Topic starter
28/04/2011 11:32 pm
Greetings From New Orleans ,
A close and personal friend has just confirmed rumors and speculation that the U.S. Army Corps Of Engineers is now in place and making preparations to blow a portion of the levee on the Lower Mississippi River !
Due to the spring time torrential rains and melting snow and ice , rising river levels on both the Ohio and Upper Mississippi River are expected to reach and exceed record river stages !
Furthermore , rumors have been running rampart , from one end of the river system to the other , as to what the Corps may or may not do to relieve these threatening spring time river levels and resulting flooding !
Therefore , some of these rumors have been confirmed by some one with the Corps , that they are now in position and prepared to literally blow out a section of the levee just south of Cairo , Illinois on the Missouri side of the Lower Mississippi River near Byrd Point .
I was also told that the Corps has also brought into position , what they refer to as a " Bomb Barge " to facilitate this action ! The purpose of this action is to allow some of the river water to escape through the blown out levee and into the low lying and adjacent land on the Missouri side of the river .
One obstacle to this action has come up in the form of a law suite brought on by the Gov. of Missouri and its anyones guess just how long this may delay or prolong the eventual blowing of the levee, as this suite makes its way through the legal system !
Furthermore , and much further down river from there , it is expected that the Corps will open the Bonne Carre Spillway , just north of New Orleans located at river mile 128 LMR . The Bonne Carre Spillway when opened will allow high river water to escape out of the river , through a maintained channel , into Lake Ponchetrain and eventually into the Gulf Of Mexico . As with the blowing of the levee in Missouri the purpose of opening the Bonne Carre Spillway will hopfully remove and relieve some of the high water and relieve some of the pressure on the levees that surround New Orleans . I have not heard yet if the Morganza Spillway will be opened to relieve the water pressure and flooding which is located just north of St. Francisville and Baton Rouge !
More latter as information is provided !
Smooth Sailing !
Smooth Sailing !
Ted Davisson
NOBRA 70
Topic starter
01/05/2011 11:21 am
Cairo Evacuating !
Greetings From New Orleans !
Last night the Fox News Network reported that the Mayor of Cairo , Illinois has ordered a mandatory evacuation of the low lying areas of the city , due to the rising flood waters of both the Ohio and Upper Mississippi Rivers ! I would just have to imagine befor this high water Spring is over there will be other river cities that will also have to evacuate sections of their respective cities as well !
Fox News also reported that the Army Corps Of Engineers is now in place and ready to blow out a large portion of the levee system below Cario in order to drain off and releve the flood waters and pressures from these two flooding rivers ! This years high water season just may be one for the record books ! Time will tell !
Its also my understanding that the Corps Of Engineers still plans to open the Bonne Carre Spillway located just north of the city of New Orleans but I have not heard of any plans as of yet to open the Morganza Spillway just north of the cities of St. Francisville and Baton Rouge !
For those of us that actually work on the river system , regardless of the type of vessels we work on , it will be a long and tedious spring !
Smooth Sailing !
Ted Davisson
NOBRA 70
Topic starter
01/05/2011 11:56 am
Federal Judge Clears Objection ..............................
Greetings From New Orleans ,
I have just received an e-mail from a close friend that also works on the river and he tells me that a Federal Judge has just cleard way and over the objection to blow out the levee below Cairo !
He also went on to say that charges are being planted today in the levee system and in all likelyhood the levee will be blown some time in the very near future !
Hopfully this will all be video taped and I would have to imagine that it will be no less than spectacular !
More latter as things develope !
Smooth Sailing !
Ted Davisson
Ted Davisson;25740 wrote: Greetings From New Orleans !
Last night the Fox News Network reported that the Mayor of Cairo , Illinois has ordered a mandatory evacuation of the low lying areas of the city , due to the rising flood waters of both the Ohio and Upper Mississippi Rivers ! I would just have to imagine befor this high water Spring is over there will be other river cities that will also have to evacuate sections of their respective cities as well !
Fox News also reported that the Army Corps Of Engineers is now in place and ready to blow out a large portion of the levee system below Cario in order to drain off and releve the flood waters and pressures from these two flooding rivers ! This years high water season just may be one for the record books ! Time will tell !
Its also my understanding that the Corps Of Engineers still plans to open the Bonne Carre Spillway located just north of the city of New Orleans but I have not heard of any plans as of yet to open the Morganza Spillway just north of the cities of St. Francisville and Baton Rouge !
For those of us that actually work on the river system , regardless of the type of vessels we work on , it will be a long and tedious spring !
Smooth Sailing !
Ted Davisson
NOBRA 70
01/05/2011 1:07 pm
I've attached a map (not the greatest) of the system, which shows the floodways and spillways. The press is referring to the New Madrid Floodway as Bird's Point. These floodways are not blown lightly. If people are living or farming there, they know the risks. It is a terrible thing to lose so much, but the loss to the cities and towns along the rivers is also terrible. It is not a decision I would choose to make.
Please tell our friend he'd better get me some pictures!!
Topic starter
01/05/2011 1:39 pm
Mary , You Are So Very Right , but...........................
Mary ,
As usual , You are so very right , but it is my understanding that the areas that will flood from the opening of the levee is goverment land to begin with and the people that have farmed and raised live stock in these same areas have known and done so at their own risk !
I was also informed that the government has given these same people a twelve ( 12 ) hour notice to literally vacate the premises !
I hope that this event will either be televised or video taped for all to witness !
Smooth Sailing !
Ted Davisson
NOBRA 70
01/05/2011 2:29 pm
Ted, you are right. This is government land. You can farm or raise livestock, with the understanding that it may be lost if the spillway must be opened. It's a gamble--but any endeavor along the river is a gamble. My heart goes out to all who are affected--and will be--by the high waters. And for you who are working out there, keep your eyes sharp in the difficult conditions!
01/05/2011 3:44 pm
Doesn't look like blowing the levee will save Cairo. There is a sand boil.
Mandatory Evacuations In Cairo, IL As Levee Is Compromised - KTVI
Topic starter
02/05/2011 10:51 am
The Plan !
Greetings From New Orleans !
I have just received word from my contact with the Corps that the plan now is to literally remove the upper most portion of a two mile section of levee in order to relievve the pressure from the rising flood watrers .
It is also my understanding that the Corps will then closly monitor both the flow of water through the breach in the levee and of local traffic that will now transit this area !
I was also informed that when levees are initially constructed that the levees are designed in certain strategic areas in the levee system and in such a manner to help facilitate such emergency actions as blasting out sections ! One of many questions I have concerning this project is how will the Corps stop the erosion of the levees as the torrent of water pass through the breach ? Oncce again , the Corps is the masters of levees and flood control and I would assume that this issue has already been addresed !
Furthermore , I hope that this rather historic and dramatc event will be filmed and recorded for all to witness !
It is still unclear when this action will take place but now that the issue has been cleared with the courts and a 12 hour notice has been given and exxxpired , I would assume that this operation will take place rather soon !
More latter as information is brought to me !
Smooth Sailing !
TedDavisson
NOBRA 70
02/05/2011 1:04 pm
Please keep us posted. Today's other news will probably keep this out of the headlines, but for obvious reasons, I want to know about this!!