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According to this link on the subject from Wikipedia:

Hurricane Katrina

approximately 80% of the city of New Orleans is under water, in places to a depth of 25 feet. I saw helicopter footage from one of Heidi's links last night and large stretches of the city are basically a lake with rooftops poking out of the water. One correspondent in another place I spoke to said that some of the streets are now capable of taking ocean going ships, they're that badly flooded.

I'm still trying to find out what happened to Gulfport, which was the town that was the landfall point for Katrina, which was producing sustained wind speeds in excess of 145 mph on landfall. I suspect that Gulfport doesn't even exist as a town anymore.

I think it's safe to say that this was a display of elemental force with a vengeance.

Oh, and one of the BBC pictures showed that the Red Cross might need donations to dig themselves out of the mess in the area before they can help others - yes, it was that bad. I saw photographs of Red Cross vehicles effectively rendered useless, with about 18 inches of rooftop poking out of the water and a large fallen tree caving the roof of one of the ambulances in. There was also a picture of a guy rescuing his pet dog. But then English audiences tend to be sentimental over pictures like that ...

Estimates for the cleanup and rebuilding cost are escalating almost by the minute. Last I heard confirmed was $36 billion, but some news outlets are talking about a possible $100 billion cleanup operation. Approximately 80% of the inhabitants of New Orleans are now officially described as "homeless". In some cases, they don't even have a neighbourhood to return to, let alone a home.


Katrina is now officially the 4th worst hurricane to hit America since records began. Yet, but for a fortuitous course change, it could actually have been worse. If the city had taken a full on direct hit instead of a glancing blow, it would now be a crater. I dread to think what's left of any places that did take a full-on direct hit.



Last edited by Koi Keeper at 30-Aug-2005 20:58

Panda Catfish fan and keeper/breeder since Christmas 2002

I'm hearing that there more than likely was transportation out of the area if someone wanted to but was unable to. I could be wrong, heck I'm suffering massive migraine and am drugged at the momentI'm also hearing on the radio where they are reporting live, or were this morning from some of the emergency shelters that many people rode out with people they simply did not know just to get out.

As Dallas said, it wasn't a matter of not being able to get out if you wanted to but a simple "I refuse to go." I keep thinking it's closely related to the little boy who cried wolf, and so many this time refuse to leave. There is also the fact a colleague and myself were discussing that everyone was so focused on Katrina hitting New Orleans, that they didn't bother this time to evacuate as they should have Gulport, Biloxi, Waveland, and other neighboring towns that are a couple hundred miles eastward in Mississippi, and this seems to be where most of the devastation has hit...At last count about noon when I checked the news on [link=yahoo]http://news.yahoo.com" style="COLOR: #FF1493[/link] There were at least 80 deaths in Mississippi County (for those outside of the states, we have from largest to smallest--for the most part...Country, State, County/Parish, City/Town). This was a simple who knows what...they truly expected it to slam into New Orleans not go eastward as it did at the last moment...

For now there isn't the finger pointing, get over that...we've got to get things put back in order, and help one another...

If any of you kids are in school and saw the Channel 1 broadcast this morning, they were reporting from La Porte High School for awhile as an emergency relocation center...that is very close to home for both Leslie (pugperson) and myself, and the 2 middle schools we worked at previously fed into it.

So yes, folks this is close to home. Yes, traffic here and life here in Houston Area is showing the stress. No, noone knows really when and if they will ever go back "home". It is a matter of time.

As promised the site for [link=Red Cross is this link]http://www.redcross.org" style="COLOR: #FF1493[/link] should have been able to think of that one on my own this morning.

And here is a link to the post that [link=monkeyboy began on donations and what all]http://www.fishprofiles.com/files/forums/The%20Recovery%20Room/63676.html?04171581" style="COLOR: #FF1493[/link]

mods if there is an issue with this please let me know as well...

And folks thanks for the thoughts, things for these folks is going to be rough for quite sometime, and I suspect the schools in the area will be feeling the effects.

hml

"I've got a great ambition to die of exhaustion rather than boredom." Thomas Carlyle

We are in North Carolina, and are expected to get some wind and rain out of it later this afternoon. There is also, the possibility of tornados.
We were hit by Fran and Floyd several years back. I feel for the people who have lost everything. It is not a pleasant thing to experience.

but was transport provided for those who did want to go but had no means to do it independently?

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I like to think that whoever designed marine life was thinking of it as basically an entertainment medium. That would explain some of the things down there, some of the unearthly biological contraptions

There was a mandatory evacuation, but there were still people that refused to go.

As of the last news announcement 20 mins ago, there are 55 known dead. They are finding that many people did not head the mandated evacuation and are finding people in buildings that should have been evacuated.

