Gustav open thread: New Orleans levee being topped, none (yet) breached
posted at 1:15 pm on September 1, 2008 by Allahpundit
Hoping for the best, expecting the worst. It’s “only” a category two right now, but things are moving fast (no pun intended) so I thought I’d open a thread for rapid updating as news breaks. The levee that’s being topped is the one for the Industrial Canal, which, er, also happens to be the one that failed during Katrina.
Here’s video of Shep Smith impressively standing and talking into a microphone on location, and noting that the water’s already only three or four feet from the top of other levees that were built higher after Katrina to prevent flooding from the next ‘cane. The good news is, it looks like New Orleans will be spared a direct hit; the bad news is, it might not matter. If you’re the praying type, now’s the time.
Blowback
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Good luck to everyone in the way.
e-pirate on September 1, 2008 at 1:18 PM
I’m here waiting for the TS level storm to hit us.
The preperations and response are about as well as can be expected. There is no way we can make this a flawless recovery but life will go on. If I see the media they will see my “save your pity” sign I have out front.
Keep your eyes on the ball and back Sarah and John….this is the time we have to frame and control the selling of Palin to the middle of America…the type of fool who thinks 17 year old Bristol being pregnant precludes Sarah from being fit for service but Barry hanging with racists and terrorists is hunky-dory is beyond our reach but we can coopt the “golden boy American idol” followers of Barry is we package Sarah as America’s Sister/Mom/Sweeyheart.
Thoughts and prayers for the other posters who are facing this storm and together anything is possible.
>
Prepare
hunker down
pitch in
>
Virtuo in Arduo
>
sven
sven10077 on September 1, 2008 at 1:20 PM
Bush gets blamed for the storm in 3… 2…..
Kini on September 1, 2008 at 1:21 PM
So does Bush bomb the levees after the storm passes?
ThePrez on September 1, 2008 at 1:21 PM
not one for praying but best wishes…
now let’s watch who comes down on Officials for the evacuation if it stays Cat 2
Kaptain Amerika on September 1, 2008 at 1:21 PM
The media is, as usual, just way too excited about this. Nothing makes their day like the possibility of NOLA being destroyed again. I get the distinct vibe of “Finally! It took three whole years to test whether anyone learned anything from Katrina!”
aero on September 1, 2008 at 1:24 PM
HopingPRAYING for the bestOh, and no, not just for political reasons.
Did anybody see the Fowler video? This guy was LAUGHING at the thought of the ‘cane hitting N.O. during the RNC.
Tony737 on September 1, 2008 at 1:25 PM
Fox News disaster pimps have been going at it non stop.
Almost coulda woulda shoulda might yet probably turn out to be a another disaster just like the last disaster which was such a disaster that the Bush administration has done everything it can to redeem itself after that last disaster that was so disastrous in living memory and it is only by the valiant efforts at state and local levels that Mayor Nagin and the National Guard have worked so hard during this disaster and evacuated 80-90-95% of the people who live here except for a few ten thousand or so who have stayed behind to protect property during this disastrous disaster…..
Not to mention the brave news reporters who are bravely standing out in the rain to report winds of 60mph or so and watching the water wash over the old levees and up to withing 3 feet of the top of the new levees that certainly the ninth ward will be flooded so disastrously just like the last time it was so badly flooded and that would be such a tragedy after so many people tried to rebuild their lives without any help from Bush or FEMA. . . . .
rockhauler on September 1, 2008 at 1:26 PM
Foul Folwer said it ‘demonstrates that God is on our side.’ I see it as the other way around, it’s a challenge for our side and a chance for our side to shine. God doesn’t do anything directly FOR us, He presents us with opportunities to overcome obstacles.
Tony737 on September 1, 2008 at 1:26 PM
McCain was brilliant to call off Monday’s events at the RNCC. The hurricane turns out to be a dud, everybody can have a fun Labor Day (except for the displaced people), and the RNCC will be kept short and sweet, the way it should be. Plus, Bush can keep busy on hurricane patrol, while Laura comes up and delivers a great endorsement with her high approval numbers.
indythinker on September 1, 2008 at 1:27 PM
If things hold together for the next few hours, the RNC will be right to point to one variable between Gustav and Katrina (could we please stop giving our storms German names? It seems to give them really bad attitudes!) — the election of a GOP governor for Louisiana.
