She may be back soon, as the residents are returning to New Orleans and the surrounding areas as we speak.
Gustav entered Louisiana as a cat. 2, and that was the main prevention of a similar disaster like Katrina. This kept the storm surge down to 9 feet, which had it lapped at the top of the levies, compared to around 15-20 feet from Katrina, where the water went over the levies by several feet. Everyone was hoping for such a miracle and they got it.
The power is still out in that entire area, and might continue to be for some time, and that seems to be the main problem to be solved, along with the levies, for now and in the future, as a very P'Od Louisiana Governor recently expressed.
Except for a leak in one of the parishes, the levies held, which wouldn't have if Gustav had been more than a cat. 2. Going into this hurricane, the Army Corps. of Engineers had about another year or more work to do to finish renewing and rebuilding the levies. Now that nature has provided them with a test, they have a much better idea as to what needs to be added or continued to make that whole area much safer during future hurricanes.
Why the interest where I live in NY, way away from Louisiana? I grew up in SE Massachusetts, which used to be hurricane country, and I lived through several hurricanes, including one that is now listed as a cat. 3. You don't forget this kind of experience. And I'm a frustrated amateur weather nut.
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