Reply #23: Nagin asked FEMA for helicopters before the levees broke [View All]

[DoYouEverWonder]

Nagin knew that the 17th Street Levee was in trouble. He had sandbags ready, all he needed was helicopters. FEMA said that were on the way. Hours later when they didn't show up, Nagin was told the helicopters were diverted. He knew at that moment that his city was doomed. There's audio of him during the storm. Some of it is heartbreaking.


August 30, 2005

New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin is "very upset" that an attempt to fix the breach in the levee at the 17th Street canal has failed, and he said the challenges that the city is facing have "escalated to another level."

"The sandbagging that we had hoped would happen didn't materialize today, so the water continued to rise at that particular location," he said.

In an exclusive interview with WDSU anchor Norman Robinson, Nagin said the rising water has caused the generators to stop operating because the water got too high. Due to that, Nagin said he's been advised by the head technician at the sewage and water board that water in the east bank area of Orleans and Jefferson parishes will rise to levels equal to Lake Pontchartrain.

"It's going to rise to 3 feet above seal level. For example, St. Charles Avenue is 6 feet below sea level, there will most likely be 9 feet of water on St. Charles Avenue," Nagin said.

Also, if residents are in a part of city that is 10 feet below sea level, Nagin said the levels will probably rise to 13 feet of water.

He said the "bowl is now filling up" and the entire city will soon be underwater.

http://www.wdsu.com/weather/4917809/detail.html