Hurricane Katrina..The Crisis continues...Disastrous damage and flooding

[C.Ann]

The city floods in regular rains--so it could be just from failure of pumps--which failed very very early in the storm.
----------------------
Tennessee St. levee did in fact breech and a minimum of 3 pumps have failed.

Rain has literally poured through the holes in the roof of the Superdome and the turf is as wet as if it were outside..

[Free4Life11]

I finally found out from BF where his parents home is. It is in Jefferson Parish. Anyone hear anything about that area?

I have heard the name a lot today, unfortunantely it hasn't been good what I have heard. :guilty:

Will post any information I can find...

ETA - Jefferson Parish is under a boil order, water may not be safe to drink.

In Jefferson Parish, one of the worst hit areas in New Orleans, Walter Maestri, an emergency manager, said that two walls had collapsed on to vehicles that might have been occupied. “We’re going from home to home assessing the damage, but first and foremost doing search and rescue activity to assess if people are alive or deceased.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,11069-1756116,00.html

Jefferson Parish under boil order for water
At the instruction of the Jefferson Parish's Emergency Operations Center, all residents of Jefferson Parish are now under a "boil order." Jefferson Parish has suffered a loss of all water pressure, and water safety may have been compromised. All residents are required to boil all water that is intended for personal comsumption or cooking purposes.
http://www.2theadvocate.com/stories/082905/new_boil001.shtml
:grouphug:

[Lisa loves Pooh]

----------------------
Tennessee St. levee did in fact breech and a minimum of 3 pumps have failed.

Rain has literally poured through the holes in the roof of the Superdome and the turf is as wet as if it were outside..


I know about the levee--but all the flood areas are not near this one levee and it was the only one reported as breeched.

[Lisa loves Pooh]

This is a tourist--I hope he isn't planning to check in anywhere.

http://ap.wwltv.com/photos/L/LADM14508300008-medium.jpg

[eeyore kelly]

I live between NO and Baton Rouge. Thankfully, the storm didn't do too much damage here. About 10 miles away we have a few roofs that were sheared off of houses, a few carports missing, and downed trees. New Orleans is bad. Devastated. The burning white building is the west end marina. St. Tammany Parish is reporting 100% percent damage which means every house and building was damaged in some way. Residents will be able to get back to their homes in NO and St. Tammany Parish in one week at the earliest.

I find it ironic that I live 60 miles away from the area hit the hardest, and I never lost power or phone. One day of clean up for me and my life will be back to normal. I wish everyone could say that.

It is so heartbreaking to see landmarks you know and visit often devastated.

[Lisa loves Pooh]

http://ap.wwltv.com/photos/L/LADM13608292345-medium.jpg

This is the hyatt...given that our beach hotels with blown out windows from last year are still closed (most being repaired)--this hotel is going to be closed for a while.

[Free4Life11]

http://ap.wwltv.com/photos/L/LADM13608292345-medium.jpg

This is the hyatt...given that our beach hotels with blown out windows from last year are still closed (most being repaired)--this hotel is going to be closed for a while.

That picture reminds me the Oklahoma City Bombing... :guilty:

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Looters--they must be so proud on the money they saved on groceries.

http://ap.wwltv.com/photos/L/LADM13208292332-big.jpg

[Free4Life11]

Looters--they must be so proud on the money they saved on groceries.

http://ap.wwltv.com/photos/L/LADM13208292332-big.jpg

Yeah and to think they didn't even clip any coupons :rolleyes:

[Lisa loves Pooh]

That picture reminds me the Oklahoma City Bombing... :guilty:

:(
At least it is just missing windows.

[MagicKingdom05]

If everyone thinks these pictures are bad, wait until you see more videos from overhead and pictures of areas once the water leaves.

[Luv2Roam]

The news tapes of flooded NO are showing daylight.
It must be getting dark there by now.
Can you imagine still waiting to be rescued and being in the dark on top of everything else?

[Free4Life11]

http://a.abcnews.com/images/Technology/ap_3katrina_03_050829_ssh.jpg

Flooding in KENTUCKY!

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Now this one has me sad--the man has one leg, his home flooded and friends are helping him.

http://ap.wwltv.com/photos/L/LAEG11508292254-big.jpg

[eeyore kelly]

I know this isn't PC, but there has to be a special place in hell for looters who profit off of such devastation.

[Planogirl]

That's such a nice Hyatt Hotel.

Here are the dolphins that were evacuated from the Gulfport Oceanarium to a hotel swimming pool:
http://us.news3.yimg.com/us.i2.yimg.com/p/rids/20050829/i/r299837384.jpg

I hope that someone will mention the name of the hotel eventually. :cloud9:

[MagicKingdom05]

Luv2Roam,

You have a very good point there. Some of those people might be up there all night and if the water is still rising there's no place for them to go.

[Free4Life11]

I know this isn't PC, but there has to be a special place in hell for looters who profit off of such devastation.

It's pretty sick isn't it.

Lisa -- yeah very sad pic

MK05 -- I don't even want to see how bad it is...I can only imagine

Are the news stations showing live aerial footage?

[eeyore kelly]

NO will be starting search and rescue missions at daylight. So if they are stuck, they will be stuck until the morning

[MagicKingdom05]

Foxnews had some aerial video a hour ago from New Orleans and no matter what direction you looked there was house after house completely under water.

[Free4Life11]

Update on various government agencies:

_The president verbally made emergency disaster declarations for Louisiana and Mississippi. The difference between these declarations and preliminary ones issued over the weekend was that the new declarations allow for the drawdown of federal funds in disaster relief and recovery.

_The
American Red Cross said it had thousands of volunteers mobilized for the hurricane. It was the "largest single mobilization that we've done for any single natural disaster," said spokesman Bradley Hague. The organization set up operational headquarters in Baton Rouge.

_The
Environmental Protection Agency dispatched emergency crews to Louisiana and Texas because of concern about oil and chemical spills.

_The Coast Guard closed ports and waterways along the Gulf Coast and positioned craft around the area to be ready to conduct post-hurricane search and rescue operations.

_The Agriculture Department said its Food and Nutrition Service will provide meals and other commodities, such as infant formula, distilled water for babies and emergency food stamps.

_The
Federal Aviation Administration said airports were closed in New Orleans and Baton Rouge, La.; Biloxi, Miss.; Mobile, Ala.; Pensacola, Fla., and Eglin Air Force Base in Florida. Airlines have moved their equipment away from the stricken areas and canceled all flights, FAA spokeswoman Laura Brown said. Many air traffic control facilities in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama were closed.

_The Defense Department dispatched emergency coordinators to Alabama, Florida, Louisiana and Mississippi to provide a wide range of assistance including communications equipment, search and rescue operations, medical teams and other emergency supplies.

_The Health and Human Services Department sent 38 doctors and nurses to Jackson, Miss., to be used where needed, and 30 pallets of medical supplies to the region, including first aid materials, sterile gloves and oxygen tanks.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20050829/ap_on_go_pr_wh/katrina_bush

[LoraJ]

You know, the looting of the groceries doesn't bother me. That food is just going to go bad anyway, may as well make good use of it.

If they were looting tv's, computers, etc, that's another story.

Thanks for the info on Jefferson Parish. :(

[Lisa loves Pooh]

That's such a nice Hyatt Hotel.

Here are the dolphins that were evacuated from the Gulfport Oceanarium to a hotel swimming pool:
http://us.news3.yimg.com/us.i2.yimg.com/p/rids/20050829/i/r299837384.jpg

I hope that someone will mention the name of the hotel eventually. :cloud9:

I believe it is the Ramada. Dolphins were housed there and at a hotel next door--so it if not Ramada--the one next to it. But I don't know that one.

[Free4Life11]

NO will be starting search and rescue missions at daylight. So if they are stuck, they will be stuck until the morning

I can't imagine that...must be terrifying!

I was going to say that LoraJ too about the food...I just realized that it's going to rot anyways, so they might as well take it. It's just that when they start wheeling out entire store shelves...that is a little excessive.

[Planogirl]

I'm scared to see some of the later images too.

I found this article about Biloxi on sanluisobispo.com, a newspaper website:
Familiar landmarks destroyed


These reports were sent by City Editor Kate Magandy:
At DeBuys Road at U.S. 90., the Olive Garden and Red Lobster restaurants were obliterated.

In Biloxi at Edgewater Village, most of that shopping strip mall was devastated. The McDonald's is gone, the Village Sports Pub is gone.

The Hard Rock Casino on Casino Row in Biloxi, which was scheduled to open next week, will have to be rebuilt. The superstructure was severely damaged.

There have been reports that there are several casino barges that were pulled out of water and onto land.

Elvis Gates, a State Farm insurance agent in Long Beach, went to downtown to survey damage. He found nothing left. ``Everything south of Second Street is gone. The harbor is gone.''

St. Thomas the Apostlic Catholic Church, which sits on U.S. 90, celebrated its 100th anniversary in August. It is now gone.

When Camille hit in 1969, Long Beach residents were able to hold Mass in St. Thomas School gym. There is nothing left of that but the superstructure.

First Baptist Chruch in Long Beach has been leveled. Other reports indicate that everything south of the tracks received catastrophic damage. Part of U.S. 90 collapsed in front of Edgewater Village.

