Well, Isaac seems to have picked the worst possible path that a Category 1 storm can take. It came in just south of New Orleans, causing flooding of the Mississippi just south of the city, and then decided to just sit there. Normally a tropical storm force winds might have somewhat limited damage, but 40 mph winds sustained over 48 hours (the current projection) is another things altogether. Over 500,000 homes are without power and there’s talk of 20 inches of rain. I actually remember that much rain falling when I lived there. It was actually a tropical storm (Frances) that hit Texas, but was incredibly broad. The city’s drainage system really isn’t equipped for that, but hopefully the upgrades to the system after 2005 will help mitigate the impact.
Lots of love to everyone back home.
(As always, the best way to get a feel for what people are thinking and feeling in New Orleans at times like this is to tune into WWL radio.)
Scott A McKinley 