My buddy here at work just heard from his brother in Biloxi finally. He was rescued off the top of his roof a couple of hours ago! We were all worried as he had not heard from him since the storm hit.
I’m sure we’d take some displace people if you can’t find anywhere else for them. It looks like there will be somewhere around a million people who will be homeless for who knows how long. The pictures coming out of there are simply unreal. It doesn’t sound like there have been too many casualties but it’s probably too early to tell. I’ve never been to NO but, especially because of its Canadian (Acadian really) connection, I’ve always been interested in going. Here’s hoping that someday in the future I’ll get a chance to see a completely rebuilt NO.
way too early. they interviewed rescue crews who said they were pushing floating bodies out of the way of their boats to seek out those who were still alive. we don't know who's stuck in attics. it's unbelievable.
I could be wrong, but I think it is theoretically possible that sharks and Alligators could be in the water together.
here is a story on this rig, she floated 1.5 miles before hitting that bridge http://www.rigzone.com/news/article.asp?a_id=24818 However, the biggest problems were caused by PEMEX's PSS Chemul, a 13,000 ton semisubmersible accomodation unit that was under renovation at the Bender Shipbuilding Yard Nine. The high waters of the storm surge apparently carried the platform off of the leased barge, the Mobiel Heavy Lifter, that was being used as its dry dock. According to the Mobile Register, the Chemul was carried away from the shipyard and up the Mobile River where it first crashed into the Alabama State Port Authority's Bulk Material Handling Plant. Docks Director Jimmy Lyons indicated that the Chemul completely destroyed a $4 million barge loader, while potentially causing other significant damage to the dock and pilings as it careened up the river. Tug boats tried to corral the floating behemoth, but were thwarted by high winds and waves that prevented them from controlling it. The Cost Guard also monitored the Chemul, but was unable to provide assistance due to the high winds. Around 11am, the semisub crashed into the Cochrane-Africatown USA Bridge that crosses over the Mobile River, providing the only hazardous cargo route through the area. The 140-foot tall bridge was completed in 1991 at a cost of $70 million. Around 5pm, as the storm surge began to subside, the vessel was able to drift free from where it had been pinned under the bridge. According to witnesses, much of the top-sides structures on the Chemul was destroyed or badly damaged.
This has been unreal. All those people thinking they had made it through the storm in New Orleans without things being as bad as predicted... that the Big Easy had gotten lucky yet again, and the damn levees break. Why they didn't get some good Dutch engineers in and spend what it would take to prevent this decades ago is beyond me. Hundreds of millions could have prevented billions in damage, the loss of lives (how many??), and the near destruction of a living piece of American history. Damn.
Put tears to my eyes. Can't imangine having a loved one just slip out of your grasp to her death and there is nothing you can do.
Being in the oil&gas industry drilling in southern Louisiana, this obviously has been a big topic of conversation today, I'm going to pass along some photos of Plaquemines, Parish taken today by plane to evaluate the damage to facilities Click to view full image here is the Mars platform, this baby produces over 200,000 barrels a day, or should i say used to..
Unfortunately over the past few years I've had some experience dealing with disasters directly, or helping with getting relief. After 9/11 I became a Red Cross volunteer and this past year have been working with a local group raising funds and awareness about the Asian Tsunamis. I'm putting that experience now to help with relief efforts for Hurricane Katrina. From my own experience here are some things that all of us can do to help out: 1. Give money to the Red Cross, Salvation Army and other accredited relief organizations. The biggest need right now is for cash for these organizations to support their relief efforts. When giving money though make sure its going to an accredited organization. Unfortunately during 9/11 and the Asian Tsunamis there were a lot of scams of people looking to make a quick buck off of the disasters. 2.Volunteer at your local Red Cross, Salvation Army, Church or other charitable organization. Relief organizations are sending their trained staff out to help in the disaster area and will need other people to help out with their local day to day functions and also handling the support effort of getting aid from the local level to the disaster area. Volunteers will be needed to everything from answering phones, filing paperwork and loading relief supplies. 4. Donate blood. We still don't know the extent of casualties and injuries but more than likely in the disaster areas there will be a need for blood and blood products. Further to respond to the disaster local blood banks will be sending blood to the disaster area and will need new donations to replenish their supplies. 