Rain might hurt New Orleans more than wind or surge

August 31, 2008 7:56 PM

Perhaps worse than Katrina, Gustav's rain may prove more troublesome to New Orleans than the wind and levee integrity. The true devil in the details may be that New Orleans may have significantly LESS PUMPING AND GENERATOR CAPACITY than it did BEFORE Katrina. Tons of technical details, documents, and other info on this blog, even though it hasn't been updated for over a year.
posted by Rafaelloello (7 comments total)

In (and from) Baton Rouge, here, and honestly, most of us wouldn't be in the least surprised if the Pontchartrain levees broke again. Was unsure about the pumping capacity argument, but it seems to (forgive the expression) hold a bit of water.

In that case, this thing is a repeat of Katrina and Rita, but with substantially better federal/state management of the entire affairs.

We're catching the first rain and bands here (started about an hour and a half ago). I'm not super-concerned in my part of the state, but people on the coast, in New Orleans, and on the North Shore of Lake Pontchartrain are in for the worst of both 2005 storms, and then some.
posted by The Giant Squid at 8:05 PM on August 31, 2008

And, as a followup, most Houstonians can easily tell you that Tropical Storm Allison, which didn't do squat for wind damage, destroyed tens of thousands of homes in the Houston Metro Area (and all throughout Southeast Louisiana). But, Allison stalled out and poured rain for 6 days, I don't think we'll get that (given the current speed) with Gustav.
posted by The Giant Squid at 8:07 PM on August 31, 2008

I'm amazed(I guess I shouldn't be) at the slow moving political process to make the neccessary repairs. For a while I didn't get it until I had a "Duh!" moment:

1. Katrina flooded New Orleans
2. Existing (some antiquated) pumping facilities severely flood damaged
3. Damaged facilities have yet to be fully repaired

To anybody who has the patience to go through a really nice and comprehensive powerpoint presentation on the subject, click on My September 6, 2006 PowerPoint presentation under the Links section of this page
posted by Rafaelloello at 8:23 PM on August 31, 2008

This belongs in the existing thread not as a new post.
posted by Rhomboid at 8:41 PM on August 31, 2008

Man, I just want to say that everyone in the area should take care of themselves and those that need it most right now. I love that area.

Please, if there's a god*, let him or her look out for that area. Or at least provide axes to those who don't have one or a neighbor who has one.

*yeah, well, at least maybe it can move off the coast or something.
posted by sleepy pete at 8:46 PM on August 31, 2008

In (and from) Baton Rouge

Do you go to LSU perchance?
posted by Hypocrites at 8:56 PM on August 31, 2008

We've got friends in New Orleans, and they're not leaving; they still count evacuating for Hurricane Katrina the biggest regret of their lives. They're tense but optimistic, and have loaded up on food and ammunition. Fingers crossed.
posted by infinitywaltz at 9:00 PM on August 31, 2008