Wow!!!

[Luv2Roam]

Not to say I condone looting by any means. But as an excuse (and that is what it is) many of these people are in a survival mode and hard to say when these stores will reopen.
But I am sure most of them just decided to take the opportunity, period.

[Free4Life11]

Wow. Biloxi sounds terrible...truly hit hard.

[Lisa loves Pooh]

You know, the looting of the groceries doesn't bother me. That food is just going to go bad anyway, may as well make good use of it.


Most stores get rid of the perishables--that is what ours did here...for fear of power loss.

But the woman was carrying bleach. It doesn't expire. And it isn't paid for with food stamps. Not to be crass--but looting is looting---and bleach is no different.

[peacefulgirl]

http://ap.wwltv.com/photos/L/LADM13208292332-big.jpg

Looters... ::shakes head::

are they just thinking survival at this point? I dunno, I just cant see thinking rationally at this point, they coulda taken electronics if it was for greed, no?

[Free4Life11]

I don't think there is any easy answer in regards to grocery looting. It is wrong, yet at the same time even the non-perishables might be thrown out anyways...as far as the bleach, that confuses me. I suppose you could use it for purifying water, but still it doesnt kill everything...These people knew it was coming and they had time to get some supplies...I can't imagine not having enough food to last even a day or two, but I don't know how impoverished some of these people are.

[MagicKingdom05]

Free4Life11,

I heard someone from the red cross say that this is the biggest natural disaster event that they have ever been apart of. That says alot right there.

[Lisa loves Pooh]

are they just thinking survival at this point? I dunno, I just cant see thinking rationally at this point, they coulda taken electronics if it was for greed, no?


bleach and laundry soap is not survival.

And I'm seeing some soda bottles.

[ladycollector]

Hey guys. Checking in. We just got back power. It was very interesting here. The small shift East affected our area a bit. Pictures soon to come.

But I don't know anything about the storm! What has happened? I do know that Biloxi and Mobile were hit terribly hard! I need information! About to go back and read as much as I can.

I'm seeing stranded animals on the TV. I feel like crying.

[Luv2Roam]

For our hurricanes we were told the measurement to use bleach in water to make it "safe". It's a last ditch survival tactic.

I was thinking of you today LadyCollector. Glad to hear from you!! :grouphug:

[Free4Life11]

Where to begin....the past few pages have lots of pictures, updates, links. I'd say check those out.

[Free4Life11]

For our hurricanes we were told the measurement to use bleach in water to make it "safe". It's a last ditch survival tactic.

I guess, but I still don't know why they wouldn't take some bottled water or something. At least they aren't in an area with major flooding....How do you boil water in a power outage?

[peacefulgirl]

bleach and laundry soap is not survival.

And I'm seeing some soda bottles.

I dunno, I am not there, I can't tell why they have what they have... I just know I can't judge it from here.

[MagicKingdom05]

Free4Life11,

Very good point. I guess you start burning stuff in a fireplace if your not in a house that has 15 feet of water around it.

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I guess, but I still don't know why they wouldn't take some bottled water or something. At least they aren't in an area with major flooding....How do you boil water in a power outage?

You can use a pot on a grill--it takes longer, but can be done.

[Luv2Roam]

Bottled water was probably sold out long before the hurricane hit. Unless the store drastically stocked up. The closer to a hurricane, the harder it is to find and buy bottled water.
Not giving an excuse for looting. But I can understand how survival extinct would kick in. They know what devastation they face.

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I dunno, I am not there, I can't tell why they have what they have... I just know I can't judge it from here.

Without judging--it is looting....and that is how the photo was captioned.

[MagicKingdom05]

Can someone tell me as a hurricane every devistated so much area in one storm as this one has. You have areas in Louisiana, Alabama and Mississippi completely devistated.

[Free4Life11]

Oh I see Lisa.

Luv2Roam -- didn't even think of that. You are right, whether right or wrong, survival instinct is likely kicking in. Who knows how long it will be before Red Cross and FEMA can get to them with food/water.

[Lisa loves Pooh]

They know what devastation they face.

The ones that knew headed to the superdome.

[Free4Life11]

Many sides to looting; everyone has different feelings. I think we should agree to disagree. It will be an endless debate.

[diznygirl]

I don't think there is any easy answer in regards to grocery looting. It is wrong, yet at the same time even the non-perishables might be thrown out anyways...as far as the bleach, that confuses me. I suppose you could use it for purifying water, but still it doesnt kill everything...These people knew it was coming and they had time to get some supplies...I can't imagine not having enough food to last even a day or two, but I don't know how impoverished some of these people are.

After the LA riots, the bus system was shut down, and everything in the area was closed. People who lived there started "looting" the grocery stores for food because the stores wouldn't open to sell it to them and they had no way to get to stores that were open cuz they didn't have cars and the busses weren't running.

Of course, there was the regular looting as well. pirate:

In the case of the riots, there was no advance warning to stock up. These people did have plenty of warning to get supplies beforehand. Now I think they are just taking advantage of the situation.

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Can someone tell me as a hurricane every devistated so much area in one storm as this one has. You have areas in Louisiana, Alabama and Mississippi completely devistated.

There isn't--they say this is worse than Camille--which was the last one. And definitely worse than Andrew--though Andrew was a 5 when it hit.

[Free4Life11]

How are things at the Superdome? I haven't heard a thing about it since this morning. People holding up well?? Doesn't appear to be any flooding near it, but who knows. Where would they go if they released them...I don't think there is anywhere they COULD go, with roads blocked off.

[Luv2Roam]

And again, not making excuses for the looters. I still suspect most who did it just did it out of opportunity and greed.
But IF electrionics and etc were stolen, they could be used as barter out of necessity.
I am just thinking if I was literally in a do or die situation and if I had kids to worry about. Combine that with fear, weariness and shock...
No it is not right to loot. But on some level it os very hard to judge.

[Lisa loves Pooh]

How are things at the Superdome? I haven't heard a thing about it since this morning. People holding up well?? Doesn't appear to be any flooding near it, but who knows. Where would they go if they released them...I don't think there is anywhere they COULD go, with roads blocked off.

Brian Williams did a live newscast for NBC--evening news.

People are holding up well--but with the power off...it is starting to heat up--and things were getting "aromatic". But they have food and were serving dinner when he was broadcasting.

ETA: I would suspect that people would have to provide addresses--and that there would be some sort of systematic dismissal--if and only if they had a place to go and a way to get there safely that didn't require swimming.

[diznygirl]

Bottled water was probably sold out long before the hurricane hit. Unless the store drastically stocked up. The closer to a hurricane, the harder it is to find and buy bottled water.
Not giving an excuse for looting. But I can understand how survival extinct would kick in. They know what devastation they face.

Oh yeah, bottled water is the first thing to go. After earthquakes in California and hurricanes here were would just buy juice and soda. Plenty of that on the shelves.

[Free4Life11]

After the LA riots, the bus system was shut down, and everything in the area was closed. People who lived there started "looting" the grocery stores for food because the stores wouldn't open to sell it to them and they had no way to get to stores that were open cuz they didn't have cars and the busses weren't running.

Of course, there was the regular looting as well. pirate:

In the case of the riots, there was no advance warning to stock up. These people did have plenty of warning to get supplies beforehand. Now I think they are just taking advantage of the situation.

Didn't know about the riots. I too think they are taking advantage of the situation; they made the decision to stay and now they are looting, two wrongs don't make a right....it's hard to say how "desperate" these people are. We really don't know.

[Geoff_M]

Not to say I condone looting by any means. But as an excuse (and that is what it is) many of these people are in a survival mode and hard to say when these stores will reopen.If you want to take a good look into the mindset of the looters, all you had to do was look at the first looting footage that NO TV station WDSU air this afternoon when people decided to loot their local Winn-Dixie. The #1 items on people's "survival" shopping list was beer and liquor... :confused3

[ducklite]

http://i.a.cnn.net/cnn/2005/WEATHER/08/29/hurricane.katrina/top.2004.burning.pool.jpg

burning building in a flood in NOLA.

It looks like one of the mansions in the Garden District or on St. Charles Ave. I compared it against my friends parents house and don't think it's theirs thank God. I feel so bad for the owners, how horrible.

Anne

[palmtreegirl]

There was a women on CNN interviewed, she works at the Comfort Inn they kept showing, where Rob Marciano stayed. She went back to see her house, a 2 story brick apartment building on the beach and it was gone, she also said a neighbors home was completely gone as well. She said the area was Ocean Springs, I believe located in or by Biloxi.

[MagicKingdom05]

Lisa loves Pooh,

I didn't think so, but I wasn't sure. So to some extent this new territory for everyone.

[Lisa loves Pooh]

It looks like one of the mansions in the Garden District or on St. Charles Ave. I compared it against my friends parents house and don't think it's theirs thank God. I feel so bad for the owners, how horrible.

Anne


someone posted earlier that it might have a been a marina. I don't recognize the picture and it wasn't identified specifically in the photo. It isn't unlikely for there to have been more than one fire. We lost several buildings to fire in our town last year as a result of the hurricanes.

[Lisa loves Pooh]

http://ap.wwltv.com/photos/L/LAMW10308291307-big.jpg

Now this fire station is stocked up!!! Just what do they need all that mayo for and who found a panera bread open? (I recongnize those cups! ;)).

