Bubblegum Bandit October 30, 2005 Share Bubblegum Bandit Member October 30, 2005 I had an opportunity to go down and help with the clean up after the hurricanes hit in the gulf. Unfortunately, I was not able to go due to the 3 month minimum that we would have to stay down there. Anyway, recently some of the people who were able to go have been sending back some pictures. I work for a civil engineering firm as a water resources engineer. These pictures were taken by my colleagues but I will do my best to add some narration at times. As many of you know, New Orleans is below sea level and much of the underlying soil is sand. When I was visiting a buddy's family several years ago, they were explainingto me that you can't build a house on a conventional footer. Basically you drive pylons around the perimeter of where your foundation will be. There is no bedrock or clay to take the weight of the house, so these pylons have to be relatively long and the friction along the sides of them is what keeps the house from sinking into the sandy soil. That's why pictures like this are common, the house just sits on the pylons with no real "tie" in to the ground. When the flood came they just floated off of their foundation. You can't see it in this picture, but there is a levy off to the right. This barge floated up and over the levy wall and ended up here. Anybody looking to buy a boat???? ***Warning, this image could be thought of as disturbing by some people....*** I find two things in this picture particularly interesting. The first thing is the obvious writing on the front of this house of which could be thought of as disturbing. The second is the water marking on the columns of this house. You can see how high the water was in this neighborhood by taking a look at the water rings on the columns. More pictures in the next post. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bubblegum Bandit October 30, 2005 Author Share Bubblegum Bandit Member October 30, 2005 The following three pictures are of the break in the 9th Ward Levy. Along with the newly rebuilt levy, you can see the sheet piling that just ripped away and allowed the water to flow through. As more interesting pictures come in I will do my best to share if you guys are interested. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terribleone October 30, 2005 Share Terribleone Member October 30, 2005 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Batman October 30, 2005 Share Batman Member October 30, 2005 WOW Thats amazing!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Acid-Flux October 30, 2005 Share Acid-Flux Member October 30, 2005 wow that is crazehhhhhhhhhhhhhh Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YoMamma October 30, 2005 Share YoMamma Member October 30, 2005 wow... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saris October 31, 2005 Share Saris Member October 31, 2005 The boat picture scared me. Oh man, I hate boats. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rajun Cajun October 31, 2005 Share Rajun Cajun Member October 31, 2005 I lIve in Slidell, La ( 20 miles north of New Orleans). I had two trees land on my house one ended up with limbs in my bedroom. 15 holes in my roof, but no flooding. My sister lives(lived) right on lake Ponchatrain. A 25 to 30 foot wave left nothing but the slab. I drive through New Orleans every day going to work, it is really disturbing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Magruter October 31, 2005 Share Magruter Member October 31, 2005 I'm glad you didn't go BGB, i would have missed you... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rashad November 2, 2005 Share Rashad Member November 2, 2005 I hope people decide to stay and rebuild. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.