NHC FAILED TERREBONNE PARISH COASTAL RESIDENTS!!!!!

[THead]

Not trying to bash anyone.....but no one in Terrebonne Parish should have been surprised by the significant storm surge; at least no one who's ever lived there while a major hurricane passed inland to the west.

PW

This is also the key, know the environment you live in.

[Brent]

Didn't people see St. Marks, FL after Dennis? They were just as far east and got inudated

Mobile, Alabama-flooded by the surge in Katrina, well east of the eye.

Not that I'm defending these people, but this seems a little overboard.

I follow hurricanes more than the average person and I have no idea what St. Marks, FL is or what you're talking about.

You don't remember the WHOLE city being under feet of water??? It was on CNN the next day.

[FunkMasterB]

We are becoming a nation dependent on the government to do ALL of our thinking.

And there's the double edged sword. Back in the day, we didn't have much of a warning system and people died. Now we have a warning system and people expect it to be accurate.

Maybe fifty years ago, people didn't expect the government to do the thinking for them. But in the 1950's, when Audrey hit Cameron, La, hundreds and hundreds of people died there. This time around no one died (so far).

The government warning systems are working, but they can always work better, and we should expect them to work better.

[timNms]

As I've said again and again, the NHC has failed Louisiana in regards to Rita. Yeah, maybe our complaints are illogical and unfounded as all of you outside of Louisiana say. But why is it that no LA residents are praising the NHC this time around? We've done it for all previous storms, including the much more destructive Katrina. Is it that we're just stupid? Is it because the media did not relate all of the NHC information? Is it because the leader of the NHC was doing interviews during the days before landfall and only talking about Texas?

Could it be that the reason you were praising the NHC after Katrina was because it wasn't the LA coast that got obliterated by her surge and with Rita, LA took the brunt of the storm surge? (in other words, she hit home).

Another reason why many LA residents aren't complaining on here is probably because many of them are without a means to post...no electricity, etc.

Personally, I have no complaint with the way they've handled Rita or Katrina. They warned people about the surge beforehand. Some just did not head the warnings. NHC sends out the messages. IMO it is up to the local media/officials and local NWS's to get that message across to the residents.

[FunkMasterB]

You don't remember the WHOLE city being under feet of water??? It was on CNN the next day.

No. Maybe I didn't watch CNN that day. Poll the people of southern Louisiana. I bet 95% of them give you a blank stare.

[gk1]

I have praised the NHC the entire season, but they missed this one in several ways. They under-estimated the scope of the wind field and surge. Seems that no one in LA. is praising NHC for this storm. Even Brad P. of WWL-TV stated that on his web site.

[Aslkahuna]

Maybe you would have preferred Joe Bastardi over NHC?

Steve

[MGC]

The resulting high tide caused by a hurricane should be included in the warning area. IMO, tidal flooding causes more damage than wind. Case in point, Pass Christian, Mississippi. How I wish Katrina had no tide. I'd take Cat-5 winds over the 30+ foot storm surge. It is apparent that plenty of people didn't suspect that Rita was going to produce such a surge so far removed from the landfall point. Whose fault is it? Many of you claim it is the individual that is responsible for their own actions and in part I agree. The question remains, how can we better educate people on the dangers that hurricanes pose????......MGC

[Downdraft]

The surge effect anticipated was NO mystery to anyone. SLOSH studies have been extensively conducted and modeled for the entire Gulf coast. I keep hearing the NHC must get the word out but the truth of the matter is the NHC depends on the media to get the word out. The NHC does conference call areas anticpated to be affected several times a day. These calls keep emergency management officals updated, however, the NHC relies on the media to inform the general public.
Since we are finger pointing or looking for somewhere to point a finger lets look at two places. One, the people themselves that should have known better. Ignorance of the problem or threat is not a reason to go blaming anyone but yourself. Secondly, a media that at the time was more interested in spillover occuring on the New Orleans levies than what was going to happen that night along the Texas/Louisana border.

[CajunMama]

As I've said again and again, the NHC has failed Louisiana in regards to Rita. Yeah, maybe our complaints are illogical and unfounded as all of you outside of Louisiana say. But why is it that no LA residents are praising the NHC this time around? We've done it for all previous storms, including the much more destructive Katrina. Is it that we're just stupid? Is it because the media did not relate all of the NHC information? Is it because the leader of the NHC was doing interviews during the days before landfall and only talking about Texas?

