to patch levee breaches

NEW ORLEANS, Louisiana (CNN) -- A day after Hurricane Katrina dealt a devastating blow to the Big Easy, New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin on Tuesday night blasted what he called a lack of coordination in relief efforts for setting behind the city's recovery.

"There is way too many fricking ... cooks in the kitchen," Nagin said in a phone interview with WAPT-TV in Jackson, Mississippi, fuming over what he said were scuttled plans to plug a 200-yard breach near the 17th Street Canal, allowing Lake Pontchartrain to spill into the central business district.

An earlier breach occurred along the Industrial Canal in the city's Lower 9th Ward. ( Watch the video featuring Nagin's complaints about delayed sandbagging -- 0:56 )

The rising flood waters overwhelmed pumping stations that would normally keep the city dry. About 80 percent of the city was flooded with water up to 20 feet deep after the two levees collapsed.

http://www.cnn.com/2005/WEATHER/08/31/katrina.levees/index.html

[stellanoir]

2. Have heard a lot of conflicting reports about that.

First a rumor from the Mayor of NO saying the black hawks had initially been reappropriated to rescue duties.. . "too many chiefs." Secondly, that they started dumping the sandbags and it was having a neglible effect. Thirdly, that they were running out of slings to dump the bags. Fourthly, that they were switching to pillons. Fifthly, that they were going to block the broken levie with a barge. So go figure.

I think they're scrambling basically.

[SacredCow]

4. I had heard something about a barge...

but that's about it. It's a monumental task, but maybe when low tide hits they'll be able to get something to hold.

[stellanoir]

10. One can only hope

[Mr_Spock]

5. The talk now is that water has stopped and water will start flowing back

into the lake now - heard this twice today - basically the broken levy is an asset now because the water can partially drain back through it... :shrug:

[jsamuel]

6. whoever said that is a dunce

the water level will equalize, but will NEVER "go back through"

[Mr_Spock]

8. It was an expert on CNN - said that it had equalized and that the lake was

dropping and that would draw back some of the water - don't blame me - blame the smarty-pants on CNN! He may be correct at this point - lake was 4 ft above normal and he says it has equalized with the level on the other side of the levy break...

[jim3775]

13. You are wrong, the water will flow back

An expert said it at a press conference today with Sen Landrieu. The water in lake Ponchartrain is higher because of the storm surge, once the water drains into the ocean the water in NO will drain back into the lake.

[wolfgirl]

7. Sandbags

won't work as long as the water is still rushing through. They just get washed away. What has to happen is the water must equalize then we can get in and start shoring up the area. Unfortunately, the people needed to do the work are refugees themselves, the equipment needed is under water and then the pumps to evacuate the water are under water as well and probably can't be used till cleaned/checked/etc.

This is an awful Catch-22, that Bush & Co. could have prevented!

[dogindia]

9. stupidity

why are the pumps not on barges that float. Why is the power for them not with them on the barge. Why don't they use barges to plug the holes in the levees. Why did they not think about this earlier as many have said this was a possible happening and they knew this could happen.

[Karenina]

11. MIHOP

Lots o' dead "niggers," *CM$M screeching "looters, insurgents, gunmen turrists" INCREDIBLE PROFIT$, maleable "consumers," what's not to like???

[Junkdrawer]

12. FYI: For the next day or two, they will actually open more levee breaks...

on purpose:

...

Q: What is the strategy for getting the water out?

As the water level in the lake drops, some of the water in the city will flow back out naturally. In some parts of the city, the water is now above the level of water in the lake. The Corps plans to do several "controlled breaches" (intentionally breaking part of a levee) to let the water drain out. At its peak, the lake was perhaps 20 feet or more above sea level. On Tuesday, the water in the lake was measured to be down to 4.5 feet above sea level. By Wednesday afternoon, it had dropped to 2.8 feet above sea level. The remainder of the water will have to be removed by pumps.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4826934