This is surreal. Ike smacks So. Louisiana.

[Behind the Aegis]

Having come back after Gustav, which did create problems, this situation has left me non-plussed. We are on the outskirts of Ike's fury, but we have levees being topped, three are being watched for breeches, the Northshore is flooding, the wind gusts are fucking wild, and power is being lost throughout the state...again! We aren't even getting a direct hit and a few parishes have been evacuated. I really fear for Texas. Please be safe.

RE-BUILD THE WETLANDS NOW!

[Cooley Hurd]

1. Holy shit! I know the storm surge is already hitting the Texas coast...

...but NOLA's getting it, too???

Stay safe, Aegis!:hi:

[Behind the Aegis]

3. Only parts of NOLA.

Most of the surge is hitting the coast, but since NOLA sits on the Mississippi River, we are seeing surges too. No flooding in my neck of the woods, but that wind....holy crap! It has been so long since I have been in the wake of a hurricane, I forgot what it was like. It is cool to see trees swaying in the breeze, but when the mighty oak is kneeling to the ground, that shit is scary!

[DemoRabbit]

2. Levee breach in Louisiana is being reported now on CNN

Scarsdale area... 50 mile breach... south of New Orleans

[Behind the Aegis]

4. They haven't reported it on local news yet.

What CNN is calling a breeck may just be a "topping." That, sadly, is happening all over. Several streets are now canals. A couple of the main highways are without power (no traffic lights) making travel difficult.

[jobycom]

7. CNN reported a lot of breaches that didn't happen during Gustav.

Let's wait for confirmation from real news sources.

[jobycom]

5. Yeah, my parents said there was flooding in Mississippi yesterday.

One of the casinos had to close, some roads were under water, even some houses were getting water. These were mostly low-lying areas, but the flooding was from the tide, not rainfall.

Wow, this is a freak storm. It should destroy the Saffir-Simpson rating system. It's a category 2, which is a fairly weak hurricane, but its size makes it more deadly than storms with stronger winds. There's been talk of developing a new rating system that measures potential destructive force instead of just wind speed, and Ike seems a prime example of a need for such a rating system.

[Behind the Aegis]

9. That's the thing....we aren't getting rain. Is is all about the surges.

I can say I am glad we aren't getting rain because it would just be worse. The funny thing is local reports are saying how this is just a "glancing blow." Scares me to think what a "black eye" would bring us!

[Dover]

6. Take care. I suspect Louisianna is currently in that dangerous northeast quadrant of the storm.n/t

[aquart]

8. I have never heard of a "certain death" warning like they issued for Galveston.

No one in a two-story house will survive a 20-foot surge.

[Behind the Aegis]

12. It is really scary.

We are getting 8 to 12 feet surges and are getting what is called a "glancing blow." A full on hit....yikes. I really hope Ike falls apart!

[jobycom]

16. I think they did that with Rita, too.

On the east end of Galveston, the sea wall is about fifteen foot high (they say 17, but that's from the low-water mark), and the land is graded another four foot above that. The west end is barely above sea level, IIRC. The coastal regions are hoping the barrier islands reduce the surge a few feet, and for the most part, the coastline there is higher than in Mississippi or Louisiana. In addition, there are dunes along much of the beach, so that's another ten to fifteen feet in some areas to break the surge.

And there is nothing like New Orleans, where half the city is at or below sea level and is protected by levees and dikes.

On the other hand, there are areas not protected by dunes or islands, and even around Houston there is a heavy population that is ten feet or so above sea level near the coast. And there are a lot of low-lying flood plains just inland, and these regions will be inundated with rain, as well as overflowing rivers and drain systems as waterways try to drain into a Gulf that is 20 foot higher than normal.

So there will be plenty of flooding--Houston floods during heavy thunderstorms--and a lot of damage from the surge, but maybe the surge won't be as fatal as it sounds on paper for some regions.

That's an inexpert analysis from someone who grew up around hurricanes and has driven around Houston and Galveston, but has no expert knowledge. Don't nobody base any decisions on my idiotic ramblings! If the authorities say "Go!," then go.

[countryjake]

10. I heard that waves from high tide were 6 ft higher last night at Grand Isle...

and that was at about 6 in the evening, yesterday. The surge was already heading up Louisiana delta areas with just the bands of Ike.

This is gonna be bad high waters, no matter the wind speed or category of the hurricane.

[madrchsod]

11. three months of iraq war spending could have rebuilt the wetlands

over the next ten years and put thousands back to work.

[Behind the Aegis]

13. 3 months? Considering the amount spent, I would have thought one month would provide.

I just hope that President Obama will make good on his promises to rebuild our wetlands.

[malaise]

14. I hope the levees hold

Stay safe :grouphug:

[Behind the Aegis]

17. I hope they hold too!

I am far enough (and high enough) that breeches would be hard to reach me (knocking on wood!).

Staying safe as possible. :)

[RB TexLa]

15. Rebuild the wetlands? America and Americans would have to care about Louisiana and Louisianians for

that to happen, and you know they don't.

[tpsbmam]

18. I've been worried about LA as I watch the news and see

the storm surges in LA and the bands hitting well into the state. Damn, this is a freaking scary one.