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photo by Ben Hillyer
Jackie and Charles Freeman leave their Old River house to get concrete blocks to raise their appliances and furniture off of the floor before the floodwaters rise into the house. On Monday, the water hovered a couple of feet below their house.
Parish declares state of emergency
Published Tuesday, April 8, 2008
VIDALIA — Concordia Parish is in a state of emergency — sort of.
In light of the height of the rising Mississippi River, which is expected to stand at 53.9 feet at 7 a.m. today, Director of Emergency Preparedness Morris White said it was time to declare a state of emergency even though there has been no flooding within the levees.
“It doesn’t make a difference if there is a flood,” White said. “When you have a situation that comes to the point that it may be more than the resources that the parish has can handle, you declare a state of emergency so you have the full power of the federal government.”
If a state of emergency is already declared, the parish does not need to wait for prior approval to use federal funds should the need arise, White said.
To prepare for any event that might occur, White recently ordered 47,000 sandbags for the parish from the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness.
“I’m not going to be caught unprepared,” White said.
To the south of Concordia Parish, the U.S. Corps of Engineers is expected to make a decision about opening a spillway to take stress off of the levees around New Orleans.
But even if they do that, that will have little effect on the river at the Natchez-Vidalia pass.
“That would only affect the New Orleans area downstream and a small area upstream from the spillway,” Robert Simrall with the U.S. Corps of Engineers said.
Meanwhile, the National Weather Service has slightly modified how it expects the river to crest — downward.
In an updated forecast released Monday, the NWS now predicts the river will crest at 55.5 feet on April 15, approximately a half-foot lower than previously predicted.
The adjustment was made after the NWS examined the current levels and rate of rise at Vicksburg, NWS Hydrologist Marty Pope said.
“They looked at that prediction, and it didn’t seem in line with the readings we were getting in Vicksburg,” Pope said.
That adjustment could be soon re-adjusted, though.
Rain in the Ohio River Valley and in southern Arkansas could bring the expected crest back up, Pope said.
“Even though our five day forecast shows up to five inches, one of our models is starting to show a little more in southern Arkansas,” Pope said. “With that and other heavy rain occurs, there is a chance these (predictions) could go up again. It seems every storm we have gotten lately has taken us a half-foot higher.”
The rising river has taken its toll on the Vidalia riverfront, where it appears approximately five feet of riverbank have been eroded in the last week, Vidalia Marketing Director Glen McGlothin said.
A subterranean concrete barrier will limit the erosion damage to the riverfront, Riverfront Administrator H.L. Irvin said last week.
Vidalia Mayor Hyram Copeland, who went to the riverfront to assess the situation Monday, said he is not worried about the rising water.
“In my opinion, the water would have to rise to above 60 feet (on the river gauge) before it got to the riverwalk,” Copeland said. “I think everything will be fine. The corps of engineers hasn’t called us and said we should be worried, so I’m not.”
The Vidalia Conference and Convention center was built up several feet off the ground.
“Even if it got to the building, the water would have to rise several more feet before it could do anything,” McGlothin said.
The highest recorded crest for the river was 58.04 feet in 1937.
Comments
Posted by sparky018 (anonymous) on April 8, 2008 at 1:04 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Mrs. Jackie/Mom, you raymond and the big pot belly dog are more then welcome to come and stay at my place in Kingston. I have only known yall since September but yall are like family! Very wanderfull people and I hope the waters don't do much damage! I'll call yall today and see if there is anything I can do to help! I have my boat already hooked up and ready! If anyone needs help doing anything with moving stuff to land from your house, send me a message! I will be more then happy to do what I can!
Posted by csguidry (anonymous) on April 8, 2008 at 6:19 a.m. (Suggest removal)
You would think that people would realize if they see water close to their homes like that they would start making preperations to move their belongings to higher ground before they need boats to get in and out. I think many are depedning on insurance and they may be surprised when it is all over with.... Katrina and Rita should have taught everyone that insurance is not reliable.