[mickeyfan2]

The levees on the west side gave way. The west side of NOLA is above sea level, so the water will flow from the Mississippi to the east side of NOLA.

About Levees. An earthen levee can still give way after the storm. When an earthen levee has water above 2/3, the water can undermine the levee and the levee can break.

[Free4Life11]

Actually I think those cups are used at many places...we have them at a coffeeshop on campus. Well the firefighters got the memo that a hurricane was coming....apparently many did not. :shrug:

[Lisa loves Pooh]

. Well the firefighters got the memo that a hurricane was coming:

I should hope so :teeth:

[Luv2Roam]

A reporter on CNN just mentioned one of the boat gambling casinos broke in half and sank. Anyone else hear about that? (Biloxi)

[mickeyfan2]

Not to say I condone looting by any means. But as an excuse (and that is what it is) many of these people are in a survival mode and hard to say when these stores will reopen.
But I am sure most of them just decided to take the opportunity, period.

Yes food is survival a TV is not. The thing to remember is that the looters were suppose to leave. Does anybody wonder why the brought guns to the superdome?!?!!

[C.Ann]

The levees on the west side gave way. The west side of NOLA is above sea level, so the water will flow from the Mississippi to the east side of NOLA.

About Levees. An earthen levee can still give way after the storm. When an earthen levee has water above 2/3, the water can undermine the levee and the levee can break.
--------------------

They have just indicated that the flooding is not over in those areas and will continue.. Still possibilities of levees giving way..

[C.Ann]

A reporter on CNN just mentioned one of the boat gambling casinos broke in half and sank. Anyone else hear about that? (Biloxi)
---------------

Yes - that is what is being reported..

[mickeyfan2]

For our hurricanes we were told the measurement to use bleach in water to make it "safe". It's a last ditch survival tactic.

We have a well and you do use clorox in it to remove bacteria after a bad storm. A gallon is all that is need for an entire well. When you turn on the faucets after, the smell of clorine is very noticable. I would leave before drinking clorine water.

[Free4Life11]

Yes food is survival a TV is not. The thing to remember is that the looters were suppose to leave. Does anybody wonder why the brought guns to the superdome?!?!!

Lack of common sense?? Or maybe they were thinking of "staking their territory" or in case the water and food was running low....who knows, I'm just glad no incidents have occured that I know of.

[Lisa loves Pooh]

This is just the tip of the proverbial iceberg.

It will look like a war zone when the water finally gets pumped out.

[MagicKingdom05]

As I hear more and more, am I the only one that gets the feeling that we aren't talking about it taking a week or two until we begin to hear about the damage, but a month or two.

I know that they will want to get things started asap, but with all the water and everything, how can they.

[Free4Life11]

Who knows how long the pumps will take too....in the meantime I am hoping for sunny weather so that the water would at least start to evaporate. I know it wont do much, but it will help dry out the areas that are wet but not flooded.

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I just hope those who have floods--either are missing a roof...or have flood insurance. Hurricane coverage does not cover water damage by flood.

For the poor--they better be paying attention when FEMA comes to town. They can do lots for them--just gotta be honest and file that paper work.

Though from what I remember--FEMA doesn't handle flood damage claims either.

[MagicKingdom05]

Remember, the New Orleans area missed getting a direct hit from the storm and you can see the devistation that it did anyways. Someone on tv brought this up and the offical said that this is bad enough and he can't even imagine what things would look like if a direct hit would have happened.

I can't imagine this being any worse, but it could have been much worse.

[Free4Life11]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9118848/

State-by-State impact information and map.

[Lisa loves Pooh]

watching footage on WDSU---from earlier...

a house completely engulfed/destroyed by fire.

[ladycollector]

Let me first say that I still have not gotten completely informed about the damage in other areas, but I know just from the efffects that we felt here, that it has to be unbelievable. I am praying for the people of New Orleans and surrounding areas, and I will follow this thread after I go watch the news and get some information.

If anyone cares, here are photos from my area, about 200 miles away from New Orleans.

After the storm had "passed", we decided to go to the beach (crazy I know, but we had no power and things were boring) to see what's going on. I was very surprised that our area had sustained some damage, and some homes and businesses are flooded. I would guess that the winds were blowing consistently at about 40mph and the waves (although you can't see it on the video) were about 8-10ft high.

These pictures were taken through my glasses because the wind was absolutely beating us with sand I knew that it would ruin my lens without a makeshift "cover."
http://www.gcgcsa.com/kk/1.jpg

http://www.gcgcsa.com/kk/2.jpg

Video: www.gcgcsa.com/kk/hur 062.avi

This is our neighbors backyard (on the bay). The water is up about 6ft from the usual and the waves are crashing right onto his backyard.
http://www.gcgcsa.com/kk/3.jpg

http://www.gcgcsa.com/kk/4.jpg

http://www.gcgcsa.com/kk/5.jpg

http://www.gcgcsa.com/kk/6.jpg

This is a circuit breaker that was getting ready to blow. We decided to get the heck out after it started swaying because of the water below it. :earseek:
http://www.gcgcsa.com/kk/7.jpg


Just goes to show how widespread the effects of this hurricane were.

[Lisa loves Pooh]

ladycollector--I hate to say great pics--but I think you know what I mean. Thanks for sharing.

[paigevz]

Anybody know about uptown.........near Tulane? Any info you have would be great...........

[EpcotKilterFan]

http://www.foxnews.com/photo_essay/photoessay_566_images/katrina_redcross_450.jpg

Red cRoss truck at hotel off I-10 in Pascagoula, MS
:scared1: :earseek:

Someone has some splanin' to do!

We also can not forget the extraordinary damage that occurred in South Florida. I have a collegue working that disaster and said it is pretty bad, and she has seen alot in her day. There are several thousand people affected by Katrina 1.

Debbie

[ladycollector]

Anyone know how Biloxi fared? I keep hearing about NO and Mobile, but nothing about Biloxi.

I just heard that the Red Lobster, Olive Garden, Mcdonalds, the BRAND new Hard Rock Cafe, and numerous other restaurants are all gone. Just gone. I've eaten at those.. :earseek:

[Lisa loves Pooh]

:scared1: :earseek:

Someone has some splanin' to do!

We also can not forget the extraordinary damage that occurred in South Florida. I have a collegue working that disaster and said it is pretty bad, and she has seen alot in her day. There are several thousand people affected by Katrina 1.

Debbie

Caption said they were parked at a hotel--they had Red Cross set up and ready to move in--I suppose on a direct hit of NOLA--the storm surge would have not been in that parking lot.

[Pugdog007]

We're getting hit right now with winds like I've never heard before. This is worse than Ivan. And my fence just went down. I just hope a tree doesn't snap.

[MagicKingdom05]

Pugdog007,

Sounds scary.

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Anybody know about uptown.........near Tulane? Any info you have would be great...........


watching this video clip--they are talking about damage around NOLA...

You might try watching it to see if they talk about Tulane.

http://www.wwltv.com/perl/common/video/wmPlayer.pl?title=www.wwltv.com/082905brent.wmv

No Tulane--just uptown area of NOLA.

[Shutterbug]

So what Dis'ers have not checked in?

I know BengalBelle was near Batoun Rouge

[ladycollector]

Guys... I am watching the local news, and they just showed Biloxi. It's bad. I am here crying.

They showed some people walking the streets. One woman said she lost her mother. A man and 2 children walked by and the reporter asked them how they did during the storm and he could hardly speak because he was crying. He managed to utter that his house had split in half while his family was on the roof and he was holding his wife's hand and she said "you can't hold on to me, take care of the kids, take care of the grandkids" He said his wife is gone and they haven't found her body.

All of the reporters are sobbing and had to go to break to compose themselves.
Guys.... :(

[paigevz]

Thanks, my connection's too slow to run it properly. My brother's house is there, but I don't know the street. He just moved there about 3 months ago, after searching for a job in his field in New Orleans for ten years. He'd fallen in love with the city, made frequent trips there, and made friends there. He just got exactly what he wanted, and I am so scared for him it will be gone.

The good news is that his friends he was worried about just showed up at my parents' house in Oklahoma to join him. They had no where to go. They left NO at 8:30 last night.

My mom is mortified that they showed up when she hadn't cleaned house. My dad is in heaven cooking for everyone.

[MagicKingdom05]

As more and more officials talk about what happened the more and more I realize that the loss of like is going to be huge. Obviously we all know that there was going to be some lives lost, but now it's not so much if but how many.

[Lisa loves Pooh]

My mom is mortified that they showed up when she hadn't cleaned house. My dad is in heaven cooking for everyone.

She must not do flylady. :rotfl2:

Glad to hear that dad is having a ball.

[MagicKingdom05]

Some FEMA higher up was just on saying that it won't be weeks before people can start comming back but months and months before that can even happen.

[paigevz]

It's unthinkable. Horrible. I was trying to get info at work today without the kids at school seeing it. It was so weird to go into the library to watch what was happening, and then back into the halls where ordinary life was going on. Add to that that it was great weather here and all I could think of is what's happening there.

