Posted on 05/13/2011 2:20:28 PM PDT by Qbert
In a news conference in Baton Rouge Friday, Gov. Bobby Jindal said the Army Corps of Engineers has made it clear to him that it will order the Morganza Floodway to be opened on Saturday or on Sunday at the latest.
“Now is the time to take action. Don’t delay, Don’t hope something will change,” Jindal said.
Jindal said he has asked state officials to tell parish governments to begin notifying their residents in areas in the Atchafalaya River basin expected to be flooded to begin evacuations. Some parishes have told him that they will complete notifications of residents of evacuation plans in a few hours, while others will need up to 48 hours.
[Snip]
Red Cross officials have 22 shelters with 4,758 cots available for evacuees, and local emergency officials have told the state that the expected need is for 3,850 evacuees, Jindal said. But he said tens of thousands of additional spaces would be available quickly, if more are needed.
Jindal said corps officials have told him they will open up the floodway slowly, over as many as four days, to provide adequate time for people to evacuate. Corps officials said a slow release also is necessary to allow wildlife to escape floodwaters, including dozens of endangered Louisiana black bears.
Jindal said it would take about three days for water to reach the southern part of the floodway, including Morgan City. The National Weather Service's Lower Mississippi River Forecast Center has predicted that the Atchafalaya River will crest at between 12 and 13 feet at Morgan City on May 23 if the floodway is opened. The previous record crest there, in 1973, was 10.6 feet.
(Excerpt) Read more at nola.com ...
It is in your best interest that the New Orleans area does not flood.
I have been praying for you all suffering floods and for the Texasans suffering fires. What a wierd time!
That was supposed to be “Texans”.
This is exactly why the spillway was built. It’s mostly water and swamps in the basin anyway.
Yup. Anyone who actually lives out there either has a house that floats, or is elevated on pilings. This time, the pilings might not be tall enough, but the floaters should be OK.
I used to live in Morgan City when I was a kid and still remember my first drive through Pierre Part. That was eye opening. lol
The people in the affected area are not the same as the dependent class in NOLA. They are very resourceful and will do fine like their ancestors have done for hundreds of years now.
I did some checking, and you were partially right. The spillway that "won't be able to be closed" is the Bonnet Carre, and you left out a key phrase......"until the floodwaters subside".
The Morganza and Old River structures use a different design, and the bays therein can be opened or closed at any time, no matter what the level of the floodwaters might be.
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