Looks grim. This is the latest from local coverage.

[plonq]

****ALL RESIDENTS ON THE EAST BANK OF ORLEANS AND JEFFERSON REMAINING IN THE METRO AREA ARE BEING TOLD TO EVACUATE AS EFFORTS TO SANDBAG THE LEVEE BREAK HAVE ENDED. THE PUMPS IN THAT AREA ARE EXPECTED TO FAIL SOON AND 9 FEET OF WATER IS EXPECTED IN THE ENTIRE EAST BANK. WITHIN THE NEXT 12-15 HOURS****

... but I can't imagine there's anyone left on my contact list who hasn't been following this pretty close anyway.

Comments

[furahi.livejournal.com]

Efforts have ceased? Why? =P
Wouldn't it make sense to try anything to stop the water?
Erf

[atara.livejournal.com]

There's nothing more they CAN do. The breach is 200 feet wide. They can get no equipment to the area. The area is under 20 feet of water. The major artery in and out of the city has been cut by the collapse of the I-10 bridge. The pumps have failed, and... now it's dark.

Whatever they are going to do, it will have to wait until tomorrow... And tomorrow there might not be a city left to save.

[aeto.livejournal.com]

There was something which struck me today...

Fox has a few reporters in New Orleans, and has since before the storm.

They weren't afraid before the storm got there. Their reports during the peak winds of the storm were concerned, but there wasn't real fear in their voices. During the initial clean-up on Monday, there was some relief. Nice, professional attitude this morning.

This afternoon, they sounded scared. They hid it well, but if you listened carefully, you could sense the fear creeping into their voice.

The vast majority of the city is effectively destroyed. And I hate to say this, but I personally hope they don't rebuild it. New Orleans is a city below water level, wedged between two large bodies of water. If they rebuild it, it's just going to happen again one day. They have been fearing this day for decades, and they knew, when it happened, there wouldn't be any good recovery.