Scribbler on September 1, 2008 at 1:27 PM
I don’t know how to link, but go to youTube and type in a search for Fowler and you’ll see this guy laughing that the storm is heading to N.O. just in time for the ‘Pubbie convention. It’s just like when libs quietly cheer the news of U.S. troops dying in Iraq. Bad news for America is good news for the Demonrats.
Tony737 on September 1, 2008 at 1:29 PM
Yup rumor mill says Jindal was going to use state resources in NOLA with or without Sugar Ray’s approval.
sven10077 on September 1, 2008 at 1:30 PM
I’m from NOLA and it’ll be fine. Once the winds shift and blows Lake Pontchartrain towards the east, the water will stop splashing over – the crest has likely been reached already. This is a fairly desolate part of town – rail road tracks, a yacht manufacturing center, an airport, a USMC reserve center… The inhabited part is in the opposite direction. The Corps has also put in a parallel flood wall along the Industrial Canal using Hesco basckets, to protect some of the vulnerable areas in the 9th ward. See here a photo.
esperpento on September 1, 2008 at 1:32 PM
Did anyone else see Geraldo make a fool of himself when he saw the guy “stranded” in the canal..
with a life jacket on ..
who turned out to be a Corp of Engineers tethering a line to a floating propane tank..
from the Coast Guard boat ..
that was right in front of …
Geraldo??
I swear that guy had the gift of making news where there is none!
Texas Gal on September 1, 2008 at 1:33 PM
A local radio guy reported that Geraldo was “severely beaten by his mustache” in the high winds….
MrScribbler on September 1, 2008 at 1:36 PM
Bobby Jindal has done an awesome job thus far. I laughed when Nagin said that no looting would be tolerated. We all know that Jindal was the reason no looting would be tolerated.
Good on Bobby Jindal. I still love his Southern Accent considering the way he looks. It’s just so unexpected. Bobby Jindal is my new politic crush.
mjk on September 1, 2008 at 1:37 PM
Some reporters seem almost disappointed that the levees are holding and that Gustav is only a Cat 2. FNC reporter just reminded the anchor that it looked like NOLA had escaped the worst for several hours after Katrina hit, until the levees were breached by storm surge. He’s basically saying, Don’t worry! We might still get unmitigated disaster!
Prayers are with those in harm’s way. There’s always the very real threat of tornadoes, even if the levees hold strong.
aero on September 1, 2008 at 1:37 PM
Sorry. here’s the link for a photo:
http://uk.news.yahoo.com/rtrs/20080829/img/pwl-a-contract-worker-for-u-768b587b4414.html
esperpento on September 1, 2008 at 1:38 PM
Real time news reporting from Times-Pic here.
Photo of Industrial Canal wall being topped is shown here.
AP, the Industrial Canal floodwall on the east side is the one that failed spectacularly and flooded the Lower Ninth Ward. The west wall is the one being topped right now. The east wall was rebuilt to a higher elevation, and its land side footing was armored against scouring.
On a more ominous note, I saw a video from WVUE that showed another section of a floodwall, with a distinct deflection. The worst of the surge hasn’t made it through yet.
GulfCoastBamaFan on September 1, 2008 at 1:38 PM
NOLA will weather this one even if breaches happen….
thoughts and prayers to Wonkaland.
sven10077 on September 1, 2008 at 1:40 PM
Please, spare us the Shep stupidness! The only thing worse is the mustache and his asinine coverage!
conservnut on September 1, 2008 at 1:40 PM
Shep’s producer:
Okay Shep, cue the tears, rolling, speed, okay 3, 2, 1 , now.
