New
#61
Typo. It IS a Cat 1.
Well this is getting a little aggravating. Hit shore once and bounced back out. Picking up more water (good for LPt1's area and maybe elsewhere -- we've been soaked for weeks), but maintaining strength (even picking up a little). About ¼ million without power (we lost it twice). A little windy, but not much rain yet for our area.
8/29 0000 CDT update:
And power just died again...
This loss of power problem always makes me wonder. In the US, most power lines are above ground and it is no wonder that they get knocked down by strong winds or ice and snow. But next time they put them up again and they are awaiting the next knock down.
In Germany, nobody would accept that. Since after WWII, our power lines went underground. And this is not an easy job because we have no easements like in the US. They have to be put under the streets.
In Florida where I have my house, the easements are 10 to 20 feet wide. It would be easy to bury the power lines (like they have done inside my development). But no, they continue to put up the poles awaiting the next storm. At least it helps full employment.
With the world economy on the very edge of a catastrophic collapse, I sure hope our government doesn't decide to start burying the power cables around the country at the estimated trillions (with a t ) it would cost.
It would cost a lot less in the long run. Not to speak about th terrible time millions of people now have without power all the time. My wife's family in NY had to throw away the content of several freezers in the last years. And in the winter when the frozen branches bring the power down, they have no heat. What a life.
When we built our home in 1972, I requested Entergy to put our power lines underground in a conduit , they did ( at that time they were issuing the GOLD Meter to homeowners who were totaly electric, fit their specs ).. we've never had an issue with a power failure caused at our home by trees falling (failure was in a different area from us, effected us as well )
I have friends in Lousiania , MaryBeth Frazier has parents there.. she said they have to install underground power lines where they live , it's the LAW. when the AR. Highway Dept widened our street.. she was out of the country .. or she would have forced them to go underground with the power lines, she knows the powers that best so to speak.. she was still ready to make them come back and re-do what they had finished , even that would have saved monies in the long run of things.
YES.... it is costly to do that..BUT in the long run.. millions are saved by being underground... just recall how many hours, working 7/24 to get people back on line , service men coming in from all over the USA to help out.. during tornadoes, ice storms, hurricanes.. etc.
IT Would be worth every dollar spent over and beyond, with this upgrade to Entergy or any electorical power company.
When the Power is out.. we have nothing but water, old kerosene lamps and a few emergency power lights, candles, otherwise we are in total darkness.. unless it's daylight , I can open the drapes for light. one can lose everything in their freezers / refigerators as well, if the power isn't restored rather quickly.
Well I understand this is Tough on some of you in the AREA but more of a Blessing for the Mighty Mississippi River which needs water very badly
With this Hurrican Issac I've already read where a lot of the Levies New Orlens etc are starting to spill over im not sure if they dip into Lake Ponchatrain <---------I know how to say it not spell it sorry if it is wrong or going into the Mississippi river
At any rate the river has closed down parts because the Barges are getting stuck which is killing Major distribution maybe Issac came on time who knows but God help us all
Actually rain is needed all over the middle USA north to south borders, almost east to west also.
Really a hot , dry Summer all around.
Lots of news about levies over topping and flooding. This is not the main levies that the Corp of Engineers have rebuilt and improved after Katrina. That entire system is working great and is a vast improvement since Katrina. A local 8ft high levy outside the main system is what was over topped. It is a rural area along the East bank of the Mississippi river and backs up to the Gulf. In the picture, the Blue line is the Federal levy and the Red is the local levy that over topped. Biggest problem in New Orleans is power outage (75% without power) and some localized flooding due to rain.
Jim