Direct Hit by Ivan Could Sink New Orleans

[RedEarth]

NEW ORLEANS -- The worst-case scenario for New Orleans -- a direct strike by a full-strength Hurricane Ivan -- could submerge much of this historic city treetop-deep in a stew of sewage, industrial chemicals and fire ants, and the inundation could last for weeks, experts say.

If the storm were strong enough, Ivan could drive water over the tops of the levees that protect the city from the Mississippi River and vast Lake Pontchartrain. And with the city sitting in a saucer-shaped depression that dips as much as 9 feet below sea level, there would be nowhere for all that water to drain.

"Those folks who remain, should the city flood, would be exposed to all kinds of nightmares from buildings falling apart to floating in the water having nowhere to go," Ivor van Heerden, director of Louisiana State University's Hurricane Public Health Center, said Tuesday.

.......

Much of the city would be under water for weeks. And even after the river and Lake Pontchartrain receded, the levees could trap water above sea level, meaning the Army Corps of Engineers would have to cut the levees to let the water out.

http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/wire/sns-ap-vulnerable-new-orleans,0,6367875,print.story?coll=sns-ap-nationworld-headlines

[Spinzonner]

1. Can fire ants swim ?

[RedEarth]

4. lol...actually they float in a ball....that's how they travel across water

"Severe flooding in area bayous also forces out wildlife, including poisonous snakes and stinging fire ants, which sometimes gather in floating balls carried by the current."

[fudge stripe cookays]

5. Watch an old movie called "The Naked Jungle"

with Charlton Heston.

I hate ants. It scared the crap out of me. They gnawed leaves off of trees and used them as rafts to cross water.

FSC

[ElectroPrincess]

2. I know ... I know : (

As Randy Newman croons, "Louisiana ... Louisiana, they're tryin' to wash us away, they're tryin' to WASH US AWAY." My Mother-In-Law, who I adore, has related to me this scenario off-and-on throughout my 22 year marriage to her eldest son.

My husband was the only ONE of both his immediate and extended family to move away from the area.

Fortunately all my in-laws have boarded up and fled up north.

Although any hurricane's bad, I hope entry point for Ivan is the best case scenario given these harsh circumstances.

Today and tonight, I hope we all choose to keep "The Big Easy" in our thoughts and prayers.

Edited for grammar :P <it's croons not crones silly girl>

[markus]

3. Ok, N'walinians: What is the current levee elevation

in Orleans Parish along the river (inside the Industrial Canal). How about N.O. East? East Jeff?

I know the west bank levees were worthless spoilbanks tossed up by developers before I left, but I seem to recall that Bob L. had gotten them a pile of money to fix it.

What sort of storm surge can the city take these days?

[Swamp Rat]

6. dupe post RedEarth

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x2352910


We are not going down this time my friend, but it ain't gonna be fun ridin' out the storm here in New Orleans!

See latest update from the best government source:

http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/:

[Zynx]

7. If you people survive in NOLA, this is a wakeup call

Get off your lazy, shiftless butts and build that hurricane "bastion" that has been talked about.

[Skittles]

8. yes

I am frightened for the people of New Orleans - PLEASE do what you can to protect your wonderful city.

[RedEarth]

11. Swamp...

The dupe you you referenced was in the discussion forum, not in LBN.....it is my understanding dupes apply to LBN, not other forums....if I'm mistaken, please alert the mods.

[shrike]

13. I love your city, Swamp Rat

Y'all be safe down there.

[Mr.Green93]

9. would the destruction of New Orleans

be enough to finally get Kyoto signed?

[LisaL]

10. Not for Bush.

[jmcgowanjm]

12. The River will turn, now or later

The question: Do humans want to control the turn
or move into default mode.



The Bonne Carre Spillway:
The refineries, I believe are to the right of this pic.

`If we lose a refinery for any length of time, it's going to put
fuel markets under a lot of stress,'' said Jim Bartis, a
senior research analyst at Santa Monica, California-based
Rand Corp. ``Losing a refinery for even a few days would
punch a big hole in supplies.''

http://www.southbear.com/New_Orleans/Geography.html

At some point the Atchafalaya is going to gain the upper hand.

The Old River Junction and Control Structure

http://www2.sjsu.edu/faculty/watkins/oldriver.htm

[LiberalEsto]

14. Memo to H. Ivan:

Dear Ivan,

Skip New Orleans.
Demolish Crawford.

Thank you.

[jmcgowanjm]

15. 11:30 C Ivans not turning into Mobile

if anything, it looks like it's veering into the Rigolets.

Grab a boat, Swamp Rat.

[spinbaby]

16. What are the Rigolets?

?

[Eye and Monkey]

17. The pass between Lake Ponchartarin and the Gulf

Marsh, islands, canals, sloughs, small lakes...

[spinbaby]

18. It's turned back in that direction?

Late this morning it looked like it was turning towards Mobile.

[Eye and Monkey]

21. Latest Nat'l Hurricane Center probabilities still say...

highest probs for Gulfport & Mobile - and this storm still has hurricane force winds up to 105 miles from the center.

[markus]

19. The NWS still has it moving NNW

Heading 350, to be more precise.

But that's the forecaster's best estimate by art. All but one of the models show heading for somwhere between N'wawlins and the MS coast.

Hang on folks.

[markus]

20. Two Other Urgent Questions

Is Nash Roberts still alive and kickin'?

Where does Nash says it will go?

If he's not around, ask Buddy D...

[Eye and Monkey]

22. Buddy D may have a great answer, but...

you may not be able to understand him. I know he surely pegged the Saints the other night. Hat's off to Buddy D.