Gustav

[texaspackerbacker]

Why can't we implement something like this?

http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/regions/thames/323150/335688/341764/

Yes, it would cost $........but how many Katrinas or Gustavs can we take?

It's the storm surge that ususally causes the most damage, not the wind.

I heard on the news this morning that they have done exactly that in New Orleans.

Heavens I hope they know what they're doing....If they put a block like that on the river, won't the water just spill over into the marshes on the delta and flood from a different direction?

They actually showed the thing just now on Fox News. The storm surge that threatens most of New Orleans doesn't come from the Gulf directly. It comes in the back door as Lake Ponchartrain surges into the downtown canals. They now have walls and pumps to block the surge and pump it back into the lake.

I'm still predicting--and the experts are now starting to come around to this point of view too--that the storm will come ashore well west of New Orleans, and be a lot less strong than they were predicting a day or two ago--more like a weak to moderate Category 3. That, of course, would still be fairly bad, but much less severe than Katrina or what they were predicting earlier.

[mraynrand]

I have friends in Slidell, just north of the city on Pontchartrain. During Katrina, they hung out for almost a day and a half on the top bunks in the upstairs boy's bedroom, as the waters rose just above the lower bunk. A family of 6, the kids and the wife got the beds and the dad spent most of his time wading in the water watching snakes and fish swim by. This year, they are nowhere near as worried.

[Kiwon]

I have friends in Slidell, just north of the city on Pontchartrain. During Katrina, they hung out for almost a day and a half on the top bunks in the upstairs boy's bedroom, as the waters rose just above the lower bunk. A family of 6, the kids and the wife got the beds and the dad spent most of his time wading in the water watching snakes and fish swim by. This year, they are nowhere near as worried.

No sharks or 10,000 dead bodies as MSNBC reported in 2005?

[Badgerinmaine]

Kiwon,

You forget that it was the Bush administration who appointed Michael Brown as head of FEMA. His qualifications for that important position? He managed a horse breeding company and was a loyal Republican!

Yes, the local and state governments mismanaged the Hurricane Katrina catastrophe as well. At the federal level, the mismanagement by someone hardly qualified to run FEMA was just gross incompetance.

All true, OPF. Hopefully we all learn from our mistakes and bad experiences in life, and it seems like there's been a better round of planning from everyone this time. It seemed like Mayor Nagin in particular did a heckuva lot better getting people out of NO this time.

I haven't seen the updated tracks this time, but it sounds like it could be closer to the path of Hurricane Rita than Katrina.

[mraynrand]

I have friends in Slidell, just north of the city on Pontchartrain. During Katrina, they hung out for almost a day and a half on the top bunks in the upstairs boy's bedroom, as the waters rose just above the lower bunk. A family of 6, the kids and the wife got the beds and the dad spent most of his time wading in the water watching snakes and fish swim by. This year, they are nowhere near as worried.

No sharks or 10,000 dead bodies as MSNBC reported in 2005?

No. And he's a physician in the city. The truth about those who did die is tah many chose to stay, and unfortunately, for a number of those who died, they died not from the effects of the hurricane, but from being unable to get treatment for pre-exisiting, life-threatening medical conditions. A lot of deaths could have been very easily avoided.

[MJZiggy]

That's the only benefit that hurricane had is that it will be a long time before people in NO ignore an evacuation warning again.

[BallHawk]

Poor media. They are trying to make the coverage as dramatic as possible, but Gustav has really let 'em down. CNN must be quite unhappy right now.

[HowardRoark]

Anybody know when Oprah will be doing her show from New Orleans this time? I want to make sure to record it. Don't want to miss it!

[red]

Poor media. They are trying to make the coverage as dramatic as possible, but Gustav has really let 'em down. CNN must be quite unhappy right now.

it sure seems that way. weather channel too

[MJZiggy]

Let me guess. Reporters standing in the wind and rain, reporting that it's windy and raining?

[Harlan Huckleby]

Fox News is the worst. They spent 48 hours SCREAMING about every bent bush.