TheSitRep on September 1, 2008 at 1:41 PM
Yep, I saw that. It was pretty funny!
conservnut on September 1, 2008 at 1:43 PM
Fox is showing Jindal right now. Is that really his voice? I never heard him before. It’s unexpected.
lorien1973 on September 1, 2008 at 1:45 PM
I’ve been following the live blogging of Brendan Loy since early yesterday. Much thanks to MM for the link. Love the new additions to Pajamas Media. I’ve been most pleased with Mr. Loys, calm intelligent approach and from his informed reporting, its been obvious since early yesterday in fact, that this was going to be no Katrina. In my experience, most hurricane events turn out like this. Two big reasons Hurricanes are sensationalized to be worse than they turn out to be is: 1.) Ratings and 2.) Officials always want to ere on the side of caution to insure that residents respond appropriately.
Thus it comes as absolutely no surprise that PJM is reporting that Louisianians are reacting with outrage at the tone and manner of the national coverage which I can only imagine as I consider Cable to be a huge waist of precious money.
Much Thanks to PJM for its Weather Nerd!
Nyog_of_the_Bog on September 1, 2008 at 1:50 PM
I’ve been watching the “ALERT!! ALERT!! ALERT!! ALERT!! ALERT!!” coverage .. and at the risk of tempting fate ..
.. this thing is nothing.
.. and the media hype is absurd.
“Mother of all storms” my tail.
cgoode777 on September 1, 2008 at 1:50 PM
Jindal is a laser beam.
The guy is intense. He is head and shoulders above that whacko Blanco.
Jees, there is no comparison.
Leadership, ya either have it, or ya don’t.
TheSitRep on September 1, 2008 at 1:50 PM
Yeah, G-man was pitchin’ a “G*d dammit!” fit…there were only two coast guard boats right there….
JetBoy on September 1, 2008 at 1:50 PM
Is that really his voice? I never heard him before. It’s unexpected. – Lorien
“Yeah, I thought he’d sound just like the Indians working at 7-11 or Dunkin’ Donuts!” – Joe Biden
Tony737 on September 1, 2008 at 1:51 PM
Isn’t that funny? I remember seeing him on Jay Leno and thinking “Seriously?” He’s such a great governor for Louisiana. Yeah, looking very Indian, but sounding like a down-home boy from New Orleans is awesome.
mjk on September 1, 2008 at 1:52 PM
What did you expect, Apu?
locke on September 1, 2008 at 1:52 PM
I can’t really bring myself to care about this hurricane. I’ve heard so much whining about Katrina over the years that I’m sick of the entire subject.
jaime on September 1, 2008 at 1:52 PM
And someone please explain…Why do the networks insist on putting a reporter with crew right out in the hurricane to report on it?
Gheesh…get inside already!
JetBoy on September 1, 2008 at 1:52 PM
I almost hope that New Orleans gets flooded again. Might teach someone that they shouldn’t build a city BELOW sea level.
docdave on September 1, 2008 at 1:53 PM
I know this is old news but the city is below sea level.
Does any of this really suprise anybody?
crazy texas on September 1, 2008 at 1:53 PM
No, but it reminds me of my cousin’s black husband. With the French Canadian accent. Just kind of weird that’s all.
mjk on September 1, 2008 at 1:55 PM
That’s fine. But New Orleans has to be there. There is no other place for it to be. The port there handles more than 1/2 of all food exports, oil imports, etc. It’s perfectly situated for commerce.
lorien1973 on September 1, 2008 at 1:55 PM
How interesting is the similarity between Iraq and Gustav in this respect. Regarding Iraq, the Dem’s say “We’re for the troops, but against the war.” With Gustav, they’re “For the hurricane, but against it killing anyone.” For the latter, of course, they support the hurricane because it ruins the Republican convention, never mind the unintended consequences to the local economy that relies on events like the convention. They salivate at the potential misery it will inflict, but of course, it’s only at those nasty, evil Republicans who deserve whatever pain that happens to them. The thing that binds the two things together is that the Democrats wish to have it both ways. They want the benefits of something, but they don’t have the desire to be responsible about it. They wish to have their cake, and eat it too.
Weebork on September 1, 2008 at 2:00 PM
That’s fine. But New Orleans has to be there. There is no other place for it to be. The port there handles more than 1/2 of all food exports, oil imports, etc. It’s perfectly situated for commerce.
lorien1973 on September 1, 2008 at 1:55 PM
No argument on that point. I just find it hard to understand why people are fired up that a breach might happen. Preparation is the key, and should have been during Katrina.
crazy texas on September 1, 2008 at 2:02 PM
Ray Nagin is saying the city could be open late tomorrow.
