Plug the f*cking breeches, NOW!

[paineinthearse]

During the invasion of Normandy, it took just 2 days to make operational two artificial harbors by sinking specially constructed barges (see http://www.24hourmuseum.org.uk/trlout/TRA22190.html)



Just saw MSNBC video of one Chinnok helicopter slowly and gingerly placing a load into the breech, and a relatively small bulldozer gracefully pushing a very small amount of earth.

It's been FOUR DAYS!

Use tow boats to drive some barges into the gap, and sink them. This will stop the hemoraging! Then a more permanent solution can be implemented.

[soothsayer]

1. Hey, clever! I likes it.

[paineinthearse]

2. thank you

Where are all the Corps of Engineer geniuses?

[Redstone]

3. People here have been screaming for DAYS that they should just

sink some barges in the levee gaps.

But hey, what do we know? Those nice folks at Homeland Security are the real experts, after all. They've done a wonderful job so far...

Dang, it makes my stomach hurt to type that sentence, even as a joke.

Redstone

[northzax]

4. it;'s too late

first off, those barges were specially built, in advance. Second off, the water level has stabalized, they're closing the barn door when the cow's halfway to Memphis. They aren't really trying to plug the breach, it's show to demonstrate they haven't given up.

of course, there is the irony that the d-day museum is in NoLa.

[SammyWinstonJack]

5. I hate this and I didn't think this until today but I think the way this

has played that bushcoInc LIHOP with re: the disaster relief efforts or lack thereof. I think they let this play out for political reasons. Not getting the help that the Democratic Gov., Sen. and Mayor were BEGGING for, the NG not allowing people in or out of NOLA when they had supplies to deliver, Jr staying away for five fucking days and the day he shows up all of a sudden things start coming together! Coincidence? I think not! And now they are blaming the local government! :grr: I am pissed off!

[3days]

6. Unfortunately

I don't knbow if the barges can get into the lake through the industrial canal. Not sure what kind of shape that is in.

[ladjf]

7. I've got a couple of ideas how the breeches could have been

fixed quickly. Part of the success would be that the materials were kept prepositioned and that the exercise was practiced regularly.

1. Use the same principle the oil well cappers use. Have prefabbed square reinforced concrete culverts about eight feet wide and tall enough to reach the bottom of the breech. On the upstream side, there would be a large "guillotine" type concrete door that would be dropped down after all of the culverts were in place. Each culvert would have to be locked in position by (a) upstream tie downs and (b) cables running through eyes at the top of the culvert (stretched between anchor posts on the dry part of the levee.

2. When all the culverts are securely in place, each guillotine door would be lowered, one by one until they were all shut. The water would under control at that point. To make the plug permanent, close the downstream door and pour concrete.

Note: since the beach may have varying depths and shapes, culverts with the fitting contours and depths should be already constructed so that each installed culvert fit it position. If the current is slack, the process would be easier than if the current is flowing rapidly. Either way, this would work just as the oil well caps work.
The idea is to position and secure what amounts to a valve,allowing the immense forces of the water weight to run freely through the culvert. Then when everything is secure, begin to get in under control, one culvert at at time.