Date: Wed, 31 Aug 2005 10:30:39 -0400
To: WSFA members <WSFAlist at WSFA.org>, WSFA members <WSFAlist at WSFA.org>
From: "Mike B." <omni at omniphile.com>
Subject: [WSFA] Re: Capclave author
Reply-To: WSFA members <WSFAlist at WSFA.org>

At 05:53 AM 8/31/05 -0700, Drew Bittner wrote:
>--- "Mike B." <omni at omniphile.com> wrote:
>
>> What I'm hearing about N.O. isn't sounding good. The worst of the storm
>> missed them, though they caught the edge pretty hard, but now they are
>> getting flooding from failed levies...over a story in some areas.  Radio
>> just said that 80% of the city is under water.  I
>> hope the caretaker took the cats when he/she evacuated...
>>
>> Still, it's sounding worse in Mississippi.
>> Apparently there are some coastal towns that aren't there anymore...
>>
>> -- Mike B.
>
>If Fox left New Orleans ahead of Katrina, he won't be
>going home for a long long while. Evacuees may not be
>able to return until late September. Of course,
>whether there's anything to return to is still an open
>question.

Army Core of Engineers guy on the radio this morning said it could be
months before N.O. is dry again.  They are still on step one: fixing the
holes in the levies.  They are moving 3000lb sandbags in today, with some
rocks and other backfill.  He said it could be days before they even halt
the flooding, and then they have to get the water pumped out.  At least
some of the 100 year old pumps are diesel powered now, so the lack of
electricity won't stop them.

80% of the city is flooded already, and it's still rising.  They are trying
to rescue those who ignored, or couldn't comply with, the evacuation orders
before whatever high spots they are sitting on are submerged.

>My mom is in Gulfport, MS, one of the coastal cities
>that isn't al there any more--haven't heard from her
>yet, don't know if she's alive or if her house is
>smashed to rubble or anything. It's likely to be
>awhile before they reestablish any communication with
>the Coast so it's going to be a long couple of weeks...

I hope she's ok.  You're right that communication is a problem.  No phones,
no cell towers, and I suspect any hams in the area have lost their
equipment too.  The Army Core of Engineers guy was saying that
communication is their biggest problem at the moment.  They hadn't planned
for such a total loss of infrastructure.  Walkie Talkies aren't good for
long range, they don't have satphones for everyone, and the phone lines and
cell towers are not working.
With the roads in such bad shape even messengers aren't going to be very
useful...unless they have choppers or planes with the same sort of walkie
talkies as the folks on the ground.

I'm guessing this week is going to be dedicated to rescuing people and
stopping the flooding in N.O. and trying to get supplies run to the
survivors.  The next couple of weeks to resettling the survivors elsewhere
in the country and pumping out N.O. and collecting bodies and assessing
damage to roads, major buildings and utilities.

It seems at least possible that N.O. may not get rebuilt...at least not on
its current site.   I'm sure some will want to, but they may find insurance
rates prohibitive what with living on the coast below sea level.  They
wanted their marsh land restored but couldn't get help from the
feds...Mother Nature seems to have stepped in and taken care of it for
them.   New New Orleans anyone?

-- Mike B.
When you get to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on.