WWL has a blog. The whole city is under water. Or else on fire. It would be nice to hear an official on tv explain a systematic plan for repairing the levee and pumping out the water. They must have thought of that. But what I heard late last night is that the engineers were "huddled" in a room "brainstorming." Not a confidence builder.
[UPDATE] After watching a news conf. of LA, FEMA and Army officials, sadness has given way to some angry questions. Since there's nowhere else to ask them, I post after all. I want to know:
1. Why was there not already a firm, confident plan for repairing the levee? (and why is nobody asking this question? [johnny and PrivateRadio is also asking]) Of all the anticipated disasters, this was at the top of the list. Yet the Army engineer said they didn't want to rush ahead with a plan before they had really thought it through to make sure it will work. So, they won't be starting likely until tomorrow. What else do they have to think about all the other days of the year that's so damn imporant? Why isn't there already a team that has this all figured out and has rehearsed its execution?
2. What is wrong with the few people that actually decided on purpose that they'd ride the storm out when they had other options? I'm seeing them on TV. Not poor, not without transportation, just stubborn. Now their asses have to be saved.
3. When N.O. is rebuilt, can there please be a new plan? A bigger, stronger levee would have cost a ton, but not as much as this is going to. Maybe some new building codes would be in order? And a new enhanced drainage/pumping system for the infrastructure of the city?
4. Short of that, do we really want to rebuild a city below sea level? Isn't that looking like a pretty stupid place for a major city right about now, if this is all we know about protecting and repairing it? Especially with the promise of increased hurricane strength that global warming would seem to threaten?
5. How many more of these record setting hurricanes does the region need to endure before the federal government begins to take seriously bigger questions of climate change? Most of the rest of the world is ready and waiting.
[UPDATE 2] More heartbreak, from the WWL blog:
6:41 P.M. - Efforts to stop the levee break at the 17th Street Canal have ended unsuccessfully and the water is expected to soon overwhelm the pumps in that area, allowing water to pour into the east bank of Metairie and Orleans to an expected height of 12-15 feet.
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