Wouldn’t it make a tad more sense to let emergency crews do their jobs first? Y’know… opening roads. Doing damage assessments. Inspecting infrastructure.
GulfCoastBamaFan on September 1, 2008 at 2:03 PM
Situation Report, you are so right! I’ve been following on WWL’s live stream and he is just all over this with indefatigable precision and detail! Louisianians have got to feel relieved and confident know he’s the one in control.
I saw the same interview as you. You may recall he said that he had grown up in Baton Rouge. Louisianians do make a distinction about stuff like that. New Orleans in regards to Louisiana has always been something of another planet though that was more true in the past than today.
Nyog_of_the_Bog on September 1, 2008 at 2:06 PM
I think that the long term odds are against NOLA. Flood control measures up river are lowering silt levels and causing an ongoing deterioration of the Delta. NOLA is getting a little closer to the Gulf every year.
Government policy should be to encourage migration while turning the French Quarter into something akin to Colonial Williamsburg.
Laurence on September 1, 2008 at 2:07 PM
Sure there is. Appears the natural order of things would prefer it be under water .. seeing as how it lies ..
.. uh ..
below sea level.
We have other ports .. when can we stop spending trillions of tax dollars to rebuild something that’s not supposed to be there?
cgoode777 on September 1, 2008 at 2:07 PM
sorry, baby. He still sounds like a good ol’ boy. I’m a Canadian. His accent sounds New Orleansian to me. But you know, I dont’ really care.
mjk on September 1, 2008 at 2:08 PM
They are going to find out if the new engineering and construction is better than the last. Good luck, and hope it holds.
tarpon on September 1, 2008 at 2:09 PM
The lesson we should have learned from the destruction of Rita/Katrina is to seperate residential areas from the commerce zone….
while it is true that NOLA is a vital strategic/commercial asset it is also quite true it is stupid to have civillians looking up at container ships going by.
If you live in a bowl you might want to wargame having rainy days.
sven10077 on September 1, 2008 at 2:09 PM
Great timing here. Major bullet dodged. Come Wednesday night Mrs. Palin can take center stage. Come Thursday Mr. McCain can take the nomination.
I’m sure Michael Moore, et al are totally, totally bummed.
SouthernGent on September 1, 2008 at 2:10 PM
I can never endure listening to Shep for very long. And for some reason he seems to be particularly annoying when covering a hurricane.
backwoods conservative on September 1, 2008 at 2:10 PM
Yeah…. kinda sad that we end rebuilding this city with Tax dollars every 30 or so years…
Hurricanes happen. This is natural and predictable… Either make it TOTALY safe (pretty mucy impossible), or move inland a bit to higher ground…
Romeo13 on September 1, 2008 at 2:12 PM
Did Geraldo just call Ray Nagin “Ray Nigan”???
Tony737 on September 1, 2008 at 2:13 PM
GASP.
“WE’RE CONFIDENT IN THE STABILITY OF THAT WALL,” says the Corps.
GulfCoastBamaFan on September 1, 2008 at 2:15 PM
Yeah I know I was being a bit nit-picky. Sorry. Of course as you may know, Louisiana is famous for its former Canadians, known as “Cajuns” formerly known as Acadians when they lived up by you. Yes it was only 300 years ago but to the day, the french they speak sound very quebequois.
Nyog_of_the_Bog on September 1, 2008 at 2:18 PM
I know what you mean, it’s his left bent. And he’s a Mississippi boy who knows hurricanes, I think that he enjoys using his knowledge of them to hype it up! He’s another one on FOX who can makes news out of nothing!
Like I said yesterday, this was just going to be wind and water.
Texas Gal on September 1, 2008 at 2:20 PM
So we’re three years out from Katrina and there are STILL people living in FEMA trailers…
Do those displaced from this storm get to kick out the Katrina “victims”?
Or will we be having reports of Gustav evacuees having to move on three years+ from now?
I guess Bush’s weather machine took three years to recharge to finish off NOLA?
