Katrina Headlines XIX

Email from rescuer at BoingBoing.
CNN says the people at the Superdome, who number between 12,000 and 15,000, could be there for a week. Apparently, plans to rescue these people are being made. But nothing has been revealed thus far. With rising floodwaters, it would seem to me that some action should be determined immediately.
WDSU: Entire city will soon be underwater.
A three-foot shark is cruising the streets.
The word from Lieutenant Governor Landrieu: 3,000 rescued to date. Also, the helicopters that were planning to drop 3,000 pound sandbags and stop the levee never arrived. Mayor Ray Nagin extremely upset. Where were these helicopters? In Iraq, as other reports have noted?
Amazingly, the NFL says the Saints will play at the Superdome on September 18.
Storm Digest notes that the Gulf Coast News Missing Persons Database was hacked.
Chris Martel observes that the same networks airing commercial-free tsunami coverage for days aren’t even covering Katrina.
Electric Mist describes the refuge situation in Baton Rouge.
This blog is devoted to the damage at Slidell.
The LA Times on the prison riot.
Bush 404 Error
What stage is Katrina at right now? Let meterologist Jeff Masters tell you.
Some places to donate.

Photo Caption Racism

Goddam. I thought we were going to win this. The latest from WWL: “Efforts to stop the levee break at the 17th Street Canal have ended unsuccessfully and the water is expected to soon overwhelm the pumps in that area, allowing water to pour into the east bank of Metairie and Orleans to an expected height of 12-15 feet.”
Times-Picayune: “Homes in West End, Bucktown and at the Orleans-Jefferson Parish line are nearly underwater, with residents being plucked from the water and rooftops by passing boats, WWL-TV video shows.”
Biloxi appears devastated from air.
Hurricanes from space.
Long-form feature from the L.A. Times.
All people are urged to evacuate. Efforts to beat the levee are over.
Main public hospital no longer functioning.
What’s the word on the Superdome evacuation?

The big question: is there any confirmation that the water is still rising or have the sandbags dropped in the levee somehow managed to halt the waterflow from the lake?
WWL is now reporting that state officials are trying to figure out how to transfer 4,000 inmates from the New Orleans jail and 1,000 inmates from the Jefferson Parish jail. Both prisons face flooding.
Now all hotel guests are going to the Superdome.
Now here’s where Republican self-sufficient state policy gets interesting: Louisiana is begging the White House to waive federal rules that push a sizable chunk of the financial burden of the cleanup onto the state. They want the federal government to help pick up the tab. Here’s where things get interesting: During the Florida hurricanes, FEMA picked up 100% of the costs after the first 72 hours. Will there be a quid pro quo, a deal with the devil, or a poltical favor to ensure that FEMA picks up 100% of the tab for Louisiana after three days? I sincerely hope political reporters are paying attention to this. Josh Marshall, will you keep this issue alive?
Katrina in Louisiana.

Great coverage over at Brendan Loy.
Many victims left with nothing.
Video aerial tour of coastline wiped out is at MSNBC.
Hugh Hewitt wants some ideas on how to coordinate fundraising.
Looting: “It’s downtown Baghdad.”
How the media’s been improvising to report the storm.
Retail stocks take plunge.
MSNBC’s Janet Shamlian describes what she’s seen in a Q&A.
Katrina effort is largest undertaking of American Red Cross in its history.
More global warming name-calling from Ross Gelbspan.
More good coverage from Deadly Katrina.
Blanco says there is a plan to rescue people in Superdome: (1) get them food and supplies, (2) develop network to get them out.
More on the energy relation.
They’ve even thought about the pets.
From Brendan Loy: An elevation map from the Washington Post, with the French Quarter on high ground.
Reports of looters shooting cop in head.