Levee intentionally blown...

[decgirl66]

I know, sounds crazy. I saw an interview with a survivor from the Lower Ninth yesterday saying they feel the city blew the levee on purpose to save the rich section of town...has anyone else seen that?

[simplykristi]

They must get the water out of NO. I jus heard that they were breaching a levee in three places and getting the water to flow out to the bayou.

Kristi

[LSU2001]

The same rumors and urban legends abounded after Betsy. I would not take any of them seriously.
TIm

[jasons2k]

They are in fact intentionally breaching specific levees to drain the city faster; it's well documented on the Corps updates that are being released.

It has nothing, nada to do with saving the "rich part" of the city. That's just more garbage in the pile.

[soonertwister]

The Corps of Engineers has the levee blowing operations described one-by-one in their daily briefing.

NOLA is already in extreme vulnerability if a hurricane comes their way. Blowing a few small holes in the protection system isn't likely to increase the danger much. It would take a cane like Katrina to flood it like it has been, with or without the holes.

[Dick Pache]

FYI
05 September 2005


Up-date on the New Orleans Flood Fight
Vicksburg, MS., 5 September 2005 – Positive news reported overnight on the work by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in closing off the breaches at the 17th Street Canal, London Canal and IHC.
“The primary focus today is to assess the pumps within the city and to work to get some of those started today,” said Greg Breerwood, deputy district engineer for Project Management, managing the flood fight from the New Orleans emergency operation center located in Vicksburg, MS. “We’ll want to start those pumps slowly to watch the impacts on the system, trying to ensure no damage as the system begins to sustain the increase in flow.”
Over the last several days, water has continued to flow slowly out of the city aiding in the flood fight; however access to several of the sights have required the Corps and its contractors to overcome major hurdles. Progress has been sufficient to allow the contractors to be in position to completely close the breach at 17th Street, and the breach at the London Street Canal has been completely closed.
“We also made breaches in the St. Bernard and Plaquermines Parrishes to assist in lowering water levels in those neighborhoods,” Breerwood said. We are also moving additional pumps into the area to start the un-watering mission of the city. Safety and Caution will be the focus today to ensure we limit the risk of further damage.
“It’s a mission we are looking forward to getting underway.”
There still remains the challenge of raising the bridges over the Industrial Canal to commence waterborne operations, but we have several barges inhibiting that work. Security and safety of the contractor workforce is a major concern as well as civil unrest prohibited the crews from remaining in the area.
Navigation along the Mississippi River has also been opened to vessels under 39-foot draft.

The current information is:

Un-watering of the City:

17th Street Canal – Dropped over 200 Blackhawk and Chinook sand bags. Approximately 125 sandbags have broken the surface of the water. Staged 3 ea 42” mobile pumps and placed 2 ea 42” and 2 ea 30” pumps at the sheet pile closure. Sewer & water board, electric utility and 249th Prime Power Engineer Battalion completing pump house inspection.

London Avenue Canal – mouth of canal is closed except for gap left to allow reverse flow. Contractor validated an approach route to the 17th street bridge for access. Will start 24 hour op in Mirabeau Bridge breach using sand bags dropped from Chinooks.

KATRINA
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