CNN broke into commercials to report that the Army Corps of Engineers said that water has come over the Industrial Canal, and there is about 2 feet of water in the 9th ward.
They had brought in extra pumps, so hopefully this is just minor flooding that stays controlled, but they were not anticipating flooding this early.
Update [2005-9-23 10:36:10 by guyermo]:
The flooding appears to be minor, either from rain or storm surge topping the levy. Contractors are working to shore it up.
Update [2005-9-23 10:40:48 by guyermo]:
CNN photographer reports water rising 5-10 inches in about 2 minutes, and that LA State Patrol notified him of another breach in Chintilly(sp?) section of NO. Reports that Industrial Canal was breached rather than topped.
Update [2005-9-23 11:27:41 by guyermo]:
From
WWL
Hurricane Rita's steady rains sent water pouring through breaches in a patched levee Friday, cascading into one of the city's lowest-lying neighborhoods in a devastating repeat of New Orleans' flooding nightmare.
Dozens of blocks in the Ninth Ward were under water as a waterfall at least 30 feet wide poured over and through a dike that had been used to patch breaks in the Industrial Canal levee. On the street that runs parallel to the canal, the water ran waist-deep and was rising fast. Guidry said water was rising about three inches a minute.
At least everything there is already destroyed and noone is there who needs rescuing. The people manning the pumps and levies should be fine as long as the structures themselves hold, or can get out of the way before failure.
What were the odds that the first effects of Rita would be felt in NO?
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