Katrina - Page 6

strandinthewind · #76 08-30-2005, 05:46 PM

Tuesday, August 30, 2005

Entergy outages: 1.1 million customers in La., Miss.

Tuesday, 5:19 p.m.

This is a news release from Entergy.

New Orleans, La. – Entergy today is beginning the process of assessing the extraordinary damage to its electrical system in Louisiana and Mississippi caused by Hurricane Katrina, the worst storm in Entergy's history.

Company officials said crews could take several days to fully assess the damage, and it expects a long and difficult restoration process due to the scope and amount of damage to its electrical system.

As of 5 a.m. today, Entergy’s electrical power outages from Hurricane Katrina peaked at nearly 1.1 million homes and businesses, with some 790,000 in Louisiana and more than 300,000 in Mississippi without power.

Entergy crews were able to restore power to some customers Monday night in areas that did not suffer heavy damage from Katrina. The company is expecting that additional outages could occur due to wet soil and occasional strong wind gusts.

The outage total already has more than quadrupled the previous Entergy record of 270,000 set only last month during Tropical Storm Cindy. The record prior to that was 260,000 in Hurricane Georges in 1998.

Entergy will first concentrate on restoring service in areas where it is not inhibited by flood waters or other obstacles. The company will work toward the harder hit areas as the company gains access to those areas.

Utilities in Florida that have been damaged by Hurricane Katrina have already brought together a large work force that normally would assist Entergy. Restoration for Entergy customers could be delayed until those workers complete the work in Florida and are released to Entergy.

Customers should be prepared for extended power outages. Severe damage caused by Hurricane Katrina to Entergy’s system could require weeks to rebuild. In addition, restoration may be hampered by flooding, blocked access or other obstacles.

Entergy crews and contractors are prepared to work long hours after the storm passes, restoring service to customers as quickly and as safely as possible.

All of the four Entergy System states, including Louisiana, Mississippi, Arkansas and Texas, are contributing significant numbers of restoration workers to help restore service. While Entergy maintains sufficient personnel in the donor areas to handle emergencies, the company will be slower responding to regular business needs. Entergy sincerely appreciates its customers’ patience and understanding during this time of emergency.

Entergy follows a restoration plan that concentrates on getting service restored to essential customers first like hospitals, police, fire, communications, water, sanitary services and transportation providers. Then, Entergy crews turn their attention to making repairs to electrical facilities that will return service to the largest number of customers in the shortest period of time, then the next largest number, and so on, until power is restored to everyone.

Entergy has placed more people on the phones, more crews in the field and is providing frequent status reports to local news media to make sure customers are well informed. Entergy is recognized in the industry as having one of the best-trained storm restoration teams in the county. The company has a highly-recognized plan of action for emergency storm preparedness and restoration.

Entergy reminds customers to remain safe and stay away from downed power lines and flooded areas. Do not walk in standing water and do not venture into areas of debris, since energized and dangerous power lines may not be visible.

Entergy Corporation is an integrated energy company engaged primarily in electric power production and retail distribution operations. Entergy owns and operates power plants with approximately 30,000 megawatts of electric generating capacity, and it is the second-largest nuclear generator in the United States. Entergy delivers electricity to 2.7 million utility customers in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. Entergy has annual revenues of more than $10 billion and approximately 14,000 employees.

http://www.nola.com/newslogs/breakin...08.html#075212

ALSO

Closing levee breaches top priority

The Army Corps of Engineers was focused Tuesday on finding a way to close the levee breaches in the Industrial Canal and 17th Street Canal that have let waters pour into New Orleans, state officials said.

Col. Jeff Smith with the Louisiana National Guard said the Corps has informed the state that they are beginning to plan how exactly to fill the holes in the levee, which observers described as several hundred feet long.

Smith said the Corps might fill large cargo containers with a heavy substance, such as sand, which would then be plugged into the gaps. "It would be better than just sandbags," he said, adding that Corps officials haven't figured out exactly what they will do. He expected that work could begin later this afternoon or in the morning.

After a flight over the devastated region, U.S. Sen.
David Vitter said that he could see three breaches in the levees, including a 200 feet hole in the 17th Street Canal, as well as two separate gaps encompassing a total of about 500 feet in the Industrial Canal on the St. Bernard side.

The focus of state and federal agencies on Tuesday remained rescuing people who are stuck on rooftops or attics, surrounded by water and unable to escape. The state has begun moving people out of hospitals in downtown hospitals, including Big Charity, which Gov.
Kathleen Blanco called "out of commission."

Blanco said that while search and rescue operations continued that officials were also getting supplies to hospitals and people who sought refuge at the Superdome, which is receiving more residents as people are rescued. After officials have completed all of their rescue operations, they will begin to assess how to evacuate other people in the city who are in high, dry locations.

Bill Lokey, the federal coordinating officer for FEMA, said they would like to begin evacuating people who aren't in danger within a couple days.

http://www.nola.com/newslogs/breakin...08.html#075208

Mad4stevie · #77 08-30-2005, 07:56 PM

They have just reported that there may be an inmate uprising at the Orleans Parrish prison. Unconfirmed accounts state that the inmates have taken a deputy and his family hostage.

