I think another problem is that the pumps are ELECTRIC. No electricity = no pumps.
I just spoke with my ex in Atlanta...his folks are a couple of blocks off the beach in Long Beach MS....the front of their house is completely gone! His sister stayed in town cause she works for the city so she is reporting back.
Jefferson Parish under Martial Law. No one being allowed into New Orleans.
Levee breaches are causing rising water in New Orleans. WWL-TV studios are being evacuated due to rising water in the French Quarter. WWL will begin broadcasting from LSU as soon as possible and we will be attempting to stream on the web.
Mayor Ray Nagin reports the Twin Span Bridge is "totally destroyed" and that 80% of the city is underwater. Click for streaming video.
Northshore Report: Slidell: extensive flood damage, impassable roads; Covington and Mandeville: extensive wind damage - entire parish without power. Click for story.
I read somewhere that some of the pumps are 72" in diameter. That would take something on the scale of a locomotive to operate.
I also read on Sunday that if "doomsday" New Orleans scenario happened, it would take up to 6 months to pump out. They would have to bring in portable pumps and pump into the Mississippi until they could reach and repair the mains.
Well this is true.
But if they have to rebuild the things or the system, maybe they could put up a generator or something and have pumps that work under water.
Hey, I'm no engineer. But my hands are shaking this morning as I see all this stuff on TV. It's waaaaay worse than I was thinking.
I heard for hours that NO dodged the bullet and yet right now the water's rising and they can do nothing about it. Fires are blooming and people are stuck. Ambulance crews are missing.
I'm in shock, total shock.