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Katrina May Turn New Orleans Into Atlantis

By Jeralyn, Section Huricanes Katrina and Rita
Posted on Sun Aug 28, 2005 at 06:14:03 PM EST
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Update 7pm: Experts predict New Orleans will turn into an Atlantis and more than 1 million people will be homeless.

When Hurricane Katrina hits New Orleans on Monday, it could turn one of America's most charming cities into a vast cesspool tainted with toxic chemicals, human waste and even coffins released by floodwaters from the city's legendary cemeteries.

Crude oil prices have already shot up due to Katrina.

Crude oil soared to a record above $70 a barrel in New York after Hurricane Katrina forced companies including Exxon Mobil Corp. and Chevron Corp. to shut operations in the Gulf of Mexico.

So far, there's no word about banning sex offenders from hurricane shelters as planned in Flordia.

Live local NOLA tv video coverage here. Also, as mentioned below, Truth Laid Bear has a Katrina blogging aggregator page. More links with webcams from New Orleans here. Newsblog is here. Also check out the NOLA Hurricane Center.

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Original Post 12:30 pm

This hurricane is serious. The eye is now less than 200 miles away. It may be a category five. Here is the projected path. The Mayor has ordered mandatory evacuation of the city.

There are still people left in New Orleans, up to 100,000 according to one tv estimate. People will be allowed to stay in their hotels or in the Superdome. I just watched an interview with the manager of the Holiday Inn. They are not taking more guests. There are 70 employees and their families who will stay at the hotel to take care of the approximately 100 guests and the hotel. The hotel is urging people with reservations to leave.

The local tv stations are operating on skelatal crews because they want their employees to be safe as well. The roads out of town are jammed packed, the temperature is 94 degrees, there is no more gas. New Orleans is expected to be underwater by this time tomorrow.

Truth Laid Bear has a Katrina blogging aggregator page. More links with webcams from New Orleans here. Newsblog is here. Also check out the NOLA Hurricane Center.

< Boston Globe Trashes Karl Rove | Devastation from Katrina Will Be Catastrophic >

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    Katrina May Turn New Orleans Into Atlantis | 21 comments (21 topical)
    Re: Katrina May Turn New Orleans Into Atlantis (none / 0) (#17)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Tue Aug 30, 2005 at 11:33:40 PM EST
    Err, Bushbot, if Bush cut funding for th levees, and the storm waters topped the levees because of that cut in funding, who is responsible? God, or George W. Bush? I know my answer. I know your answer -- you have faith, faith I say, in your Lord and Savior George W. Bush and in His holy annointed administration, and if the storm surge topped the levees because Bush cut funding to shore them up, why, it's just His will, right? But as someone who has not drank the Holy Koolaid and accepted George W. Bush as my Lord and Savior (unlike you), I will simply say that if this occurred because Bush cut the levee funding, then there is no circle in Hell low enough for what Bush deserves. - Badtux the None-koolaid-drinking Penguin

    Re: Katrina May Turn New Orleans Into Atlantis (none / 0) (#18)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Wed Aug 31, 2005 at 07:43:46 AM EST
    you people are pathetic, asking what is bush going to do. he is only one man and does not have all the answers to every problem. what you should be asking is what you can do to help. there are a slew of local, state, federal organizations whose mission is to address issues such as these. don't dump everything on the president.

    Re: Katrina May Turn New Orleans Into Atlantis (none / 0) (#19)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Wed Aug 31, 2005 at 11:34:47 AM EST
    Dear "American:" You say, "there are a slew of local, state, federal organizations whose mission is to address issues such as these." Problem is, these officials HAVE known about these issues but their FEDERAL funding has been continually cut by our "only one man" White House pResident. Sam Seder was palpably angry last night and you will be, too, after you read this article (which is unfortunately buried within the Majority Report's website): http://www.pnionline.com/dnblog/attytood/archives/002331.html Previous to this, there was an article in Scientific American in October 2001, part of which was quoted in the Houston Chronicle in December 2001 identifying THESE EXACT PROBLEMS in New Orleans. See http://www.hurricane.lsu.edu/_in_the_news/houston.htm Remember that George "Mandate" Bush was on a FIVE-week-long vacation during this the hurricane (and also VERY BUSY ignoring signs of 9/11 during his August vacation in 2001). He ain't just one man -- he's an elected official who favors faith over science. Meanwhile, people DIE on American soil while Americans continue to DIE protecting "our" oil in Iraq. His grandstanding is beyond DISGUSTING. He takes time out to hold a 40-minute MARKETING speech about the Iraq war during which he spends 1-1/2 minutes on the hurricane victims. Remember, gang, he cut his vacation short last year to fly back to DC for Terri Schiavo. One American life to pacify his Christian-nut "base" versus how many thousands who died days ago? I'll be in DC on September 24th with the sign "IMPEACH THE LEECH -- No more dead on American soil as more die in Iraq for 'America's' OIL."' Enjoy your $4/gallon fill-up.

