Katrina: The Perfect Storm?

[Revalos]

Well...the more I look at it and compare to what the "perfect storm" for hitting New Orleans, the more it seems Katrina is going to fit the bill.

http://nola.live.advance.net/washingaway/images/goingunder_th.jpg
http://www.nola.com/hurricane/images/goingunder_jpg.jpg


The dotted line represents the "worst case scenario" track.

Now...lets compare that to the 11PM advisory:

http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/storm_graphics/AT12/refresh/AL1205W_sm2+gif/025304W_sm.gif

That sucks. New Orleans, my hometown, looks like it is about to become Port Royal.

[Edited on 8-28-2005 by Revalos]

[Edited on 8-28-2005 by Revalos]

[Artha]

That would suck so much if it broke down/pushed water over the levees.

[Axhinde]

Katrina just rolled over southern Florida without much harm, though it was only a category 1 at the time. If it turns into a category 4 or 5 like predicted, New Orleans could be in big trouble. Really big trouble.

[Electrawn]

Worst case scenario would be if the eye of the storm lands slightly to the west of a town. Stormsurge, winds and rain are worst on the east side of a hurricane due to counter-clockwise motion.

And it seems worst case.

[Revalos]

Fixed the link so you can see a bigger pic of the Times Picayune insert.

Electrawn, you would be correct in 99% of hurricane strikes, but not in this case. New Orleans' system is protected moderately well against a northeast eyewall strike on the city. There would be damage, but not a lot of flooding. However, if you take a look at the insert link, you'll see that the worst possible situation is for water to be sent from the Gulf into Lake Ponchatrain from a slightly eastward striking storm.

Because all you have to do to kill NO is to flood it above the pump station circuit breakers. That's it and it has been done before, but usually by a single rain event, not a continuous wind driven system like a hurricane. According to most information, if this storm does what it appears to be doing, and at high tide, it will put 25' of water in the city, and it doesn't have anywhere to go. They'll have to blow the levees in order to let the water out.

[Axhinde]

The rain stayed on the south side of Katrina in Lauderdale for the most part, with a few bands staying behind to the east. It never really shifted at all, so I got lucky being on the north side of her, just some nasty wind.

[Skeeter]

Guess I missed my last chance to see Mardi Gras

[Revalos]

Everything still points to serious suckage for New Orleans. Except the pumps...now they're claiming that it could take 4 months to pump the city out after this.

[Ilvane]

Everyone in that area, I've said some prayers, do we have any PC'rs around there at all?

Be careful..this storm looks scary.

-A:grouphug:

[Jazuela]

Evacuation is already underway, and my heart goes out to anyone who has friends and family living in New Orleans. It's gonna be a mess, and the Mayor already accepts that there will be some deaths.

I had this thought, and I haven't seen it on the National Weather bureau site, or weather.com, or the news station websites, or the weather channel.

New Orleans is expected to be underwater by the time this is over - since it's already below sea level and requires levees to keep the water out. In addition, many people who live there don't have transportation out, and hotels are already booked solid 150 miles north. They're considering using the Astrodome to shelter stranded residents and visitors.

Here's the thought: Small watercraft - rowboats, 4-passenger motorboats, kyaks, canoes, big rafts (not the rubber tube things - I mean real rafts)...

Many of these crafts can be strapped on top of some of the bigger cars and SUVs and small trucks. Others can be hitched on SUVs and vans.

They need to get these smaller boats OUT of the water at the shoreline, and upriver to the east around 70 miles or so. Before the storm hits. That way, when it's time for rescue missions, they'll have boats to bring rescuers down, with necessary minimal first aid and medical supplies. And they can get people stranded out of New Orleans via those same boats - because the latest news is that all those streets are gonna be the Mississippi's newest tributaries and creeks after this is all over.

On an announcement down in NO, they said "This is not a test. This is the real deal. Board up your homes...." This is serious shit. And in all of what I've been reading and watching, I haven't heard a single mention of the city government commandeering small watercraft and getting them on land so they can be used for rescue operations.

If anyone knows anyone in the NO government, or FEMA - maybe you could call them and suggest it.