4. Clothes and furniture. A lot of people have lost everything and will need to replace their belongings. In a disaster like this in the US its not a problem to get things like clothes, furniture and other goods to the people there. This wasn't the case with the Asian Tsunamis where it was impractical to get clothes over to Asia. When donating clothes be considerate and make sure the clothes you donate is clean, in decent condition and tasteful. DON'T LOOK AT THIS AS THE OPPURTUNITY TO GET RID OF THOSE SHOES WITH HOLES IN THE SOLES OR THE "I'M WITH STUPID" SHIRT YOU THOUGHT WAS REALLY COOL IN 8TH GRADE. 5. Food and Medicine. Generally relief groups don't like to accept these because it is difficult to transport, difficult to store, its difficult to verify quality and also chaotic trying to organize a whole bunch of different types of food and medicine. With a disaster like this in the US and since most Clutchfans are close to the disaster site it might not be practical. If you are going to donate food and medicine stick to canned or dried goods that can be easy to store and transport. For medicines nothing prescription but things like aspirin and cold and flu. Since this is the gulf coast Hydrocortisone and anti-histamines might be helpful to deal with bug bites and allergic reactions. Besides medicine band aids and other first aid material are good to donate. Check with local relief organizations to see what they will accept. LIKE CLOTHES DON'T CONSIDER THIS AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET RID OF THAT CAN OF BEETS THAT YOU HATE OR THE VIENNA SAUSAGES THAT HAVE BEEN IN THE BACK OF YOUR PANTRY FOR THE PAST YEAR. 6. Cleaning supplies. One of the biggest problems with water damage is the clean up and as soon as the water's recede there will be a huge need for bleach and mops. 7. Transportation. With any massive relief effort transportation is a big problem and relief organizations can use the help with providing trucks and drivers to get supplies to the disaster area. 8. An attentive ear. With any big disaster there's going to be a lot of mental health issues. While most of us aren't mental health professionals we can all help people coping with the aftermath by being willing to listen to people recovering from the disaster. If you know someone in the affected area take time out to see how they're doing. This will be more important in the weeks and months to follow as the initial shock of the disaster wears off and despair sinks in. 9. Visit the area and spend money there. This is obviously something that shouldn't be done now and unless you're a trained rescue/relief worker or don't have a very important reason to be there don't go until it has been deemed safe and recovery is well on its way! One problem that often happens with disasters is that people flood into the affected area either out of a well meaning desire to help or to just look. These areas are still very dangerous and the last thing rescue / relief personel need is to be worrying about visitors getting in trouble or getting in the way of recovery efforts. After recovery happens though disasters often get forgotten once the TV cameras leave and within a month or so most people forget about them. The problem though with any big disaster is that there's a very heavy economic burden and with places like the New Orleans, Biloxi and Mobile tourism is very important. IF TOURISTS STAY AWAY THESE PLACES WILL NEVER RECOVER! That was the biggest thing that I heard from people in Thailand recovering from the Tsunami and it will probably be one of the biggest needs that New Orleans and the Gulf Coast will need a few months from now. Right now we're all shocked by what we're seeing in New Orleans but we can all do something now and in the future to help these people recover. For more ideas about fundraisers and relief organizing please feel free to visit the website for the group I've been working with to raise funds and awareness for the Asian Tsunamis http://www.mnpath.org I've already started working on adapting some of those ideas to help out with Hurricane Katrina.
They said there is a hostage situation. Some prisoners took a guard and his family hostage. The guard brought his family to the prison because he thought it would be the safest place.
This just in.... http://www.wwltv.com/ ****ALL RESIDENTS ON THE EAST BANK OF ORLEANS AND JEFFERSON REMAINING IN THE METRO AREA ARE BEING TOLD TO EVACUATE AS EFFORTS TO SANDBAG THE LEVEE BREAK HAVE ENDED. THE PUMPS IN THAT AREA ARE EXPECTED TO FAIL SOON AND 9 FEET OF WATER IS EXPECTED IN THE ENTIRE EAST BANK. WITHIN THE NEXT 12-15 HOURS****
Yeah, as this story evolves it’s starting to look like there will be quite a few casualties. I hope and pray that the rescuers can get to all those who are still alive before it’s too late.
http://www.cnn.com/video/player/player.html?url=/video/us/2005/08/30/sot.katrina.man.loses.wife.wkrg I can't imagine looking into my wife's eyes as my grip on her fails and hearing her last words, "Take care of the kids and grandkids."