If anyone is left in the flood prone areas or if your area is in the way of being flooded please get what you can and get out now do not wait a second longer. So far the rivers have proven to be rising fast and has not been too predictable so do not wait.
Posted by justthefactsman (anonymous) on April 8, 2008 at 7:24 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I think the crest will be a bit higher than expected. Upper Mississippi is getting a lot of rain today and Thursday. I hope it doesn't affect the stages here, but all that water has to go somewhere.
Posted by bayoubengalsfan (anonymous) on April 8, 2008 at 7:50 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Not only is the Upper Mississippi getting rain, there have been some record snowfalls in the last few days up that way. The temperature was to rise to 50 that day which means immediate snow melt.
Posted by stateofnatchez (anonymous) on April 8, 2008 at 9:10 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Sad but expected. Never underestimate the power of mother nature.
Posted by obamayamama (anonymous) on April 8, 2008 at 9:20 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Opening the spillway could cause great stress to the levees supporting the Atchafalaya which could in turn produce mass flooding to folks in Henderson, Breaux Bridge, New Iberia, Lafayette, St. Martinville, and more smaller towns. Why would they do that JUST to save New Orleans AGAIN! New Orleans was saved once already back in 1927 while other smaller (less elite) cities suffered.
Why do this again? Why not just let New Orleans go? Its sewage and water system hasnt been updated since 1906. It is close to 10 ft BELOW sea level, JUST LET IT GO ALREADY. Save the other prospering cities of LA, give funds to refugees in those cities and quit throwing it away to New Orleans!
Posted by obamayamama (anonymous) on April 8, 2008 at 9:45 a.m. (Suggest removal)
CGGUIDRY, when you say "Get out", where are they suppose to go? It's not like they can just go buy or even rent another place to live (probably paying mortgage on the house about to be flooded).
The Old River is a beautiful place to live. Some years, people there have to suffer. And a lot of the times, people do NOT have flood insurance and have to redo the homes themselves. Flood insurance is NOT issued to anyone near the MS River when the river has hit a certain stage.
My point to you csgiudry is do not judge these people as being so out of touch with reality. Blame it on the Corps of Engineers who state these flood level crests and then revise them each day. Of course they do not know for sure how high the river will go, but at least they can be more realistic.
Posted by GopherBaroque (anonymous) on April 8, 2008 at 9:45 a.m. (Suggest removal)
One day the river is gonna take back all that belonged to it in the first place and that includes most all of south Louisiana. Building on a flood plain was never the smartest thing to do but we tend to cover our eyes and ears and then plunge ahead with development. Its not limited to the river either. Look at the earthquake zones in California and the volcano zones in the Northwest. Sometimes we just aren't very smart.
Posted by obamayamama (anonymous) on April 8, 2008 at 9:57 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I guess you are right about that Gopher. But at least we have a few more years left, and saving New Orleans shouldn't be on the top of the list anymore.
Posted by luzichick (anonymous) on April 8, 2008 at 10:26 a.m. (Suggest removal)
"Blame it on the Corps of Engineers who state these flood level crests and then revise them each day. Of course they do not know for sure how high the river will go, but at least they can be more realistic."
obamayamama, now it's your turn to be told not to judge. The Corps does the best job they can with these predictions. They can only do so much with the tools they have, namely the mathmatical hydrologic and hydraulic models. They're not fortune tellers and can't totally predict what mother nature will send our way. Only God can do that. They are the realistic ones. What you are asking them to do, accurately predict nature, is unrealistic.
I've used the models they use and there are so incredibly many variables that go into them. Being familiar with them, it's amazing to me that they're able to do as well as they do.
Posted by advanced_hominid (anonymous) on April 8, 2008 at 10:36 a.m. (Suggest removal)
First Katrina and now this. There is only one person to blame... President George W. Bush.