[Chelle]

I have family in Mississippi. Katrina is such a bitch, she better leave them alone.

[Shonison]

<<They need to get these smaller boats OUT of the water at the shoreline, and upriver to the east around 70 miles or so. Before the storm hits. That way, when it's time for rescue missions, they'll have boats to bring rescuers down, with necessary minimal first aid and medical supplies. And they can get people stranded out of New Orleans via those same boats - because the latest news is that all those streets are gonna be the Mississippi's newest tributaries and creeks after this is all over. >>

I'm sure the rescuers have boats in stock, but yeah, this couldn't hurt. You always see footage of small-craft rescues during a flood. Unfortunately, you can't operate anything short of an aircraft carrier during a class V hurricane.

[Jazuela]

But after the hurricane - or once it subsides and the flooding levels off they'll need as many watercraft as possible to get supplies down, and stranded survivors out. I can't imagine the terror being experienced by those who live in NO and have no transportation out. Almost makes you wonder if it isn't better to just - be hit by the thing and die, than to know a full day in advance that it might happen. Or that it WILL happen, but you don't know if it'll happen to you personally, or your next-door neighbor instead.

Almost.

[Revalos]

Those small watercraft will be too busy ferrying the looters around stealing shit to help people after the storm. Unless you mean putting people out of their misery with a 12 gauge as helping. I think the coast guard and navy may be needed to clean out all the criminals.

I know two families that are riding the thing out and armed to protect their shit. Idiots. Total fucking idiots. If they don't get killed by the storm, they'll get killed by the looters.

[Sean of the Thread]

At least we havn't got hit in the Bay area yet this year. Better them then us.

[Shonison]

<<I know two families that are riding the thing out and armed to protect their shit. Idiots. Total fucking idiots. If they don't get killed by the storm, they'll get killed by the looters.>>

That's horrifically stupid. If it's a direct hit, neither these people nor the would-be looters will be alive to do anything...unless the looters come from outside the city. The flooding will be that bad.

[Apotheosis]

I hope everyone in this situation will be ok. This is a tough situation.

I wonder if Pat Robertson's going to say something to the effect of NO being the devils town and this being god's wrath and all that..

[4a6c1]

Originally posted by Revalos
Everything still points to serious suckage for New Orleans. Except the pumps...now they're claiming that it could take 4 months to pump the city out after this.

Damnit. There goes my halloween plans...

[Syberus]

Originally posted by Yswithe
I hope everyone in this situation will be ok. This is a tough situation.

I wonder if Pat Robertson's going to say something to the effect of NO being the devils town and this being god's wrath and all that..

We could always hope that he blames it on Venezuela and says something else entire stupid yet entertaining.

[Artha]

The weather service (http://weather.noaa.gov/cgi-bin/iwszone?Sites=:laz062) is freaking the fuck out.

URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NEW ORLEANS LA
1011 AM CDT SUN AUG 28 2005


DEVASTATING DAMAGE EXPECTED

HURRICANE KATRINA
A MOST POWERFUL HURRICANE WITH UNPRECEDENTED
STRENGTH...RIVALING THE INTENSITY OF HURRICANE CAMILLE OF 1969.

MOST OF THE AREA WILL BE UNINHABITABLE FOR WEEKS...PERHAPS LONGER. AT
LEAST ONE HALF OF WELL CONSTRUCTED HOMES WILL HAVE ROOF AND WALL
FAILURE. ALL GABLED ROOFS WILL FAIL...LEAVING THOSE HOMES SEVERELY
DAMAGED OR DESTROYED.

THE MAJORITY OF INDUSTRIAL BUILDINGS WILL BECOME NON FUNCTIONAL.
PARTIAL TO COMPLETE WALL AND ROOF FAILURE IS EXPECTED. ALL WOOD
FRAMED LOW RISING APARTMENT BUILDINGS WILL BE DESTROYED. CONCRETE
BLOCK LOW RISE APARTMENTS WILL SUSTAIN MAJOR DAMAGE...INCLUDING SOME
WALL AND ROOF FAILURE.

