Weekly News Summary For September 5-11, 2005:
"The big one" that New Orleans residents and emergency-preparedness experts had always feared struck last week, as Hurricane Katrina roared ashore on the Gulf Coast Monday morning, flattening much of the cities of Biloxi and Gulfport and breaching two levees in New Orleans, allowing water from Lake Pontchartrain to flood almost the entire metropolis.
As this issue of The Waterways Journal went to press Thursday, relief efforts were focused on rescuing those stranded in the city and evacuating all of those who didn’t get out before the storm hit. The grim task of counting casualties had hardly begun, but estimates of those killed by the hurricane stretched into the thousands.
At first, it looked like New Orleans had been spared the brunt of the storm. After all, the eye of the hurricane had passed east of the city. But Monday night, it became clear that the levee system circling the city couldn’t hold out the water, and a levee along the 17th Street Canal gave way, allowing Lake Pontchartrain water to flow unimpeded into the city, which lies below sea level between the Mississippi River and the lake.
Attempts to plug the levee breach using 3,000-pound sandbags failed to materialize as the U.S. Army Chinook helicopters that were going to drop the sandbags in place were diverted to rescue efforts. Officials discussed moving barges in to sink them at the site to block the water, but found there was too much debris in the way to even get the barges there.
Throughout the day Tuesday the water in the city rose inexorably, while those residents who stayed behind frantically tried to get to their roofs or other high points in hopes of being rescued.
By Wednesday, officials estimated that more than 80 percent of the land in the city was under water, up to 20 feet deep in some places. The city had no electricity, no telephone service, no potable water.
New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin—who over the preceding weekend had ordered a mandatory evacuation in advance of the hurricane—issued another order that everyone still in the city had to leave. In an unprecedented step, a large U.S. city was being completely evacuated. It would be months before the city would be functional again, he said….
For the Coast Guard men and women who have been working feverishly to rescue the thousands of Gulf Coast residents, it has been both a rewarding and heartbreaking experience.
As crews fly over the washed-away homes, crushed cars and flooded communities, it is hard not to be moved by the total destruction. What is the saving grace out of the turmoil are the family and friends gathered together in survival, looking toward their helicopters or boats for their ticket out of their very real nightmare. And knowing they can help.
"We are just glad we can help," said Lt. John Miller, Coast Guard reservist activated due to the hurricane. "We are just trying to do our jobs in the best way we can to help out. It is ’Semper Paratus’ (Always Ready, the motto of the Coast Guard). Our hearts really go out to these people."
Those in need of rescue have been able to contact authorities by cell phone, although service is spotty at best, or by waving towels or other items to attract attention from passing boats and helicopters.
"The call center is set up where we can send a helicopter out to a specific area," Miller said. "You also find a lot of people in need of help along the way. It isn’t just us helping rescue. It is also the Navy, Marines, Army and Louisiana Department of Natural Resources working rescues. We are using Army, Naval and Air National Guard assets to assist."…
Since moving Coast Guard District 8 Command to St. Louis in fear of the possible devastation from approaching Hurricane Katrina, the Coast Guard Incident Management Team has been hard at work dealing with the destruction that Katrina left behind.
District 8 moved into Coast Guard offices located in the Robert Young Federal Building in St. Louis and have been operating 24/7 with a large staff of more than 100 people.
The team is coordinating logistics, communications and personnel for the Coast Guard’s activities within the region.
"We are trying to get communication for all units so they all can get back on and are able to talk with each other," said Lt. John Miller, Coast Guard reservist from the Atlantic Division. "We are coordinating environmental services, coordinating aviation, coordinating cutters, contacting other branches of service or agencies and overall basic logistics."…
Washington, D.C.—Federal legislators will return to Washington, D.C., September 6 facing a hopper full of unfinished business. But none is more important to the barge and towing industry than the Water Resources Development Act. Passed by the House July 14, the bill (H.R. 2864) has yet to be acted upon by the Senate.
The measure authorizes 700 transportation, flood control, hydropower, water supply, beach renourishment, environmental restoration and recreation projects and studies.
Since Congress went on its summer recess at the end of July, President Bush signed two other major pieces of legislation—a six-year, $286.4 billion highway funding bill and the Energy Policy Act of 2005, which includes a provision to require fuel manufacturers to use 7.5 billion gallons of ethanol in gasoline by 2012….
Conditions were not conducive to an outdoor, riverside celebration at Paducah, Ky., August 27 when Ingram Barge Company officials, employees and families gathered to celebrate the re-naming and christening of three veteran towboats, but the festivities went on anyway, as early morning showers gave way to a dark, overcast sky.
Families, friends and fellow employees gathered beneath a large canopy erected on the landing barge that also houses the company’s training facility adjacent to its Washington Street headquarters. Ingram Chairman Orrin H. Ingram welcomed guests, introduced the honorees and described the vessels.
Ingram began, "I’ve said it before, but I mean every word. The single highest honor Ingram Barge Company can do is to name a boat after an individual." He said it was an honor to rename and christen boats in honor of three people whom he described as being instrumental in making Ingram Barge Company successful.
"They’ve dedicated their lives to making this company successful," he remarked. "It’s a great thrill to be able repay in some small way for all the things you’ve done for us by renaming these vessels in your honor."…
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