Since, so far, the authorities have not been able to plug the breach in the lake P. levee, things continue to deteriorate.

3:25 P.M. - With conditions in the hurricane-ravaged city of New Orleans rapidly deteriorating, Gov. Kathleen Blanco said Tuesday that people now huddled in the Superdome and other rescue centers need to be evacuated.

"The situation is untenable," Blanco said during a news conference. "It's just heartbreaking."

This is from the WWLTV blog which is doing an outstanding job of delivering and coordinating information.

Irish Trojan is also doing a great job.

Surprisingly, not much info from MSM on the levee breach, i guess it's because of the situation; can't get in, can't find people who are in charge, no power to disperse info. We (outside world) can't tell how bad it is. Its possible that the water will stop before it hits uptown. It's discussed more here. This is basically what I (think) I said yesterday; if the levees are breached, and the breach is not repaired, water level will rise to equal the lake level, which is I think sealevel, or maybe a bit above that, depending on flooding.

Update: Here is a great WaPo article about the levee breach. I think, from looking at the levee system, only part of NOLA will flood. But basically the city is almost entirely underwater, except for a few ridges such as Gentilly ridge. My sense is that people in the blogosphere (and perhaps the real authorities) are desparately trying to figure out how much of the city will flood. Just from the elevation map, it looks like the French quarter should be safe, it's 10' above sea level. But I know that water is 2' deep in the area at last count (from watching TV).

Also, I haven't heard any official word, but the shelter sites and hospitals in NOLA are definately being evacuated, to Baton Rouge.

This is good news though, Houston is acting as generous neighbors. I live there, wish I knew how to help (besides $$).

Update: Foxnews now reports the same thing; the gov urges evacuation. I fear that NOLA will become a no-man's land as the miscredents begin looting and anarchy breaks out. They need to get troops there, but communication is severely hampered.

Update2: Seems like I'm not the only one concerned about the might miss. But I may be just a hypocondriac. (From Irish Trojan)

And Katy writes, "A truly scary thought that was mentioned on the news earlier involves floodwaters coming down the Mississippi from the torrential rains Katrina is creating farther north. Hope that doesn't happen."

Update3: This is a better graphic of the levee system. At least two have failed: 17th st. canal and the Industrial canal. So, i'd imagine most of east NO, north of the river, is at risk.

Update4: Not NOLA related. Regarding south lousiana, south of New Orleans. Very widespread devestation.

"We have witnessed the most extraordinary devastation," said Gov. Kathleen Blanco, who surveyed the damage in a State Police helicopter with U.S. Sens. David Vitter and Mary Landrieu. "The magnitude of the situation is unbelievable. It's just heartbreaking."

I don't want to get into body counts...but prepare for the worst, worse than 9/11. The nation must be strong.