HIGH RISE OFFICE AND APARTMENT BUILDINGS WILL SWAY DANGEROUSLY...A
FEW TO THE POINT OF TOTAL COLLAPSE. ALL WINDOWS WILL BLOW OUT.

AIRBORNE DEBRIS WILL BE WIDESPREAD...AND MAY INCLUDE HEAVY ITEMS SUCH
AS HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCES AND EVEN LIGHT VEHICLES. SPORT UTILITY
VEHICLES AND LIGHT TRUCKS WILL BE MOVED. THE BLOWN DEBRIS WILL CREATE
ADDITIONAL DESTRUCTION. PERSONS...PETS...AND LIVESTOCK EXPOSED TO THE
WINDS WILL FACE CERTAIN DEATH IF STRUCK.

POWER OUTAGES WILL LAST FOR WEEKS...AS MOST POWER POLES WILL BE DOWN
AND TRANSFORMERS DESTROYED. WATER SHORTAGES WILL MAKE HUMAN SUFFERING
INCREDIBLE BY MODERN STANDARDS.

THE VAST MAJORITY OF NATIVE TREES WILL BE SNAPPED OR UPROOTED. ONLY
THE HEARTIEST WILL REMAIN STANDING...BUT BE TOTALLY DEFOLIATED. FEW
CROPS WILL REMAIN. LIVESTOCK LEFT EXPOSED TO THE WINDS WILL BE
KILLED.

AN INLAND HURRICANE WIND WARNING IS ISSUED WHEN SUSTAINED WINDS NEAR
HURRICANE FORCE...OR FREQUENT GUSTS AT OR ABOVE HURRICANE FORCE...ARE
CERTAIN WITHIN THE NEXT 12 TO 24 HOURS.

ONCE TROPICAL STORM AND HURRICANE FORCE WINDS ONSET...DO NOT VENTURE
OUTSIDE!

[Artha]

Oh, and here's some web cams.

http://www.tropicalisle.com/webcam.html
This one's in the heart of Bourbon St and updates every minute.


http://www.wdsu.com/wxcam/1475332/detail.html
Not exactly sure where this one is, but it looks like it's a bridge leaving the city.

[Edited on 8-28-2005 by Artha]

[Shonison]

Shouldn't they um...open the other side of that bridge to traffic leaving?

[Sean of the Thread]

Originally posted by Shonison
Shouldn't they um...open the other side of that bridge to traffic leaving?

They often asked the same thing here in Clearwater on the causeways. They leave it open for emergency vehicles.

[Numbers]

Geez... this storm is bigger than almost every state. Almost as big as Texas.

[Shonison]

The CNN weather guy had an interesting quote this morning right after the evacuation order was given..."Don't think of this as a hurricane. Think of this as one massive F-3 tornado". Comforting.

[Atlanteax]

This is a cut&paste of an article...

I think a lot of Americans are currently underestimating the negative impact on the U.S. economy should New Orleans suffer massive damage for an extended period of time.



The Geopolitics of Katrina
August 28, 2005 18 57 GMT



A Category 5 hurricane, the most severe type measured, Katrina has been reported heading directly toward the city of New Orleans. This would be a human catastrophe, since New Orleans sits in a bowl below sea level. However, Katrina is not only moving on New Orleans. It also is moving on the Port of Southern Louisiana. Were it to strike directly and furiously, Katrina would not only take a massive human toll, but also an enormous geopolitical one.

The Port of Southern Louisiana is the fifth-largest port in the world in terms of tonnage, and the largest port in the United States. The only global ports larger are Singapore, Rotterdam, Shanghai and Hong Kong. It is bigger than Houston, Chiba and Nagoya, Antwerp and New York/New Jersey. It is a key link in U.S. imports and exports and critical to the global economy.

The Port of Southern Louisiana stretches up and down the Mississippi River for about 50 miles, running north and south of New Orleans from St. James to St. Charles Parish. It is the key port for the export of grains to the rest of the world -- corn, soybeans, wheat and animal feed. Midwestern farmers and global consumers depend on those exports. The United States imports crude oil, petrochemicals, steel, fertilizers and ores through the port. Fifteen percent of all U.S. exports by value go through the port. Nearly half of the exports go to Europe.

