Evac New Orleans NOW!!

[vbhoutex]

I have heard no word on NO International. It is in an area that would be greatly helpful if they can get transports in there.

According to the mayor vb, both airports are under water.

I was afraid of that!!! NOI is in a low lying area just West of Metarie if I remember correctly and the lakefront airport-well enuff said.

[MBismyPlayground]

By the way, with helicopters you do not need a landing strip. The top of buildings works just fine. Also, pontoon boats would help relocate people. Flat bottom boats.

[Florida_brit]

I know most of you live in the USA but us brits remember the d Day landings in world war two.....when allied troops stormed the french and dutch beaches in boats....think a similar thing should be done...can't believe the army didn't arrive over night in the effected area. They should get them in now! Also there is menat to be some diaster planning in effect on the scale that what was planned for USSR invasion./attack on USA. But we hear nothing! There is no action yet...only peace meal by the US coast guard etc.....they need a plan and need it now not in 3 days as alot of people would have died by then.[/list]

[KBBOCA]

The Times-Picayune is evacuating

T-P EVACUATING

Tuesday, 9:40 a.m.

The Times-Picayune is evacuating it's New Orleans building.

Water continues to rise around our building, as it is throughout the region. We want to evaucate our employees and families while we are still able to safely leave our building.

Our plan is to head across the Mississippi River on the Pontchartrain Expressway to the west bank of New Orleans and Jefferson Parish. From there, we'll try to head to Houma.

Our plan, obviously, is to resume providing news to our readers ASAP. Please refer back to this site for continuing information as soon as we are able to provide it.

[Stratosphere747]

Depending on the actual speed in the rise of the water, they would have to do a combination air/water/land evac to get everyone out. Not sure if the military has something drawn up behind the scenes.

[inotherwords]

Given that this has been a FEMA nighmare scenario for many years now, one would think and expect that homeland security/national guard would have a plan in place.

If you google martial law and disaster and united states you'll see they have plans for terrorist attacks of a widespread nature, so I would really think (and hope) they'd have thought this one through. They knew the city would flood and that many would not evacuate.

I guess I'm just hoping they have the manpower these days given that our national guard resources are stretched thin. Not a political statement, just an observation based on timing and reality.

[HurryKane]

I forget which station I heard it on, but the Navy was planning on sending ships towards NOLA to help. They will either have to load people up on ships or barges to get them out en masse.

[gtalum]

I forget which station I heard it on, but the Navy was planning on sending ships towards NOLA to help. They will either have to load people up on ships or barges to get them out en masse.

if the river channel is blocked by debris, they won't be able to do this for a while.

[HurryKane]

I forget which station I heard it on, but the Navy was planning on sending ships towards NOLA to help. They will either have to load people up on ships or barges to get them out en masse.

if the river channel is blocked by debris, they won't be able to do this for a while.

I know. But if they can get them close enough to be reachable by small craft maybe a few folks can be ferried out that way.

[manapua]

I forget which station I heard it on, but the Navy was planning on sending ships towards NOLA to help. They will either have to load people up on ships or barges to get them out en masse.

if the river channel is blocked by debris, they won't be able to do this for a while.

I know. But if they can get them close enough to be reachable by small craft maybe a few folks can be ferried out that way.

The Bataan is in the Gulf of Mexico, heading towards NO now (an amphibious assault ship, she'll provides helicopters, medical facilities). Anybody know the status of the Comfort?

[wwicko]

I don't think ships will be getting very close to NO anytime soon.

Hurricane Katrina closes lower Mississippi to barges
By Tim Mclaughlin
St. Louis Post-Dispatch

(KRT) - ST. LOUIS - The lower Mississippi River remained closed Monday after Hurricane Katrina tossed empty barges, destroyed navigation markers and possibly re-channeled parts of the waterway, the Coast Guard and a river industry group reported.

It may take barge operators and the Coast Guard several days to several weeks to determine the brunt of the storm's damage. The Mississippi River plays a vital role in America's export economy because farmers rely on the waterway as a cheap source of transportation to ship their goods to New Orleans. That besieged city serves as a jumping-off point for overseas shipments. Fortunately, peak grain shipments don't begin until October...

http://www.macon.com/mld/macon/news/nation/12509042.htm