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kman · Posted: Mon Aug 29, 2005 4:05 pm Post subject:

Looks to be more than a couple strips off the SD roof, if this photo is correct.

Heard there are "hundreds" on their rooftops and still in the worst of it.

Godspeed.

Kurt

dusty · Posted: Tue Aug 30, 2005 1:49 pm Post subject:

Watching the coverage of the aftermath. I'm pretty speechless.
What a major disaster and tragedy for many, many people over a huge area of this country.
More prayers are in order.

Dusty
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Navy_Navy_Navy · Admin Joined: 07 May 2004 Posts: 5777

Live video feed from New Orleans, here:
WLTV - New Orleans

Three breaches in the levee - water rising in the French Quarter, 9th, area of the Superdome. Helicopters lifting 3,000-pound sandbags into the breaches.

Seven hundred people brought to high ground from the flooded areas overnight.

No one being allowed back into NO. City under martial law. Many looters videotaped and many arrested.

Officials asking for boats to conduct search and rescue.

Many lives have been lost - no way to even estimate, yet.

FEMA: Disaster medical teams on the scene. Deep/fast water rescue teams on the way in.

Some neighborhoods will not be opened for weeks or months - these areas are extremely dangerous. More loss of life after a disaster when people are re-entering these devastated areas than during the disaster.

Snakes and other vermin, dead animals, chemicals, water polluted with raw sewage, gas lines broken.

GOV: "devastation greater than our worst fears."

Very bad situation. Sad

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Navy_Navy_Navy · Admin Joined: 07 May 2004 Posts: 5777

PRES of JEFFERSON PARISH:
Residents will be allowed in with ID that proves residency next week, to retrieve essentials, clothing, etc., but then they will be required to leave for a MONTH.

Just showed a helicopter shot of a house fully ablaze and a man standing on a nearby roof, waving his shirt.

A "false sense of security" seemed to fall, yesterday when the storm passed - but, the worst hasn't yet been ascertained.
_________________
~ Echo Juliet ~
Altering course to starboard - On Fire, Keep Clear
Navy woman, Navy wife, Navy mother

Doll · Posted: Tue Aug 30, 2005 6:34 pm Post subject:

This will most definately go down as one our countries worst disaster. I am so sorry for all the people that must suffer and endure the aftermath of Katrina.

My prayers are with them all.
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kman · Posted: Tue Aug 30, 2005 6:38 pm Post subject:

Really sad watching this. Talk about a one-two punch. What's worse is that punch #2 (flooding) is in slow motion, and for now, we're spectators.

A few thoughts:

1. Looting: Is it ok for desperate people to loot food, toiletries, etc from a grocery/convenience store? Of course any sympathy I have ends there. All other looters should be SHOT ON SIGHT as far as I'm concerned.

2. Fires: Wonder how many more home fires we’ll see. I live in earthquake land, and don’t carry EQ insurance. It’s a standing joke around here that you torch your house if it crumbles so your FIRE insurance covers your home when THE BIG ONE hits. Flood insurance down there is a separate Federal policy, I understand, and few people pay the extra couple hundred bucks for it.

3. Rebuilding: Before the US taxpayers begin the rebuilding of those neighborhoods, might it be wise to bring in some dirt to raise foundation levels? Seems foolish to rebuild structures that are below sea level and surrounded by water as we begin a new cycle of increased hurricane activity. Is there an open pit mine nearby? Oh and while we're at it, how about using building materials termites don't find palatable? Termites are a HUGE problem there.

4. Sympathy fatigue: Hey rooftop standers: What part about “Your homes WILL be flooded and may even be flattened first” didn’t you understand?

Kurt

Doll · Posted: Tue Aug 30, 2005 7:06 pm Post subject:

Looks like some of the remnants of Katrina will be hitting us in the DC area. I am not looking forward to this and I hope it turns out better than the horrible storms they are predicting here locally.

Navy_Navy_Navy · Admin Joined: 07 May 2004 Posts: 5777

Incredible shots of National Guard helicopter rescues in progress in New Orleans right now - one area appears to have people on many rooftops.

The footage is just inspiring.

Heck of a time to be a peace officer, firefighter or rescue worker in these areas. God bless them - going in to save other people, putting their own lives at risk in the process.

The Coast Guard alone has rescued over 1200 people!

They just showed some footage of traffic pouring into NO - utility trucks, National Guard, heavy construction, 18-wheelers in a steady stream. Help is pouring in!

Americans at work.

There are forums for news of the individual parishes, here:
http://www.wwltv.com/forums/viewforum.php?f=1
_________________
~ Echo Juliet ~
Altering course to starboard - On Fire, Keep Clear
Navy woman, Navy wife, Navy mother

Doll · Posted: Tue Aug 30, 2005 7:29 pm Post subject:

Americans are the most benevolent people and when this country works together it works.
_________________

The HILL Chronicles

Soldiers' Angels
"Wednesday Hero - Google It!"

BuffaloJack · Posted: Wed Aug 31, 2005 12:04 am Post subject:

Well, my brother lives in New Orleans on the edge of Lake Pontchartrain. His wife and kids headed off to Arkansas the day before Katrina, and he stayed behind with the house (dumb move). I hope he's alright. From what I've seen on TV his neighborhood is chest deep right now. I sure hope he's OK.

As far as New Orleans being below sea level, they didn't actually plan it that way. When the French were there and built the city, it would flood every year from the Mississippi River. The floods would come in and wet everything down for 3 or 4 inches and then go away a few weeks later. Since this was an annoyance and to protect their town (it was smaller then) they built levees to divert the water and stop the floods from entering town every spring. As the city grew, so did the levees. What they had overlooked was the moisture in the soil from the annual flooding. Without the annual Mississippi floods, the ground dried out and shrank away. It continues to shrink every year. It is now 6 feet below sea level with 100% of it from shrinkage.
The obvious question is "Now that it is flooded, will it swell up again?"
Answer not 6 feet worth, just a few inches, and not where there is a building maintaining the compression on the ground.

An that friends is why N.O. and a few other delta cities are below sea level.
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dusty · Posted: Wed Aug 31, 2005 1:36 am Post subject:

Houston, Tx. will be below sea level before too long. It's sinking from drawing water out of the ground for people to drink and water their lawns and all the other things a city uses water for.
Wonder if the levees around N'Orlans will get higher after this one. And newer, bigger, better, more pumps. Lots of pumps.
No mention of the death toll from La. yet at all. Areas below New Orleans are completely gone I understand. This may be much worse than anyone knows just yet.

Dusty
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