Posted by ghost (anonymous) on April 8, 2008 at 10:42 a.m. (Suggest removal)
something interesting I think everyone should know since the democrat hasnt posted it yet...http://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle/529/police_drug_corruption
3rd paragraph
Posted by obamayamama (anonymous) on April 8, 2008 at 10:43 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Well, at least they can make predictions on circumstances related to "EXPECT THE WORST". Their predictions have oftentimes been wrong. If they were to predict a more yielding outcome, people would know how to prepare in a more efficient manner.
Ok, so if it is in the hands of GOD, then I will blame him/her. And if that is your answer to who controls our outcome, I need not communicate with you any further.
Why not blame it on the anti-god GEORGE W. BUSH!
Posted by firered (anonymous) on April 8, 2008 at 10:46 a.m. (Suggest removal)
oh yes let's blame it on George Bush since he has a faucet that he has turned on that is pouring all the water into the Mississippi River. Last time I checked he is not the one who controls rain/snow fall. Come on people get real.
Posted by lsugal08 (anonymous) on April 8, 2008 at 10:56 a.m. (Suggest removal)
okay you want to blame the rising river on bush?? get over people. you all need to quite playing a blame game. face teh facts. river is high, chance for flood. no one is to blame. as for the people on old river and other areas like that. they do waht they have to do. not everyone has somewhere to go. they have faced high water before and if they choose to do this again they can. if the river floods then that is what is going to happen. if it doesn't than thank God it didn't. No one has control of it. I don't think the levee will break just because I remember in 97 but that doesn't mean I am not worried.
Posted by notfromnatchez (anonymous) on April 8, 2008 at 10:57 a.m. (Suggest removal)
George W wasn't responsible for Katrina and he certainly isn't responsible for this.
I agree with Firered...GET REAL!!!
Posted by obamayamama (anonymous) on April 8, 2008 at 10:58 a.m. (Suggest removal)
That was suppose to be a joke firered. I know Bush is not the answer.
If anyone really wants to get down to the climatic answer, heavy precipitation upstream is the culpret. Could that stem from Global Warming? It seems we always have to blame. But the culpret could also be how the Corps have handled flooding throughout the 20th century.
The Corps of Engineers is not always as reliable as luzichick may believe. Read some history.. James Buchanan Eads, look him up on Wikipedia and get back with me LUZICHICK!
Posted by firered (anonymous) on April 8, 2008 at 11:02 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The people who own homes in Ol River and the other places that flood every year know that it is a risk when they buy the homes. They are used to flooding (like I said it happens every year just not to this extent) so they are I'm sure dealing with it as they normally do. Or as best as they can. Don't judge them until you are in their shoes. I get so tired of hearing people say what they would do if they were in the situation. You never know until it happens to you. (Sorry I'm a little frustrated today!)
Posted by advanced_hominid (anonymous) on April 8, 2008 at 11:05 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Relax folks... my comment was satire.
Posted by firered (anonymous) on April 8, 2008 at 11:05 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I know you meant it that way obama... this is what I was commenting about!
Posted by advanced_hominid (anonymous) on April 8, 2008 at 10:36 a.m. (Suggest removal)
First Katrina and now this. There is only one person to blame... President George W. Bush.
Posted by obamayamama (anonymous) on April 8, 2008 at 11:08 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Let me post another name:
Andrew Humphreys who was the head of the Corps of Engineers (and also the rival of James Eads) and wanted to control the river HIS way which allowed the CoE to adapt a "levees only" policy thus rendering the delta to flooding.
Posted by advanced_hominid (anonymous) on April 8, 2008 at 11:11 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Ahh, someone has read Rising Tide by John Barry...
Posted by advanced_hominid (anonymous) on April 8, 2008 at 11:11 a.m. (Suggest removal)
...it's better than the Wiki article.
Posted by luzichick (anonymous) on April 8, 2008 at 11:15 a.m. (Suggest removal)
For the record, obamayamama, I never claimed the Corps had a strong record of reliability. I never said anything of the sort, so don't start yelling at me. I only pointed out that on that one particular subject, they do the best they can with the tools they have. Sheesh!
