Sunday, August 31, 2008

Joining the Call to Arms!

 
 
 
Things aren't looking too good for New Orleans right now, folks. Miss Ginger (Hope you'll check her journal out, too. She's a fun read!) explains it very well in her recent entry:
 
This truly is the mother of all storms--an absolute worst-case scenario for NOLA. Katrina hit a little to the east of New Orleans, so the right side of the storm (we call it the "dirty" side) actually hit the Mississippi Gulf Coast, which was essentially washed away in it's entirety. You don't hear as much about it because it is not so densely populated, so from a humanity standpoint not as many lives were lost as New Orleans. But, from a physical standpoint, they got the hardest winds, the largest storm surge, and the most rain.


With Gustav heading slightly to the west of NOLA, this time they are on the dirty side of the storm. The storm surge from a Cat4 will be catastrophic, and in this case will push gazillions of gallons of water into Lake Ponchartrain, which will not be able to contain it all. The flood control systems are designed to spill water from the Mississippi River, across Lake Ponchartrain, into the Morganza spillway and out into the Gulf of Mexico. But because this storm will be pushing water up from the south, the Morganza will already be full and won't be able to absorb the flood from Ponchartrain. As water is pushed into Ponchartrain, is will also push water back into the Mississippi and Lake Borne, putting stress on the levees, which won't be completely reinforced until 2010. If this storm were to happen in 2012, the city would fare much better, but because the levee improvement work is so time consuming, it's far from complete. All the breaches from Katrina are repaired, and many of the weakest spots identified in her aftermath are fixed, but there are still miles and miles of levee we now know can be made stronger, and have just not been able to get the work done yet.


It's gonna be bad. Really bad. Hate to be a downer, but I want to make sure people all over the country know that New Orleans REALLY will need our prayers and support again, and they need and deserve our assistance after this storm is over! The last time they were not prepared to help themselves. They learned their lesson and executed their plan of action beautifully this time. They will spare many lives that would have been lost without the lessons learned last time. But the property damage will be enormous, and the damage to their souls and spirits will be even bigger. Now is the time for human compassion like we have never poured it out before! Please help me spread the word!

I hope you'll join me and Ginger in praying for those in the path of the storm, and hoping that New Orleans does not encounter a worst-case scenario. <fingers crossed>

Spread the word!


12 comments:

Anonymous said...

i watched a bit of coverage on CNN last night.....i pray somehow this is not as bad as before but i fear it will be. I pray no life is lost. Thanks for your entry.
XO

Anonymous said...

One can only hope that they have done enough in three years to make it less disastrous than last time.  They are in my prayers and thoughts.

Anonymous said...

I have already been sending up prayers for all in the path of the storm. Helen

Anonymous said...

The people of New Orleans and all that region are sure in my prayers tonight as they have been all week.   Thank you for visiting my journal...hope you will pop in again..although I am not a very regular writer just whenever I feel the urge !!  I have  put you on my alerts now as I have enjoyed so much what you have written..   Love for now   Sybil xx

http://journals.aol.co.uk/sybilsybil45/villagelife/

Anonymous said...

I'm worried sick about it!  Could this possibly get worse?  Oh hell...forget I said that!!!
Connie

Anonymous said...

You can count on me ~ I have been praying & will continue!

Hollie

Anonymous said...

I already stopped by to visit Miss Ginger before coming by here hon. She also gave me some heartwarming news on whats being done for the animals. I'll be posting that on my journal a little later. (Hugs)Indigo

Anonymous said...

I'm going to check out Miss Ginger now.  I'm so afraid for all those in the path of Gustav.  I've watching reports all day.
Missie

Anonymous said...

Keeping them all in prayer!!  Going to visit Miss Ginger now... thanks!!

Joann

Anonymous said...

OMG ! I pray the whole things slows down and doest get any stronger.
hugs,
Ellen

Anonymous said...

We have been praying since we first heard the news about Gustav.
Laini

Anonymous said...

My heart goes out to anyone in the path of Gustav.  I've been keeping them in my Prayers.
Lisa