Drudge links to the following picture:
The story notes that power is slowly being restored to the city, and I can’t help but think that while I understand why they would want to get the power on as quickly as possible, it is going to make the forced evacuation much more difficult.
Mike S
It might help too. I’ve heard a lot of people don’t realise just how messed up the city is. Now they may see it on their new big screens.
Krista
I think you’re right. I can understand why they’d want the power back, but a lot of people are now not going to feel the same urgency to leave.
What do you think they should do with N.O., John? I’m curious…I’ve been discussing this with various people over the last few days, and most people seem to feel that they should either rebuild in a different spot altogether (although still in the same region, of course), or just give up the ghost altogether. Do you hear a lot of people saying that they should rebuild in the same spot?
John Cole
Krista-
They are going to rebuild.
I am more worried they aren’t going to tear down enough of the waterlogged parts of town, which will mean mold and other messy problems.
Krista
Good point. They might try to keep them out of sentimentality, and frankly, health issues should trump sentimentality every time. I’m really hoping that they do this right, though. If they plan it well, don’t rush it, and give it the budget it needs, it could become a veritable phoenix rising from the ashes (or water, as it were). If they do it half-baked…well…it’ll be nightmarish, and will probably cost even more in the long run to fix as things start to fly all to hell.
Stormy70
LOL. I needed that today. My 15 year old blind kitty had to be put down today. I miss her.
Trevor
Krista, because it’s still too early to tell how much of what remains of N.O. is useful, it’s hard to weigh how much would be given up by building in a new location. It’s also hard to determine exactly how much it would cost to rebuild the city such that it might withstand a cat. 4 or 5 in the future. I am very leery of rebuilding where it stands but after a careful survey of the city and a good review of hardening options it just might make sense.
Vlad
Myself, I’d worry about re-starting the power when you’ve got downed power lines and massive flooding.
Pb
As long as they still have no way to get food or water, I don’t think you really need to worry about them staying there too much longer. :(
And Stormy… sorry to hear about your kitty too. I think you’ll be able to choose from lots of other kitties that need a home though.
Krista
Good point about the kitties, Pb. http://www.petfinder.com has been listing all found pets. My sympathies, Stormy. My dog is 13, and my heart breaks a little when I think about how little time we might have left with him.
Yes, they are going to have to do some really careful surveying and whatnot. Like I said, I’m just worried that sentimentality is going to be in the driver’s seat, and they’ll rush (or cut corners on) the job in order to get it done as soon as they can, and have N.O’s “grand re-opening”…so to speak. I’m keeping my fingers crossed on this one, but remain somewhat skeptical.
Stormy70
Thank you, Pb, but I have three others to keep me company. Raven gets the Laphraoig (single malt), she was one of a kind.
Steve S
Power coming on is progress.
I think it’s irrational to think we should hinder progress because it might give people hope. Talk about wanting to manipulate people in a bad way… sheesh
Krista
A valid point. And one would hope that those responsible for putting the power back on would not have done so if it wasn’t safe. I still just hope that corners aren’t cut in the eager attempt to get N.O. back up and running.
Pb
Wow, Stormy. We only have two kitties, and that’s really enough for us. :)
Maybe they’re bringing the power back on to get all the pumps online. I mean, I don’t know, but that would make some sense.
Krista
Maybe…that would make sense. I really hope that 10 years from now, New Orleans is a well-established, bustling, well-planned city with a marvellous infrastructure, lots of green space, and most of all, a bright future. Rebuilding is a huge responsibility, and if it’s done right, New Orleans could be a model for what cities SHOULD be. Let’s hope it’s done right.
Patrick
I don’t know a thing about the geography of NO. How removed from the flooded residential areas is the downtown that is pictured?
If that downtown area that’s being re-lit wasn’t under fifteen feet of water for a week, it’s easier to get it fired up again. Those well-pictured residential areas where the (radio report I heard on the way home tonight) 10,000 residents are still holding out is still pretty soggy, no?
