Katrina Devastation Called 'Overwhelming'

[steve2470]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,1280,-5243490,00.html

Tuesday August 30, 2005 7:01 PM



By HOLBROOK MOHR

Associated Press Writer

GULFPORT, Miss. (AP) - Rescuers in boats and helicopters searched for survivors of Hurricane Katrina and brought victims, wet and bedraggled, to shelters Tuesday as the extent of the damage across the Gulf Coast became ever clearer. Mississippi's governor said the death toll in one county alone could be as high as 80.

``At first light, the devastation is greater than our worst fears. It's just totally overwhelming,'' Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Blanco said the morning after Katrina howled ashore with winds of 145 mph and engulfed thousands of homes in one of the most punishing storms on record in the United States.

In New Orleans, meanwhile, water began rising in the streets Tuesday morning, apparently because of a break on a levee along a canal leading to Lake Pontchartrain. New Orleans lies mostly below sea level and is protected by a network of pumps, canals and levees. Many of the pumps were not working Tuesday morning.

Officials planned to use helicopters to drop 3,000-pound sandbags into the breach, and expressed confidence the problem could be solved within hours.

<snip>

[Maple]

1. And if

3000 lb sandbags being dropped on levee walls do further damage?

[Halliburton]

2. shrub just ended his vacation

I guess when he heard that a category 5 storm was coming, he decided to stay on vacation and continue comparing Iraq to WWII. Now he sees the devestation and decides to finally help. Unfortunately, it may be too late.

[SpiralHawk]

4. Bush actually is ending his vacation tomorrow, Wednesday

No need to rush things. "Hang loose," you know.

[Media_Lies_Daily]

3. I wonder where those "3000 pound" sandbags have been hiding since....

...the levees broke?