I remember reading that Times-Picayune piece when it was first
published. It's absolutely terrifying. Some pull quotes:
>>>
"Filling the bowl" is the worst potential scenario for a natural
disaster in the United States, emergency officials say. The Red
Cross' projected death toll dwarfs estimates of 14,000 dead from a
major earthquake along the New Madrid, Mo., fault, and 4,500 dead
from a similar catastrophic earthquake hitting San Francisco, the
next two deadliest disasters on the agency's list.
The projected death and destruction eclipse almost any other
natural disaster that people paid to think about catastrophes can
dream up. And the risks are significant, especially over the long
term. In a given year, for example, the corps says the risk of the
lakefront levees being topped is less than 1 in 300. But over the
life of a 30-year mortgage, statistically that risk approaches 9
percent.
>>>
As the floodwaters invade and submerge neighborhoods, the wind will
be blowing at speeds of at least 155 mph, accompanied by shorter
gusts of as much as 200 mph, meteorologists say, enough to overturn
cars, uproot trees and toss people around like dollhouse toys.
The wind will blow out windows and explode many homes, even those
built to the existing 110-mph building-code standards. People
seeking refuge from the floodwaters in high-rise buildings won't be
very safe, recent research indicates, because wind speed in a
hurricane gets greater with height. If the winds are 155 mph at
ground level, scientists say, they may be 50 mph stronger 100 feet
above street level.
Buildings also will have to withstand pummeling by debris picked up
by water surging from the lakefront toward downtown, with larger
pieces acting like battering rams.
>>>
Amid this maelstrom, the estimated 200,000 or more people left
behind in an evacuation will be struggling to survive. Some will be
housed at the Superdome, the designated shelter in New Orleans for
people too sick or infirm to leave the city. Others will end up in
last-minute emergency refuges that will offer minimal safety. But
many will simply be on their own, in homes or looking for high
ground.
Thousands will drown while trapped in homes or cars by rising
water. Others will be washed away or crushed by debris. Survivors
will end up trapped on roofs, in buildings or on high ground
surrounded by water, with no means of escape and little food or
fresh water, perhaps for several days.
>>>
Stranded survivors will have a dangerous wait even after the storm
passes. Emergency officials worry that energized electrical wires
could pose a threat of electrocution and that the floodwater could
become contaminated with sewage and with toxic chemicals from
industrial plants and backyard sheds. Gasoline, diesel fuel and oil
leaking from underground storage tanks at service stations may also
become a problem, corps officials say.
A variety of creatures -- rats, mice and nutria, poisonous snakes
and alligators, fire ants, mosquitoes and abandoned cats and dogs
-- will be searching for the same dry accommodations that people
are using.
Contaminated food or water used for bathing, drinking and cooking
could cause illnesses including salmonella, botulism, typhoid and
hepatitis. Outbreaks of mosquito-borne dengue fever and
encephalitis are likely, said Dr. James Diaz, director of the
department of public health and preventive medicine at LSU School
of Medicine in New Orleans.
>>>
Comment statistics for FMguru on the Making Light blog
The most recent 20 comments posted to Making Light by FMguru:
Show all comments by FMguru.