Have “black boats” been spotted near the levees yet?
Where is Spike Lee when you need him?
catmman on September 1, 2008 at 2:22 PM
The GOP convention should resume normal business on Tuesday. The worst of the storm is over. By tomorrow morning it will only be a tropical storm. New Orleans is safe. The levees held. There has been no flooding. There has been no catastrophe.
scrubjay on September 1, 2008 at 2:35 PM
… reminds me of my cousin’s black husband. With the French Canadian accent. – MJK
Ha! When I was stationed in England, we were at a pub and and black guy said ” -’ello, mate.” haha
Tony737 on September 1, 2008 at 2:37 PM
What’s with Fox playing funereal-sounding bumper music? I mean, I don’t expect them to play the 70s megahit “Celebration,” but no-one has died, have they? Everyone’s responding extremely well this time, right? The storm’s not nearly as powerful as feared, and there’s been no massive flooding or damage yet, right? I see this hurricane as a testament to people’s ability to learn and improve. The funeral music seems overly maudlin to me in that context. Perhaps they just think it conveys their sense of seriousness about it, but they didn’t play funeral dirges when Fay was circling around and around and around Florida for a week, causing massive flooding and damage.
aero on September 1, 2008 at 2:54 PM
Was ist los?
Johan Klaus on September 1, 2008 at 3:08 PM
still waiting just rain and wind at this point not even lightning.
sven10077 on September 1, 2008 at 3:15 PM
depending on the outcome, Obama or his minions will either blame Bush or claim credit.
on Thursday.
TheCulturalist on September 1, 2008 at 3:19 PM
I hear Barry snuck down to the docks and calmed the storm just enough to save mankind without showing off….
more coming soon
sven10077 on September 1, 2008 at 3:22 PM
lol, almost makes u want to vote for him huh?
TheCulturalist on September 1, 2008 at 3:29 PM
and here comes the storm…if I fall offline…keep the faith and close ranks.
GO SARAH!
sven10077 on September 1, 2008 at 3:32 PM
I blame BHO for sending Gustave as an abuse of power.
Right_of_Attila on September 1, 2008 at 3:38 PM
Has anyone noticed that the meteorologists on The Weather Channel always seem to smirk/smile when discussing hurricanes and other catastrophic events? Or am I just imagining things?
m064404 on September 1, 2008 at 3:53 PM
News reports from NOLA say that an unknown number of large vessels are adrift in the Industrial Canal. One of those is a 500 foot “boat.”
GulfCoastBamaFan on September 1, 2008 at 4:12 PM
no you are not imagining things….
1) they get to bash Bush subtly
2) they feel it feeds into AGW hysteria…counting on all of us to forget the 30s and 40s were more active Hurricane wise even with their cruder measuring technology then.
sven10077 on September 1, 2008 at 4:14 PM
The canal should hold and without fail there have always been errors and omissions…..if the USCG investigation finds negligence they should prosecute.
sven10077 on September 1, 2008 at 4:15 PM
Agreed on the prosecution. I just pray that the winds don’t push the 500 foot-long “boat” into one of the floodwalls. There was evidence that a barge collision caused one of the floodwall failures during Katrina.
Where are you, Sven? Red Stick? I’m in Mobile. We’re getting tornado warning after tornado warning, with squalls lining up like a train. No serious damage and spotty power outages.
A friend in Gulfport says they’re getting hammered, too.
GulfCoastBamaFan on September 1, 2008 at 4:20 PM
I’m on the other side of Fort Polk so our turn is coming….
Mobile is a whole different kettle of fish you keep your ears open and your shelter ready y’hear…?
We need all of us in November.
Keep safe and God bless,
sven
sven10077 on September 1, 2008 at 4:28 PM
Lightning is uncommon during hurricanes. Saw very little of it when I rode out the eye walls of Francis and Jeanne back in 2004 (both storms landed withing 10 miles of each other).
I did see blue lights, however, and those were power transformers exploding.
spec_ops_mateo on September 1, 2008 at 4:28 PM
The report I saw of the three loose of their moorings in the Ind. Canal was one barge and 2 decommissioned Navy vessels all tied up to a scrap yard. I believe the Coast Guard got to them.