The Port of Southern Louisiana is a river port. It depends on the navigability of the Mississippi River. The Mississippi is notorious for changing its course, and in southern Louisiana -- indeed along much of its length -- levees both protect the land from its water and maintain its course and navigability. Dredging and other maintenance are constant and necessary to maintain its navigability. It is fragile.

If New Orleans is hit, the Port of Southern Louisiana, by definition, also will be hit. No one can predict the precise course of the storm or its consequences. However, if we speculate on worse-case scenarios the following consequences jump out:

**The port might become in whole or part unusable if levees burst. If the damage to the river and port facilities could not be repaired within 30 days when the U.S. harvests are at their peak, the effect on global agricultural prices could be substantial.

**There is a large refinery at Belle Chasse. It is the only refinery that is seriously threatened by the storm, but if it were to be inundated, 250,000 barrels per day would go off line. Moreover, the threat of environmental danger would be substantial.

**About 2 percent of world crude production and roughly 25 percent of U.S.-produced crude comes from the Gulf of Mexico and already is affected by Katrina. Platforms in the path of Katrina have been evacuated but others continue pumping. If this follows normal patterns, most production will be back on line within hours or days. However, if a Category 5 hurricane (of which there have only been three others in history) has a different effect, the damage could be longer lasting. Depending on the effect on the Port of Southern Louisiana, the ability to ship could be affected.

**A narrow, two-lane highway that handles approximately 10,000 vehicles a day, is used for transport of cargo and petroleum products and provides port access for thousands of employees is threatened with closure. A closure of as long as two weeks could rapidly push gasoline prices higher.

**At a time when oil prices are in the mid-60-dollar range and starting to hurt, the hurricane has an obvious effect. However, it must be borne in mind that the Mississippi remains a key American shipping route, particularly for the export and import of a variety of primary commodities from grain to oil, as well as steel and rubber. Andrew Jackson fought hard to keep the British from taking New Orleans because he knew it was the main artery for U.S. trade with the world. He was right and its role has not changed since then.

This is not a prediction. We do not know the path of the storm and we cannot predict its effects. It is a warning that if a Category 5 hurricane hits the Port of Southern Louisiana and causes the damage that is merely at the outer reach of the probable, the effect on the global system will be substantial.

[Electrawn]

Cash out 401ks, buy gold and silver. NOW.

Simply, Gas prices will hit $3 a gallon post Katrina.

[Apotheosis]

Welcome to the Apocalypse.

:2beers:

[doc ether]

I'm 5 minutes outside of Baton Rouge, 45 minutes away from New Orleans. We've had some bad Hurricanes before, but this is by far one of the worst. They're comparing it to Camille in '69.

We've stocked up on food, water and ice and gone to my mom's place to wait it out. I'll keep you guys updated on how it goes.

[Apotheosis]

Thanks, be careful, and I hope things don't get too bad out there...

[Artha]

I filled my tank up not too long ago. I'd advise others to do the same, because that shit's getting expensive and fast.

[Apotheosis]

yes, I just paid 2.61$/gallon for 87 octane fuel.

[Artha]

2.49 here :(

In June, I remember thinking 1.95 was too damn expensive.

[Alfster]

2.87 here you fuckers

[Terminator X]

I really hope that as many people as possible who are capable of evacuating the area have done so already and that there will inherently be a low incidence of stupidity-related deaths.

[doc ether]

Originally posted by Terminator X

I really hope that as many people as possible who are capable of evacuating the area have done so already and that there will inherently be a low incidence of stupidity-related deaths.

Don't count on it. Only about forty percent of the population ever evacuates, the rest of us just ride it out.

[Artha]

Here's another couple of good webcams.

http://www.nola.com/fqcam/

http://www.nola.com/beadcam/

[Neildo]

$3.68 in Fresno and $3.30ish in LA. And we're the 3rd most oil producing state! What ever happend to production perks?

