They have to get people out now...

[LeftHander]

Evacuation should be first priority.

Get the remaining people out. No one has said the water is not going to continue to rise in New orleans until it reaches equilibrium.

YOu can't live above in filthy water with no food or potable water.

The levees are likely saturated now. Like in the great upper great plains floods in the late ninties constant pressure on earthen levees undermines the base ones the base is saturated the levees become porus and give way. Even if they don't they will not be able to hold back water anymore.

It is now time to force evacuations.

Jesus CHRIST! It isn't as if these scenarios weren't predicted.

Even I saw a program some years ago on the effects a major hurricane would have on New Orleans and the real danger was if the levees gave in and pumps failed. Flooding until equilibrium. No stopping it. Worst case scenario.

Even "IF" the levees can be reapired and even "IF" the water could be removed...any building in standing water will be ruined. Foundations can be compromised.

I am afraid many people are not grasping the gravity of the situation as it is unfolding.

New Orleans is going to be city stnding in fetid water for months.

Get the people out now.

[Kenroy]

1. how?

[Kenroy]

2. dupe

[LeftHander]

3. any way possible...

One road still leads out. The causeway.

Massive helo lift. Boats...

Where is the Emergency management?

While we spent millions prepargin for the bogeyman to attack with biologicals and nukes we Homeland Security and FEMA sits idle and makes no plans for a hurricane disaster that people said..."not if...when"

[pauldavid]

4. Where is the national guard when these people need them?

Oh ya, they are in Iraq. Sorry, I forgot. :sarcasm:

[AlGore-08.com]

5. The various agencies are bringing in food, water and medical supplies

As well as trying to patch up the levee, open at least part of the airport for emergency flights, and open one safe road into the city. The head of FEMA has been quoted as saying that they expect to feed and house folks for at least a month (he did not say that folks would spend a month Superdome).

I read an interview with one of the National Guard officers at the Superdome who said they were looking for a different solution to housing the patients, because it was too difficult and unsanitary.

The Army Corps of Engineers, the National Guard, FEMA, the Mayor, and a host of agencies are constantly reassessing the situation. If they can't fix the levee, they will almost certainly evacuate. But until/unless they reach that point, the resources really are better used to rescue more people who are trapped in buildings and trees, who don't even have the shelter provided by the Superdome.