Floodwater inundates New Orleans after hurricane

[M45510G1C]

http://www.breitbart.com/news/2005/08/30/M..._SCH065073.html

Floodwater inundates New Orleans after hurricane

Aug 30 1:56 PM US/Eastern

By Erwin Seba

NEW ORLEANS (Reuters) - The historic city of New Orleans was steadily filling with water from nearby Lake Ponchartrain on Tuesday after its defenses were breached by the ferocity of hurricane Katrina.

With the floodwaters rising in many areas, threatening the French Quarter, residents were plucked from the roofs of their homes, bodies were seen floating in the streets and rescuers searched the city in boats and helicopters.

"We probably have 80 percent of our city under water; with some sections of our city the water is as deep as 20 feet. Both airports are underwater," Mayor Ray Nagin told a radio interviewer.

New Orleans, a city that usually throbs with the life of its carnivals and the sound of jazz and blues, was in a "state of devastation," Nagin said.

In many residential areas TV pictures showed the water was up to roof level after the surge caused by Katrina breached a section of the levee along a canal leading from Lake Ponchartrain, which looms to the north of the city.

Much of New Orleans, a city of some 500,000, lies in a bowl below sea level, bounded by the lake and the Mississippi River, North America's biggest river, which curves along the south of the city before discharging in the Gulf of Mexico.

"We always were afraid the bowl that is New Orleans would fill quickly," Walter Maestri, emergency management coordinator for Jefferson Parish, said in a radio interview. "Now with the water rising today, it appears to be filling slowly," he said.

"The water is rising so fast I cannot begin to describe how quickly it's rising," Tulane University Medical Center Vice President Karen Troyer-Caraway told CNN. "We have whitecaps on Canal Street, the water is moving so fast."

The downtown hospital was surrounded by 6 feet of water and considering evacuating its 1,000 patients.

SCENE OF DEVASTATION

"The devastation is greater than our worst fears," Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Blanco said in a news conference. "It's totally overwhelming."

Weather experts had predicted the city would be quickly overwhelmed by the impact of Katrina, which tore across the coast on Monday but initially damage appeared less than catastrophic.

By Tuesday, however, the full impact was clear as the water rose and overwhelmed pumps, part of an elaborate system of walls, canals and other devices built to protect the city from just such a disaster.

Fears grew about pollution, with the water believed to be carrying sewage, spilled fuel and other pollutants from residential and commercial districts inundated in the flood.

Reporters said there was waist-high water round the Superdome, the huge covered football stadium near downtown New Orleans that had been used as an emergency evacuation center for thousands of residents.

Local television showed people and dogs sitting on rooftops, the houses below them invisible in brackish water. A hand was visible through a window in a house surrounded by chest-high water.

One man was seen using an ice chest as a flotation device. Another clung to metal scaffolding to escape the deluge, which ironically occurred in sunshine and blue skies Tuesday.

No deaths were officially confirmed, but Nagin said bodies were seen floating.

Officials went on television to urge people not to try to return to their homes yet. "You need to get used to where you're at right now because this may take us some time." said U.S. Rep. Bobby Jindal.

[PwrInTheBld]

One poor man spoke about holding his wife's hand and how she said "you can't keep hold of me....take care of the kids"

Then she was gone

[Giaour]

Was Baton Rouge hit? My aunt evacuated there and we haven't heard from her yet.

[PwrInTheBld]

I believe it has wind damage and some flooding but I don't think it's been catastrophic.

[Guest Zayit]

One poor man spoke about holding his wife's hand and how she said "you can't keep hold of me....take care of the kids"

Then she was gone

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I saw that! He broke my heart, and his little children around his feet, they looked dazed, like they had no idea what was going on. My heart was wrenched for that man and others like him!

[Giaour]

Sweet merciful Jesus, Protect us all from harm.

[Guest Zayit]

"The devastation is greater than our worst fears," Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Blanco said in a news conference. "It's totally overwhelming."

She is saying right now, "we will have to draw on our inner strength like we've never done before............."

This doesn't sound like just a hurricane to me.

You are seeing some being interviewed and saying that they lost everything, but their life was saved (they were rescued) and I thank G-D for that"

Praise the L-RD his name is being glorified, but at what cost?

[Guest Zayit]

Was Baton Rouge hit?  My aunt evacuated there and we haven't heard from her yet.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

http://brgov.com/emergency/ - S Louisiana evacuation

http://www.wafb.com/Global/story.asp?S=3775291 - where the shelters are

http://www.wafb.com/ -- Louisiana weather channel

[Guest Zayit]

Just watching the news conference and heard the Gov, Blanco say that she was calling for tommorow to be a day of prayer, that they all needed it, to revive their spirits and to thank the L-RD that they are survivors.

[bad biker]

Giaour.

I am in Baton Rouge. We are high and dry. We got electricity back this morning.

But if your aunt lived in New Orleans, she has no home right now. I am watching video of places I recognize, and I am stunned.

I am just praying that people will wake up and fall on their faces before God. Pray with me, brethren.