SLIDELL AREA THREAD

[bayou]

Any news from Slidell? Bayou Liberty area?

[Rob_Davis]

Any news from Slidell? Bayou Liberty area?
I did hear some Slidell damage reports in the early hours of landfall, but I don't recall the specifics. I used to live in Slidell, so my ears perked up, but it wasn't significant enough to focus on at the time.

Sorry I don't have more for you.

[Brandon Clement]

Bayou, I have not heard much news out of the slidell area, but can't imagine the Bayou Liberty area managed to well.

[ed]

I searched the net for any info on St. Tammany but could not find any. My guess no power or phone to get info out. Also tried to find info on the island between the chef and rigolets. No luck.

[beaudodson]

UNCONFIRMED -

Slidell - "Total Devastation" - city government

[Anonymous]

I see you say the information you posted is unconfirmed. How reliable do you feel the info is? My home is in Slidell and I am in Jacksonville and there is NO info coming out about Slidell. Very worried about friends who stayed and my home.

[beaudodson]

I see you say the information you posted is unconfirmed. How reliable do you feel the info is? My home is in Slidell and I am in Jacksonville and there is NO info coming out about Slidell. Very worried about friends who stayed and my home.

That came from another blog - free republic. I believe the person said they got it from one of their family members or friends who was in communication with someone in that area. Communications have since been lost.

[beaudodson]

Damage widespread

BY GEOFF PENDER and MICHAEL NEWSOME

THE SUN HERALD


Hurricane Katrina brought catastrophic damage from the Coast to Hattiesburg. Gulfport Fire Chief Pat Sullivan said downtown buildings were "imploding" or collapsing, particularly in the 19th street area.
Coastwide there were reports of homes and buildings knocked off their foundations by storm surges as high as 28 feet.

There were numerous reports of people stranded in attics or on roofs as the tidal surge and floowaters rose. At times, emergency crews were unable to go out in the heavy winds. Hospitals in the three Coast counties reported damage and problems in operations. Memorial Hospital at Gulfport reported major damage.

The first floor of the Armed Forces Retirement Home in Gulfport was flooded Monday morning and workers scrambled to move medicine and equipment to higher floors. There were reports of boats blown north of U.S. 90 in Gulfport.

Numerous tornadoes were reported across South Mississippi. Beau Rivage reportedly has water up to its second floor. There was no word from the other casinos.

Gov. Haley Barbour urged people to stay put during heavy winds and flooding, and until emergency officials give the all clear.

"This is not a small storm, we have catastrophic damage on all levels." he said. "Don't go running out into flood zones and getting bitten by snakes or wading through floodwaters that might be covering utility lines. Use good judgement in the aftermath." Barbour said search and rescue operations are the first priority as Katrina subsides. Barbour and other officials had a harsh warning for those thinking of looting. "I've urged the highway patrol and national guard to treat looters ruthlessly," Barbour said, "The rules of engagement will be as ruthless as the law allows."

[beaudodson]

TWC is showing Covington. That is not too far from Slidell. Some structural damage there and flooding. Doesn't look "extreme" though. They are a bit inland though.

[Anonymous]

TWC is showing Covington. That is not too far from Slidell.

Covington is pretty far from Slidell, maybe 30 miles?

The silence from Slidell is deafening. Lots of word from Mississippi, St. Bernard, New Orleans of course, but nothing from St. Tammany. Maybe that's a good sign. Maybe not....

[beaudodson]

I have been asking around. Nobody has heard anything so far.

[Blake Michaleski]

still cant get through to any chasers that i know of in MS.... it'll likely be days before we hear of their condition.

[beaudodson]

Quote from another forum

My husband was able to reach my sister-in-law in Slidell on her cell, so apparently the hospital is okay. She is fairly well sedated though and didn't have a clue that she had just been through a hurricane, so we still don't know how the city has fared or the fate of other friends. Slidell has flooded badly in the past and they are situated next to the Pearl River.

[Jeff Snyder]

http://www.stormtrack.org/forum/viewtopic....t=8043&start=75 (http://www.stormtrack.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=8043&start=75)

Tim posted after hearing from Tim Marshall and Roger Hill who were in Slidell during landfall...

