A section of the I-10 bridge that was damaged by Hurricane Katrina is shown, Tuesday, Aug. 30, 2005, in New Orleans.
Posted on 08/30/2005 5:32:22 PM PDT by BurbankKarl
The Advocate - Baton Rouge, LA : story link - http://www.2theadvocate.com/stories/083005/new_slidell0sen01.shtml Senator: Slidell area likely hardest hit by Katrina
Capitol news bureau Much of Slidell is under water and likely sustained the worst damage from Hurricane Katrina, tate Sen. Tom Schedler, R-Mandeville, said Tuesday at 1 p.m. Calling the devastation “total”, Schedler said, only slabs remain where dozens of houses were blown down and several feet of water remain in the Slidell Memorial Hospital on Gause Boulevard as well as throughout the old town area off U.S. 11.
Slidell is a suburban community of about 25,000 people northeast of New Orleans near where Interstates 10, 12 and 59 intersect in St. Tammany Parish.
Schedler was interviewed after being briefed at the state Office of Emergency Preparedness. He said he could not return to his district.
“Slidell is as bad as New Orleans east and some other areas in St. Bernard Parish,” Schedler said. “It’s a problem that will be with us for months and years.”
State Police Troop L evacuated its Slidell headquarters during the storm, set up a temporary command in a fire department, then had to flee that center, he said.
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2643. SLIDELL - all current info i know of by lsugirl777, 8/30/05 11:01 ET this is everything that I have heard so far. between first hand accounts from people in slidell and someone who works for WWL - i think its all accurate: -twin spans DESTROYED-water tower on Gause FELL-roof of Applebee's off-roof of Northshore Hospital off and flooding-flooding up to chest on Old Spanish Trail-Lake Ponchatrain "doesn't end until" Old Spanish Trail-Roofs blown off all down Ponchatrain Dr.-Bayou Liberty under water -Gause flooded starting at Slidell High-Racetrack on Gause caught fire -Bowling USA half gone-tornado spotted on Old Spanish Trail-"older" schools destroyed-windows blown out and flooding at SMH-Olde Towne flooded-severe flooding down Old Spanish Trail (up to the rooftops)-alligators and snakes in the water -severe damage to Eden Isles/Oak Harbor/Lakeshore Dr.-dead bodies in Eden Isles (hopefully that is not true)-minimal flooding in Audobon (a friend of mine went back to his house and said no flooding)-Rigoles torn apart I know this news is tough but with a good sense of community we can get through this. Luckily we have the losses in New Orleans to lean on and we have the support of the whole nation. I know it's hard not having news coverage but from what i've heard- you don't want to see it. I heard from 2 people that they weren't showing footage because it was too "traumatic". Everyone just sit still where you are, spend this time with your families - after this we should see that time together is precious. There will be plenty of time to assess damage once we are allowed back in town. Just everyone continue praying and looking for family members.
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2627. Slidell,Eden Isles,Huntwyck,Fremeaux Ave,HWY11,Military RD, by helpnet, 8/30/05 10:51 ET Found this on a NOLA blog. Does anyone know if FEMA has done a flyover..and the results? Can't find anything from their website. 2528. Slidell, Eden Isles by aboveboard, 8/30/05 8:52 ET Okay, 1St, THANK GOD most people evacuated are safe!!
Here it is cut and dry.
At 1:30am I spoke with a St. Tammany sheriffs officer after trying for two days. There is no communication in St. Tammany at all. He snuck to Holden, LA and was able to use a phone from there.
The twinn spans look like a set of stairs, impassible both directions. Pretty much all of St. Bernard is flooded and damaged. Our dispatcher in Chalmette called in at 0700 and reported some shed damage and rain. At 1100 he was on his rooftop awaiting rescue since the water rose to the soffit and facia.
