Katrina

[chickdiver]

Someone (Chickdiver?) suggested trying cell phone text messaging. That seems to work much better in intermittent conditions since the system just keeps trying to send until it gets through.
Worth a try.
Rick

Yep- text messages works really well.

 

[drbill]

Looking at the stories on the news, I have to wonder how a large city came to be built in such a potentially sensitive area. My heart goes out to all those who lost loved ones, homes, etc. I'll take an earthquake any day (as long as the epicenter isn't close)... and I have lived through several hurricanes dating back to the mid-50's!

 

[Dee]

I just saw on the news that all 23,000 of the people who are in the Super Dome are bing evacuated to the Astrodome. The first busses will be there late this evening.

Thanks, MB. I can take Fred and Jeanne off my worry list!

 

[Rick Murchison]

Looking at the stories on the news, I have to wonder how a large city came to be built in such a potentially sensitive area.

New Orleans wasn't always below sea level. It has sunk over the years, and rather than move the city they have continued to build higher levees and install bigger pumps.
Everyone there knew that sooner or later their puny human efforts would be overwhelmed by a 'cane - 'twas only a matter of time... but everyone bet it would be "tomorrow" and not "today."
For a great example of insane city building a little closer to home, can you spell "MISSION VALLEY ?" (San Diego) If you'll take a close look you'll see that's built in a river bed! But "it never rains in California," right?
Rick

 

[The Kraken]

Wish someone would loan me a good, strong "D" model Huey and a good crew !!!! Sure would like to be able to help out that way.

It's as you say, Rick.
. . . hence the quote in my sig line.

the K

 

[H2Andy]

the first levees were built in New Orleans in 1718, so they knew they had a
problem that far back

basically, it's a PERFECT spot to build a city near the mouth of the Mississippi...
with one, small problem... it's below water level... but heck, we'll build levees
and take care of that...

 

[Tom Smedley]

New Orleans is experiencing the same problems that Elba Alabama had a few years ago. They, too, have a horseshoe shaped levee system that holds the Mississippi River out very well. However, when water does come in it fills the horseshoe and has no place to go.

 

[Ishie]

It just seems to keep getting more horrible. My thoughts are with all affected by the disaster.

Does anyone have any news out of Mandeville? I haven't seen much news on there, but I keep seeing devastation in the eastern towns in St. Tammany's parish, specifically Slidell and Lacombe. Most of my family lives in Mandeville. They evac'd soon after the mayor made the announcement on Sunday, so I'm horrendously relieved that they're safe. They made it up to Jackson, and are now in Jacksonville, TX, wondering when they can go home, and if there are homes to go to.

Helpless feeling over on this coast. I've been giving as much as I can to disaster relief, including Red Cross, and some to Noah's Wish. It seems like a lot of people wouldn't evacuate and ended up trapped because they refuse to abandon their pets, which for understandable reasons, the shelters won't take. This charity rescues animals in disasters, takes them for owners heading to shelters, and makes every effort to reunite animals/humans after the disaster, allowing more peace of mind for people reluctant to evacuate. Sorry for the plug; I just keep seeing people on their roofs or wading through water clutching pets, and refusing to board boats or seek shelter without them.

Thanks,

Ishie

 

[drbill]

I have spent the morning at home rather than diving (or even editing... all caught up) today. It has given me a chance to see some of the devastation due to Katrina. It is terrifying. Not the immediate damage, but the aftermath- the lack of food and potable water.

This is one reason I live on Catalina. In the 60's I felt I would have access to needed resources should there be nuclear war. Now it is more a matter of "the big one" hitting LA or acts of terrorism in the ports I use.

Modern cities have brought us all into a state of inter-dependence and remoteness to resources that many of our ancestors who lived in farms and small towns wouldn't understand. I think of the poetry of Robinson Jeffers which touches on these issues.

Again, my heart does go out to all those affected by this disaster.

 

[blueeyes_austin]

It just seems to keep getting more horrible. My thoughts are with all affected by the disaster.

Does anyone have any news out of Mandeville? I haven't seen much news on there, but I keep seeing devastation in the eastern towns in St. Tammany's parish, specifically Slidell and Lacombe. Most of my family lives in Mandeville. They evac'd soon after the mayor made the announcement on Sunday, so I'm horrendously relieved that they're safe. They made it up to Jackson, and are now in Jacksonville, TX, wondering when they can go home, and if there are homes to go to.

Helpless feeling over on this coast. I've been giving as much as I can to disaster relief, including Red Cross, and some to Noah's Wish. It seems like a lot of people wouldn't evacuate and ended up trapped because they refuse to abandon their pets, which for understandable reasons, the shelters won't take. This charity rescues animals in disasters, takes them for owners heading to shelters, and makes every effort to reunite animals/humans after the disaster, allowing more peace of mind for people reluctant to evacuate. Sorry for the plug; I just keep seeing people on their roofs or wading through water clutching pets, and refusing to board boats or seek shelter without them.

Thanks,

Ishie

Ishie, I'm watching the live feed from WWL, and they had a reporter in Slidell. Slidell, while damaged, is not as bad as feared...and according to him, as you go west, the situation improves.