[beaudodson]

Originally posted by Jeff Snyder
http://www.stormtrack.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=8043&start=75

Tim posted after hearing from Tim Marshall and Roger Hill who were in Slidell during landfall...

Sounds pretty good. Water damage is prob going to be $$$$$$

[beaudodson]

Slidell news:


WGNO reporter in Slidell: Came in on 12
Lots of trees down on houses, loss of roofs, bowling alley had lost its side. Days Inn lost roof, could see in the rooms. Trinity rehab centersome damage, patients ok.

Some houses they saw had lost roofs, some had trees hit them. Trees and powerlines down everywhere in Slidell. Some people walking around, mostly deserted.

Only could make it a mile from interstate because of trees and powerlines.

People are not being allowed in because of the danger

High water in mall parking lot. roads near interstate don't have water on them, but reporters haven't gotten into town very far yet.

[beaudodson]

Blog post....

August 29, 2005
Katrina, 4:42 p.m., latest news
I don't know what you all are getting by way of national news reporting. We're listening to the local news (courtesy of the generator) and have heard a lot of disturbing news for the New Orleans area.

The top floor to a Days Inn hotel in Slidell is missing. The entire floor. There's no word if anyone was in the hotel waiting out the storm.

One reporter said there were bodies floating in the flood waters in Slidell. (For those who aren't familiar with the area, Slidell is essentially a suburb to the east of New Orleans, so they would have had some pretty bad winds.) I am very very much hoping this is a gross exaggeration, but they sounded pretty firm about it.

The Mayor of Kenner (a suburb to the west of New Orleans) just stated that 100% of the homes in Kenner were either flooded or had structural damage and he didn't expect people to get back into the area for two or more weeks.

All of the New Orleans areas are now under a "boil water" alert -- the water is now contaminated and not safe to drink. One of the news anchors said you have to boil it for twelve minutes to be safe. Of course, without electricity, that gets complicated, unless people have propane.

http://www.electricmist.net/

[Bill Hamilton]

http://www.stormtrack.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=8130

[beaudodson]

Originally posted by Bill Hamilton
http://www.stormtrack.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=8130

Well that is fine. People seemed to be desperate for information.

[Anonymous]

Beau, as author of this thread, I appreciate your posts very much.

Although the moderator seems concerned about the reliability of some of the content, I am grateful to hear it, and do realize that these are preliminary comments from unknown sources which may or may not be accurate. Such is the nature of discovering the extent of a bad situation.

We're all grownups here and must use our discretion to take these early reports with the requisite grains of salt.

Thanks for your input....

[beaudodson]

No No that is fine. I am grouchy...long day. Yeah I understand the reason behind that rule. It is a good rule. I was just trying to help :) I know how desp everyone is for information right now.

I understand the rule...no big deal.

I am heading out to be deployed for the Red Cross in the morning. No telling where they will send me. Going to be a LONG LONG operation for recovery.

[Anonymous]

:wink:

Thanks for all the hard work you're about to do, me too, uggh.....

[Amos Magliocco]

The Director of FEMA told MSNBC that the I-10 bridge between Slidell and New Orleans may be compromised. For those who know the area, this is no small matter. The bridge is a long "causeway" and one of the main arteries into the city.

[Amos Magliocco]

http://www.wwltv.com/local/stories/WWL0829...ss.86c6840.html (http://www.wwltv.com/local/stories/WWL082905ross.86c6840.html)

WWL TV reporting massive storm surge damage in Slidell.

" The visual inspections of Ross and his photographer Mike Bland showed that Slidell has probably endured massive storm surge damage.

He said Lake Pontchartrain overflowed its banks and had chest-deep water from the Lake to the Old Spanish trail exit.

“You can’t tell where the Lake ends and Slidell begins,” he said"

[beaudodson]

More and more information is coming in from these areas. I believe the days ahead are going to really wake people up to the realizing of just what a real hurricane can do.

[Aaron Kennedy]

Just imagine if it didn't weaken before landfall....

Aaron

[Amos Magliocco]

WWL TV has the following headline on their webiste:

"Mayor Ray Nagin reports the Twin Span Bridge is "totally destroyed" and that 80% of the city is underwater. Click for streaming video."