    Re: Katrina May Turn New Orleans Into Atlantis (none / 0) (#20)
    by squeaky on Wed Aug 31, 2005 at 11:49:40 AM EST
    Amer-Iraq needs you. You are calling activists pathetic? Wrong audience. Go to your pro war sites and spead your message there. Here is a starter line for you. Wake up 101st Keyboardist Division! Go to Iraq and fight for the Noble Cause otherwise you are pathetic. Don't dump all the responsibility on the president and make him look bad: Enlist ASAP.

    Re: Katrina May Turn New Orleans Into Atlantis (none / 0) (#1)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:02:51 PM EST
    Everytime I hear about New Orleans and hurricanes, I remember a story on NPR back in 2001 or early 2002 by the people who maintain the levees around New Orleans, saying that if a hurricane ever hit New Orleans it would kill more than the twin towers tragedy, so why won't the federal government help out with strengthening the levees, seeing as so much new money was going to national security. Well, we'll see what happens now.

    Re: Katrina May Turn New Orleans Into Atlantis (none / 0) (#2)
    by DawesFred60 on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:02:51 PM EST
    This is happened before in New Orleans in 1910 and as far back as 1740s, but this one can kill 3000 to 6000 people and make one million homeless if the dikes and water barrier system goes out. and from i hear it can happen. would love to know what bush is doing?

    Re: Katrina May Turn New Orleans Into Atlantis (none / 0) (#3)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:02:51 PM EST
    40-50,000 dead, according to FEMA (via the mayor). And the sewage overflow INTO the city-lake afterwards, means an enormous stew of disease that might make Asian bird flu look like a minor cold. I pity the people. Now, it is hard not to wonder WHY God is punishing Louisiana? Is it because of Mardi Gras? Is it because of the election of an East-Indian governor? Is it because God's has cataracts, and he is actually trying to hit Prairie Chickenhawk Ranch in Crawford? Somebody get Pat Robertson out of federal prison and ask him. We need him to 'read' his toilet paper, or something. Why does God Hate Louisiana?

    Re: Katrina May Turn New Orleans Into Atlantis (none / 0) (#4)
    by MikeDitto on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:02:51 PM EST
    Paul: I love ya bud, but do you really need to politicize an impending catastrophe? I'm hearing that if the levees fail to protect the city, it could take 4-6 months to pump the water out. Just awful.

    Re: Katrina May Turn New Orleans Into Atlantis (none / 0) (#5)
    by DawesFred60 on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:02:52 PM EST
    50,000, my good gods. but what is bush doing right now? with that many people looking at death?..making a deal with mexico to replace the people for business and low pay?

    Re: Katrina May Turn New Orleans Into Atlantis (none / 0) (#6)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:02:52 PM EST
    Yeah, Michael it's awful, and I'd LOVE to put away the poison pen. But YOU KNOW this is already being politicized to the hilt, and the impending disaster is nothing compared to what I fear will be the Fall rollout of the New Bush (nuclear) Disaster in the ME. Which the media is busy ignoring at full speed. The Lost White Woman behavior by our press alternates with the Impending US Disaster coverage. Ignore all tragedies except those which will impact white Americans directly. When Hurricane George rolled over Haiti two years ago, there was hardly a peep from the Muffled Press. When Bush offered a few thousand dollars to the tsunami victims, hardly a word from the Mf press either. Kyoto wouldn't save Louisiana, but it's going to be a long eleven years in the current cycle, and this is just the start.

