Evening Buzz: Levees on the Brink
[cnn-photo-caption image=http://i.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2008/images/06/19/art.leveesandbags.jpg caption="Working on securing the levee along the Mississippi River in Clarksville, Mo., Tuesday."]
Maureen Miller
AC360° Writer
Good Evening. It's gone from bad to worse in the midwest. At least three levees north of St. Louis, Missouri have failed and another one is on the brink. If it fails, all bets are off. Tonight, a massive sandbagging effort is underway to save that one levee from the floodwaters. Other towns are on alert, too. We'll have a live report from 360's Gary Tuchman, who's in Winfield, Missouri.
Plus, a potential disaster in the making. CNN's Drew Griffin has uncovered a troubling confession from FEMA and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers regarding some leeves in the midwest. We're keeping them honest.
Also tonight, new details in the manhunt for a fugitive hedge fund manager. You may recall, investigators believe Samuel Israel faked a suicide last week instead of showing up at prison. Well, tonight, there's been an arrest. We'll tell you who and why.
Plus, we're tracking Obama's cash.
And, 360's Randi Kaye is looking into the floating feet mystery.
Hope you'll join us at 10pm ET.
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Filed under: Maureen Miller • The Buzz |
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I am watching the flooding with sadness. After Katrina I do not trust Bush or FEMA to do what is needed for these helpless residents of these towns at risk. If I wanted to get in my car and go help fill sandbags or whatever is needed, where is the most help needed? Where would you say to go to help save the next towns in most danger or to help those most devastated by the water's previous damage? Tell us where the most help is needed and what we can do to make the most difference. Katrina victims are still in need. Let's not let this happen to our fellow Americans in the Midwest. We know how little we can count on our current government. Where can we go or what can we do to help these people the most? CNN is there. Tell us what is needed and where. Thanks! Beverly in North Carolina
In response to Mike Fowlkes post asking about Machines that do sand bagging, Yes they do make automatic sandbaggers. I know because I tried today to contact a company that makes them. I was going to propose to them to donate one or two of their units to our organization. The proposal was going to give them alot of positive media coverage and allow our organization to contribute to the flood relief effort. Unfortunately our organization was treated very rudely and very unprofessionally by the owner of the company, so I do not expect to see any such devices being used in the effort unless some one who owns such a device volunteers their own personal one.
My apologies to those fighting the rising waters, I tried.
Chris
NDRT
Moderator tell them to use the tarps instead!
I understand what they are going through, but I have a question. They have volunteers out there shoveling sand into sandbags trying to save their towns. 2 Ideas that will help, and are fast methods to saving lives and property.
One, They do make automatic sandbaggers out there that bag sand at a rate of 1800 per hour.
Two, Large sections of Canvas filled with sand, wrapped like a taco and strapped would cover greater areas, and be much faster that hand sand bagging.
Why do we still have to use old methods to do things?
Chris
NDRT
Peace Be Upon You – Urgent! There Is a Easier Way!
Pass! This Along To those who are using the sandbags!
Get the Large Blue Tarps Fill them up with sand, then tie them off.
Then, place where the water may come through.
This will be better for you, instead of filling up those small sandbags!
You'll cover a larger area at a faster pace, by using the tarps, bulldozers filling the tarps, dump trucks and tow trucks droping them in place. Peace Be Upon You! Your Sister in Islam,Khalifah
I am a citizen of e.st.louis IL, and i heard mayor Alvin parks state that the city is in control but that is not the truth. we are in immediate danger. There is no such plan to help the citizens of E.St.louis even our emergency director is not able to conduct proper evacuations. Do to his inability to function as a emergency director. PLEASE HELP US, because the citizen are elderly, poor,and unable to help ourselves. At least I feel that the mayor should tell the citizens the truth an not tell a lie during these times of hardship. PLEASE PLEASE HELP US!!!! THANK YOU.
so are we s'pose to trust the "the corp. of engineers?" I live below the wolf creek dam in kentucky, and it is s'pose to be safe.
I am from louisville, ky. and we retired here after my husband retired 30yrs from the louisville polivce dept. and 33 years army. i lost him 8 months after retirement, to an "accidental shooting", so they say?)
( he was a police officer) and( he was shot tuesday; and wednesday would have been hired by the local sheriffs' ofc ) ....things that make you go ....hummmmmmm?
I now have custody of my 84 yr mother after a stroke in april; do i trust the corp.? or not? they say we are safe? but are we really?
thanks anderson- for "keeping them honest" (i hope you do!)
suzanne laytham
albany, ky.- (well's bottom area in clinton county)
606..387.7087
I am a citizen of E.st.louis IL, an we have not been informed by the city officials that there is even a problem. The city is a poor city an there is no evacution plan. Our city manger will say anything that he think will keep the light off of the city an all its problems. If there is a incident the city of east staint louis IL does not even have a hospital in case of emergency. PLEASE HELP OUR CITY. WE NEED THE SERVICES TO HELP PROTECT OUR HOMES!!!!!!!
L
EAST STAINT LOUIS IL
Why isn't there a machine to fill the sandbags offsite. They should be bringing filled sandbags to the levees.
Anderson can you look into why they are not using a machine to fill the sandbags.
Thanks so much.
Mike
STL
Isn't the Army Corps partly to blame for the flooding now? If the leeves han't been built in the first place , and the river left alone, then we wouldn't be facing these breeches now. Being from Iowa, Des Moines flooded int eh 100 yr. flood of '93. Well, the leeves were built to "protect" Des Moines, then other areas flooded that didn't flood back then. Yet, Des Moines was dry, at first, until the leeves started to fail...If people let nature take its course, then maybe we would be able to better deal with the flooding, and it probably would not be as bad.
How is Granit City doing with the flooding...? What about the steel mills?
Floods. Fires. Draughts. Heatwaves.
My Mom keeps saying, "It's all in the Bible"....
It's unfortunate this happened in the midwest, but being from Louisiana myself, maybe the flood victims in New Orleans might finally get the aid they've been waiting on for years now! Who do you think will rebuild fastest? I'm expecting the Midwest.
Sounds like a full show. I'd like to know if any of the places we saw last night on 360 who were shoring up their levees had levees overtopped or broken. I hope the people strengthening the levees tonight see their work pay off and the water flow on past them instead of into their living rooms.
Annie Kate
Birmingham AL
Man...the Midwest just can not catch a break! I saw on CNN that the levees had failed. I hope that everyone is out of that area! And I really hope that Gary, Dan and whoever else CNN has out there is safe!!
Sounds like a great show. Can't wait to see it.
Cindy...Ga.