- N

[Revalos]

Just got an e-mail from one of the folks I know, it is starting to blow there pretty bad both figuratively and literally. They said they are already hearing gunfire (they live two blocks north of Magazine street in the Garden District). No police response, to speak of. Wind is beginning to pick up...I guess the looters wanted an early start.

Hurricane track is still worst case. The only possible saving grace now is for it to tack west a bit and hit the city with the HUGE FUCKING EYEWALL instead of the Gulf-Ponchatrain flooding.

Gas Prices are going up next week for Labor Day anyway, I'd imagine they'll be up even more because of this. It is 2.63 by my house already, probably $3 next weekend.

Just heard on the news of a second threat...the hurricane is going right up the Mississippi/Ohio river valley. They are saying that if New Orleans loses the levees during the hurricane and the river channel silts up from debris, the river may alter course THROUGH DOWNTOWN exiting east with the increased flow from all the rain. That, or it'll blow the Old River Control Structure and take the river away from New Orleans forever.

Holy shit this is messed up.

[Apotheosis]

Does this basically mean that New Orleans is going to be the next Atlantis and no longer exist on the map?

[Electrawn]

Could be. Although...we reversed the Chicago river. (let me repeat...reversed a river)

We also did a 3 month repair of a WWII aircraft carrier warship in three days.

So this is biblical devestaing, but probably biblical in recovery speed.


Post Edit->

Oh wow.

http://www.nola.com/bridgecam/

This camera is fubar already.

[Edited on 8-29-2005 by Electrawn]

[Ravenstorm]

... Damn.

From here. (http://iwin.nws.noaa.gov/iwin/la/nonprecipwarning.html)


...INLAND HURRICANE WIND WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN NEW ORLEANS HAS ISSUED AN INLAND HURRICANE WIND WARNING.

EXTREMELY DANGEROUS HURRICANE KATRINA CONTINUES TO APPROACH THE AREA. TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS WILL SPREAD NORTH OF LAKE PONTCHARTRAIN AND ALONG THE MISSISSIPPI COAST THROUGH DAYBREAK...AND HURRICANE FORCE WINDS WILL SPREAD FROM THE COAST INTO THE NEW ORLEANS METROPOLITAN AREA BY DAYBREAK MONDAY AND THE NORTH SHORE OF LAKE PONTCHARTRAIN AND THE MISSISSIPPI GULF COAST BY MID MORNING MONDAY. MAXIMUM WIND GUSTS OF 150 TO 175 MPH ARE LIKELY ALONG THE PATH OF THE HURRICANE THIS MORNING.

AN INLAND HURRICANE WIND WARNING IS ISSUED WHEN SUSTAINED WINDS NEAR HURRICANE FORCE...OR FREQUENT GUSTS AT OR ABOVE HURRICANE FORCE...ARE CERTAIN WITHIN THE NEXT 12 TO 24 HOURS.

...DEVASTATING DAMAGE EXPECTED...

AT LEAST ONE HALF OF WELL CONSTRUCTED HOMES WILL HAVE ROOF AND WALL FAILURE. ALL GABLED ROOFS WILL FAIL...LEAVING THOSE HOMES SEVERELY DAMAGED OR DESTROYED.

THE MAJORITY OF INDUSTRIAL BUILDINGS WILL BECOME NON FUNCTIONAL. PARTIAL TO COMPLETE WALL AND ROOF FAILURE IS EXPECTED. MANY WOOD FRAMED LOW RISING APARTMENT BUILDINGS WILL BE DESTROYED. CONCRETE BLOCK LOW RISE APARTMENTS WILL SUSTAIN MAJOR DAMAGE...INCLUDING SOME WALL AND ROOF FAILURE.

HIGH RISE OFFICE AND APARTMENT BUILDINGS WILL SWAY DANGEROUSLY...A FEW POSSIBLY TO THE POINT OF TOTAL COLLAPSE. MANY WINDOWS WILL BLOW OUT.