I can't get the video to work. I am completely stunned at the news about the Twin Span, and equally amazed at the report of 80% of New Orleans underwater, if what the Mayor told the station is correct. It may be time to adjust our thinking about whether or not New Orleans "dodged a bullet.' I think the biggest false signal of the day was the quick reporting from the French Quarter showing things were relatively well. If the WWL report is correct, it may be that the Quarter is one of the few city sections relatively intact.

[anonymous in Louisiana]

I saw helicopter footage this evening -- they flew over all of New Orleans, Kenner, etc. A huge majority of New Orleans had water in the streets. Kenner looked like a lake, and the water appeared to be two to three foot into a lot of the homes. Other areas (9th ward) had homes with water to their roofs. Some of downtown did not have much or any water, but it seemed to be the exception. I don't know much about the Quarter, but it seems to be the exception. There was footage of sherrifs getting their own boats (bass boats) into the water to rescue people on their roofs, and stories of a lot more people who needed to be rescued. I live in Baton Rouge and have been getting the information either from the live video feeds on the local station (WBRZ) or from the officials they were interviewing there. I've blogged some of it on the electricmist site someone linked to above. Hope this helps clear up the specifics.

[Amos Magliocco]

I think the total lack of information coming from St. Tammany Parish does not bode well. I found a message board on one of the media websites where residents away from home were begging for answers, asking about specific neighborhoods like Cross Gates where my parents lived for twenty years. It's very chilling. A friend pointed out in a private email that the lack of information or imagery almost always means bad news.

The only message the Parish Association president had for resident-evacuees tonight was, "Don't come back."

[Chris Sokol]

Think that the situation on the North Shore is ominous? Has anybody noticed that nobody, news media or the authorities, is even mentioning Pass Christian, Waveland, or Bay St Louis?

I used to live right on the lake in extreme south Slidell...Just down the street from Vera's restaurant. From what it sounds like, the house I used to live in is now gone.

[Nysee]

I saw on CNN they are going into those places as soon as is daylight to survey the damage.

Think that the situation on the North Shore is ominous? Has anybody noticed that nobody, news media or the authorities, is even mentioning Pass Christian, Waveland, or Bay St Louis?

[Sam Barricklow]

More information is becoming available through the national media, but here is information from WWL, New Orleans. Some of the info below may be redundant at this point.

WWL, 870 kHz, in New Orleans is on the air again using emergency power. The station has enough diesel fuel to stay on the air another 12 hours. A tanker is reported to be on the way with additional fuel, but per the station DJs, the tanker may have a tough time getting to the station due to debris and high water.

WWL reports heavy damage in Slidell, with some flooding, and extensive wind damage. Two hotels lost their roofs, most of their top floors, some outer walls, and most of their windows. Many roads are blocked by fallen trees, building debris and flood water. There is no fresh water, no sewer service, no electricity, no telephone service (including cell phones), no food (most stores are damaged and closed). It could be at least one to two months before utilities are restored to most areas.

WWL also said that WATER IS STILL RISING in many areas of New Orleans due to breaches in the levy system. Sections of the twin spans collapsed over the Lake Pontchartrain and are impassible. The causeway is open, but the condition of highway 11 is unknown.

An unknown number of people are stranded in their homes due to flooding, some on their roofs, some in their attics, awaiting rescue. Many people who stayed behind have no access to food or water and are in a desperate situation. Hopefully the emergency response will ramp up quickly today.

Jefferson and Saint Tammany parishes are closed to residents and under Marshall Law. Site seers are being arrested. These areas will remain closed to residents until next Monday morning, September 5th. Even then, debris will have been removed only from major roads. Residential roads may remain impassible. The Jefferson Parish president told residents who do return next Monday to only expect to retrieve important possessions and THEN LEAVE. IF YOU DO RETURN, BRING YOUR OWN FOOD, WATER, MEDICINE and FIRST AID SUPPLIES. Returning esidents should also be prepared to protect themselves from looters, snakes, and other vermin. And they should be prepared to fully cooperate with officials.

Power lines are down across New Orleans and Slidell. Officials report that some downed lines may still be energized and deadly.

Some looting of stores is being reported. National Guard units have not yet been fully deployed. But, per officials, looters will be treated harshly.

