Heavy Rains Threaten New Orleans
Flood-prone city braces for more flooding
New Orleans experienced an abnormally dry summer, but Mother Nature is making up for her short-sightedness all at once. Yesterday more than 8 inches of rain fell in the city, shutting down businesses and schools and maxing out the city's drainage system.
Feel like you've heard this story before? It's only been 2 years since Hurricane Katrina transformed the landscape of New Orleans.
Although canal walls failed to protect the city during Katrina, it's now the city pumps and catch basins falling short. During a 1-hour period Monday 2 inches of rain fell, but the pumps can process only 1 inch the first hour and ½ inch ever hour after that.
Catch basins clogged with waste from renovations aggravated an already nasty situation - some businesses are reporting waist-high water inside.
City officials have asked motorists to stay off the roads to prevent waves from further flooding businesses and homes. Two parishes are now under severe weather warnings, and the national weather service has issued a tornado watch for the entire metropolitan area as a cold front advances today.
If you're in the area and want to keep up-to-date on the situation, these sites can help:
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