Posted by firered (anonymous) on April 8, 2008 at 11:16 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Gah Obamayamama I can hear you yellin all the way over here!!!! Good grief! LOL
Posted by obamayamama (anonymous) on April 8, 2008 at 11:18 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Well they should be able to do the best they can with the tools they have. Didn't mean to yell at you, was just in the mood for a debate. It is sometimes like my morning coffee, and I am quite interested in the MS River.
Posted by ntztransplant17 (anonymous) on April 8, 2008 at 11:20 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Ghost - Is the paragraph below what you're talking about on http://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle/529/...
corruption? Is it very interesting that I haven't seen a word about this in the ND. Has anyone else?
"In Natchez, Mississippi, a former Vicksburg police officer was sentenced Tuesday to 15 years in federal prison for taking bribes to protect what he thought were drug shipments. Kevin Williams, 37, was convicted of extortion last October in federal court. Prosecutors said Williams took bribes totaling $3,000 from undercover officers between November 2002 and May 2003, when he was serving as a sergeant in the city's narcotics division. He was indicted in March 2007 and arrested in Hawaii, where he was serving as an Army military police officer."
Posted by obamayamama (anonymous) on April 8, 2008 at 11:23 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I wonder if the people in the picture know that they left BOTH doors WIDE open in their house. Maybe they are just boating the dogs to the levee to "use it".
Posted by obamayamama (anonymous) on April 8, 2008 at 11:23 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Don't be mad firered, just because I corrected a misspelling of yours doesn't mean we have to be enemies.
Hey notfromnatchez, I hear you are coming in for a visit soon (maybe even this weekend). Gonna visit Dimples? How about Dodge's Chicken?
Posted by firered (anonymous) on April 8, 2008 at 11:29 a.m. (Suggest removal)
ha ha Notfromnatchez I'll buy you a crispito from Dodge's Chicken! I'm not mad Obama... I'm just pickin with ya! I can take constructive criticism.
Posted by luzichick (anonymous) on April 8, 2008 at 11:31 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I'ts okay, obamayamama, I wasn't too badly damaged ;-) Perhaps the government should invest some money in designing new models. The computer programs they use were written in the 60s (I think). They've been updated, but they're still out of date IMHO. They were written at a time when punch cards were still used for data input. They now have Windows interfaces and the algorithms have been updated to some degree, but they're still basically the samed old programs.
Posted by ghost (anonymous) on April 8, 2008 at 11:41 a.m. (Suggest removal)
yea thats correct. Wasnt Kevin a NARC officer around here?
Posted by obamayamama (anonymous) on April 8, 2008 at 11:44 a.m. (Suggest removal)
It is nice to see your involvement, luzichick, with models. Someone like you could be useful in the upgrading. You seem to know what you are talking about.
Posted by momoftwokids (anonymous) on April 8, 2008 at 12:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)
my son was ten months when katrina hit and now i just had a daughter she is three weeks.. it is my fault i should quit havin kids....lol!!! I am keeping a copy of the news papers from these events in thier keepsake boxes. oh, yeah we r home now firered come see us!
Posted by momoftwokids (anonymous) on April 8, 2008 at 12:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)
and firered since when have you been able to take constructive criticism? HA HA HA!!!!
Posted by notfromnatchez (anonymous) on April 8, 2008 at 12:38 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I definitely want to go to Dimples...it depends if I can find someone to go with me.
I love Dodge's Chicken. I never had a Crispito before, but I am willing to give it a shot.
I am still a little skeptical about coming through town...I mean people getting shot at for kayaking and President Bush's vendetta against LA and now apparently MS. I don't know...i am a little nervous.
Posted by sparky018 (anonymous) on April 8, 2008 at 12:42 p.m. (Suggest removal)
obamayamama, what exactly is this suppose to mean? "I wonder if the people in the picture know that they left BOTH doors WIDE open in their house. Maybe they are just boating the dogs to the levee to "use it"."?
