Precautionary Evacuation of Horses by LSU VetMed Staff

My daughter reports that LSU's Veterinary Medicine Staff are in the process of slow evacuation of about 200 of their horses. This is apparently purely cautionary, as the surge is not expected to crest the levee system. Horses, of course, are difficult to move, so the staff is moving them now so as to not have them to worry about should the situation become more threatening.

On a related note, the current spring flood, though not a Corps of Engineers Project Design-500 year flood, is so massive that the Bonnet Carre Spillway has been opened for only the 10th time since its creation, and--even more telling--the Morganza Spillway (due to open tomorrow) has only been used once before (1973).

This will certainly test the entire levee system for sure; LSU is guarding against seepage, which can be a major headache even without a levee breach.

Though I write from Phoenix, AZ, I have a stake in Louisiana, with property, home, friends, a daughter and the LSU Football & Community to be concerned about. And if the SHTF, I'll be down there with y'all, sandbagging for dear life!

So, keep fingers crossed, LA has had enough already, but nature could care less.

 

in effort to beat sf or tirk on this one....

"could not".

 

While the precautions are necessary I think the only people who should worry are the ones who have interests in the path of the Morganza Floodway. The crest at Baton rouge isn't going to be any higher than past abnormally high crests. Without the opening of the Floodway there would be concern.

 

Precisely! "Levee FAILURE" Anyone not particularly concerned about this unfolding event because the cresting numbers may not be threatening needs to re-read your post. Since when do the works of Man guarantee safety?--especially given the forces about to be unleashed. This event will be the Test...this IS one of the 'big ones.' (And the open Morganza Spillway will theoretically reduce the crests at BR & NOLA by only 1 - 1.5 feet--such is the volume and pressure of all those silt and debris-laden waters of the Miss.).

Someone stated, "no battle plan survives first contact with the enemy" --or something like that. Well, we will soon see what billions of dollars of infrastructure will do for us!

 

Two barges strike Mississippi River bridge in Baton Rouge


Two barges strike Mississippi River bridge in Baton Rouge | NOLA.com

Time to start Sh**tin'... and if barges hit a levee...time to start Gittin'

 

See what I mean? Billions for the USAC of Engineers Old River Project to protect BR & some yahoo could lose control of some barges, damage some levees, promote a breach--and the whole house of cards could tumble. Sheeesh!

H2O + Volume + Velocity + Stupidity = Disaster

 

It's not like this level of the river hasn't happened before is what I was getting at. It happens abut every 3-4 years. Just so happens this year gets press because of the opening of Morganza. Sure there is a danger in a levee breach...every year the water gets to the levee system and at any time you could have failure. I just think it's being made more of an issue since both floodways are opened. No one batted an eye when the water got to the last step on the Baton Rouge levee in 2008. Everyone climbed to the top and went..."Ohhh look how high it is."

If you are worried now you should be worried every spring when the water comes up. No different this spring.

 

Someone please correct me if I am wrong, but I believe what is different and whats makes this significantly more dangerous is the volume of water coming down and the length of time the levee will have to hold.

I believe we are facing 3-4 weeks or more of sustained levee pressure.