Flood Wall Fails At Fort Calhoun Nuclear Power Plant

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The Intel Hub

A flood wall at the Fort Calhoun Nuclear Power Plant has failed, leading many to speculate as to the consequences. 

Omaha.com 

"Floodwaters surrounded several buildings at the Fort Calhoun Nuclear Station early Sunday morning after a water-filled wall collapsed.

The plant, about 19 miles north of Omaha, remains safe, Omaha Public Power District officials said Sunday afternoon.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission is monitoring the Missouri River at the plant, which has been shut down since early April for refueling.

The 2,000-foot berm collapsed about 1:25 a.m. Sunday due to 'onsite activities,' OPPD officials said. The Aqua Dam provided supplemental flood protection and was not required under NRC regulations."

Considering the fact that the NRC has a long history of cover ups, it seems safe to say that whether or not the plant was safe, the NRC would claim the situation is under control.

La. floodgate opens, diverting Mississippi River

Wiki Commons Photo

Associated Press

MORGANZA, La. – A steel, 10-ton floodgate was slowly raised Saturday for the first time in nearly four decades, unleashing a torrent of water from the Mississippi River, away from heavily populated areas downstream.

The water spit out slowly at first, then began gushing like a waterfall as it headed to swamp as much as 3,000 square miles of Cajun countryside known for small farms and fish camps. Some places could wind up under as much as 25 feet of water.

Opening the Morganza spillway diverts water away from Baton Rouge and New Orleans, and the numerous oil refineries and chemical plants along the lower reaches of the Mississippi.

La. readies to open spillway, flood Cajun country

Mary Foster and Holbrook Mohr 
Associated Press 

LAKE PROVIDENCE, La. (AP) -- Army engineers prepared Saturday to slowly open the gates of an emergency spillway along the rising Mississippi River, diverting floodwaters from Baton Rouge and New Orleans, yet inundating homes and farms in parts of Louisiana's populated Cajun country.

About 25,000 people and 11,000 structures could be in harm's way when the Morganza spillway is unlocked for the first time in 38 years. Sheriffs and National Guardsmen were warning people in a door-to-door sweep through the area, and shelters were ready to accept up to 4,800 evacuees, Gov. Bobby Jindal said.

Some people living in the threatened stretch of countryside - an area known for small farms, fish camps and a drawling French dialect - have already started fleeing for higher ground.

"Now's the time to evacuate," Jindal said. "Now's the time for our people to execute their plans. That water's coming."

Opening the spillway will release a torrent that could submerge about 3,000 square miles under as much as 25 feet of water in some areas but take the pressure off the downstream levees protecting New Orleans, Baton Rouge and the numerous oil refineries and chemical plants along the lower reaches of the Mississippi.

Australia floods: Food prices 'to rise 30%

BBC News

Food prices in Australia could rise by as much as 30% in the coming months as a result of the Queensland floods, it has been warned.

The investment bank JP Morgan says it expects food prices to spike, which will also push up headline inflation.

The bank's chief economist in Australia said 50% of crops had been affected by the floods, with 20% wiped out.

Stephen Walters also told the BBC that rises in Australia could have a knock-on impact on prices in Asia.

JP Morgan also said that coal mining had been significantly damaged and estimated that the floods would shave 0.4% off GDP growth in the last quarter of 2010 and the first three months of 2011.

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