Posted by Negotiator (anonymous) on April 8, 2008 at 12:56 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Now that's a River!!!
Amazing.... just amazing.
For those in it's path, you've got people praying for you.
Posted by Roy (anonymous) on April 8, 2008 at 1:20 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Morris White is getting slow in his old age and needs to retire. These sandbags should have been ordered when the inventory was low not now. Why should we need our federal tax money when we don't need it.
The people who live in areas were we all know it will flood should not be surprised when it happens and expect the government to come bail them out.
Posted by firered (anonymous) on April 8, 2008 at 1:43 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Hey now I can take criticism.
NotfromNatchez I will meet you at Dimples with your Crispitos! Just tell me which night! Its ok to come here just leave your kayak at home and bring a bulletproof life vest so you won't get shot at while the river is carrying you away! LOL!
So tell me a little bit more about these models they use for determining the flow of the river. I'm starting to understand a little better.
Posted by beammeupscotty (anonymous) on April 8, 2008 at 1:51 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Sounds like Vidalia's government only has one concern, the riverwalk. Citizens take note if anything happens you are on your own.
Posted by obamayamama (anonymous) on April 8, 2008 at 1:57 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Hey Sparky, if you look in the pic, both doors are open, that is all I was pointing out. And as for the dog pirched up on the boat, I figured he needed to go potty. Do you need me to explain anything else?
Posted by obamayamama (anonymous) on April 8, 2008 at 2:20 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Oh and sparky, just one more thing to be proud of:
http://www.bls.gov/opub/ted/2007/mar/wk1...
Posted by JasoninMemphis (anonymous) on April 8, 2008 at 2:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)
posted by an idiot named obamayomama (or something like that):
__________________________________
Opening the spillway could cause great stress to the levees supporting the Atchafalaya which could in turn produce mass flooding to folks in Henderson, Breaux Bridge, New Iberia, Lafayette, St. Martinville, and more smaller towns. Why would they do that JUST to save New Orleans AGAIN! New Orleans was saved once already back in 1927 while other smaller (less elite) cities suffered.
Why do this again? Why not just let New Orleans go? Its sewage and water system hasnt been updated since 1906. It is close to 10 ft BELOW sea level, JUST LET IT GO ALREADY. Save the other prospering cities of LA, give funds to refugees in those cities and quit throwing it away to New Orleans!
____________________________________________________
You are the biggest idiot I have ever read in my life. Please kill yourself quickly.
Posted by fire39212 (anonymous) on April 8, 2008 at 2:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Ghost thanks for the website...
Posted by obamayamama (anonymous) on April 8, 2008 at 2:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)
JasoninMemphis, why is that such as idiotic thing to say? Give details to support your relavence. If you cannot, then you are showing what an idiot you are.
A recent study by Tulane and Xavier University notes that 51% of New Orleans is at or above sea level, with the more densely populated areas generally on higher ground. The average elevation of the city is currently between one and two feet (0.5 m) below sea level, with some portions of the city as high as 16 feet (5 m) and others as low as 10 feet (3 m) below sea level.
Posted by obamayamama (anonymous) on April 8, 2008 at 2:44 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Oh yeah, let me go kill myself quickly. You should just stay up there in Memphis and drown in that hellhole; its worse than Natchez.
If I am the biggest idiot you have ever read, looks to me like you need to read more although I know the illerate rate in Memphis is quite high. Your substance is about as thick as scum on my shoe, try and add something a bit more assertive.
Posted by oldmoney (anonymous) on April 8, 2008 at 3:39 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Jason,
Your status as greasy refugee that fled from NO to Memphis in 05 doesn't give you the right to suggest to someone else that they commit suicide. If you do that again, I will cancel all of your credit cards like biff tannen did to loraine baines mcfly on back to the future part II.