[Lisa loves Pooh]

He managed to utter that his house had split in half while his family was on the roof and he was holding his wife's hand and she said "you can't hold on to me, take care of the kids, take care of the grandkids" He said his wife is gone and they haven't found her body.


:sad1: :sad1:

And it is just soo sad---that it was avoidable. Why must people ignore warnings!

mobile homes, flood zones, islands----you don't stay there. :sad:

[MagicKingdom05]

paigevz,

I wasn't feeling well today so I came home and got a few hours of sleep and feel much better. Anyways the whole time I had the TV on and was thinking about everyone in the path of this storm.

[MagicKingdom05]

Lisa loves Pooh,

Exactly. If they had just gone to one of the shelters, everyone would still be together and they loss the house anyways so what was there to save.

[angey77]

Greetings all, from Baton Rouge.
Our power just came up (we're fortunate, it was only out ~8 hours) and I'm here looking online at what all is going on, as far as work and such. Just thought I would stop by, but did not read this entire thread. First off, the New Orleans area is really bad, as far as wind damage. I'm sure you all saw images of the Superdome, but the CBD seems to have taken quite a hit in general, wind wise. Thank goodness the waters did not come up there as they thought they would. But, it looks like neighboring parishes got it the worst, with wide-spread street flooding and some parishes with people on their roofs as their only means of escape. Some metro cities are telling their residents to plan four days to WEEKS on not returning, as there is nowhere to put the water that is now in their neighborhoods.
Just on the news, they showed bands of looters in a low income neighborhood going at one business, and running away with shopping carts full of stuff. I cannot believe the gawl some people have, just pushing entire shelves out on the streets full of toilet paper and other items.
But watching the news, we can see where family and friends live, where we play and work, and its just surrounded by water in some areas, or simply flattened (the yacht club in New Orleans is on fire and surrounded by flood water). Please keep in your thoughts all of those people who have lost everything, as there are many. We feel very fortunate here that all we lost was power and cell phone coverage for a few hours.

[Donalds_best_pal]

Hey,

Giving info on my house in meridian. Damage is bad in the area. Whole area is totally without power. Trees down all over. Luckily it looks our house was spared any significant damage. Can check roof until tomorrow. Looks like lots of cleanup and tree removal there. God bless everyone else who is having problem. The gulf coast of mississippi looks to be gone. :( will post pics later.

Matt

[ladycollector]

The local news reporter in Biloxi (same one) just said that there are children wandering the streets saying they lost their parents in the storm. One little girl came up to her lost and said she had lost her mother. :sad1:

EDIT- For Locals- This is near the Beau Rivage

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Good to hear about your home Matt! (I was born in Meridian btw).



Has anybody heard about the status of I-10, yet?

[paigevz]

Angey77.......did you see how bad the flooding was near Tulane University?

[paigevz]

The local news reporter in Biloxi (same one) just said that there are children wandering the streets saying they lost their parents in the storm. One little girl came up to her lost and said she had lost her mother. :sad1:

That's so sad.................

[Lisa loves Pooh]

The local news reporter in Biloxi (same one) just said that there are children wandering the streets saying they lost their parents in the storm. One little girl came up to her lost and said she had lost her mother. :sad1:

:sad2:

If I punched a wall for all the stories I think we'll hear like this (this is #2)....I'd have no walls.

So sad.

[ladycollector]

Has anybody heard about the status of I-10, yet?
Local news says East and West lanes are open from FL to MS.

Another resident of Biloxi said his building is 20ft tall and his wife, baby, and dog just barely made it. He said it had to be at the very least 10ft.

[angey77]

Angey77.......did you see how bad the flooding was near Tulane University?

That area of the city did not quite make it on the news, so we are assuming it is not that bad. You know, the more disasterous, the better the ratings it seems.
I did hear there are a lot of downed oaks on St. Charles, which I hope is just rumor. But it does "appear" right now that Jefferson, St. Bernard and the Lakefront area seem to be the most damaged.
If I see anything, I'll be sure to post.

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Yes lots of downed oaks on St. Charles--a reporter tried driving the area and it is impassable.

[angey77]

Yes lots of downed oaks on St. Charles--a reporter tried driving the area and it is impassable.

Hey Lisa,
Are you watching national news or something local that can be seen online? Seems you are getting more and better footage than us in Baton Rouge.

[palmtreegirl]

Our local news just reported that they have confirmed 50 people dead in Harrision County, MS. :sad2:

[Free4Life11]

MSNBC is saying, quote, "AP: 50 hurricane-related deaths in Harrison, MS." It was airing at the bottom of the screen...

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Hey Lisa,
Are you watching national news or something local that can be seen online? Seems you are getting more and better footage than us in Baton Rouge.


I've lost all my live feeds--the house fire I was talking about was shown on WWL......on one of their video links--but it was in a general link where they were talking about damage in the area--it started out with the anchors talking about their stay in the Hyatt--then they showed the helicopter footage (the fire) and then it finished with a driver going around uptown.

ETA: That clip had audio--now I can't find it--they've put updated footage that has no audio.

[ladycollector]

Our local news just reported that they have confirmed 50 people dead in Harrision County, MS. :sad2:

And that's just the beginning. I am very broken up. We were so blessed.

[MagicKingdom05]

Lisa loves Pooh,

This is just the start and the stories are going to get worse and worse.

[Lisa loves Pooh]

MSNBC is saying, quote, "AP: 50 hurricane-related deaths in Harrison, MS." It was airing at the bottom of the screen...

Anybody know what area this is?

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Lisa loves Pooh,

This is just the start and the stories are going to get worse and worse.

Yep and the part where everyone goes from :sad1: to :sad2: to :mad: to :guilty:


With today's technology--it isn't necessary for people to die.

[Michelina]

I believe CNN said Gulfport.

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Elsyian Fields (NOLA, eastbank--this is a road)---water up the the car tops. (this road starts at the end of the French Quarter and goes to Lake Ponchetrain.

Video Link
http://www.wwltv.com/perl/common/video/wmPlayer.pl?title=www.wwltv.com/082905thanh.wmv

[ladycollector]

Anybody know what area this is?

Harrison county is Biloxi, Gulfport...

[Beauty]

Yes Harrison County is Gulfport, not sure if Biloxi is in Harrison or not. I am literelly feeling sick at my stomach.

[Shutterbug]

Anybody know what area this is?


They said it was a coastal area.

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Hey Lisa,
Are you watching national news or something local that can be seen online? Seems you are getting more and better footage than us in Baton Rouge.


Just remembered I posted this video clip earlier in the thread....

the house fire (nope--not this clip, I will keep looking) and pics of st. charles are in it. It is a long bit of footage.

http://www.wwltv.com/perl/common/video/wmPlayer.pl?title=www.wwltv.com/082905brent.wmv

[palmtreegirl]

Anybody know what area this is?

Here's a county map, Harrison is right in the center bottom.
http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/maps/mississippi_map.html

CNN said the AP is reporting it as at least 55 people so far.

I just looked it up Biloxi is also apart of Harrison County.

[Shutterbug]

Any one see the quick video of the tanker sitting dry on the levee?

[MagicKingdom05]

Lisa loves Pooh,

I agree.

[Free4Life11]

Ok, only 4 CONFIRMED dead in Harrison County, but AP continues to report that 50+ people have died.

[Shutterbug]

from wwltv

Black Hawk helicopters are scheduled to land at LSU's Bernie Moore track stadium within the next hour or two with people injured in the storm who will be triaged and sent to local hospitals in Baton Rouge

[Free4Life11]

I'm wondering if, with all the focus on NO, people in Miss./Ala. may not have expected it to be so severe? With so many reported deaths it sure sounds like people were expecting it to hit NOLA, I know I wasn't expecting such severity in Miss./Ala.

[MagicKingdom05]

Apparently Harrison county is only reporting 4 deaths. At this point is there really going to be a way to determine how many people. I think we may never know how many people died from this.

[ladycollector]

Yes Harrison County is Gulfport, not sure if Biloxi is in Harrison or not. I am literelly feeling sick at my stomach.

No, Biloxi is in Harrision County.

[Lisa loves Pooh]

The oil platform and the bridge---Alabama:

http://i.a.cnn.net/cnn/2005/WEATHER/08/29/hurricane.katrina/top.2138.oil.platform.ap.jpg

[Beauty]

I do believe I was wrong and Gulfport is Hancock County. I'm picturing the BIG BANK, Hancock County Bank I believe it is right after the railroad tracks when you are coming into Gulfport.

I'm hoping the 50 people isn't correct for just Harrison County.

[Beauty]

Talking about Mobile, my son just asked about the Tunnel. I'm assuming it is under water since it is downtown. Also the bridge that the Battleship Park is off of.

[MagicKingdom05]

Lisa loves Pooh,

Nice pic.

[angey77]

Thank you for the link Lisa.
Just when I read it, my DH came in and said "there are two fires." He had no clue I am in the know in the office.
I agree with the statement about with the technology, we should not have these deaths. Unfortunately, many of these people chose to stay, with no medical or economic reasons. I just don't understand it, especially after the city knows what a hurricane can do based on weaker hurricanes that have hit the area in the past!
Unfortunately, the news just reported the area my in-laws and parents live, and where I spent my formative years, is so bad, that they have no communication (phone, computers) avail (initial reports). The eye passed over the city in which my parents live (Slidell), and no one is even being allowed in the parish. Hoping the homes are safe. I'm not sure what I will do if I saw my "home" in pieces.