Slidell had 175mph wind gusts, Eden Isles had 20-25' of tidal surge on top of high tide and rain. Reports of extensive roof losses. Slidell was getting 18" of rain per hour at impact. There is no media coverage because noone can get near...conditions are still too bad. Lake Pontchartrain made its way to Fremeaux ave. OST Monday night still had 6' of water...believed to have had 10' of water both sides of Pontchartrain drive at Taco Tico, Tammany Mall. China Buffet, old Pitt Grill,(OST) at the interstate had water to it's roof. Hwy 11 cannot be seen...road or bridge. Military rd has 6' of water.
Not all of Slidell was damaged...Huntwyck, hwy 190 Maris Stella okay, many other parts as well. Alot of mayham but alot of Slidell did make it okay. The areas that did get it, got it bad.
Noone allowed back in for 2-3 days, could take 2 months to restore power. Part of SMH's roof damaged, Outback was on fire. Several tornados reported around Slidell. Most damage is south of I-12. Our home is gone.
Lets pray that it was only rising water at houses and not a lot of wind damage. Some may be able to recover more with just water damage. Law enforcement should be able to assess quite a bit on tuesday as the water subsides. Several calls for rescue but unable to reach them.
I don't mean to be gloom and gloom, but I am passing info along as passed to me.
Once again, we are alive. I fear some are not. We spent the day on Sunday on the phone while evacuating begging friends that were stubborn to leave.
Cell phone use is sporatic at best, but not in Slidell area. Text works somtimes when phone won't.
____copied from a blog---2nd hand info---will update as available
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WWLTV.com Slidell suffers extensive flood damage; Mandeville, Covington wind damage, power loss
10:51 AM CDT on Tuesday, August 30, 2005
Statement from Parish President Kevin Davis:
Below is a status report from the emergency operations center. Public health and safety are our priorities.
“Our first priority is to clear major roads so that FEMA and other agencies can reach us with water, food & shelter. A 24/7 curfew is in place. Stay in your homes. It is not safe to be on the streets. Violators are subject to arrest. If you evacuated, DO NOT RETURN. St. Tammany Parish is closed. Do not attempt to cross St. Tammany Parish to reach other areas. Make safety your first priority. Please obey the instructions below regarding water and other public health and safety issues. Please be patient. We are beginning recovery operations.”
Sheriff Jack Strain continues to oversee the recovery effort and has urged citizens in the area to stay where they are unless travel is absolutely necessary.
“Our deputies are fully mobilized and working around the clock to restore a safe environment,” the sheriff said. “We need the full cooperation of every citizen in respecting the curfew, cooperating with emergency responders, and putting safety first. Residents who remain in St. Tammany Parish should stay where they are until instructed that the parish is safe for movement. Those who evacuated should stay out of the parish while we continue the early phases of this recovery effort.”
Citizen actions needed:
1- Stay at home. Do not enter the streets. A 24-hour curfew is in effect. Violators are subject to arrest.
2- Drink only bottled water OR water that has been at a full boil for at least one minute. Do not drink or cook with any water that has not been disinfected.
3- Stay out of flood waters. If you live in a high water area with central sewerage, sewage will be in the water. Stay out of ALL flood waters.
Reports:
Emergency Operations:
We are working with the State Office of Emergency Preparedness and FEMA to bring water, food and fuel for emergency responders into the parish. We are working with the Red Cross to establish temporary shelters.
Power:
CLECO & WST crews and the St. Tammany Parish Department of Public Works are working to clear major roads to allow FEMA to enter parish. 750 line and trimming crews are in-route. All parts & equipment for repair are in-route. Thousands of poles are down. Major damage parish-wide. Emphasis will be to restore emergency & medical sites first. Gas line breaks were wide-spread. Gas companies are working.
9-1-1 & Telephone:
The 9-1-1 grid is not operational as of this morning. Work is underway to restore the grid and all land-line communications. No report on cell towers at this time.
City of Slidell:
Lake waters are beginning to recede. The City has experienced major flooding from Gause Boulevard south. There is major tree and power-line damage city-wide. All major arterial roads are impassable.