Posted by JasoninMemphis (anonymous) on April 8, 2008 at 5:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)
obama you idiot I'm talking about your insinuation that New Orleans should be "let go of".....ok....that makes sense.
That's just an idiotic thing to say, I'm not disputing where N.O. lies below sea level....I'm talking about the historical importance of New Orleans to not only Louisiana....but the Gulf South. Know where most of the products that we use in the USA come into the country for our region? Oh my...that would be the New Orleans area. Jeez....I can't believe we were educated in the same school system. (if you're from the Miss Lou area)
old money:
Why do you think I'm from New Orleans?....I'm not....I'm from Natchez. Now, Memphis has some bad areas.....but good luck finding anything to do in the Natchez, Vidalia, Ferriday area.....no one from Natchez can talk about Memphis in the least.....in anything other than crime. Crime in Memphis is rampant in certain areas....of course, from reading the democrat it seems that per capita Natchez is trying to catch up.
Oh...and old money.....the "greasy" comment......now....I'm a white guy....but it's pretty clear that you were making a racist comment there. That's pretty bad man, but then again I'll have to consider the source.
Posted by obamayamama (anonymous) on April 8, 2008 at 6:40 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I am well aware the New Orleans is the main port. Could any other places be considered a main port if the river were go where it wanted to go? In the end, the river will choose its destination. Ports can change. The river has been controlled for 200 years to go through New Orleans. Each time it floods, more erosion takes place causing more tax dollars to contribute to HELPING New Orleans. Yet, New Orleans STILL holds a very high crime rate and has 10000 homeless people who are still waiting for someone to help them out. But I am sure you being in Memphis, you are use to the crime as well as the homeless people.
You have no right to criticize anyone for calling you "greasy" when you can type in the words "Please kill yourself quickly". That is a horrible thing to write to someone. Your intolerable behavior of calling me an idiot as well as telling me to kill myself quickly only goes to show your cockiness and inability to be open to new ideas.
I am QUITE SURE that my education level exceeds yours. Just admitting that you live in Memphis proves that. Memphis is putrid, and you are proud of it?
PAAAALEEEESE
It's 6:30, shouldnt your shift at the grocery store be starting soon.
Posted by emp (anonymous) on April 8, 2008 at 7 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Ok, children, let's play nice.
As far as the people that live on Old River, they know its going to flood and they have boats. They are prepared for such things. Its a beautiful area and I would buy a house there right now. Well.... if I had a boat.
Posted by obamayamama (anonymous) on April 8, 2008 at 7:16 p.m. (Suggest removal)
It is beautiful there and probably worth the hassle of boating. I sure wouldn't know anything about that.
Posted by papajeff (Jeff McClure) on April 8, 2008 at 7:38 p.m. (Suggest removal)
obamayomama - The spillway in the article is not the Morganza Spillway through the Atchafalaya Basin, so there is no threat to the cities and towns you mentioned. It goes through a bayou from the Mississippi to Lake Pontchartrain. People have been smarter there than on the Morganza - they haven't built in it, so it's got a straight shot to the lake without threatening anything.
Posted by JasoninMemphis (anonymous) on April 8, 2008 at 7:51 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Sure Obama....lol....I moved to Memphis to work at a grocery store. Grocery store jobs are about all that's left in Adams County and Concordia Parish though....so what are the odds of me working at one vs. YOU working at one?
Riiiiight.....
Seems to me to be some self loathing going on.....maybe some projection transpiring.....but I digress.....
New Orleans, despite it's location below sea level is worth far more to La. than even the port situation. The fact that you could even say something like "let it go" (meaning that hundreds of thousands of people would be without a home)disqualifies YOU from saying anything about what anyone else says. Another point.....before my parting shot.....where in the heck do you think all those folks from New Orleans are going to go if we (as a society) just "let it go"?
Right back to Baton Rouge, Ferriday, Natchez, Vidalia, Atlanta, Houston, Lake Charles....etc.....etc....