This LA resident is NOT bashing the nhc. Please don't ever include me in your assessment of something unless you contact me first. I live 20-30 miles from the coast and I make it my business to be aware of what is going on. I did not think that Katrina would affect me but I was prepared.

The only ones who who think the NHC failed are the people who did not follow Rita and what her potential was. Talk to the people in Lake Charles...the NHC failed them? NO! Talk to the people in Vermilion Parish...the NHC failed them? NO! Talk to the people in Iberia Parish...the NHC failed them? NO! Morgan City eastward to New Orleans were warned...did you miss that part? I didn't.

[LSU]

Terrebonne, Lafourche, southern Jefferson parishes got a measly TS warning 12 hours before they began experiencing TS winds. Warned of a 4-8 foot surge when it fact it was 10-15 feet.

tms, Katrina flooded my home in Jeff Parish. It is still here, but some significant damage. Rita did nothing to my home. But to people just south of here it is a different story.

[hicksta]

Humans make mistakes

[MWatkins]

As I've said again and again, the NHC has failed Louisiana in regards to Rita. Yeah, maybe our complaints are illogical and unfounded as all of you outside of Louisiana say. But why is it that no LA residents are praising the NHC this time around? We've done it for all previous storms, including the much more destructive Katrina. Is it that we're just stupid? Is it because the media did not relate all of the NHC information? Is it because the leader of the NHC was doing interviews during the days before landfall and only talking about Texas?

Blaming the NHC for the failure for local, state, and federal emerency managemt officials is weak at best. The NHC did not cause the disaster...or the overtopping of the flood management system.

No LA residents are praising the NHC because...well...the NHC said the hurricanes would hit them and the hurricanes hit them.

And I am not sure what "leader" you are talking about...but Max Mayfield was all over CNN and MSNBC in the days leading up to Rita stressing the potential LA landfall problems and concerns. And during Katrina he called the mayor of NO and the Gov of LA to personally stress his concerns...and the mayor of NO REFUSED to start manditory evacs for the city on Saturday...in the face of Katrina...because he was worried about being SUED by the hotel industry.

Now...FOX is another story...they had a clown stressing a Galveston hit and 80 mph winds in Dallas. That clown doesn't work for the NHC however.

In the end...I understand your concerns and worries...nobody wanted to see this happen. But blaming the NHC is not fair, accurate or honest. Just because they forecast this to happen doesn't make them responsible for the event itself.

Take care...and I hope to the see good state of LA rebound from this unbelievable and unrelenting hurricane season.

MW

[Downdraft]

Terrebonne, Lafourche, southern Jefferson parishes got a measly TS warning 12 hours before they began experiencing TS winds. Warned of a 4-8 foot surge when it fact it was 10-15 feet.

tms, Katrina flooded my home in Jeff Parish. It is still here, but some significant damage. Rita did nothing to my home. But to people just south of here it is a different story.

A MEASLY TS WARNING?? That statement alone LSU shows your complete lack of understanding for tropical cyclones. I suggest you spend the off season reading up on the potential destructive power of mere tropical depressions and tropical storms. You might want to talk to people in Houston that went through Allison. The only tropical storm to have it's name retired. There is way to much emphasis placed on wind speeds. That is just one of the effects of a tropical system.

The Gulf of Mexico is a big pond. The hurricane is an egg beater. Water has got to go somewhere when it's being pushed along. If I lived on the coast I would hope I'd be smart enough to realize that.

[curtadams]

As others have pointed out, the NHC has issued appropriate warnings. I agree they probably did not expect the amount of distant surge Rita coughed up - but that's a problem for everybody. These big storms keep blowing the surge forecasts. Surge is impossible to measure prior to landfall, hard to model, and traditionally built around the category rating. These large storms are introducing variables of storm size and track/geography interaction which apparently aren't yet properly modeled and, frankly, will be difficult to model.

[caribepr]

Not trying to bash anyone.....but no one in Terrebonne Parish should have been surprised by the significant storm surge; at least no one who's ever lived there while a major hurricane passed inland to the west.

