“City planners in New Orleans should take advantage of this near-miss and do something to upgrade the system of levees and pumps.”

Matt, the problem with this idea is that when (not, I’m afraid, if) the Cat 5 hurricane DOES hit the city directly, NO system of levees or pumps currently known will be effective. (I’m relying on the expertise of others for that thought; I’m not a civil engineer.) NPR did extensive reporting on this — maybe last year? The levee system in general has actually made flooding on the Mississippi worse, which is why we keep having “hundred year floods” every 2-5 years. Levees keep the water channeled and out of the natural drainage system provided by nature. The sad truth is that New Orleans ought not to be where it is — or at least not the size it is, with the toxic chemical plants it has.

Although it’s probably too early to be relieved, it does appear that the city won’t see catastrophic loss of life this time. It’s possible, though, that it may be too toxic to be habitable for a while. We just won’t know until all the flooding and building collapses are over. What a sad and frightening situation for the whole region. Gulfport and Mobile are having a dreadful time, too.

I’m afraid Suzy is right, Matt.

I had a student at UNO last year who was a geologist working with the government to evaluate the erosion of the coast and the sinking of New Orleans. The levees and pumping system are engineering wonders, but they are also starving the marshland of nutrients and water, making them less able to absorb storm waters. The city sits under sea level. Later today I’ll post an incredible graphic this same student made for me — in it, the highest levels are in bold red, the lowest in green. The river is the highest place in the city.

The biggest threat to life in New Orleans is poverty. That is why so many are unable to evacuate, regardless of what Senator Landrieu had to say this morning. She talked about people being stubborn and not heeding warning, and no doubt this is true for some. But for most in the city who stay, it has nothing to do with stubborness and everything to do with resources. How the hell do you get out of town when you have no vehicle and no money, and where are you going to go? Where are you going to stay? Not everyone has credit cards, let alone spare cash to pay for hotel rooms. The entire evacuation system is designed for people with resources. Unfortunately, New Orleans is a city with a large percentage of its population living below the poverty line. Our of less than 500,000 residents, 100,000 don’t have vehicles or the resources to get out. That’s a lot!!!

It seems like New Orleans was spared the worst of it, again. The city has lasted over 300 years, maybe because it’s a little bit hartier than we give it credit for. I don’t know. My student said it was a matter of if, not when, the city would be destroyed by a storm. He warned that the coastal erosion (which is shocking, btw, at miles and miles each year) coupled with the effects of global warming and the poverty endemic in the city made for a horrific cocktail that will destroy New Orleans in the future. Within 50 years, some predict, New Orleans will be a coastal city. Unbelievable.

Thanks for your thoughtful and informative responses, Suzy and Kate (and Kate, let us know about your post when it’s up). Susie at Suburban Guerrilla points out that sometimes a miss can be as bad as a hit.

Just to be clear, my “tentative sigh of relief” was geared towards the fact that the worst predictions — which were unbelievably dire — did not come to pass. It looks like Mississippi and Alabama are being hit pretty hard, and the hurricane will have caused death and destruction across the Gulf Coast by the time it has passed through the area.

But New Orleans has, by and large, not been turned into “an Atlantis,” and for that I am grateful.

LOSING IT AT LEFTY’S LOUNGE

IT’S MADNESS, I TELL YOU In response to the e mails and concerned IM notes, The Heretik is not a member of this FRATERNITY. . . .but I was once adopted as a mascot by a sorority. At least

Hi Matt — I posted the graphic. It seems much of New Orleans is Atlantis, for the moment at least. Unfortunately, it is the poorest neighborhoods of New Orleans East and the 9th Ward that were hit the hardest. Countless people are stranded in their attics, on roof tops, and in trees. Hundreds have been rescued. It seems New Orleans was spared the worst-case scenario, but it has still suffered greatly. It will probably be many days before residents can start making their way back into the city (if not longer…). Horrible!!

I have to have a take-back, Matt. The worst scenario has come to pass. One of the lakeview levees was breached yesterday and the water from the lake is filling up New Orleans. It is absolutely devastating. The staff of the Times-Picayune has evacuated because it is too dangerous to stay. Many of the highways in and out of the city are flooded, complicating evacuation efforts even more. There are thousands of lives at risk. I fear we will have a heartbreaking loss of life in the city, and scores of homeless New Orleanians for months to come. Over one millions refugees…

Well, at least Bizzush is cutting his vacation two whole days short to come back to DC and oversee relief efforts, which I’m sure is making everyone feel a whole lot better.

You’re right, Kate. I’m working on it.

[…] It looks like I breathed my sigh of relief way too soon. […]