CNN -- levee breach at Industrial Canal levee (update: overtopped)

[highplainsdem]

Two feet of water already in the 9th Ward.


Editing to add the info I posted below -- latest report says the levee is being overtopped, hasn't been breached.

Louisiana state troopers now reporting a breach in another levee affecting western side of New Orleans.


Editing again to include info also posted below -- a CNN photographer called in to say a levee was breached by a barge that acted as a battering ram. The story's getting confused, and I don't know if this is a correction of the report that the levee was simply overtopped, or a breach in another area.


Army Corps of Engineers spokesman (Rich Wagner) on CNN now, at 9:56 CDT, referring just to overtopping, not saying anything about the levee being breached by a barge.

[tgnyc]

1. Earlier than engineers expected

[hlthe2b]

2. WHERE??? In NOLA?

[highplainsdem]

3. Yes. CNN will have the latest info on this in a minute or two,

according to Daryn Kagan.


Editing -- now they're saying it's an overtopping, not a levee breach. Localized flooding in the lower 9th Ward. They're working with local contractors to try to shore up the levee.

[highplainsdem]

4. Kicking, for the update that the levee was overtopped, not breached.

[KingFlorez]

5. Thank God it wasn't a breach

[highplainsdem]

7. CNN now reporting a breach in another levee.

And someone saying a barge did breach the levee, acted as a battering ram. Water rising at 5-10 inches a minute.

[MsUSA]

6. Flood waters are visible west of Industrial Canal

Friday, 8:50 a.m.

Water apparently has flooded back into part of New Orleans on the western side of the Industrial Canal. From the Interstate 10 high rise over the canal, water was visible at the New Orleans Cold Storage Facility and in other port facilities Friday morning. Water also had spilled onto Alvar Street and neighboring roads.

http://www.nola.com/newslogs/breakingtp/index.ssf?/mtlogs/nola_Times-Picayune/archives/2005_09_23.html#082116

[highplainsdem]

8. Another CNN update -- CNN producer calling in, says water's just

pouring in. "Water as far as the eye can see."

Carey Bodenheimer, the producer, is commenting on the lack of communications there, how there's still no way of knowing how many people might still be in the 9th Ward.

[highplainsdem]

9. Another update, from Barbara Starr, who talked to Gen. Honore

Honore said there are 40 mph gusts in the area so they can't put helicopters in the air to try to find out what's going on. They're now going to put boats in the water to check the 9th Ward for anyone who's still there.

Honore mentioned estimates of up to 4 feet of water, but that doesn't factor in the rain.

[highplainsdem]

10. CNN's Mary Snow just called Kagan, said she doesn't think there are

any people left in the 9th Ward.

[tyedyeto]

12. Just like no one knew about the people at the Convention Center

[uppityperson]

13. There are small enclaves of people all over.

Military and POlice presence is great, small numbers of civilians scattered throughout NO. Animals also. It is a ghost town, but there are a few residents left.

[uppityperson]

11. fuck. eom

[highplainsdem]

14. CNN has video now.

And Bodenheimer is on the phone with Kagan, and contradicting what Mary Snow said earlier. Bodenheimer said no one knows whether people are still living in the 9th Ward.

Bodenheimer says some areas in 9th Ward now have 6 feet of flood water.