[Shutterbug]

I'm wondering if, with all the focus on NO, people in Miss./Ala. may not have expected it to be so severe? With so many reported deaths it sure sounds like people were expecting it to hit NOLA, I know I wasn't expecting such severity in Miss./Ala.

Yes some probably saw that they were predicting it to go through NOLA and figured it would be okay although they were still in the warning area.
Thats why the warning area streched out so far and that everyone who was capable of leaving that warning area should have. Just like they learned in florida with Charlie these things can change track at the last minute.

[Beauty]

Where is the other fire? I know about the N.O. Country Club, where is the other?

[ladycollector]

I do believe I was wrong and Gulfport is Hancock County. I'm picturing the BIG BANK, Hancock County Bank I believe it is right after the railroad tracks when you are coming into Gulfport.

I'm hoping the 50 people isn't correct for just Harrison County.

Not trying to be mean or anything, just giving accurate information, but Gulfport is in Harrison County.

EDIT- http://www.epodunk.com/cgi-bin/genInfo.php?locIndex=19871

[Lisa loves Pooh]

angey--I tried locating the footage and I just have no idea where I saw it today. I am sure it was WWL--but they don't have a footage library (that I can see)--just the latest footage or compilation footage.

[Free4Life11]

They are interviewing Jeanne Meserve (a CNN correspondent?) on Lou Dobbs Tonight on CNN...her voice is cracking. She said it was pretty horrible...the things she has seen. She said when "you stand in the dark, you hear people yelling for help, and you get to them, it's a totally different experience." Wow :(

[MagicKingdom05]

True, but they kept telling people that everyone in Alabama and Mississippi should watch out because a slight turn and the target changes.

[palmtreegirl]

Jeanne Merserve, reporter from CNN is breaking down on the phone reporting about the damage she's seen in the New Orleans area, said she's heard cries for help from the darkness. She's very upset, voice cracking speaking about it.

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Where is the other fire? I know about the N.O. Country Club, where is the other?


Metarie--on the side closer to Hanrahan....roughly 2-5 miles away (based on the air footage I saw and can't find :().

It is in a neighborhood and it is a home.

[Beauty]

No I'm trying to remember too (didn't think you were trying to be mean, lol) I do know there is a large Hancock County Bank on the beach in Gulfport but of course with Hancock County being right there OF COURSE there would be a bank....LOL!

[Michelina]

Jeanne Merserve, reporter from CNN is breaking down on the phone reporting about the damage she's seen in the New Orleans area, said she's heard crys for help from the darkness. She's very upset, voice cracking speaking about it.


Oh my god, she is breaking my heart.

[Lisa loves Pooh]

True, but they kept telling people that everyone in Alabama and Mississippi should watch out because a slight turn and the target changes.


They were also told it would be worse than Camille. And that it would be catastrophic.

There really isn't an excuse to voluntariliy stay behind.

[Free4Life11]

Jeanne Merserve, reporter from CNN is breaking down on the phone reporting about the damage she's seen in the New Orleans area, said she's heard cries for help from the darkness. She's very upset, voice cracking speaking about it.

It was hard to listen to. Very upset. I do have more respect for the reporters now. I still think some of them are just plain stupid, but they really do try and get us the story.

[mt2]

My local news just upped the death toll to 55 confirmed dead. They said it was just coming over the AP wires.

[Shutterbug]

aerial photographs:

http://www.wwltv.com/perl/common/video/wmPlayer.pl?title=www.wwltv.com/082905aerials.wmv

[MagicKingdom05]

They keep saying this could have been much worse and I have to just shake my head in disbelief.

[Free4Life11]

I'm hearing it is getting worse in the Superdome...it is getting hotter and on CNN the guy on the phone said it is VERY noise, almost pandemonium. I'm not sure if it is live or not. People are getting cabin fever it sounds like...

ETA - they are letting people go out on some of the elevated walkways, to smoke and whatnot.

[ladycollector]

No I'm trying to remember too (didn't think you were trying to be mean, lol) I do know there is a large Hancock County Bank on the beach in Gulfport but of course with Hancock County being right there OF COURSE there would be a bank....LOL!

Yes, Hancock is just to the West. I looked it up to make sure I wasn't hallucenating. LOL!

Here's a link- http://www.gismaps.fema.gov/2002graphics/dr1436/dr1436dec.jpg

[MagicKingdom05]

Free4Life11,

Oh you knew that was going to happen.

[angey77]

Metarie--on the side closer to Hanrahan....roughly 2-5 miles away (based on the air footage I saw and can't find :().

It is in a neighborhood and it is a home.

Beauty,
It seems based on the footage Lisa described that it is around the Elmwood area/Jefferson Highway/Airline. The camera seemed to have panned to the old Coca-Cola bottling factory which is now a storage facility and the Huey P. Long (the railroad tracks).
Maybe I should go watch the news, but I seem to be getting plenty of late-breaking updates here!

[Beauty]

LOL! Yep its right there so of course Harrison County probably has quite a few Hancock County Banks....LOL!

[goin2disneyagain]

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a121/Sandrew29/image_1804689.jpg
Have you seen this picture?? :sad1:

So sad about the little girl in Biloxi. :sad1:

[MagicKingdom05]

I would say bring cruise ships in and have the people stay on them for a while, but where do you dock them at, and how do you get them there.

[Lisa loves Pooh]

http://www.wwltv.com/ On their website at the bottom--"weather forums for your area"..these are discussion boards for the different parishes--you might find some information...but you might also find some sad stuff.

[Lisa loves Pooh]

A post from that boad regarding a neighborhood in Orleans Parish near "little woods":
I've been told from a reliable source that Kingswood subdivision is underwater (even two story houses)

[Free4Life11]

Pray for those people who are still trapped on their roofs! No food, no water, no lights. It's got to be Hell on earth. Yes we know they made the decision to stay there, but still let's remember them tonight. It's got to be a terrifying time for them.

[ladycollector]

Pray for those people who are still trapped on their roofs! No food, no water, no lights. It's got to be Hell on earth. Yes we know they made the decision to stay there, but still let's remember them tonight. It's got to be a terrifying time for them.

The whole time I was at the beach earlier today, I couldn't imagine what the people on their roofs were going through.

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Someone asked about Jefferson Parish--a very detailed update (others also on this link) :http://www.nola.com/newslogs/breakingtp/index.ssf?/mtlogs/nola_Times-Picayune/archives/2005_08.html#074938

Jefferson Parish update

Monday, 10:20 p.m.

Jefferson Parish's Chief Administrative Assistant Tim Whitmer said the damage from Hurricane Katrina was almost equally split between the east bank and the West Bank. "We have widespread devastation in the parish," he said.

Whitmer said officials were not able to assess all areas of the parish because of flooding and downed trees and power lines, which were scattered everywhere, as well as a shortage of workers, who had evacuated to escape the storm.

Between 8 and 10 p.m., he said about 80 employees had arrived for work and said more were continuing to show up. Whitmer said based on reports officials had received, Westwego was particularly hard hit, with about 90 percent of the homes on the south side of the West Bank Expressway sustaining some kind of damage.

Avondale also was hard hit. At the Danny and Clyde's station at Bellemeade and Belle Chasse Highway, half of the store was gone, he said. "We believe that may have been a tornado."

Widespread flooding also was reported in Kenner in East Jefferson, particularly north of the interstate. Power remained out and water pressure was lost, but not because pumping stations were not working, he said. "We had trees that came down and pulled up our (water) distribution lines, which caused breaks and we lost pressure," he said.

The first step on Tuesday, Whitmer said, is to get all remaining flood water pumped out of the streets. Whitmer said parish officials expect to get most of the pumping stations online overnight, with the possible exception of the Duncan Canal and Bonnabel stations, which lost their roofs in the storm.

Workers were evacuated from those stations for safety reasons, he said. Work crews will inspect the stations Tuesday to determine if there is any additional damage besides the roofs.

After getting water pumped out, work crews then will set out to determine the breaks in the water lines that are affecting water pressure he said. When water drainage and sewerage services are on line, officials will then be ready to let residents back in the parish.

Whitmer said he didn't know how long that will take. "We have no electricity, no sewerage and no portable water," he said. "We intend to continue securing the parish."

Whitmer said he had not heard of any deaths related to the storm and said initial reports indicated River Ridge fared well. He also said volunteer firefighters on the West Bank helped rescue about 300 people during the day.

Whitmer said he had been told by Sheriff's Office officials that Old Metairie was fairly dry and that by late afternoon, Levee District officials reported water levels dropping on Airline Drive in Kenner.

He said the parish will not put workers in harm's way but still will work to get the parish in shape for residents to return. "We ask for patience and understanding," he said.

"Unfortunately, the message we have for residents is that while the storm is passed, life as we know it in Jefferson Parish is gone for several months. In fact, I don't think that life as we know it will ever return."

[ladycollector]

The local news anchors are completely losing it with the stories we are hearing. I have never seen anything like this before. :sad1:

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Depressing--I am looking for happier news than deaths--so damage is what I'm finding--but it is better than lost life:

http://www.nola.com/newslogs/breakingtp/index.ssf?/mtlogs/nola_Times-Picayune/archives/2005_08.html#074938

I-10 bridge 'severely damaged'

Monday
10:12 p.m.

