now it's really serious in New Orleans

In an running on WWL TV right now, Mayor Ray Nagin says that a planned sandbag drop to stop the levee breach near pump #6 at the 17th St. Canal didn't happen and the pump has failed, so the probability is that the "bowl will now be filled," meaning water will flood the majority of the city including the Garden District, French Quarter and CBD. If unabated the water will go to the level of Lake Pontchartrain, about 3 feet ASL, which means, for example, 9 feet of water on St Charles Street. The mayor called the missed opportunity a "blunder" and said this would unfold over the next 12-15 hours. Now it's time to really worry. fh