According to WWL-TV (live video stream - WMP), who themselves have evacuated to the LSU School of Journalism's facilities in Baton Rouge, the staff of the legendary Times-Picayune newspaper have evacuated their staff from the city.

Flood waters from the breach in the levee system continue to innundate the city. A number of the pumps have failed. Officials fear that the waters will rise to the point that the water level in Lake Pontchartrain will equal that of the water level in the city of New Orleans.

Interstate 10 is not useable by traffic in either direction out of New Orleans.

President Bush has cut short his Texas vacation, and is returning to Washington as a result of this disaster.

Unconfirmed reports at this hour indicate that the USS Iwo Jima, currently on station in Norfolk, VA, will be heading to New Orleans in order to help with rescue and recovery efforts.

Posted by: mhking at 07:57 AM | Comments (3) | Add Comment
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