[chalmette70043]

We are in a Flood Watch. But not because of thunderstorms. It's because of the Mississippi River. Our local authorities are hoping our levees can hold the amount of water still coming down our way from the central Mississippi Valley. Today, the spillway was opened to alleviate some of that water, which is spilled into Lake Pontchartrain. But they can only release so much water without overflowing the Lake into neighboring homes. The spillway has only been opened 8 times in the past 70 years. So that in itself is history.

Yesterday I took two pictures of the Mississippi River just a blocks down the street from where i live. There is only 5 feet left of levee before it reaches the top. The river has not crested yet and what was expected to be cresting levels has raised in feet becuase of all the rain the central Mississippi Valley has been receiving. I uploaded the two pics i took. They are in photos here if anyone is interested in seeing them.

If these levees do not hold or the cresting of the river goes beyond the five feet of levee left. We are expected to receive pretty much the same amount of water we received from Katrina. They havent called for evacuations as of yet, but have put our parish (county) on notice.

I am having wishes that it does not hold and does overflow or even have breaks in the levees. I wouldnt mind going down with it.

[HALLIEBETH87]

I would mind! So.....I will be hoping for the best. I love you.*hugs*

((((((chalmette))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))
praying for you
Chalm I would mind very much
please be prepared
you are my friend
please stay safe

[nowheretorun]

((((Chalmette)))))

[Fuzzybear]

(((((((((((( Chalmette )))))))))))))

[TaintedGoth1]

(((((Chalmette)))))

Oh wow...sending you all the prayers I can muster for your safety and that of many others!

[DocClyde]

(((Chalmy)))

Clyde is here, praying for you and wishing the best for you, as always.

[splitimage]

(((Chalmette))))

I would mind very much. Will be praying that the levees hold and that you're safe.

--spltimage

(((((((((chalm))))))))))))))))
hope everythings ok

[chalmette70043]

They opened the spillway yesterday. Out of 120 parts of it, they opened 30 parts. They plan on opening some more.

The river down my way has gone up almost another foot. But they said that was expected. They've put us in a flood warning now from a watch. They say once the river crests they expect it to start going down.

It's scary cause from Vicksburg, Miss all the way down to right below Baton Rouge is getting flooding from overspill of the river. And Baton Rouge ain't to far up river from here. But the spillway is about halfway between Baton Rouge and us.

They've stopped alot of river traffic cause they are scared that someone may lose control due to the current being so strong and hit a levee and cause a breach.

I'll probably ride over to Angela Street and check out the river tomorrow to see if its gone down any.

Thank ya'll all for your well wishes. I appreciate it.

chalmette

[ECHOES]

((( chalmette )))

This must be mind-numbing. You've been through so much there!

I hope it holds and you are safe.

[Soidhonia]

(((Chalm))). I hope things are better today. Take care and best wishes. Soidhonia

[sadandalone]

OMG Chal!! I didn't see about them putting St Bernard on notice! When did that happen? I also didn't about the river traffic. Was it on nola.com? Can you send me the links?

[chalmette70043]

it was on wwl4. Parish Government put us from flood watch to flood warning a few days ago. The story about the river traffic was on all the local tv news. I think at wwl4 there is a video with them talking about it. According to my mom they talked about it again last night. They said we are at 16.5 right now and flood stage is 17. I'm going to drive up to Angela St. in Arabi and take a pic from the same spot i was the other day and see if there is any difference. Then later today i'm going up to the spillway to check it out. I'll take some pics there if i can get close enough. I hear hundreds of people have been hanging out around there. Someone posted a news cast about it in the St. Bernard forum on nola.com. But that was two days ago, so you'd have to go back a page or two probably. Just ignore all that other bullshiit talk on there, they been frustrated and arguing alot.

[chalmette70043]

Here is a link to some news that came on nola.com today about halting and rebuilding of houses and other stuff along the river.

http://blog.nola.com/updates/2008/04...river_aga.html

I found this one video. I can't find the one where they are talking about the river traffic. But, you should see the ferry trying to cross the river here in Chalmette. Ain't no way i'd be going that way across the river to the Westbank.
http://www.nola.com/news/index.ssf/2..._to_handl.html

[chalmette70043]

I found this video too from wwl4 news. I think it was from last nights newscast.

http://www.wwltv.com/video/news-index.html?nvid=235904

still looking for the other one.

[chalmette70043]

49497. Flood Warning
by greenie, 4/15/08 15:47 ET
We are under a flood warning for the Mississippi River. What next? If the river level breaks it could be worst than Katrina because we will have no warning. Last time we had high water some of the levee was at risk of being washed away from the under currents and volocity of the water. Most of St. Bernard is sea level - 5 ft above. The river will crest at 17 ft above sea level meaning we will have over 12 ft of water in the parish. And this is with the spillway open.

Do you think we are on the edge of our seats?

And please, let someone else tell me i'm a stupid s.o.b for living here. Mother Nature takes her frustrations out on this entire world. What makes this area any different.

[sabby]

((((((((((((( chalm ))))))))))))))))

Home is home.....regardless of the difficulties. Know that you are in my thoughts and prayers.


sabby