Michelle Malkin gives a good overview of the situation in New Orleans with links to pictures and video. There is massive flooding with both airports underwater, the mayor estimates 80% of the city is underwater--some of it 20 feet deep, at least one major bridge was destroyed, etc, etc.
Steve Sabuldowsky of BayouBuzz.com says:
Unless the two block breach in Bucktown is fixed, New Orleans which is already 80% flooded according to Mayor Nagin will destroy the City of New Orleans. In my view, that includes the CBD and French Quarter.
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New Orleans might not be able to survive the total inundation of water that is rising so quickly and causing so much damage. With Slidell, St. Bernard and other cities and Parishes so completely devastated it will take more than a Marshall Plan to restore Louisiana to its glory. It will take a miracle for the city of the Saints.
One of the commenter's to a previous post of mine asked, "Do you really think that it's possible that the entire city will be completely gone after this hurricane?" Yes, it's possible. It almost for certain will not be completely gone this time, but it is possible it will happen next time. Next time could be next month, next year, or 10 years from now. It won't wait 50 years, the technology just doesn't exist and almost for certain won't exist in time to save this city. This time it will just be 20% (a number I pulled out of the air, or should I say water?) of the net worth of the city will be destroyed. Someday, in the not too distant future, New Orleans will be a water and silt filled archaeological site.
Serious consideration should be given to only rebuilding enough of New Orleans to use the port temporarily. Spend the money saved on building a new port where the Mississippi natural outlet is (something like 100+ miles to the west). Move the people in the path of the new waterway out of there. Then gradually over a course of days, weeks, months, whatever, allow the river to change it's course. Then tell people in the firmest terms available that if they build below sea level they are asking for Darwin Awards. If they persist then let them collect their awards.
Update: I'm not the only one talking about giving up on New Orleans.
Update2: Novel application of a shotgun:
People used axes, and in at least one case a shotgun, to blast holes in roofs so they could escape their attics. Many who had not yet been rescued could be heard screaming for help, police said.
But is this allowed under the "sporting purposes" criteria of GCA 68?