By Ed Anderson
and Robert Travis Scott
Capital bureau

Sections of the Interstate 10 twin bridges linking St. Tammany and Orleans parishes over Lake Pontchartrain have been “severely damaged’’ in both directions, some probably knocked out, Louisiana's highway boss said.

“It is just like in Florida,’’ Johnny Bradberry, secretary of transportation and development, said, referring to damage caused by Hurricane Ivan last year to the I-10 bridge in the Florida Panhandle.

Bradberry said he will send crews to fly over the site today to assess damages.

Federal Emergency Management Agency Director Mike Brown called Katrina one of the worst disasters he has seen, exceeded only by California wildfires.

“This is a catastrophic storm,’’ he said. “People will not get back to their homes for several weeks – if not longer.’’

Lt. Kevin Cowan, a spokesman for the Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness, said the only confirmed deaths have been three New Orleans area nursing home residents who died while being transported or after arriving at shelters in Baton Rouge.

Cowan said communications with St, Tammany Parish has been spotty and little is known of the number of persons rescued from that area.

He said said at least 31,000 evacuees were still hunkered down in shelters in south Louisiana, and 917,000 households were without power in 23 south
Louisiana parishes.

[MagicKingdom05]

Free4Life11,

Yep. They are talking about people stuck in there attics who probably won't make it through the night, but it's to dangerous to go an attempt a rescue at night with all they power and gas lines down.

I really think that tommorrow is going to be a very very bad day, because the rescue crews will be going around and finding lots of people who didn't make it through the night.

[Free4Life11]

The local news anchors are completely losing it with the stories we are hearing. I have never seen anything like this before. :sad1:

I can't begin to imagine how hard it must be having to report all this.

On CNN they said something about the water rising? Could it be the tides??

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Well--Jesus didn't break--though I did read an earlier report that he might have had a broken finger:
http://www.nola.com/newslogs/breakingtp/index.ssf?/mtlogs/nola_Times-Picayune/archives/2005_08.html#074938

Jesus statue untouched

Monday, 8:05 p.m.

At St. Louis Cathedral in the French Quarter, two large trees were uprooted in the courtyard behind the church. Branches were strewn all over the place.

But a statue of Jesus, arms outstretched, stood unscathed and became the subject of great excitement among visitors.

Also--a restaurant was giving out free hamburgers today in the quarter: Johnny White's

[Free4Life11]

I can't even think about it. The thought of spending the last night of my life trapped on my roof, wet, hungry, thirsty, scared. It's just making me sick. I need to get some sleep. This is just getting too depressing...:(

[MagicKingdom05]

I suppose or it could be the rivers overflowing and comming over the walls.

[Beauty]

I heard that too, about the water still rising. I don't know whether to go to sleep or sit here in the chair and cry.

[Free4Life11]

Well--Jesus didn't break--though I did read an earlier report that he might have had a broken finger:
http://www.nola.com/newslogs/breakingtp/index.ssf?/mtlogs/nola_Times-Picayune/archives/2005_08.html#074938



Also--a restaurant was giving out free hamburgers today in the quarter: Johnny White's

Well that was nice. The story about the Jesus statue sure is interesting!

I saw a videof (I presume) a looter. He was wading chest deep in water, carrying, I kid you not, a 24 pack of Cottonnelle Toilet Paper. :confused3

Apparently the looters we saw in the video, picked apart the grocery store clean. Everything pretty much gone. Not just staples, EVERYTHING.

[MagicKingdom05]

Well I've been shocked and the shocked evenmore when the news comes out of what going on that at this point I won't be surprised at anything that happens from this point on.

[MagicKingdom05]

Beauty,

I'm to drained at this point to cry.

[sarahsmom3]

We are from Laurel, MS. We left Laurel, Sunday afternoon to beat the weather and are now in Orlando (we were suppose to leave heading to WDW tommorrow). Anyway, Laurel got lots for bad weather and our metal roof was blown off, luckly the shingles are still there. We cannot get through to family there to see of everyone is ok and if our house is ok. Any tips on how to find out??? Does anyone know about this area?

[Free4Life11]

Unfortunantely, I haven't heard anything regarding Laurel, MS. :( I hope your friends and family and home are ok!

[Free4Life11]

Good night everyone. Thanks for all the updates. Pray for the people on the rooftops. God bless everyone in the area.

[ladycollector]

Unfortunantely, I haven't heard anything regarding Laurel, MS.

Sarahsmom, I think at this point, no news may be good news.

Good luck to you and yours!

[MagicKingdom05]

Good night all, and for all of those people in LA, AL and MS, take care and stay safe.

[Beauty]

I did hear about wind gusts in Laurel being very high this afternoon. That is the only thing I've heard. I can tell you that here in Greenville (where we were hit lightly, wind, trees down etc.) that we can't get through to anyone. I get a dial tone but no matter where I call I get "All Circuits are Busy."

Sending prayers for your family and home in Laurel!

[Lisa loves Pooh]

We are from Laurel, MS. We left Laurel, Sunday afternoon to beat the weather and are now in Orlando (we were suppose to leave heading to WDW tommorrow). Anyway, Laurel got lots for bad weather and our metal roof was blown off, luckly the shingles are still there. We cannot get through to family there to see of everyone is ok and if our house is ok. Any tips on how to find out??? Does anyone know about this area?


mms://wmbcast.mgeneral.speedera.net/wmbcast.mgeneral/wmbcast_mgeneral_aug262005_1435_95563

This is a live feed from a station in Jackson, MS.

[Beauty]

Lisa thank you so much for that link!

Oh I saw the Cottenale Man as well and he was in almost NECK HIGH WATER with TOILET PAPER. Hello??????

Oh man everytime it shows the picture of the Light House in Biloxi I get a sick feeling. So many memories and pictures there. I still wonder about Beuvoir.

[Lisa loves Pooh]

You are welcome...I got it from that discussion board that WWL has.

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Going to bed now....

God bless the gulf coast and inlands.

[palmtreegirl]

ON CNN they're showing boats coming in with people they rescued, reporting live.

[ladycollector]

ON CNN they're showing boats coming in with people they rescued, reporting live.

Oh that is great news! I remember before the storm, hearing about people in N.O going out on their boats because they thought it was safer.

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Water level is rising in NOLA in areas that had no flooding--most specifically the business district.

In Gulfport--75% of the roofs are severely damaged if there is even a roof left at all.

And in Biloxi--an oceanfront apartment complex--it is suspected that 30 people are dead.

[mickeyfan2]

The levees holding back lake Pontchartrain are starting to be breached.

From the USA Today:

In New Orleans, residents who had ridden out the brunt of Katrina now faced a second more insidious threat as two different levee breaches sent a churning sea of water from Lake Pontchartrain coursing through city streets Tuesday.

[ducklite]

Lisa thank you so much for that link!

Oh I saw the Cottenale Man as well and he was in almost NECK HIGH WATER with TOILET PAPER. Hello??????


It's a shame that the gene pool doesn't always get strengthened in natural disaters...

Anne

[CourtasanSatine]

Thanks for the Tulane info last night. Now one of my classes at tech school is trying to get a fund raiser started

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Thanks for the Tulane info last night. Now one of my classes at tech school is trying to get a fund raiser started

I posted this info this morning on the other thread...

From: http://emergency.tulane.edu/

August 29, 1 p.m.

The worst of Hurricane Katrina has now passed through New Orleans and we will shortly begin the process of assessing the condition of our campuses.

The emergency team located on the uptown campus has been in frequent contact with the university's team at Jackson State University. The approximately 400 students who are located there and are accompanied by university officials, are doing well and are safe. Anyone seeking information about these students may call (601) 979-1964.

In the next 24 hours we expect to finalize our plans regarding the resumption of university operations.

As previously announced, classes will begin no earlier than Wednesday, Sept. 7.

Employees, students and parents should continue to regularly monitor this website and the Alert Line— 1-877-862-8080 or 1-504-862-8080.

As of this date the university's main website and the university's email system are not in operation and are not expected to be functional for another 24-48 hours.

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Gross quote---but sad reality...

Harrison Co. Coroner (MS Gulf Coast)
"If they're dead, they're dead, we've got the living to take care off"

Rescue Ops only, no recovery.

[CourtasanSatine]

Just found the Tulane info Lisa and word has been passed

[ducklite]

Gross quote---but sad reality...

Harrison Co. Coroner (MS Gulf Coast)
"If they're dead, they're dead, we've got the living to take care off"

Rescue Ops only, no recovery.

I'm a very matter of fact person (as most of you now by now-LOL!) and I have to agree with this statement. Right now time is of the essence for the living victims of this horrific disaster, and it's simply too late to do anything for the dead. Greiving for them, burying them, it will just have to wait--there will be plenty of time down the road for that. I'm sure FEMA or the National Guard will be bringing in refer trucks to set up morgues in NOLA. The only reason the dead matter at this moment in time is the disease that they could bring if the corpses are not disposed of properly and fairly soon.

Anne

[Lisa loves Pooh]

ducklite--I'm matter of fact as well.