City of Mandeville:
Flood waters reached to Monroe Street. There is NO ACCESS to Lakefront. The City is beginning the clearing process.
Town of Folsom:
Trees down, all utilities out. No flooding reported at this time.
Town of Abita Springs:
Trees down, all utilities out. No flooding reported at this time.
Town of Madisonville:
Trees down, all utilities out. Majority of building had some flooding.
The Parish is sending emergency crews to contact areas that have not sent reports to the EOC.
St. Tammany Parish School Board: All schools are closed until further notice.
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Links to online news sources
WBRZ (Channel 2) Baton Rouge TV : http://media1.dfw.swagit.com/s/wbrz/The_Advocate/08302005-5.high.asx - Paste this link into Windows Media Player (or other video player) under File > Open URL.
Baton Rouge Advocate: http://www.2theadvocate.com/ - Has lots of videos & photos
NOLA dot COM St. Tammany Forums: http://www.nola.com/forums/sttamtownhall/index.ssf
WWL (Channel 4) TV : http://www.wwltv.com - In particular check out the WWL Katrina BLOG by Tom Planchet for the latest up-to-the-minute news - http://www.wwltv.com/local/stories/WWLBLOG.ac3fcea.html
WDSU (Channel 6) TV : http://www.wdsu.com/index.html
Probably the most definitive article I've seen on Slidell all day.
oops...sorry about that ping...I thought I would just put that great summary on one thread.
A section of the I-10 bridge that was damaged by Hurricane Katrina is shown, Tuesday, Aug. 30, 2005, in New Orleans.
A boat sits on a house damaged by Hurricane Katrina Tuesday, Aug. 30, 2005 in Slidell, La.
Vehicles damaged by Hurricane Katrina sit in floodwaters, Tuesday, Aug. 30, 2005, in Slidell, La.
Apparently this was a very big hurricane that affected the lives of a great amount of people.
Slidell Louisiana Ping
I have to admit I am fearing what happens when the media gets there. But this is the most def accounts I have see. Its bad when their own State Senator cant even get in.
In the comming months I would be very carefull about buying a used car. I bet a lot of them will be shipped out of the hurricane area for resale.
Hopes and prayers out to the folks at Red Simpson in Sliddel working on the lines...
I was in Slidell a few weeks ago. Went on a spectacular swamp tour on the Pearl River there. My wife and I are in utter disbelief over what is happening to that beautiful land.
Thanks for the post--we lived there between June of 99 and August of 2000--it is a nice town and I have been looking for information on what happened there. We lived in the Ozone Woods subdivision for anyone familiar with the town.
BTW, my brother is still in N.O. and we haven't heard from him since yesterday afternoon...pray that he is still safe and out of harm's way!
That whole area is so pretty--I hate to think what has happened to the place...nice people too.
VERY nice. The guy who led the tour was a former game warden and knew so much about that area. We could tell he really loved that area and his job. And he talked just like Emeril Legasse.
We're really sad. I hope they're up and running soon.
We're really sad. I hope they're up and running soon.
Ping and prayers!
Okie- good thoughts and prayers for you and your bro-.
take care..
SHE WAS ON THE PHONE WITH HER BROTHER IN LAW WHEN SHE SCREAMED THE ROOF WAS LIFTING OFF AND THERE WERE MORE SCREAMS IN THE BACKGROUND AND THEN THE PHONE WENT DEAD.
We are her cousins in MIAMI FL and we just got our power back a few hours ago! (Freeper, ExSoldier) and family just returned home from a short stay on the West coast of Florida (the heat was killing pups and wife)
Her mother is out of her mind with worry. But she is pretty isolated in Lake City, Florida.
Husband Dave is a sheriff's reserve officer with the St TAMMANY Parish dept. We need a disposition on him and of course on the kids, son (9) and daughter (15) and the Dog, if possible.
Anybody who can help, PLEASE send me freep mail. So many others have helped with links to news stories from Slidell, but we need a look (or a report) at DONYA STREET specifically. EYES ON THE GROUND, so to speak.
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