    Re: Katrina May Turn New Orleans Into Atlantis (none / 0) (#7)
    by MikeDitto on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:02:52 PM EST
    The official National Weather Service statement sounds absolutely dreadful.
    MOST OF THE AREA WILL BE UNINHABITABLE FOR WEEKS...PERHAPS LONGER. [...] ERSONS...PETS...AND LIVESTOCK EXPOSED TO THE WINDS WILL FACE CERTAIN DEATH IF STRUCK. [...] WATER SHORTAGES WILL MAKE HUMAN SUFFERING INCREDIBLE BY MODERN STANDARDS.
    Re: Katrina May Turn New Orleans Into Atlantis (none / 0) (#8)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:02:52 PM EST
    and where is the Louisiana National Guard with this impending disaster looming? IN IRAQ protecting us from the terrurissts! Gimme a break.

    Re: Katrina May Turn New Orleans Into Atlantis (none / 0) (#9)
    by nolo on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:02:52 PM EST
    God, I hope this is just histrionics.

    Re: Katrina May Turn New Orleans Into Atlantis (none / 0) (#10)
    by scarshapedstar on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:02:52 PM EST
    Yeah, times like these I really wish we had a National Guard left. 1500 for New Orleans. You could fit 1500 people in my high school gynmasium.

    Re: Katrina May Turn New Orleans Into Atlantis (none / 0) (#11)
    by soccerdad on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:02:52 PM EST
    over 100,000 may not be able to get out. Diaster of possible monumental proportions. I pray that the storm lessens

    Re: Katrina May Turn New Orleans Into Atlantis (none / 0) (#12)
    by jen on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:02:52 PM EST
    Lord help them all.

    Re: Katrina May Turn New Orleans Into Atlantis (none / 0) (#13)
    by Aaron on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:02:52 PM EST
    Time to get the hell out of Louisiana! The storm is a killer, 165 mph sustained winds moving at a slow 13 mph,it doesn't get much worse. When Katrina was barely a hurricane, and it hit here in Florida with only 70 mile power winds it was as bad as many worse storms with much higher numbers that have come by this way. The sustained force was unusual for such a low powered storm at that particular moment. It may be the worst storm to hit the US in 30 years. The French quarter could disappear completely if conditions are right.

    Re: Katrina May Turn New Orleans Into Atlantis (none / 0) (#14)
    by BigTex on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:02:52 PM EST
    Unfortinuatley this isn't hysteria, it's the near future for NO. Don't forget the other population centers near by though. Baton Rogue has been told not to evacuate so that NO can evacuate. The scene there could be very bad.

    Re: Katrina May Turn New Orleans Into Atlantis (none / 0) (#15)
    by DawesFred60 on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:02:52 PM EST
    So is bush helping? this is a bad one.

    Re: Katrina May Turn New Orleans Into Atlantis (none / 0) (#16)
    by Kitt on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:02:52 PM EST
    That's Bat-ton Ruge! I found this just a bit ago from Citizens for Legitimate Gov't
    In fiscal year 2006, the New Orleans district of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is bracing for a record $71.2 million reduction in federal funding. It would be the largest single-year funding loss ever for the New Orleans district, Corps officials said. I've been here over 30 years and I've never seen this level of reduction, said Al Naomi, project manager for the New Orleans district... The cuts mean major hurricane and flood protection projects will not be awarded to local engineering firms. Also, a study to determine ways to protect the region from a Category 5 hurricane has been shelved for now. [Please forward this news item to every media outlet and listserve.]
    Then....cruise over to Crooks & Liars to catch some newsworthy words.

    Re: Katrina May Turn New Orleans Into Atlantis (none / 0) (#21)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:03:04 PM EST
    This really is ridiculous of you people to be faulting George W. Bush for this. Show me one piece of evidence ANYWHERE that says that Bush explicitly cut funding that would have improved the levee system in New Orleans. Post it right here, and if you come up with anything even remotely related, I'll eat my hat. Give me a break. Those levees have been inadequate against anything higher than a category 3 since they were built. Every news outlet in America has been reporting that fact since Monday. (no, not just Fox...even your beloved CNN.) So Where were you people 3 months ago? 6 months ago? Why was this not a campaign issue for Kerry, if in fact this was such a glaring and blatant error on Bush's part during his first term? "Improve the Levees! Save New Orleans!" Pfff. This was on absolutely NO ONE'S radar 3 months ago, yet all of a sudden George W. Bush is the devil because a hurricane hit New Orleans. Hell, I'll even admit that you might be partially right...maybe W really **IS** the devil incarnate. But if he is, it's certainly not because of this. So please cut the histrionics. You are making yourselves look more ridiculous and out-of-touch than usual. And that's saying something.

    Katrina May Turn New Orleans Into Atlantis | 21 comments (21 topical)