[wendy1974]

I live 50 miles west of New Orleans and am so thankful after seeing all of the footage that has been pouring in over the past 24 hours to still have my home. Here in Ascension Parish about 70% of the homes are without electricity and there is a large amount of tree damage to homes but we are still so very lucky. I live so close to New Orleans that I travel there frequently for shopping trips and just to spend the day in the French Quarter. It is so sad to see a city that I love so much under water and devastated :sad1: It will take years to return it to what it was before the storm. I was sick to my stomach watching some of my favorite places under water or ripped to shreds as if a bomb had exploded. I cannot even imagine what all of those people are going to do whose homes are covered in water up to their roofs...it is truly a tragic day.

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Current estimate is 1 million homeless in NOLA. I would assume area since they said the city had a population of 1.3 million. If it is just the city...man oh man!!

[mickeyfan2]

The metro area is 1.3 million. About 480,000 are in the city.

[Lisa loves Pooh]

The metro area is 1.3 million. About 480,000 are in the city.


Oh--okay--the headline is 1 million homeless in NOLA---I guess when you consider water up to the ceiling not livable--that that pretty much sums it up. Very few homes that will be livable wants the waters recede.

[mickeyfan2]

From the CNN:

Water poured into New Orleans from Lake Pontchartrain after a two-block-long breach opened overnight in a section of a levee that protects the low-lying city.

Nagin had said that about 80 percent of the city was flooded and that some areas were under 20 feet of water.

Veteran FEMA staffers who have surveyed the destruction are reporting some of the worst damage they have ever seen, he said.



This could be bad for people who had no flooding who went home and slept.

[Planogirl]

Abour Mississippi from SunHerald.com:

Town-by-town reports


Overall: Highway 90 buried under inches - or feet - of sand . . . communications down, transportation systems demolished . . . medical services crippled. . . High-water marks set by Camille shattered.

Bay St. Louis: Bridge connection to Biloxi demolished.

Biloxi: Beau Rivage still stood. . . Hard Rock Casino, scheduled to open in early September, suffered 50 percent damages. The signature guitar, said to be the world’s largest, still stood. . . At least five casinos out of commission. . . St. Thomas the Apostlic Catholic Church, which sits on U.S. 90, is gone.

Gulfport: Fire chief estimates 75 percent of buildings have major roof damage, "if they have a roof left at all" . . . the storm surge crossed the CSX railroad tracks. . . Heavy damage to Memorial Hospital . . . First floor of the Armed Forces Retirement Home flooded . . . 3 of 4 walls have collapsed at Harrison Central 9th Grade School in North Gulfport. . . At least three firehouses have taken significant damage . . .

Hancock County: Emergency Operations Center swamped . . . back of the county courthouse gave way . . .

Harrison County: Unconfirmed reports of up to 80 fatalities. . . Damage to virtually all shelters . . . Lyman Elementary lost two buildings. People were moved to another building on campus safely. . . Woolmarket Elementary lost its roof . . . West Wortham Elementary has signficant roof damage.

Hattiesburg: A number of businesses and homes damaged in the area. . . U.S. 49 and Highway 11 shut down. . . Wind speeds of 95 mph.

Jackson County: Roof peeling off Emergency Operations Center . . .
Long Beach: First Baptist Chruch is leveled.

Pascagoula: The Jackson County Emergency Management Agency had to relocate to the courthouse after the roof came off their building downtown. . . The roof also came off the gym at St. Martin High School. . . Reports of flooding in the Chipley area.

[issa]

I am reading from a local news channel in NOLA - We all know the levees are breaking. I was watching news reports from the french quater last night..though damaged..it was not flooded.

this is the update on the news site:

8:39 A.M. WWL-TV studios are being evacuated as rising water is coming into the station. The French Quarter is taking on water and water is expected to rise in the city for the next few days.

[Lisa loves Pooh]

WWL Live feed is back up here:
http://www.khou.com/perl/common/video/wmPlayer.pl?title=beloint_khou&props=livenoad

(they are at LSU at a back up facility)

[C.Ann]

Four levees have breached now.. They are demanding that everyone leave the business district of NO.. The water is rising considerably and they don't know why - or how high it will get.. It looks like the NO business district will not get off as easy as earlier thought.. :(

[Lisa loves Pooh]

They may not have gotten a 5---she may have toggled.....

But this is catastrophic.

[Planogirl]

The French Quarter is taking on water?!!! Darn. There's lots of tourists still in that area. :(

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Yet another house that is flooded is engulfed in flames.

I wonder how they are igniting. I know they have lots of gas leaks--but I'm can't think of an ignition source.

WWL was showing that and it is now zooming in on another section of black smoke.

[Lisa loves Pooh]

The French Quarter is taking on water?!!! Darn. There's lots of tourists still in that area. :(

They'll move them to higher floors I would imagine.

I saw a blip that NO East was being encourage to evacuate---but it was a post and no idea where these people would go.

[C.Ann]

But this is catastrophic.
-----------------
It's unbelievable - unlike anything I have ever seen before.. I think it will be a long time before an accurate number of fatalities is available..

I also wonder about devastation to smaller towns.. Remember when Hurricane Andrew came through and it was being announced that the Miami area had "dodged the bullet"? Due to lack of communication, they had NO idea that Homestead had been totally flattened.. :(

[Miss Jasmine]

And weren't there people saying yesterday that this was over-hyped? :rolleyes: I wonder how they feel today. It's so sad. :(

[C.Ann]

Toilets are backing up in the Superdome - garbage is overflowing - and two people have died in there.. The victims were probably already elderly and/or infirmed, but what are they going to do with the bodies? This is SO awful!

[ducklite]

This about it this way--as the storm progressed north, all that rain flowed through tributaries and back into the Mississippi River, downstream, over the breached levee's and into NOLA. Using this perspective, the flooding will get worse before it gets better.

Anne

[Planogirl]

They'll move them to higher floors I would imagine.

I saw a blip that NO East was being encourage to evacuate---but it was a post and no idea where these people would go.
Can you imagine the heat and discomfort? And how many buildings have roof damage and maybe structural damage?

I can't see how more people can evacuate when they are surrounded by water. Unless they're all taken on boats to the Superdome.

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Toilets are backing up in the Superdome - garbage is overflowing - and two people have died in there.. The victims were probably already elderly and/or infirmed, but what are they going to do with the bodies? This is SO awful!


They were allowed to get fresh air last night at least.

but I don't know--those people are going to get very sick.

But at least they didn't drown.

[Lisa loves Pooh]

This about it this way--as the storm progressed north, all that rain flowed through tributaries and back into the Mississippi River, downstream, over the breached levee's and into NOLA. Using this perspective, the flooding will get worse before it gets better.

Anne


That makes so much sense!

And the FQ is right on the river--so that and the breeched levvies...path of least resistance for the water.

[Planogirl]

-----------------
It's unbelievable - unlike anything I have ever seen before.. I think it will be a long time before an accurate number of fatalities is available..

I also wonder about devastation to smaller towns.. Remember when Hurricane Andrew came through and it was being announced that the Miami area had "dodged the bullet"? Due to lack of communication, they had NO idea that Homestead had been totally flattened.. :(
I've been wondering about Grand Isle and other small towns in the delta. I wonder if there is anything left of some areas.

[ducklite]

Toilets are backing up in the Superdome - garbage is overflowing - and two people have died in there.. The victims were probably already elderly and/or infirmed, but what are they going to do with the bodies? This is SO awful!

My guess is that the bodies will be stored in the freezers at the Dome. The food service licensee would have at least a couple large walk-in freezers, and they should stay at least cold if not freezing for a few days or more as long as the doors weren't opened and closed too much.

In all honesty, the big problem from a public health perspective right now would be the overflowing toilets. That's how epidemics begin.

Anne

[palmtreegirl]

CNN was just talking to a NG soldier who said they lost a Guardsmen last night do to an electrical wire during rescues.

[issa]

Was hearing from a feed that an oil tanker has run aground...it is leaking oil into the water.

This is leading a scare of massive fires.... :guilty:

[Rozzie]

we just got back power.

My DH's family is all from Biloxi, little by little they are checking in. Major disaster. 3 families are now homeless. One of them (DBIL) has a new 3 month old baby. they lived 3 blocks from the water. They left but of course we have no word from them. They all work at the casino's someway or another. The economic impact is staggering.

on a personal level, we did great. some minor things we are dealing with....
DH's restaurant he manages is in Mobile, and he lost $95k in food. All replaceable, but they don't expect power in that area for 2 weeks. We just have 1 tree down. I worked the storm at the hospital and drove over there at 5 am as it was coming ashore in LA. (if I didn't show I was fired). Something I will remember for a long time.

please keep everyone down here in your prayers. Just thought I would check in. The devestation in MS is absolutely something that can't be described. Gulfport is described by a friend as a "war zone".

hope all our DIS friends over there are ok. Hope everyone can check in when they get a chance.

[LoraJ]

Still no news on BF's little sister and stepmother. :(

[mickeyfan2]

Four levees have breached now.. They are demanding that everyone leave the business district of NO.. The water is rising considerably and they don't know why - or how high it will get.. It looks like the NO business district will not get off as easy as earlier thought.. :(

The levees are getting saturated with water and then the bottom gives way. Earthen levees can only hold back high water so long. Also the Mississippi levee was breached during the storm and will be flowing into NOLA too. The storm will stay on the western side of the Mountains, so they will be on the western side of the eastern continental divide. This means that all of that water will go to the Mississippi and not the Atlantic. Thus more flooding in NOLA.

