Early Damage from New Orleans

Katrina Headlines X

Storm surge from broken levee? At present, inconclusive. NPR reports that the streets are not yet flooded.
Local coverage: 125 mph winds, some first-person accounts suggest that the streets of New Orleans are not flooded, but these assessments come from hazy views from high-rise hotels.
Metafilter down.
FEMA enters disaster mode.
There are at least two major holes in Superdome’s roof.
CNN reports one of local districts is six feet underwater.
National Weather Service reports “total structural failure.”
Oil now over $70/barrel.
I will report here later in a couple of hours, when I have more reliable information to go by.

WWL is now reporting: A LEVEE BREACH OCCURRED ALONG THE INDUSTRIAL CANAL AT TENNESSE STREET. 3 TO 8 FEET OF WATER IS EXPECTED DUE TO THE BREACH…LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO ARABI AND 9TH WARD OF NEW ORLEANS.
Live WWL newscast reporting “substantial portion of roof” now off. Estimated number of peoplet here: 8,000 to 9,000.
New Orleans facing environmental disaster.
Correction: “Half of roof is pretty much gone.”
Superdome Seating Chart: people now being moved to concession stands.
Brainwidth reporting from Lafayette.

Confirmation of Superdome roof: “I can see daylight straight up from inside the Superdome.” The Superdome is 273 feet high and encased in 20,000 tons of structural steel. Hopefully, there will still be bleacher space high up for the people inside as the rain comes in.
“New Orleans may never be the same.” Oh really?
4,000 National Guardsman prepared to mobilize for New Orleans post-Katrina.
Stocks down.
Metroblogging New Orleans offers some personal reports.
Latest satellite images.