AIRBORNE DEBRIS WILL BE WIDESPREAD...AND MAY INCLUDE HEAVY ITEMS SUCH AS HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCES AND EVEN LIGHT VEHICLES. SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES AND LIGHT TRUCKS WILL BE MOVED. THE BLOWN DEBRIS WILL CREATE ADDITIONAL DESTRUCTION. PERSONS...PETS...AND LIVESTOCK EXPOSED TO THE WINDS WILL FACE CERTAIN DEATH IF STRUCK.

POWER OUTAGES MAY LAST FOR WEEKS...AS MANY POWER POLES WILL BE DOWN AND TRANSFORMERS DESTROYED. WATER SHORTAGES WILL MAKE HUMAN SUFFERING INCREDIBLE BY MODERN STANDARDS.

THE VAST MAJORITY OF NATIVE TREES WILL BE SNAPPED OR UPROOTED. ONLY THE HEARTIEST WILL REMAIN STANDING...BUT BE TOTALLY DEFOLIATED.

I can't imagine this. Actually, I can. That's worse. I hope somehow it doesn't even come close to this.

Raven

[HarmNone]

Experts are saying this is the "best of the worst case scenaria". Katrina came ashore a bit to the east of New Orleans, rather than making a direct hit. Looks like the Mississippi coast is going to feel the brunt of this. Poor Gulfport and Biloxi. They've been here before. :(

[CrystalTears]

Originally posted by Ravenstorm
... Damn.

From here. (http://iwin.nws.noaa.gov/iwin/la/nonprecipwarning.html)


...INLAND HURRICANE WIND WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN NEW ORLEANS HAS ISSUED AN INLAND HURRICANE WIND WARNING.

EXTREMELY DANGEROUS HURRICANE KATRINA CONTINUES TO APPROACH THE AREA. TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS WILL SPREAD NORTH OF LAKE PONTCHARTRAIN AND ALONG THE MISSISSIPPI COAST THROUGH DAYBREAK...AND HURRICANE FORCE WINDS WILL SPREAD FROM THE COAST INTO THE NEW ORLEANS METROPOLITAN AREA BY DAYBREAK MONDAY AND THE NORTH SHORE OF LAKE PONTCHARTRAIN AND THE MISSISSIPPI GULF COAST BY MID MORNING MONDAY. MAXIMUM WIND GUSTS OF 150 TO 175 MPH ARE LIKELY ALONG THE PATH OF THE HURRICANE THIS MORNING.

AN INLAND HURRICANE WIND WARNING IS ISSUED WHEN SUSTAINED WINDS NEAR HURRICANE FORCE...OR FREQUENT GUSTS AT OR ABOVE HURRICANE FORCE...ARE CERTAIN WITHIN THE NEXT 12 TO 24 HOURS.

...DEVASTATING DAMAGE EXPECTED...

AT LEAST ONE HALF OF WELL CONSTRUCTED HOMES WILL HAVE ROOF AND WALL FAILURE. ALL GABLED ROOFS WILL FAIL...LEAVING THOSE HOMES SEVERELY DAMAGED OR DESTROYED.

THE MAJORITY OF INDUSTRIAL BUILDINGS WILL BECOME NON FUNCTIONAL. PARTIAL TO COMPLETE WALL AND ROOF FAILURE IS EXPECTED. MANY WOOD FRAMED LOW RISING APARTMENT BUILDINGS WILL BE DESTROYED. CONCRETE BLOCK LOW RISE APARTMENTS WILL SUSTAIN MAJOR DAMAGE...INCLUDING SOME WALL AND ROOF FAILURE.

HIGH RISE OFFICE AND APARTMENT BUILDINGS WILL SWAY DANGEROUSLY...A FEW POSSIBLY TO THE POINT OF TOTAL COLLAPSE. MANY WINDOWS WILL BLOW OUT.

AIRBORNE DEBRIS WILL BE WIDESPREAD...AND MAY INCLUDE HEAVY ITEMS SUCH AS HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCES AND EVEN LIGHT VEHICLES. SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES AND LIGHT TRUCKS WILL BE MOVED. THE BLOWN DEBRIS WILL CREATE ADDITIONAL DESTRUCTION. PERSONS...PETS...AND LIVESTOCK EXPOSED TO THE WINDS WILL FACE CERTAIN DEATH IF STRUCK.