The UK press is reporting that transport was not provided for evacuees though there was a mandatory evacuation. UK media is generally a tad anti-US atm, so I was wondering if this was really the case?

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I like to think that whoever designed marine life was thinking of it as basically an entertainment medium. That would explain some of the things down there, some of the unearthly biological contraptions

Just thought I'd pop in with an update since I seem to be having the most up to date news?

As of the last news announcement 20 mins ago, there are 55 known dead. They are finding that many people did not head the mandated evacuation and are finding people in buildings that should have been evacuated.

Red Cross is taking donations and I'll post the link later this afternoon, if you are interested (mods/lindy/adam can I do that?)

It is roughly estimated that there are 55,000 evacuees here in the houston area currently...approximately 15,000 motel/hotel/what-not rooms are being used. It is estimated that the sooniest these folks will be able to attempt to go home is 2-3 days at best...and I'm having awful thoughts that some may not be able to go home, simply put there is nothing to go home to for some of them.

The Levees that protect New Orleans are now breaking down and there is more flooding coming, so they are not out of the clear yet.

Keep us in your thoughts folks. And thanks, Heidi

"I've got a great ambition to die of exhaustion rather than boredom." Thomas Carlyle

My best friend is a professional dancer on a cruise liner based in New Orleans. I have to admit I hadn't been thinking much about this hurricane until I received an email from him yesterday telling me that he'd been evacuated to Texas. So he was already safe, but when I read that I realised the seriousness of the situation. I've been keeping an eye on the news since, and I hope things aren't too bad at the end of it all.

My friend is in New York now for a few days holiday and will be back home on Sunday. Although he wasn't in any real danger, having gotten to Texas well ahead of time, I suspect it's going to be an emotional reunion. After all, in the time that he's been gone, I was almost killed in an accident and he was in the path of one of the worst hurricanes on record. I can't wait to see his face and hear his voice again!

Last edited by just beginning at 30-Aug-2005 06:43

The only way to get rid of a temptation is to yield to it. - Oscar Wilde

We had tornados from the hurricane last night and are still under a tornado watch until 2pm today hrug: Nothing compared to what the folks got in La, and Miss.

Empty chairs at empty tables, the room silent, forlorn.

i think "nawlins" is dumb as well, but it's faster than typing "new orleans"

---

"That's the trouble with political jokes in this country... they get elected!" -- Dave Lippman

haha Nawlins is funny! and yes, you do say it that way!~~ i heard you so!! Nawlins...tee hee, we say: new orleeeeeeans emphASIS on the EEEEEEEEe]] /:'

72 gallon bowfront:Tanganyikan Lake set up
75 gallon: A. Baenschi trio,Cyanotilapia Afra Cobwe(4), copadichromis trewavase, protomelas sp. tangerine tiger(breeding pair)

We are getting bits and pieces in our Aust news. Heidi gave some interesting links earler today. I just can not begin to think of the horrors some are going through.

And we complain about such simple things in life.

I hope the rest of the world gets behind and helps out those in need, there is going to be a lot of homeless and sick people in that area for a long time.

Keith

Near enough is not good enough, therefore good enough is not near enough, and only your best will do.
I VOTE DO YOU if not WHY NOT?
VOTE NOW VOTE NOW

Nope don't think there is anyone except bayou and he's in New York The other ones to worry about would be Mississippi, especially Waveland, Biloxi, and Gulfport. But to my knowledge there aren't any members from there as well...

Any how if there are any members from there I have a feeling they wouldn't be therethey are here in Houston, everywhere here in Houston, let me tell you it's a terrifying drive to work as it is in normal houston traffic Now add those that are exhausted, anxious, confused, terrified, and running on empty on all accounts, and it spells disaster...I personally witnessed a car from Louisiana this morning come to a dead hault in the middle of rush hour on 225 I don't know how the 18 wheeler didn't hit hit (though I'm still smelling it), and I don't know why I'm still alive to complain about it...between the 18 wheeler slamming on his breaks and deciding my lane was safer (hold it, I'm using this lane mister) it's a real miracle noone was killed Other than that traffic was horrid, to drive in houston you have to be crazy or have some idea of where you're going...those "visiting" fit into neither category...should have taken pics of the traffic, maybe tomorrow

Ok whining is over, for the most part I think there have only been 5 deaths, which isn't bad all things considering...Yes, the damage is bad, but it was expected to be worse, unfortunately for Mississippi it hit there hard and heavy...beginning to think I need to go and visit Pappa's grave soon if it's still there

Heidi

[link=For up to date information and news on Katrina here is fox news online]http://www.foxnews.com" style="COLOR: #FF1493[/link]

Here's hoping everyone fishie or not is fine and back home safe soon.



"I've got a great ambition to die of exhaustion rather than boredom." Thomas Carlyle