[cajunmommy]

The flooding in the area is not from the Mississippi overflowing its banks. In actuality the River is at an extremely low stage right now (thank goodness). The water is from the storm surge - water pushed in from Lake Pontchartrain and the gulf.

Just heard on the radio word of two levee breaches, but it was from one of the canals, not the Mississippi River. The water is rising.

[kerrynic78]

I just saw an elderly man on the news talking about how his wife was washed away, he was holding onto her and she couldn't hold on any longer and that was the last he saw of her, he was hysterical. I can't even imagine what these people are going through.

[lauran cameron]

all of this is just too sad :sad1:

[Aristocath]

Has anyone heard or seen anything on Destrahan, Louisiana? It is just to the west of NO.

[Lisa loves Pooh]

For more perspective of "how long".....

it will take weeks if not months before residents can even "visit" their home to assess damage.

[Miss Jasmine]

How about this for a report...drug addicts are going through withdrawals and breaking into pharmacies. Just heard that on WWL.

[madge]

How about this for a report...drug addicts are going through withdraws and breaking into pharmacies. Just heard that on WWL.

I just heard the same--what a scary, sad time for everyone :(

[Lisa loves Pooh]

LSU chancellor on....they are shelter for special needs evacuees and a media staging ground.

I thought he looked familiar--it's Sean O'Keefe--our old NASA guy! Didn't know he was a native New Orleanian.

[totalia]

Metarie--on the side closer to Hanrahan....roughly 2-5 miles away (based on the air footage I saw and can't find :().

It is in a neighborhood and it is a home.
Oh no. Thats where my fiance's apartment is. He's in Fat City. Uhh sorry, common name for the area. Anyone who knows much about the area will know what I mean. Its still Metairie.

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Oh no. Thats where my fiance's apartment is. He's in Fat City. Uhh sorry, common name for the area. Anyone who knows much about the area will know what I mean. Its still Metairie.

:(---further along someone further identified the area I was talking about. Maybe it will be more helpful.

[totalia]

I'm so crying right now. The news here isn't really saying all that much now that the hurricane is past so I'm getting most of my news from you guys.

Gods, what are they going to do?

Has the President declared it a disaster area yet?

I talked to my fiance last night and they are going to stay a week in Tennessee.

Their lives may be out of danger but now its their livelihood thats in danger. Oh my god... weeks until anyone may be able to reenter the city. The cable has gone down in Tuscaloosa and he has no radio so my fiance has no clue whats going on. I'm going to have to tell him all of this.

The looting and crap, I bet everything is gone. If the water didn't get it, the looters or a fire would have.

This is disaster. This is so bad there aren't even words. It could always have been worse but dear gods...

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Totalia--here's the local news feed that most of us are getting info from.

Hang in there!!!

http://www.wwltv.com/perl/common/video/wmPlayer.pl?title=beloint_khou&props=livenoad

[Lisa loves Pooh]

It has been declared a federal disaster area...pre-eminently and after the fact.


A govt official (state representative or something) was on earlier and said that all the state officials will make sure that there is no bureaucratic red tape to get around any and all holdups that would even remotely cause a delay.

The state has their residents back.

[palmtreegirl]

OMG a man jumped to his death in the Superdome! Reported on CNN via WGNO-TV.

[Lisa loves Pooh]

OMG a man jumped to his death in the Superdome! Reported on CNN via WGNO-TV.


:earseek:

[totalia]

My god. I just saw some of the CNN news reports. A levee broke close to the ocean in NO and its flooded all the way down to Metairie with the water rising about a foot an hour. The water is flooding all the way to another levee a ways away that hasn't broken yet.

I wonder if I can convince him to stay in Tennessee. Get a job out there. There's nothing left. its just not worth the effort to reclaim anything.

Looking at the pictures of the CBD and French Quarter, at the very least, they've suffered extreme damage to everything. Though, oddly from the video, it doesn't seem that bad in the French Quarter. The water is only a few feet deep as opposed to the 10 or 20 feet elsewhere. I wonder why that is. Or maybe I'm just getting the wrong impression from the news reports.

Gods, NO is like my second home. I can't imagine how so many New Orleanians are feeling right now.

I think I'm going to go get a phone card and call him. I really need to talk to him. I only hope the phones haven't gone out in Tuscaloosa.

I'm trying to think this is only a natural disaster and they will rebuild. And my fiance and his family are alive. Starting to think maybe I shouldn't be reading these news reports or watching the news they posted on CNN's web site.

[MoniqueU]

canal street is now flooded and water is lapping into the french quater

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Totalia--it would probably behoove anybody with the means--to at least look at temporary work elsewhere--it is going to be a while.

I'm glad he left. Someone was right--the paperwork wasn't that important.

[Lisa loves Pooh]

How sad--just watching WWL...and a staffer came in for one of the anchors b/c her sister was on the phone and crying....she was ready to run up from the desk--settled down a bit and worked on disconnecting herself while they went to video.

[Geoff_M]

Though, oddly from the video, it doesn't seem that bad in the French Quarter. The water is only a few feet deep as opposed to the 10 or 20 feet elsewhere. I wonder why that is.I've never been to NO, but on the news last evening they said that the FQ is in a "high" spot compared to the surrounding area.

[palmtreegirl]

CNN is showing live footage from the main street in Bay St. Louis in MS and it's completely destroyed.

They spoke to a women who waited out in her Bed and Breakfast that with stood camille, katerina destroyed her. The women and 6 others climbed into a tree as the waves came in, they waited there for 3 hours and then someone came and rescued them.

[stevenpensacola]

Looking at the pictures of the CBD and French Quarter, at the very least, they've suffered extreme damage to everything. Though, oddly from the video, it doesn't seem that bad in the French Quarter. The water is only a few feet deep as opposed to the 10 or 20 feet elsewhere. I wonder why that is. Or maybe I'm just getting the wrong impression from the news reports.

I'm trying to think this is only a natural disaster and they will rebuild. .

In New Orleans, the more money you have, the higher the level of the land you live on. The Garden District and the French Quarter have the highest elevation (although still below sea level I think) in New Orleans. The poorest live in the lowest areas of the city.

If NO did not exist, and you were looking for a place to build a city...you would not choose the site of the existing city.

[dturner]

I am at a loss for words for what is happening :sad2: :sad2:

Unbelievably sad!!!!!!!!!!!!

[lovetheparks]

Anyone know of any sites where they are listing the any of the missing or (G-d forbid dead) for Bay St. Louis? We are looking for some of DH's family that live in Bay St. Louis- we don't know if they got out or not.

[ladycollector]

If the water is rising... What does this mean for the superdome? I am just wondering how and when they are going to let these people out, because if they stay cooped up much longer...

[ducklite]

Anyone know of any sites where they are listing the any of the missing or (G-d forbid dead) for Bay St. Louis? We are looking for some of DH's family that live in Bay St. Louis- we don't know if they got out or not.

You need to contact your local Red Cross. They will coordinate with first responders in the area to issue a BOLO. That is your very best alternative at this point. If you still ahven't heard aftter 48 hours, let me know and I'll give further advice. For now, the Red Cross is the way you really need to proceed.

Anne

[Lisa loves Pooh]

If the water is rising... What does this mean for the superdome? I am just wondering how and when they are going to let these people out, because if they stay cooped up much longer...


I was watching an explanation of the flood---I posted the link elsewhere but it is done now. Hopefully WWL will post a link with that piece and if they do I will post it.

In any case--Superdome is just off the 9th ward---and it is in a flood risk area given the present situation. It can flood and they will need to figure out what to do with these people.

[totalia]

Gods, my fiance can call out. But no one can call his phone. And he can't get ahold of his friends. I would hope that if their cell's can call out that they would call him. I hope they didn't get caught in the surge. Those guys are close to me too. Gods, I hope they are at the least at a shelter. Please don't let them have been killed in the water.

[MoniqueU]

If the water is rising... What does this mean for the superdome? I am just wondering how and when they are going to let these people out, because if they stay cooped up much longer...
4 feet of water surrounding the superdome I just heard on fox

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Jefferson Parish--residents may be allowed back in a week...to retrieve ESSENTIALS only. And then will have to leave and cannot come back for a month.

[Southern4sure]

80% of New Orleans is flooded. Having been to New Orleans numerous times it is hard to imagine.

Did anyone just see on Fox the two ladies pushing something that looked loaded with things from a grocery store?

[Beauty]

I know that here all circuits are busy so I'm sure that your friends cell phones aren't working. Hang in there!

[totalia]

*nods* Saw a man with a bag of diapers too. Looks like part of the looters are just people that need things to live.

Trying. Need to leave this for a while. I'm getting really upset and its not going to help anything to panic and start to feel sick. I will be back later.

[Lisa loves Pooh]

There is a thread on the looting---but even if they need it....it is still illegal. They can flag down authorities if they are truly in need. But for the most part....as part of hurricane follow up--looting is not permitted under any circumstance.