POWER OUTAGES MAY LAST FOR WEEKS...AS MANY POWER POLES WILL BE DOWN AND TRANSFORMERS DESTROYED. WATER SHORTAGES WILL MAKE HUMAN SUFFERING INCREDIBLE BY MODERN STANDARDS.

THE VAST MAJORITY OF NATIVE TREES WILL BE SNAPPED OR UPROOTED. ONLY THE HEARTIEST WILL REMAIN STANDING...BUT BE TOTALLY DEFOLIATED.

I can't imagine this. Actually, I can. That's worse. I hope somehow it doesn't even come close to this.

Raven

Unfortunately that's all typical hurricane category 4-5 happenings. All you have left is to stay somewhere safe and wait it out, preferrably not in your own home as hearing shingles and windows breaking in your own home is very disheartening.

I'm very thankful I don't live in Florida anymore. I still worry about my family down there, but I just couldn't go through that every year anymore, not when construction continues to be shotty and of poor quality to hold up to even just strong wind.

[Tromp]

Hit bradenton/sarasota beach yesterday with my longboard! Boo Ya that was out out hand incredible!!!!

I heard the waves are like 5 stories up by Mississippi and LA. I would literally crap my pants seeing that come towards me.

Hang on tight guys/gals and please get the heck out of there!

[Jazuela]

CNN just said that they've received a report that a part of one levee has already been breeched, and that one of the pump stations shut down. No word yet which part of which levee, or the size of the breech. And...it's not at its worst yet. Still another hour or so before the absolute worst of it passes to the east.

[Electrawn]

Superdome is collapsing. Pray.

[Valthissa]

two links:

you can look at the water levels in Lake Pontchartrain at:

http://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/uv/?site_no=073802331

I was in Camille in Virginia. When they started saying Katrina was as strong as Camille at NHC I prayed they would be wrong. It appears that the wind is down around 140 MPH which will still be devastating. There are some before/after pictures here that show what happened in Camille:

http://www.geocities.com/hurricanene/hurricanecamille.htm

[Edited on 8-29-2005 by Valthissa]

[Atlanteax]

I had thought that NO caught a breather when Katrina downgraded to a Category 4 hurricane.

... guess not.

[Shonison]

<<They said they are already hearing gunfire (they live two blocks north of Magazine street in the Garden District). No police response, to speak of. Wind is beginning to pick up...I guess the looters wanted an early start. >>

The police won't come out till it's ober. Hopefully the 120 mph winds currently being felt will kill the looters before they can do much.

[Jazuela]

Or - the sound could just be piece of houses crashing into cars. Or cars crashing into houses. Or street signs smashing into metal light poles. Or explosions caused by the wind. Or any of many possible things that would make a really big BANG. Heck, even a really bad car backfire sounds like a gunshot.

[Artha]

Gun shots are almost always unmistakably gun shots.

[gs4mer]

Having experienced 4 hurricanes last year throughout central florida, I wish this mess on no one. It's not a great deal of fun, and then when FEMA and Red Cross come out, it takes insurance companies a year to do anything about your damages. There are still places here in central florida that are being repaired from the hurricanes of 2004. The prediction still to come is 11 to 13 hurricanes, and still 5 or 6 major ones out of those will hit before season ends.

Good luck to all of you, and please have some intelligence about you by going to either a shelter, school, hotel or something that can provide you with the necessities of survival.

My heart goes out to everyone, experiencing these. It's worse than most could try to imagine.

[Anebriated]

Think they will still hold Jazz fest? Might go cancel my plane ticket...

[gs4mer]

hope you got some insurance to cancel!

[Skeeter]

I'm going to Panama city in 2 weeks. hope it's still there.

[ElanthianSiren]

I read on news that one levee has broken. Playing Led Zep for NO now. :(

It would be naive to say that I hope no one dies, but I still do.

-M

[Bobmuhthol]

Worst hurricane ever.

[Sean of the Thread]

They dodged a pretty big bullet.

