posted on August 30, 2008 06:54:49 PM new
Time to leave New Orleans
I've been criticized by some for recommending people evacuate New Orleans, since that's not my job, and for saying "it's not natural" to live in a city that lies partially below sea level. I apologize for my remarks, they could have been phrased better. We had to build New Orleans where it is, and it is a great city that needs to be protected. The fact remains that New Orleans is highly vulnerable to storms like Gustav. Gustav is capable of bringing a storm surge to the city that will overwhelm the levees. Pre-Katrina wisdom suggested that the city needed 72 hours to evacuate. With the population about half of the pre-Katrina population, that lead time is about 60 hours. With Gustav likely to bring tropical storm force winds to the city by Monday afternoon, that means it's time to leave. I'm not an emergency manager, but I am a hurricane scientist. I understand the danger this storm poses better than most. The risk of staying in New Orleans is unacceptable. This is a huge and dangerous storm that has already killed a lot of people. The projected track and strength of Gustav is very close to that of Hurricane Betsy of 1965, the Category 3 hurricane that overwhelmed New Orleans' levees, and killed 76 people. It's time to get out of New Orleans
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posted on August 30, 2008 07:58:30 PM new
Has anything changed since Katrina? The concentration of poverty sitll remains. And poor residents in the most vulnerable areas are being told that the levees are stronger than they were before Katrina, creating a false sense of security.
"For instance, although Jindal asked President Bush on Thursday to declare the state a disaster area for the purposes of reimbursing the state for increased public safety costs and potential storm damage to public property, the federal government still would have to assess damage after the storm before Bush could release disaster assistance for individuals."
"Also, a post-storm assessment would be necessary if a hospital ship were needed, as it was after Katrina incapacitated most medical facilities. "
"The Navy sent Hospital Ship Comfort to New Orleans on Sept. 28, 2005, a month after Katrina struck, drawing criticism for another slow response. Don Jacks, FEMA's Hurricane Planning Team spokesman, said a post-storm assessment of local hospitals and FEMA's Disaster Medical Assistance Teams would be necessary again before a hospital ship could be summoned. "
posted on August 31, 2008 03:03:41 PM new
I lived in New Orleans for 9 years,1989 to 1998 near Tulane University,so called Uptown area.
I have seen a few storms,I dont recall any hurricanes.
But one thing about New Orleans,when it rains it could rain for days and hence comes the flooding,and people start throwing out mattresses and soiled books etc.
Many folks dont have insurance,they could lose their homes,cars and personal belongings.
Yes,there is poverty and there is crime,but damn it New Orleans is different city ,Europeans said they come for a year just to sweat it out,they like the blacks and they like the sticky weather.See they dont have that in Europe,how boring!
Once I stuck my head out in the afternoon and there is a funeral procession you read about ,the parade of people,the dance and the music!Thats New Orleans,so are the wilting banana trees,the midlew filled bars and stores and the sign that ladies drink free after 11 pm!
And Yes,there is the French Quarter,M Somerset loved it,so would all of you !
The smell of New Orleans coffee with chicory,the fragrance of freshly fried baguettes !Even sucking on crawfish and wash it down with cold beer is fun,it is so New Orleans.
Poverty,yes,there is poverty but look around,you have lots of company,there is always money to get a bag of boiled crawfish,throw a few chicken legs on BBQ and turn on some Jazz music and invite everyone to have a good time!
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Gulag-a Soviet era concentration camp is now reincarnated as EBAY with 13,000 rules.
posted on August 31, 2008 04:31:50 PM new
Business as usual. They spent millions on local "studies" of the Corp of Engineers plans. Delayed construction, graft, diversion of money. This addict should be cut off.
posted on September 1, 2008 07:29:24 PM new
New Orleans is one of my favorite- perhaps the most favorite of the cities I've visited. The cost of rebuilding the city is mind-boggling, especially given the fact that it is still vulnerable to future hurricanes and destruction.
The city is located where it is because of thriving river traffic in earlier centuries. Perhaps we should scale back the rebuilding, hoping to preserve the French Quarter and relocating homes and industries to less vulnerable areas.
[ edited by pixiamom on Sep 1, 2008 07:29 PM ]
posted on September 2, 2008 05:15:39 AM new
It's one of my favorites also, Pixiamom. I used to go fishing with my dad on Lake Pontchartrain. Now, contaminated floodwater pumped back into the lake has probably made the lake uninhabitable for fish or humans.
It's sad too that the poor people of New Orleans have to return again to their former homes in unsafe areas because they can't afford to move.
posted on September 2, 2008 10:12:22 AM new
Some dont want to move,it is their home!
I used to walk everywhere to the Tulane campus,to the supermarket Winn Dixie,to the local fish store ,coffee shop or catch a street car going to the French Quarter.
Walking down the street,you see houses lining both sides of the streets not Hi Rise apt buildings like NYC .
But you are right,they should move to higher ground but then the LA polticians wont be able to line their pocket with all the reconstruction money!
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Gulag-a Soviet era concentration camp is now reincarnated as EBAY with 13,000 rules.