Texas Gal on September 1, 2008 at 4:29 PM
This is a new report, Texas Gal.
It’s on NOLA.com now: More Loose Crafts on Industrial Canal.
Meh… I think I’ll just get another beer and watch it rain some more.
GulfCoastBamaFan on September 1, 2008 at 4:37 PM
Here’s a link to the Nat’l Hurricane Center’s new wind projection map. I really like this new system, if gives you a better idea what to expect as the hurricane moves inland. You will see a ‘loop’ link that will put the map into a 120 hrs projection loop. And that’s Hannah behind Gustav.
Texas Gal on September 1, 2008 at 4:39 PM
I’m drinking tea and doing the same, BUT a tornado is no laughing matter like a small hurricane.
really be safe.
sven10077 on September 1, 2008 at 4:44 PM
The day is cool
The wind is high
A wave of darkness
Fills the sky
I watch the darkness
And wonder if and when
This wind will sweep
My home away again
BlakeneyP on September 1, 2008 at 4:47 PM
I saw the video. What a puke.
My collie says:
History is repleat with examples of “leaders” saying this. If they had studied their Bible. they’d know better. The truth is found in the book of Joshua — Chapter 5. From that passage, it’s plain to see that God doesn’t NEED to be on ANYONE’s side. He, in fact, has His OWN agenda.
CyberCipher on September 1, 2008 at 4:48 PM
Ja, das ist wahr!
Scribbler on September 1, 2008 at 5:16 PM
What about calling the next one Hurricane Blanco?
TheCulturalist on September 1, 2008 at 5:21 PM
I think people forget that Katrina was strong, a direct hit, and the levee broke. Otherwise, NO has weathered hurricane after hurricane over the years.
This reminds me of the news coverage of a little town in Miss. post Katrina. All the houses were swept away, families missing, toys all over the place. You want to stay – stay. But get your kids out of harm’s way.
Blake on September 1, 2008 at 5:41 PM
Dude. Don’t.
Just. Don’t.
soundingboard on September 1, 2008 at 6:08 PM
I trust all you people are also in favor of moving California off its many seismic faults…right?
soundingboard on September 1, 2008 at 6:12 PM
When a cat 2 hurricane hit south texas in July, no one outside of south texas gave a damn.
When the same sized storm hits NOLA, it becomes a tragedy of epic proportions. Give me a very large break…
pullingmyhairout on September 1, 2008 at 6:13 PM
I don’t know about that– I live not too far away from Cape Blanco, and we regularly get 100+ mph winds (shhhhh! don’t tell the media or they’ll start infesting the beaches around here to show how dedicated to the (non) story they are). It’d probably kill folks down on the Gulf seeing as how they really don’t know how to make stuff to handle the wind and water no matter how much moollah we pay them to do so. (just about everything around here is designed to handle the weather– I’m just saying).
Scribbler on September 1, 2008 at 6:20 PM
So, has Nagin (Mayor, D-N.O.) melted on national TV yet?
(Wait … Jindal, Adult, GOV, R-La, took charge and made people act BEFORE …)
Seriously, where is Nagin and what is he doing?
Arbalest on September 1, 2008 at 6:25 PM
ok, Hurricane Kathleen?
TheCulturalist on September 1, 2008 at 6:34 PM
He’s all over it.
“Hurricane of the Century”
that sort of thing….
TheCulturalist on September 1, 2008 at 6:35 PM
Well the eyewall is finally coming here…to be honest I am less than overwhelmed thus far Rita was by far a harder storm.
sven10077 on September 1, 2008 at 6:38 PM
She had PR issues.
Gustav, on the other hand, has his own press corp. and a much better sense of timing.
TheCulturalist on September 1, 2008 at 6:41 PM
I hear Joe Biden and Barack O’bama are driving up I-49 trying to add wind speed to the storm to keep Keef Olberdoofus from talking his way back into the RNC show……
they may be slow but they ain’t stupid.
sven10077 on September 1, 2008 at 6:44 PM
Katrina was the tragedy it was because the people it killed, uprooted or made to suffer were poor. Their condition was so desperate because decades of failed liberal leadership at the state and local level put them into that poverty. And then, the same liberal “leadership” utterly failed to protect them when that protection was needed most. To add to the despicable nature of their crimes, they blamed a federal effort that was never designed to step in and completely supersede state and local responsibility.