I mean....You're throwing your support towards someone who calls the citizens of New Orleans "greasy".....so obviously you don't want any more of the overpopulation and crime problems that came when the evacuees had to leave Orleans Parish......right?
See....that logic works both ways there skippy. Look, remember to double bag for that lady next time....the bag nearly tore!
Posted by obamayamama (anonymous) on April 8, 2008 at 7:54 p.m. (Suggest removal)
OK, But who is to say they would not use it if the river goes higher than predicted (which it probably will). I guess we should just cross our fingers and hope the spillway holds up, it was almost a goner back in 73.
I actually was referring to the Old River Control Structure but realized this is was mainly used to distribute the flow of water to make the MS River continue to flow through New Orleans.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_River_C...
Posted by obamayamama (anonymous) on April 8, 2008 at 7:58 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I am not even going to read your comment Jason. You are not worth my time, and all you have to say is hateful comments. I am not here to battle with a looser like you so just butt out and leave me alone (and continue your career at the Stop and Shop).
Posted by obamayamama (anonymous) on April 8, 2008 at 8:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)
And let's not even get on the topic of global warming and the melting icecaps in Antarctica. New Orleans is going to go under and no one is going to be able to stop it. My point is to put the fundage where the refugees go IN OTHER CITIES in LA, ones that aren't so close to the coast and may have a chance of holding up when the coastline exceeds 20 miles inland. That way, the taxpayers in this state aren't totally throwing it away on a lost cause.
Posted by obamayamama (anonymous) on April 8, 2008 at 8:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Hmmm, I sure thought you would have had a better comeback than that Mr. Stop-n-Shop. Guess my prospects were conducive to your cynical arrogance. I am surprised, however, that you came up with another word besides "idiot". Hundreds of thousands of people do not live in New Orleans anymore. And I am not just being an A*s when I say to stop the rebuilding of NO. People need to realize that the flooding will occur again (its not even a question of if, its a question of when). Why not get out now before it is too late.
Ok, I have grown bored and I am sure everyone else is tired of reading our catfight. Stay in Memphis and dissolve the rancid, toxic environment.
Posted by csguidry (anonymous) on April 8, 2008 at 8:30 p.m. (Suggest removal)
obamayamama,ok so what are they supposed to do then?... sit there and let the water drown them? get real these people should know that if the river is in danger of flooding then any and everyone who lives close by should be on alert.
Maybe they do have to fix their homes themsleves but again even more reason to move out their belongings so that will be that much they do not have to replace. As for where to go I am sure some have family, friends there is always somewhere to go. I figure before I sat by and drowned I would go most any place until it was safe to return home.I am not blaming them for being on the river but let's face it sitting there until the water is coming through the front door is just poor judgement!
There is a price to pay for living close to the river because eventually they do have the tendancy to flood but just because they chose to live on the river does mean they have to loose everything they own and their life into the bargain... Geez you are the one who is making it sound as if they should stay there and face the end.
As for them being out of touch with reality that has nothing to do with it. They chose to live on the river so be it nothing wrong with that but when water starts coming close to your home or within seeing distance of your home I would think that would be the time to start thinking about a plan of action. Waiting till the water knocks down your door is a little too late.
As for the Engineers... they can only guess to some degree what the river will and will not do history has proven that they are not always right it is just an educated guess they are not to blame for the flood. The levees are made of dirt. water has pressure on it when confined to a restricted area if the levee is not strong enough then it could break. They get their money from the government and they can only do so much and even though they tell people about the rivers it does not mean the people will do anything about it. Just like the hurricanes people knew about it but they refused to leave and when it was over they were being rescured form roof tops.It could have been prevented had they evacuated when told to but they made the decission not to leave and now we know the rest of the story.
Posted by elvisss (anonymous) on April 8, 2008 at 9:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)
You haven't lived through a flood on the Old River until you've been dressed in your Sunday best and boated to the levee so you can go to church on Easter Sunday.
Now that's livin'
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