No water in NO?
 

I was going to ask this in the other threads but they just seem inappropriate at the moment.

Can anyone explain why water supply in New Orleans has stopped?

I can understand the lack of plumbing as most sewage needs to be pumped from low lying areas and now without power, the toilets will not flush and are stopped up.

But why is the supply of fresh water impacted? Or does it also rely on pumps in the immediate area?

thanks

I heard on the news a 50" main is ruptured, I would imagine this is a huge feeder to the city. I would also imagine pumping stations are not working no water pressure.


**edit** Its a mute point anyway. Everyone needs to get out as it fills up with water.

The wost is yet to come. in the next couple of weeks things are going to get really ugly down there. Not only in NO but in all the communities along the gulf that were destroyed.

I sense they are downplaying the amount of deaths. I will not be suprised to hear numbers in the thousands. Too many people refuse to evacuate. Some cannto afford to, some stay to protect their stuff other stay to steal others stuff. Still others just refuse to leave. My father in law is like this. He stayed for all the sotrms that hit us in Fla. last year.

NO is at sea level or below

Water pressure in NO is maintained by pumps. No electricity to the pumps mean no pressure. Also the reason why the city is flooding because the pumps are usually pumping day and night to get the water draining into the city out.

They are forcasting a month until power is restored to most of the city. Not a good situation...

Joe A

Just checked with google earth and it seems to be mostly at Zero. There are areas below sea level though.

Check out this animation by Nasa of what would happen to the city if it were flooded. I dont think they thought this would actually happen.

http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/archive/PIA04174.mov

Add to the mix all the toxic materials that have been released into the flood waters. Underground fuel tanks, oil tanks, barells, storage facilities, factories, sewage facilities etc..... Not good at all. I'm sure the evironmental impact will be considerable.

JoeA.
Is that information common knowledge down there in NO?
When the officals told everyone to evacuate, did they mention to people that power would likely be out and that there would be no water or sewage service?

Or is this a lesson learned that we just keep forgetting?

When I lived in Florida I only learned sewage was pumped because a friend was in the business of servicing those pumps.

Steve,

I go there often and had another trip planned in 10 days. What I posted is common knowledge to people who live there. First 24 hours they (we) all were hoping that it would remain mostly dry then everyone could return home.

No one thought that it would ever be this bad and what sealed NO's doom was when the two dikes gave way, letting water from the lake into the city. Without power there is just no way to pump it out and everything went to hell in a handcart.

The problem is that the last couple of storms were not as bad as forcast so people did not leave when advised to get to higher ground. Now it bit them on the rear and they are moving all the superdome occupants out to Houston as they have had no power or sanitary facilities in 2.5 days. Bet it smells wonderful inside but its better than being in the swamp.

Rick, Also needs to be added that critters from the swamps are now coming into the city with the water. Just what they need are a few gators and snakes looking for something to eat. Course they will work well with the looters, who need to be shot on sight IMHO...

Joe

The city will be uninhabitable in a month. Black mold will be growing all over everything. Anything that has water in it or that will get water in it will have to be gutted dried out and rebuilt. If not torn down as a total loss. If you breath in black mold you will get very very sick and can die. We were all educated about this in Florida last year. After the water drains the walls will hold it inside them. They will have to be torn open and drained.

I honestly think it will take weeks to get all the water out. I cannot see how they can start energizing the city when it has standing water everywhere.

Looks like the magnitude of this disaster has yet to play out. I wonder if FEMA is even up to this? The impact to the people is unfathomable

Remember less than a year ago when the Tsunami hit Asia? We all sent aid and help.

Want to see just who the friends of America are? Sit back and watch and see who asks us if we need any help in our real time of need. Wait until the mold Jim talks about starts to take over the downtown area.

We could use some help now, but doubt that very many other nations will even offer it. Next world disaster we might want to remember this.

JoeA

Re: black mold.

Isn't a lot of the hype surrounding black mold done by plaintiffs attorneys? Is the water pouring into NO fresh, salt or brackish? What a mess. Good luck down there.

Yes, according to them, if you see black mold, let alone touch it, you will have years of agonizing sickness. (You don't "just" die, it's harder to sue for the big bucks if someone is dead. ;))

Strangely, it was never a problem until an enterprising trial lawyer in Dallas got a sympathetic (read: paid-off) judge to "interpret" that insurance policies do, in fact, cover mold. Nevermind that this very same lawyer was telling people not to clean up after flooding...

I just don't see this in that vein. We are the richest most powerful nation on earth. This will require a very small piece of our budget to fix. I suspect the fiscal impact to those impacted countries would have been significant without our aid.

Steve,

While we may be the most powerful nation in the world, it would be a very nice gesture from the major powers in Europe and elsewhere to send some supplies and offer to help.

So far have heard nothing like that coming and doubt that we will.

Agree with your comment about "a very small part of the budget" but pls tell that to the families whose house and belongings are gone and they will be homeless for a year or more. This is a rough one for a lot of innocent people and its not going to get any better anytime soon.

The thought of being in the Gulf Coast area in the summer (90 degrees and 95% humidity) without any electricity or a home any longer is not a good one.

Few have brought it up but can anyone imagine what the West Nile situation will be like in 10 days with all these people staying outside? There are many aspects of this situation that are terrible.

Joe A

JoeA
I think the impact is devastating to those affected. I was just trying to put perspective on expecting help from other nations. If Louisiana was looked upon as an independent nation, then we, the US, is again responding. The resources of those countrites affected by the Tsunami was limited to start with, ours really is not. It will be very costly on a local basis but cost per US taxpayer will be minimal and well spent to help them recover useful lives.

For the ones carrying TVs and stuff yes, provisions & clothing...at this point all is lost and many of those poor folks are taking whatever they can find to survive.

I'm interested in finding out more about reports of armed gangs freely roaming & killing.

I heard the French are sending 30 tons of cheese to live with the resulting mold.
New industry?

I wouldn't hold your breath for help from the people of Aceh.

The insurance companies will ultimately end up carrying the can on this one...

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000103&sid=a17zIKp6ZR6w&refer=us

... which means you and I (yes, even down in New Zealand) pay, because they just put premiums up to cover the losses. Sometimes I think insurance companies don't understand insurance.

I heard that of all countries, the one that is offering to send fresh water and discounted oil is of all countries Venezuela! Apparently their President wants to kind of rub it in W's face.