[Apotheosis]

From what information I am gathering right now, new orleans doesn't seem to be as terribly hit as they thought they would be, although a good portion of the eastern part of the city is flooded.

Anyone have a different perspective on this?

[Ravenstorm]

At some point during the night, two things happened. First, the winds lessened to a category 3 storm. Second, it began moving east.

The worst of the winds happen in the upper right quadrant of the hurricane so when the eye passed to the right of New Orleans, the city really lucked out. Of course, Biloxi and the surrounding area got slammed but at least it wasn't a category 5.

So yeah, it could have been a lot, lot worse.

Raven

[Jazuela]

It was still a category 4 as of 11 this morning, so the reduction to a 3 didn't happen during the night. I watched CNN and the Weather Channel live reports, they were measuring the wind with this hand-held device, and said they were experiencing 120MPH winds whenever the squall whipped around in their direction. That was several miles past the immediate area around the eye, which would make it less severe as the eye itself. They said weather devices in the direct path were measuring 145-150MPH which is a solid category 4.

Must've changed shortly after I left the house though.

[Atlanteax]

From STRATFOR:


2048 GMT - Eqecat Inc., a storm modeling firm, downgraded its total estimate for damage inflicted by Hurricane Katrina to $9 billion late Aug. 29. Earlier in the day, the firm had estimated damage at $30 billion. The revision was due to the storm's course change that took it away from the city of New Orleans, La.

[Revalos]

Yep...Instead of coming in at the predicted angle, the eye was actually farther east of the city than previously anticipated. Basically Mississippi got screwed again.

Folks down there said winds were about what people expected, but the water was only pushed part of the way into the lake, and the reverse lake flooding didn't kick in until after the pumps were restarted.

Now they're all going to think they're immortal for the next mutha. Great.

[Jazuela]

Heh yeah Revalos. Someone on another game forum posted as though it was no big deal this time around. Said she sent some "gris-gris" to her family who lives in New Orleans and told them not to worry, before the storm hit. After the fact, she made it sound like it was "just another hurricane" and that them thar Southern Loosian Cay-JUN types are used to it and it's no big deal.

Meantime, back in reality: They're talking about bodies being seen floating in the floods. Entire neighborhoods in New Orleans are under water. People who didn't evacuate were standing on their rooftops after sawing through their 2nd floor ceilings, shouting for someone to save them.

But - eh - it's no big deal right? Just another hurricane.

Morons.

[Suppa Hobbit Mage]

thought this was funny...

[Revalos]

He he! That's getting saved. Awesome! Now if I could only find the e-penis animated GIF.

[Revalos]

Another update from downtown New Orleans. Looters are out in force now, police are sending messages over CB and radio to everyone to stay indoors and lock yourselves in. Several businesses burned and it is not just downtown, it is citywide.

CNN is confirming this as well:

http://www.cnn.com/2005/WEATHER/08/30/katrina.neworleans/index.html

Water is rising as well, the first floors of many places that didn't get water during the actual storm are now getting water coming up through the floorboards.

Damn...I guess it isn't over yet.

[hectomaner]

an estimated 80% or more of new orleans is now under water

[Artha]

Evacuation of East Bank (http://www.wwltv.com/#9morefeetofwater) as efforts to fix levee are halted. Pumps expected to fail shortly, causing 9-12 feet of new water to flood the East Bank.

[Ravenstorm]

Seeing the pictures, hearing the reports, it's hard to imagine what it would be like if it had still been a category 5 and hit New Orleans directly.

Raven

[Artha]

I'm thinking it'd look a whole lot like this

http://www.art-engineering.com/Map%20Introduction/Lake_Trafford/Lake%20Trafford.jpg

[Edited on 8-31-2005 by Artha]

[Artha]

Oh, and now there's prison riots (http://abcnews.go.com/US/HurricaneKatrina/story?id=1081633&page=1).

[Doyle Hargraves]

Originally posted by Suppa Hobbit Mage
thought this was funny...

http://forum.gsplayers.com/images/public/img-1125371048.gif

That about sums it up.