Gustav: Plaquemines Parish in danger of levee collapse
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September 1st, 2008
In Plaquemines Parish, a levee was in danger of collapse, and officials scrambled to fortify it. Roofs were torn from homes, trees toppled and roads flooded. More than 1 million homes were without power. And the extent of any damage to the oil and gas industry was unclear.
But the biggest fear — that the levees surrounding New Orleans would break — hadn’t been realized.
Wind-driven water sloshed over the top of the Industrial Canal’s floodwall — the same structure that broke with disastrous consequences during Katrina — and several Ninth Ward streets close by were flooded with ankle- to knee-deep water. Still, city officials and the Army Corps of Engineers expressed confidence the levees would hold.
Maj. Tim Kurgan, a Corps spokesman, said late in the day: “We don’t anticipate any problems, but we’re still watching this storm because it has not passed the area yet.”
Gustav blew ashore around 9:30 a.m. near Cocodrie (pronounced ko-ko-DREE), a low-lying community 72 miles southwest of New Orleans.
Forecasters had feared a catastrophic Category 4 storm on the 1-to-5 scale, but Gustav weakened as it drew close to land, coming ashore as a Category 2 with 110 mph winds. It quickly dropped to a Category 1 as it steamed inland toward Texas.
The water levels around the Caenarvon Diversion and Scarsdale Levees are falling some and it appears the sandbagging effort is making a difference. Parish President Billy Nungesser says, “We have stopped the bleeding…and I am very encouraged by what we are seeing.” Additionally, permission has been granted by the State to reverse the Caenarvon Diversion Siphon to allow the water to drain into the river which could greatly aid in the effort.
“This could not have been accomplished without the incredible support of St. Bernard Parish Sheriff Jack Stephens and Parish President Craig Taffaro. They sent manpower and sandbags and were just a huge help. We also are grateful to the parish employees and many volunteers who came out to help…also for all the support and help from Governor Bobby Jindal, Garret Graves with the Governor’s office and Col. Jeff Bedey with the Army Corps of Engineers,” says Nungesser.
Crews are continuing the sandbagging efforts. Nungesser says they will not give up and will continue the fight as long as it takes to save the East Bank’s Braithwaite area. So far no homes have flooded.
Meantime, there is some overtopping on the Citrus Lands Levees on the westbank…there is work underway to flood fight in that area as well. However, the water is not threatening Highway 23.
The water had been rising in the Myrtle Grove area as well and is being monitored very carefully. So far no serious flooding has been reported.
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