Hurricane Katrina is now a CATEGORY 5 storm

[paleryder]

This one is the real deal. Be smart and play it safe.

http://p218.ezboard.com/fghosttown30502frm54.showMessage?topicID=3126.topi c

[Emily]

I saw that it is now up to a category 5 *shudder* and is heading toward New Orleans *sniff* :(

Horrible!

[Heartland]

This is going to be really bad. They're saying that a lot of the gas stations are out of gas, so some people won't be able to evacuate.

[zeldas]

The worst case scenario.
If New Orleans takes a direct hit. It can be under a potential 35 ft of water.
Please evacuate. I just went through Katrina,and felt the eye of the storm go right over us. It was only Cat1, I cant imagine a Cat5.

[paleryder]

KatieP just posted this at Ghost Town........How scary is this alert?


From the New Orleans office of the National Weather Service


Quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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 BEKILLED.

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!--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[Powerhouse]

Is there a link for that weather statement? I cannot find it at the NWS site.

[rossshow]

Here's the predictions of possible paths

http://www.wunderground.com/tropical/tracking/at200512_model.html

[rossshow]

Here's that advisory

http://www.wunderground.com/tropical/at200512.public.html

[sadie999]

Powerhouse, she didn't post a link, but did state it was from the New Orleans office of the National Weather Service.

[sadie999]

Link: http://weather.noaa.gov/cgi-bin/iwszone?Sites=:laz069

[agentorange]

That doesn't sound like something the NWS would write, and I can't find that wording anywhere on the NWS site
http://www.srh.noaa.gov/lix/

LOL, it says it will completely destroy all homes, then it says once the winds start, don't leave your home! What kind of advice is that!

[sadie999]

The advice given here:

http://weather.noaa.gov/cgi-bin/iwszone?Sites=:laz069

Scroll down as there are other warnings being added.

[paleryder]

She posted the link...Scroll down, as they have issued one above it.

http://weather.noaa.gov/cgi-bin/iwszone?Sites=:laz069

[Powerhouse]

Thank you. :)

[newslady]

I hope everyone in Katrina's path stays safe.

[Shadowcat]

Ross: Have you heard from Terri? I hope she and her little ones have moved to safety.

[Heartland]

That's very sobering, PR. I have this sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach, and I can't even imagine how those residents (or the people in charge) feel right now.

I saw the mayor this morning on the news reading the state of emergency declaration. It was very legalese, but also very sobering.

I can't even imagine evacuating a big city. There are so many poor people there who have no transportation. Last I heard, they were lining up at the football stadium.

[paleryder]

For years, forecasters have warned of the nightmare scenario a big storm could bring to New Orleans, a bowl of a city that's up to 10 feet below sea level in spots and dependent on a network of levees, canals and pumps to keep dry. It's built between the half-mile-wide Mississippi River and Lake Pontchartrain, half the size of the state of Rhode Island.

Estimates have been made of tens of thousands of deaths from flooding that could overrun the levees and turn New Orleans into a 30-foot-deep toxic lake filled with chemicals and petroleum from refineries, and waste from ruined septic systems.

www.newsday.com/news/weather/ny-katrina0828,0,6806529.story?coll=ny-top-headlines

[Shadowcat]

here are so many poor people there who have no transportation.

If they're capable of walking, they should start.

[newslady]

Skitty,

My understanding is tht Terri lives in Central Mississippi, near Jackson, which is far from the Gulf Coast.

But Katrina will likely continue to spawn bad storms after coming ashore and moving inland, so it's not a bad idea to keep close eye on weather updates for all in her path.

[Heartland]

I haven't heard if they've closed the bridges yet or not -- they were supposed to close them when the wind hit 35-50 mph. Once the bridges are closed, no one will be able to go anywhere. You can't get anywhere in New Orleans without crossing bridges.

[oddish]

That is so scary. I hope they can get everyone out and safe.

