Power’s out this morning, in various parts of New Orleans and in front of the hurricane, and the lower coast is probably feeling the heat big time about now. Will Gustav track a tad east or west? Nobody knows, but any shift could have an enormous effect.
There’s a lot being said about the incomplete levee repairs (and the lack of levees at all in some areas). Will they handle a massive surge, if it comes? And that, right there, is why everybody’s tense about New Orleans — because the answer seems to be no, they won’t. Not if it’s an enormous surge.
The repairs are not complete, and there are still sections with no protection whatsoever.
And here’s the real kicker: If Gustav manages to thread the needle and NOLA avoids the worst case surge, the question of whether the levees can or cannot handle things will still not be answered. The next storm, if it takes the same track, will be just as scary.
Without restoring the wetlands, which at one time helped de-intensify hurricane impacts on the area, this is always going to be a hair-raising event.
Added: WWL radio (broadcasting live – you can listen) is talking right now about the levees and infrastructure, particularly along the Harvey Canal. I missed who it is that’s talking, but it sounds like an official. He says that this is a test of the “improved infrastructure”, and since Gustav has gone to a Cat 3, he’s very optimistic.
Also — because of the hurricane’s track and intensity, this is likely going to be a (mostly) West Bank event.
More: It’s Jefferson Parish President Aaron Broussard speaking. He’s saying that in the best case scenario, it’ll be several days before people can come back. Clean-up operations would happen first.