Weakened Gustav Still Packs Punch
By Mark Martin
CBN News
September 2, 2008
CBNNews.com - NEW ORLEANS - Hurricane Gustav howled, as the storm made landfall on the Louisiana coast. New Orleans did not take a direct hit from the Category-2 hurricane.
Gustav struck about 70 miles southwest of the city, but its 110 mile per hour winds tore up the New Orleans landscape.
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Trees and stoplights were no match for Gustav.
Hurricane Gustav came ashore much weaker than originally predicted, but that does not mean it's not packing a punch.
"We do have some wave overtopping - to be expected to a certain extent, because we've said all along these walls are low," said Col. Jeff Bedey of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
Still, the wave overtopping is cause for concern. The 11 foot tidal surge at the industrial canal led to flooding in parts of New Orleans. Also, several barges and a ship broke loose.
They could have struck the nearby I-10 bridge, or damaged the canal wall causing serious breach, if they hadn't become lodged against a pier.
But in spite of the close calls and pounding from Gustav, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is staying positive.
"Overall, we're all fairly optimistic," Bede said. "I am unaware of any sort of breaches at this point in time.
It was relief for a city which just three years ago, was 80 percent underwater.
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