God, this just keeps getting worse and worse.

strandinthewind · #78 08-30-2005, 07:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mad4stevie

They have just reported that there may be an inmate uprising at the Orleans Parrish prison. Unconfirmed accounts state that the inmates have taken a deputy and his family hostage.

God, this just keeps getting worse and worse.

Not only that, but the looters are shooting at the police, cars are being cae jacked, and so on and so one

Mad4stevie · #79 08-30-2005, 07:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by strandinthewind

Not only that, but the looters are shooting at the police, cars are being cae jacked, and so on and so one

WTF is wrong with these people???

Tragedy either brings out the best, or the worst, in people it seems.

strandinthewind · #80 08-30-2005, 08:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mad4stevie

WTF is wrong with these people???

Tragedy either brings out the best, or the worst, in people it seems.

Having lived through many of these - I can tell you people deliberatly do not evcuate with the thought of looting in their heads the whole time. They are looting the mansions on St. Charles and someone, perhaps the police or the owners, are shooting them. Also, if you do not protect your home, they will kill you and/or rape you and not just women. I know that sounds harsh, but I have seen it. Scary stuff.

eclipse · #81 08-30-2005, 08:11 PM

Hillary....
I am so glad you are OK -you have been on my mind for three days ( and you know how I am about crystal visions...)

So , so glad all is well. water is water,
but loved ones are "life"

I am so happy you guys came though OK-
With my sincre -erst (sp) wishes for sweet and peaceful dreams tonight-at least..
Thank God everyone really made it through this "test " of mother Nature...
She is so awesome and repectable---huh??
Stay in touch-ok...?
~~eclipse~~

Mad4stevie · #82 08-30-2005, 08:11 PM

Also, alot of hospitals have lost the ability to have life support units, even with the generators. They are manually ventilating their patients

Mad4stevie · #83 08-30-2005, 08:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by strandinthewind

Having lived through many of these - I can tell you people deliberatly do not evcuate with the thought of looting in their heads the whole time. They are looting the mansions on St. Charles and someone, perhaps the police or the owners, are shooting them. Also, if you do not protect your home, they will kill you and/or rape you and not just women. I know that sounds harsh, but I have seen it. Scary stuff.

I will never understand why people disregard the force of mother nature. I mean, you are completely at her mercy. Why do people risk such things when their very lives are at stake if they are wrong??

If I was there, I would have left at first inclination that anything could happen. I get super panicky at those kinds of things.

If people are looting things that are vital, like water, I can understand moreso. But these people are stealing electronics, clothing, etc. Did you see that video of the female police officer trying to subdue the young guy who was looting? It would not surprise me if this a**hole tries to turn around and sue the police department!

lbelle1214 · #84 08-30-2005, 08:25 PM

They just said that they expect the pumps to fail within the next 8 hrs. and told everyone to evacuate New Orleans, period. Expect another 7 ft. of water. Hospitals are being evacuated by personnel and National Guard.

Mad4stevie · #85 08-30-2005, 08:41 PM

They have rescued approx. 3,000 people from their attics and roofs in New Orleans thus far.

strandinthewind · #86 08-30-2005, 08:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mad4stevie

They have rescued approx. 3,000 people from their attics and roofs in New Orleans thus far.

I find it hard to believe that at least half of these people could not evacuate to at least a local shelter or the Dome. Now, because of their assinine decision, resources are being wasted to save their assess. I get that they should be saved, but they ought to be bitched out and then charged for it. There are still many handicap people out there in their attics and the rescuers are farting around with able bodied and stubborn people.

Mad4stevie · #87 08-30-2005, 09:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by strandinthewind

I find it hard to believe that at least half of these people could not evacuate to at least a local shelter or the Dome. Now, because of their assinine decision, resources are being wasted to save their assess. I get that they should be saved, but they ought to be bitched out and then charged for it. There are still many handicap people out there in their attics and the rescuers are farting around with able bodied and stubborn people.

I totally agree. The sight of the elderly and handicap being completely terrified as they are rescued is not something I will soon forget.

lbelle1214 · #88 08-30-2005, 09:09 PM

They showed some homeless (But looked able-bodied) man before the storm hit...interviewed him and he said he was going to "ride it out" behind "that tree over there"...in New Orleans! That kind of stupidity leaves me speechless (almost) And he was only about a mile from the dome.

GateandGarden · #89 08-30-2005, 09:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eclipse

Hillary....
I am so glad you are OK -you have been on my mind for three days ( and you know how I am about crystal visions...)

So , so glad all is well. water is water,
but loved ones are "life"

I am so happy you guys came though OK-
With my sincre -erst (sp) wishes for sweet and peaceful dreams tonight-at least..
Thank God everyone really made it through this "test " of mother Nature...
She is so awesome and repectable---huh??
Stay in touch-ok...?
~~eclipse~~

Thank you so much.

Sapphire Girl · #90 08-30-2005, 09:37 PM

My prayers for health and safety go out to everyone hit by this horrendous disaster. I know there is total devastation and things are extremely bleak, but Americans, as a rule, are very generous, caring, hard-working, and resilient. It's going to take some time, but things will get better.