What Gustav has shown is that new leadership, new policies, and new investments in infrastructure can at least give them at least a chance to escape suffering again.
This is a very important takeaway in comparing these two events: Liberals ran NOLA and Louisiana for decades. That “leadership” put those people in a situation where they could not fend for themselves, and then abandoned them to Katrina’s wrath. Katrina didn’t kill 1,800 people. Left-wing leadership did. Likewise, government didn’t protect or save all of the people at risk from Gustav. They did it themselves, with the help of conservative leadership that did it right.
Give people the ability and opportunity to take care of themselves and they usually do. Take away the ability to care for yourself, and the results are usually tragic. It goes to the very core of the difference between liberals and conservatives.
GulfCoastBamaFan on September 1, 2008 at 6:57 PM
nailed it in one.
Katrina was a voluntary disaster…Gustav was taken, as pain is the best teacher, a fought one.
sven10077 on September 1, 2008 at 7:05 PM
My point was that when a storm of the same size as Gustav hit south texas, no one cared. But because it’s hitting NOLA, the hoopla is overwhelming.
Yes, Katrina was a tragedy of epic proportions – caused by a myriad of incompetence from the local to federal levels.
It’s just a little disheartening to think that the press (and everyone else, for that matter) cares so much more for NOLA than other parts of the country that gets pounded regularly by high winds and flooding.
Gustav has become a non-event, and yet they are still acting like it’s Katrina Redux.
pullingmyhairout on September 1, 2008 at 7:10 PM
And I’m waiting with baited breath for the media to give credit to Bush for getting the people of LA out of harms way.
I feel myself turning blue…
pullingmyhairout on September 1, 2008 at 7:11 PM
+1
Loxodonta on September 1, 2008 at 7:12 PM
Take heart the recovery went far faster in almost all the other areas, donkey or elephant led.
NOLA is a testament to generational stupidity and overreliance on aid. I’d like to think that in another 60 years they may learn the lesson and grow up to be a responsible electorate and gem city. I’m an optomist at heart.
sven
sven10077 on September 1, 2008 at 7:24 PM
Even though there was some topping, the levees held just as the Army Corps of Engineers predicted. Five Republican governors, one Democrat Mayor, many local officials and the federal government, including the Armed Forces have done a magnificent job. Bravo to all of the very competent, brave souls involved in this effort.
rplat on September 1, 2008 at 7:41 PM
amd here come the winds and brownouts…..
we’ll be fine I’ll hang on as long as I can….
sven10077 on September 1, 2008 at 8:48 PM
pullingmyhairout,
You need to get over it, or get in line. Already in this commentary an otherwise knowledgeable poster has referred to Katrina being so bad because N.O. took a direct hit.
Beg pardon, but No It Did Not. N.O. survived the hurricane very well but was swamped afterwards because the levees failed.
If you want to whine about being ignored, try surviving the worst natural disaster in American history only to have the press rewrite history.
Katrina came ashore on the Ms. Gulf Coast and decimated the entire coastline from the La. border to the Al. border. 60,000 homes destroyed or inhabitable overnight. This was not caused by corruption, incompetence or stupidity, but by nature. Our government functioned very well. You did not see Mississippians jumping up and down whining. In fact, you hardly saw Mississippians at all in all the coverage of N.O., where the tragedy was great no doubt about it.
Instead, with the help of our fellow Americans, we have been picking ourselves up, cleaning up the mess, trying to get on with our lives.
And scribbler, I have no idea where Cape Blanco is, but in addition to great big winds they evidently have great big blowhards. The last thing I need after enduring another (admittedly low level)hurricane today is to read how much better y’all are where ever the heck it is that you are.
So in the best well brought up southern flower of womanhood way I can dredge up, I say to you, Kiss….My…Ass.
Lisa
raylisa on September 1, 2008 at 8:49 PM
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