New Orleans sinking faster than expected

[LSU_Weatherguy]

I'm sorry but haven't we had enough of these "sinking city" posts already? Where are the L.A. and SF are about to fall into the Pacific posts?

Thank you.

Why are you not concerned that your sinking? WHY?

Tell you what, I'll go outside right now with my measuring stick and stand there for a while. Okay?

I have one I can bring you if yours floated off...lol

[Stormcenter]

It coulda been worse, no doubt. The areas west of the city, and the area south of the city, (on the west bank of the Mississippi River) remained mostly dry. Had these areas been inundated, it would have been worse.

Yeah those were the other 20% of the city that wasn't flooded. But looking at the whole scope of things in was pretty devasting for a majority of N.O. and for many people who lost their lives and homes it will always be the "worse" case scenario in their minds.

[Kennethb]

The next time you pass through Kenner and Metairie, look at the footings of the fence posts along the interstate. The oldest footings are barely in the ground and the fences are leaning. This gives a simple and clear example of how the area is subsiding.

[T-man]

Actually, 20 percent of New Orleans neighborhoods were not flooded. The other areas I referenced are not inside the city limits. With the exception of the portion of Orleans parish that is on the west bank. Everything else is considered the "metro area" and if it flooded would affect a greater number of people than those who lived in the area that was affected.

[UptownMary]

I think T-man is referring to parts of Jefferson parish west of Orleans parish, i.e., Metairie and Kenner. A cane passing to the west of NOLA would probably flood those areas also. I read one report that said the western floodwall on the 17th street canal was verging on giving way, but the break on the east wall happened first. In other words, Jeff parish is in much the same kind of danger we saw in NOLA proper, if a storm tracks more to the west than Katrina did and puts more surge on the more western floodwalls and levees near the Lake.

btw, re: the sinking city, the graphic I saw today showed huge areas of Jefferson were sinking more rapidly than, say, my area in NOLA proper.

[sunny]

Kenner did flood. My brother had 6 ft in his house.

[UptownMary]

Youre right, I shoulda said 'flood more' and more widespread. I have cousins in Kenner and friends in Metairie, on Bonabel, whose houses were 'totaled' with water damage.

[BayouVenteux]

Kenner did flood. My brother had 6 ft in his house.

Not sure about how the water got into your brother's house, but apparently SOMEBODY wasn't manning the pumps that were supposed to pump out the canals adjacent to my sister-in-law's house (in the Pontchartrain Shores neighborhood in Metairie). 4 feet of water in and out relatively quickly, but the damage was done.

Yes, the land subsidence is ongoing problem, but as we all know, subsidence AIN'T what caused a lot of what happened.

[sunny]

Kenner did flood. My brother had 6 ft in his house.

Not sure about how the water got into your brother's house

Don't know how it got there, we werein Atlanta. By the time we got back in, the water was out.

[Pearl River]

http://www.nd.edu/~adcirc/pam.htm

Take a look at the Hurricane Pam scenario. This is the worst case for New Orleans. It is slow loading, so beware. There is also a major fault that runs near the city. The news media is creating the worst case scenario because of the levee failure.

Here is the definition of direct hit taken from the NHC site:

Direct Hit:
A close approach of a tropical cyclone to a particular location. For locations on the left-hand side of a tropical cyclone's track (looking in the direction of motion), a direct hit occurs when the cyclone passes to within a distance equal to the cyclone's radius of maximum wind. For locations on the right-hand side of the track, a direct hit occurs when the cyclone passes to within a distance equal to twice the radius of maximum wind. Compare indirect hit, strike.


Camille was much smaller than Katrina, thats one of the reasons why New Orleans did not flood.[/b]

[HollynLA]

The house where I grew up in Harvey was definitely sinking along with many others on the street. It was very easy to see the huge bends in the homes from the road. The ground is just not sturdy in many parts of south LA.

[tailgater]

Cities sinking, oceans rising, by now half of the gulf coast and florida should be covered. Agree with the respondent posters. These stories are just that imo. Global warming and over devolpment sinking My son, Me And my grandhildren most likely wont be alive for any of these tings to affect us anyway. B4 i die than NO Should be about 13 feet Below sea level and should be a new addition to the gulf.

Yes it will fall into the gulf, but by that time we will have grown gills and renamed the city New Atlantis. On a side note the Superdome will become a giant oxygen bar.

[Stormcenter]

Cities sinking, oceans rising, by now half of the gulf coast and florida should be covered. Agree with the respondent posters. These stories are just that imo. Global warming and over devolpment sinking My son, Me And my grandhildren most likely wont be alive for any of these tings to affect us anyway. B4 i die than NO Should be about 13 feet Below sea level and should be a new addition to the gulf.

Yes it will fall into the gulf, but by that time we will have grown gills and renamed the city New Atlantis. On a side note the Superdome will become a giant oxygen bar.

The post of the day. Thanks!

[BayouVenteux]

On a side note the Superdome will become a giant oxygen bar.

Talk about poetic justice. Lord knows the Saints have managed to suck the air out of it enough times.

[skysummit]

On a side note the Superdome will become a giant oxygen bar.

Talk about poetic justice. Lord knows the Saints have managed to suck the air out of it enough times.

Yup...hopefully this year is a totally different season though. So far it's looking exciting. Right now the dome has a HUGE hole in it.

[tailgater]

On a side note the Superdome will become a giant oxygen bar.

Talk about poetic justice. Lord knows the Saints have managed to suck the air out of it enough times.

I'm actually excited about this coming season, I'll be going to my first ever regular season game this year.

[bevgo]

Experts have been telling NO for years that a surge topping the leves would put the city under 20 ft of water. I was in the chat room the night before Katrina hit and was worried about my home--West Bank of the river and some joker kept saying it would never happen--OH WELL! It could be worse too. A storm in the right place could hit the CBD and the areas to the west of the river with the same damage.