JonBuck
If they do rebuild, the city won’t have nearly as many people as before. I think Baton Rouge will take over much of NO’s former roles. NO will be a tourist destination, much moreso than it was before. Who would want to rebuild on all that below sea level land?
For a while I thought they could just raise the level of the city… Then I saw a map of the area superimposed over Boston. It’s just too big.
tBone
Sounds like it – the water is receding and they’ve got some pumps working, but the estimate I saw today from the Corps was 3 weeks to 3 months to finish the job.
Mike S
Glad I could lighten your day Stormy. I’m sorry you had to go through that. It’s one of the hardest things I’ve ever done.
Vlad
Echo the condolences. Even if it’s the right thing to do, it still sucks.
Nathan Lanier
Cheesy as it sounds, I actually got a little emotional when I saw that pic on Drudge. It’s a great site.
Nathan Lanier
Man, I spend too much time on the ‘net…I meant *sight.
jobiuspublius
Hmm, I thought NO was all about the French quarter, etc., not skyscrapers. Now we know why they want everybody out.
DougJ
You know, that’s one of the most beautiful and inspiring sights I’ve ever seen. I think I might make it my screen saver
Hope springs eternal in the human breast;
Man never Is, but always To be blest:
The soul, uneasy and confin’d from home,
Rests and expatiates in a life to come.
— Alexander Pope
God bless the people of New Orleans.
Sherard
It’s Entergy’s J.O.B. to get the power back on. Unless some government entity wants to a) decide what power should be on and what power shouldn’t, AND b) foot the bill for all the out-of-state linemen they would have to send home and then call back in later, AND c) replace all of Entergy’s revenue for the electricity that IS on, well then there isn’t much of a choice to make here, is there.
Rest assured no lineman in their right mind is restoring power to any building where it isn’t safe to do so. Suffice to say, all the houses that have been shown over and over with flood waters up to the roof, will not have power restored anytime soon, if ever. Most likely those houses will be torn to the ground and rebuilt.
ET
I talked to my cousin who knew someone who evacuated from the Uptown area after the storm passed – and they had phone service until the day they left – odd.
However, I do agree I seriously don’t think that many that are there have any freaking clue how long it is going to take not only for the water to come back but the power to be restored to the rest of the city. I grew up there and lived though many floods and the water was gone in hours – that is what people expect. They know it is more water so it will take longer – but they don’t understand that most of the pumps were down and some may still be down. They don’t understand it is going to take weeks for the water to be pumped out. They don’t undersand it is likely to take weeks for the power to come on everwhere after that. I saw on one show Monday that this older black gentleman living Uptown I think, and who was diabetic, didn’t want to leave even though he was trapped and had no meds. He thought he could get to the school or the hospital for help. He didn’t understand that that there was no one there AT ALL and not likely to be for weeks.
Sure some areas will come back quicker because the didn’t flood as much and the area you are seeing lighted is one (Uptown/Garden District are another) but likely those will be the only area for a while to get electricity becuase that is where the flood water will drain from first.
I know that National Guard etc. are going to stop handing out supplies (i.e. enabling) and after another week or so – that may be a reality check for those that remain.
TM Lutas
I’m not so fond of the idea of forced evacuations and for areas that are dry, I question why they’d make people leave now. If it’s dry, especially if water never came there, let people stay. I’m ok with the national guard stopping supply delivery as long as they let in private people to sell food. Otherwise what’s going on is a siege and that’s not acceptable.
Jonathan Versen
Hi John,
So: what are you saying– that people who have suffered without electricity, and no doubt with numerous other deprivations, shouldn’t have their power back on because it might inconvenience the National Guard?
Incidentally, are the same people who so royally mucked up the early evacuation that never happened the same ones who decide who now needs to be evacuated and who doesn’t?
And, TM Lutas: While I agree with you about the possible arbitrariness of forced evacuations, I look at what else you wrote and I wonder: you’re “ok” with the national guard stopping supply delivery as long as they let in private people to sell food?
These are YOUR words. Isn’t “letting in private people to SELL food” to people who are desparate and probably didn’t have the resources to leave the same as government-sponsored price gouging? You’re “ok” with that?