Power is also out in Baton Rouge, most of southeast Louisiana and southern Mississippi.

[Mike]

Spotted this on another post: the Mayor is reporting that Slidell is under water.

Flooding continues to pour into NO.

http://www.bayoubuzz.com/articles.aspx?aid=4864

[Anonymous]

No info whatsoever coming in about plaquemines parish either :(

[Michael Linneer]

WWL has live streaming coverage for Windows Media Player at:
http://www.wwltv.com/perl/common/video/wmP...&props=livenoad (http://www.wwltv.com/perl/common/video/wmPlayer.pl?title=beloint_khou&props=livenoad)

It's courtesy of Ch. 11 in Houston.

[Miriam Lawrence]

From WWL web site Katrina blog:

"11:53 A.M. - Two dead in Slidell in rising waters after attempting to get back to their homes. The victims had initially evacuated."

I wish people would listen to all the officials telling them NOT to try to go back to their homes.

The blog is at http://www.wwltv.com/local/stories/WWLBLOG...OG.ac3fcea.html (http://www.wwltv.com/local/stories/WWLBLOG.ac3fcea.html). Proving a good source of timely news items.

[Cole McConnell]

Edit 15' of water.

[Tony Laubach]

12:40pm cst, 50' of water in downtown Slidell.

Where are you seeing that? Please post links to sources or quote your sources of this information.

[Cole McConnell]

WWL has live streaming coverage for Windows Media Player at:
http://www.wwltv.com/perl/common/video/wmP...&props=livenoad (http://www.wwltv.com/perl/common/video/wmPlayer.pl?title=beloint_khou&props=livenoad)

It's courtesy of Ch. 11 in Houston.

I got that info from this.

[Amos Magliocco]

The Assistant Director of Emergency Ops for St. Tammany Parish told WWL TV that there is 15 (fifteen) feet of water in downtown Slidell.

[Cole McConnell]

I hate the media, why cant they report anything true.

[Amos Magliocco]

You misunderstood. I'm watching the same broadcast you are.

[David Schuttler]

The Assistant Director of Emergency Ops for St. Tammany Parish told WWL TV that there is 15 (fifteen) feet of water in downtown Slidell.

I'll second Amos as I have WWL on here too.

here is link to the qoute

http://www.wwltv.com/local/stories/WWLBLOG...OG.ac3fcea.html (http://www.wwltv.com/local/stories/WWLBLOG.ac3fcea.html)

[Cole McConnell]

Well, ok. It is hard to understand them anyway.

[Chris Sokol]

Well...it's official. The Sheriff of St Tammany Parish only mentioned one road where everything was gone...and that was the road I used to live on, Rats Nest Road.

[Brett Adair]

My company gets 15% of our business from a company by the name of Heritage Plasics. Most of the employees live in Slidell but the company I believe is in Southern Pearl River County, MS. If anyone has any info please let me know.

[Anonymous]

Hello, I was wondering if there had been mention of Oak Harbor – the Moorings area in Slidell.

[sidbulkhead]

I live in Pensacola and just saw on channel 3 WEAR a reporter standing in Oak Harbor and he said everything was torn up there---also, WWL New Orleans is regularly posting valuable info regarding latest news on their website---look for the 'Northshore News' link there

[Jeff Snyder]

From guest, "zoey":

"Anyone know anything about the condition of the townhouses on Marina Dr in Slidell near the Twin Spans?"

[Anonymous]

Here is my local newspaper and news site here is a whole article about the conditions in slidell. On the main there are many articles about different citys and such.

http://www.2theadvocate.com/stories/090105/new_slidell001.shtml[/quote]

[Nysee]

Opps I messed the link up here it is

http://www.2theadvocate.com/stories/090105...lidell001.shtml (http://www.2theadvocate.com/stories/090105/new_slidell001.shtml)

[Nysee]

Wanted to also say there is a slidell area flyover video on the main site right bottom in the yellow colum.

[Anonymous]

Thank you SO much for the information. I really appreciate it.

[sidbulkhead]

If anyone knows Bob Hetrick and if he's ok (he's from Slidell and lived on Military Rd) please post. My best friend and I haven't heard from him since storm. Many Thanks