| Topic: |
Science > Prophecies-Of-Nostradamus |
| User: |
"=?iso-8859-1?q?Uncle_Wally_Da_HOOROO_Big_Kahuna_;-=99?=" |
| Date: |
31 Aug 2005 04:47:10 AM |
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New Orleans left underwater in the wake of Katrina's fury |
New Orleans left underwater in the wake of Katrina's fury
The World Today - Wednesday, 31 August , 2005 12:22:00
Reporter: Michael Rowland
EDMOND ROY: In the United States, Hurricane Katrina may have all but
petered out but its deadly legacy is only just being realised.
Authorities fear hundreds of people could be dead and hundreds of
thousands left homeless as floodwaters swamp three southern states.
Eighty-per-cent of New Orleans is underwater, and plans are being drawn
up for the wholesale evacuation of the jazz city's 500,000 strong
population.
North America Correspondent Michael Rowland reports.
MICHAEL ROWLAND: A little over 24 hours ago the people of New Orleans
were counting their blessings. Although the historic city had been
buffeted by Hurricane Katrina's 240 kilometre-an-hour winds it hadn't
suffered the much feared and inevitably catastrophic direct hit.
But the after effects are proving just as devastating. So fierce was
the storm that it ripped gaping holes in the protective levee banks
that surround the below sea level city, sending a wall of water gushing
through New Orleans streets.
80 per-cent of the city known as America's jazz capital is now
underwater and Governor Kathleen Blanco says as the water level
continues to rise so does the death toll.
KATHLEEN BLANCO: A lot of people lost their lives and we still don't
have any idea because the focus continues to be on rescuing those who
have survived. We don't want to lose any more people than we absolutely
have to.
MICHAEL ROWLAND: Helicopters are busily winching stranded people from
rooftops, or, as is in this case dragging an elderly woman from her all
but submerged suburban house.
RESCUER: We got you, we got you. I know, we got to go easy, though,
okay?
WOMAN: Please don't put me on camera. Oh no, I never look like this. Oh
Jesus, Oh God he's on my breast.
RESCUER: I know, I know (sounds of struggling)
WOMAN: (Screams)
RESCUER: You're okay; we're going to get you out.
MICHAEL ROWLAND: 30,000 people have taken refuge in the imposing New
Orleans Superdome. But even this isn't proving to be a safe haven, with
water now flowing into the massive indoor football stadium.
Outside the situation is even more chaotic - hospitals are running out
of power and in some parts of the city, looters are running riot with a
number of gunshot exchanges reported over the last few hours.
Governor Kathleen Blanco is now preparing to evacuate the city.
KATHLEEN BLANCO: The magnitude of the situation is untenable. It's just
heartbreaking. There's no electricity and won't be any for quite a
while. It's impossible to even begin to estimate. There's no water.
There was a 50-inch main that severed in the city. In many, many
neighbourhoods, there are no passable streets. You cannot drive on
streets, there's so much water on them.
MICHAEL ROWLAND: Across in Mississippi, hundreds are feared dead in the
Gulf Coast city of Biloxi. At least 30 people died when an apartment
block collapsed like a pack of cards. So destructive was the ten-metre
storm surge that a city official is describing it as 'our Tsunami'.
Biloxi Resident Harriet Lekich tells of the destructive impact of the
flood.
HARRIET LEKICH: We had five ancient oak trees, we had a beautiful
magnolia tree - no sign of them. There's no sign of our car that was in
the driveway. And it's just phenomenal because nothing was
recognisable.
The water line was so far back. And there were cars that had been
pushed into the sea wall. There was an aeroplane from (inaudible) that
was almost in the railroad.
MICHAEL ROWLAND: The worst fear of all the rescue teams is just what
awaits them when the water finally recedes.
This is Michael Rowland reporting for The World Today.
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