It’s shocking that seven years ago New Orleans was hammered by Hurricane Katrina, and now it’s being attacked by Hurricane Issac, and with almost the same level of intensity.
Even though Katrina was larger, Issac is reported to be slower and thus dropping more wind and rain on the city. There’s another report by CNN that a levee was “overtopped” in an area called Plaquemines, Parish, Louisiana, and in the city.
In fact, NOLA.com’s explained that “Hurricane Isaac rips roof off Plaquemines Parish President Billy Nungesser’s house”:
Plaquemines Parish President Billy Nungesser, scrambling to secure low-lying areas from Hurricane Isaac ‘s storm surge and spirit stranded residents to shelter, has found the storm striking back in his own backyard. Nungesser said Tuesday evening that portions of the roof on his Pointe Celeste home lay scattered on the lawn and water has begun poring inside.
What’s more, Nungesser said the intense winds sweeping inland appear to have started backing up water on the Mississippi River, bringing the water level within just a foot or two from the top of the levee at the Pointe à la Hache ferry landing. Such high water is particularly alarming, he said, given how low the river has been lately.
Other reports are that over 400,000 people are without power, as of this writing.
Superdome Holding Up, But..
I got a text from my friend Superdome Manager Doug Thornton, who reported that Hurricane Issac brought back “bad memories,” of what he had to go through in 2005, when the structure was used to house the homeless, with terrible results. But as of this writing it’s not open this time around, and New Orleans Mayor Landrie said it, and the Airport, would not be used as housing.
Stay tuned for more on this enormous storm.