Obama addresses Hurricane Isaac preparations

[FrodosPet]

Source: WDSU-TV New Orleans

In a short address from the White House, President Barack Obama said the federal government was ready for whatever Isaac may bring to the Gulf Coast.

"At my direction, FEMA has been on the ground for over a week, working with state and local officials in areas that could be affected," he said, noting that a disaster declaration for Louisiana was declared on Monday.

"As we prepare for Isaac to hit, I want to encourage all residents of the Gulf Coast to listen to your local officials and follow their directions, including if they tell you to evacuate.

"Now is not the time to tempt fate; now is not the time to dismiss warnings."

~ snip ~

Read more: http://www.wdsu.com/news/local-news/new-orleans/Obama-addresses-Hurricane-Isaac-preparations/-/9853400/16293740/-/qf5v7o/-/index.html

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Compare this to seven years ago - "Brownie, you're doing a heck of a job!"

[dipsydoodle]

1. Sea water has already breached a levee in a town to the south of the city.

Caitlin Campbell, a spokeswoman for Plaquemines Parish - where Isaac first touched down - said water was running over an 18-mile (29-km) stretch of the levee and some homes were flooded.

After hitting Plaquemines Parish, the Category One hurricane headed back out to sea, before making a second landfall further west at Port Fourchon at about 02:00 (07:00 GMT) local time.

There are now reports of serious flooding and people stranded by rising waters in the Braithwaite area, just across the Mississippi river from metropolitan New Orleans.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-19407265

[CountAllVotes]

2. I was watching news from Louisiana last night

Seems there are lies a plenty coming out. The situation is far more serious that being shown.

This is yet another sickening disgrace for America and the American people.

They never fixed the levies.

Too damn busy "fixing" Wall Street IMO.



I hope that New Orleans, etc. manage to survive once again.

This is indeed a dire situation of the utmost.

Downplaying it to a Category ONE hurriciace is BULLSHIT!

[DavidL]

3. Actually they DID fix the levies in most areas.

The over-topping early this morning first appeared in an area not affected by over-topping last time around.

Righteous indignation probably is better directed at the LACK of preparation Bush did, contrasted with preparations done while Obama has been in office and while he has been directing efforts to avoid major catastrophe. Unfortunately, powerful man that Obama is, he cannot predict nor stop mother nature.

[CountAllVotes]

5. I am not directly criticizing Obama

What I am criticizing is America the Beautiful. They knew this would happen again (threw plans from the Dutch away when given them years ago -- ignored it).

Ignorance is bliss I guess.

I seriously hope things are better but I know they are not nearly enough.

[nolabear]

6. Hang on; it's better than you imagine. I'm in pretty close touch.

The Plaquemines Parish levees are being overtopped, not breached. The water's too high. This happens with hurricanes when they're bad and there's not much they can do.

It's "worse than Katrina" there because it's situated closer to there (Plaquemines) and the neighborhood near part of that levee system is under water. But there is nothing that could have prevented it. The National Guard has been there for days and are effectively rescuing peolple in mid-storm, for which I for one am grateful. What will be telling is how they clean up and help people afterward. The next few days will speak volumes.

You're right about them ditching the plans from the Dutch. I wish they'd spent the money. But I think there are reasons, economic and geographic, why they didn't. That's what I'm told by people in New Orleans.

I won't go into what esle hasn't been done, but the oil and transport companies have destroyed so much of the barrier wetlands that they don't diminish storms before they get to the populated areas any more. That can be fixed too, but we ain't seeing it.

But so far New Orleans is okay, the coast is okay, and Plaquemines is dealing how they deal.

[CountAllVotes]

7. Thanks for the info.

I do appreciate it very much.

I have many relatives in the immediate vicinity.

[FrodosPet]

4. The Category is related to the wind speed

Unfortunately, that doesn't describe the size or persistence of damage, which is the most awful part of this storm.