PW

This is also the key, know the environment you live in.

Exactly. And impossible as it seems, there are many who do not know the environment they live in. I posted this last year or sometime but it still shocks me...that a whole development was built in a section of Orlando near Lake Fairview quite a few years ago, in a *former* swamp. These were very high end homes. Then came the inevitable long, hard rain and flooding, backed up sewers etc. came with it. Certain homeowners expressed outrage as they realized they owned very expensive, unsellable (stinking, bug infested, moldy) real estate...simply because they were *told* it was a fine place to live and they never took the time to check out the history of their own investment. I mean, the phrase Wanna buy some Florida swampland is a classic joke based on the truth!
Once again...common sense seems to be a diminishing factor in our oh so sophisticated societies. You mean I can't blame some one ELSE for something I didn't do on my own that could have life or death consequences? Oops!

[LSU]

A lot of people in SELA don't know their geography because it has changed so much. People in Lafitte and other areas of south Jeff parish haven't seen flooding like in 30 years. You can't blame them because the coastline has changed so much in recent years, and perhaps very much with the two hurricanes (even though the NHC only says it was one) before Rita this year. These are people whose great great grandparents lived here.

Let's be honest. When the NHC issued a TS warning, you don't expect to have a 10-15 ft storm surge. You wouldn't expect to lose your house 20 miles inland, would you? Come on, be honest, those of you who have experienced lots of TS warnings. TS warning to me (and according to the description) is a rainy and windy day. Hardly life changing. A hurricane warning was justified for the entire LA coastline. Most of the coastline felt hurricane winds anyway. As lots of you point out, the NHC is supposed to and usually does err on the side of caution. So why not this time when it was justified, especially after Katrina recently battered those beaches and marshes?

[oneness]

I'd take Cat-5 winds over the 30+ foot storm surge.

No you wouldn't, that would be far worse, and for far further in land.

[caribepr]

A lot of people in SELA don't know their geography because it has changed so much. People in Lafitte and other areas of south Jeff parish haven't seen flooding like in 30 years. You can't blame them because the coastline has changed so much in recent years, and perhaps very much with the two hurricanes (even though the NHC only says it was one) before Rita this year. These are people whose great great grandparents lived here.

Let's be honest. When the NHC issued a TS warning, you don't expect to have a 10-15 ft storm surge. You wouldn't expect to lose your house 20 miles inland, would you? Come on, be honest, those of you who have experienced lots of TS warnings. TS warning to me (and according to the description) is a rainy and windy day. Hardly life changing. A hurricane warning was justified for the entire LA coastline. Most of the coastline felt hurricane winds anyway. As lots of you point out, the NHC is supposed to and usually does err on the side of caution. So why not this time when it was justified, especially after Katrina recently battered those beaches and marshes?

Links for info on the seriously changed coastline for southeast LA? That's really interesting and I'd like to know more.
And, in answer to your question...a TS warning to me is much more than a rainy and windy day, it can be devasting where I live (by either the wind, or the rain or the combination of both) and we respond accordingly to all factors involved when such one is issued.

[FunkMasterB]

Not trying to bash anyone.....but no one in Terrebonne Parish should have been surprised by the significant storm surge; at least no one who's ever lived there while a major hurricane passed inland to the west.

PW

This is also the key, know the environment you live in.

It's unfortunate that some are suggesting that the Cajuns in the bayou don't know the environment in which they live. These people are more connected to their environment than just about anyone in the entire U.S. As LSU rightly points out, most of these people's families have lived there for generations. These aren't newbies, these aren't first generation Floridians building million dollar homes on swamp land.

However, they ARE laid back. They know about hurricanes, and had no reason to expect such high surges based on previous hurricanes. People in Vermillion and Terrebonne Parish are pretty surprised by the amount of water they are seeing. This isn't based on ignorance, it's based on past results from past hurricanes.

Past results were misleading in this case. I think there are two reasons for this.

1. Louisiana has lost a LOT of marsh land to coastal erosion in the last 50 years. That's extremely important.

2. While this storm was a weak Cat 3 at landfall, it was at one time, an extremely powerful Cat 5 resulting in larger than expected surge from a Cat 3.