[marble]

My thoughts are for everyone in Katrina's path. If what I saw from the air a few hours ago when I flew up the west coast of Florida was any indication of what's on store for them, they will need lots more than just "thoughts." My God!

We were in the Tampa area since Thursday and saw plenty of fierce storms from Katrina's outer bands. And those were just storms. I can't believe how intense this hurricane got as it organized across the Gulf. Again - My God!

From the air, the formations looked like a huge purple pancake with a big glop of butter in the center. :1crazy2:

[hilady]

Yes, like Zelda, I have been in several hurricanes while living in Louisiana. My mother is 81 and she will not leave her house. Where she lives on a hill has no potential flood problem. My Sis will be there with her prepared to get into a closet in the middle of the house. Their only alternative is going to the local high school. Others in my immediate family have travel further inland.

Terri is 1 hour north of my son who lives in Hattiesburg. Both of them will be hit hard with wind and rain. Also, tornadoes are the fright of it all.

We were trapped in our house for two days after Camille in 1969 coming in from Biloxi that day. It was like a horror movie.

Alana was another one... I can remember my poor children and I under a mattress in the hallway. It was not predicted to be such a bad storm. We had a tornado immediately in the front of our house lifting the sidewalk out of the earth.... 17 trees down with three on the house and one tree thru the upstairs roof... but we survived it w/out injury.

[paleryder]

My thoughts are for everyone in Katrina's path. If what I saw from the air a few hours ago when I flew up the west coast of Florida was any indication of what's on store for them, they will need lots more than just "thoughts." My God!

We were in the Tampa area since Thursday and saw plenty of fierce storms from Katrina's outer bands. And those were just storms. I can't believe how intense this hurricane got as it organized across the Gulf. Again - My God!

From the air, the formations looked like a huge purple pancake with a big glop of butter in the center.

Please tell me, you took a few pics. Tell me, you had a camera in that fat pocketbook, not just ten lipsticks, 3lbs of kleenex, and all the other "must have" items, you ladies can't seem to live without. You didn't miss that opportunity............... a Cat 5 from the air!!!!!!!!

Right Marble?

[Kashtin]

Please tell me, you took a few pics. Tell me, you had a camera in that fat pocketbook, not just ten lipsticks,



No camera, but she drew an absolutely wonderful picture of the hurricane on the plane window in the most marvelous shade of pink lipstick! :p

[paleryder]

:1chip:














:1rotfl1:

[packyrat]

We have been experiencing 35MPH+ wind gusts for most of the afternnoon already...and we are the very outermost edge of the strike zone.

After going thru Ivan last year....and it was just a minimum cat 4.....even the people that aren't religious need to say a prayer for the Big Easy. This one has all the potential of making Andrew look like a summer breeze.

May God be with them.

[marble]

Please tell me, you took a few pics. Tell me, you had a camera in that fat pocketbook, not just ten lipsticks, 3lbs of kleenex, and all the other "must have" items, you ladies can't seem to live without. You didn't miss that opportunity............... a Cat 5 from the air!!!!!!!!

Right Marble?

I most certainly did... I took a few in fact.

[agogoboots]

From just south of Jackson, Mississippi:

I am 150 miles north of New Orleans. The interstate is still packed with north bound traffic but moving. Am hearing that I-20 west of Jackson is barely moving. All gas pumps are staying full and taking forever to fill due to volume.

First cloud bands moving over us with mild wind gusts. We are just north of the tornado watch box at this time. Officials have told everyone in my area to evacuate mobile homes. Schools closing. Told to stay in tomorrow. I live in a two story frame structure surrounded by huge oak trees.

We are expected to get a cat 2-3 here with 70-100 MPH sustained winds. Evacuees from the coastline are trying to get out of Jackson and keep moving north.

Today trains were roaring north one after another from NO with chemical tankers. There are temporarily abandoed chemical tanker trucks in my town because the interstate reversed 20 miles south of me.

We have gotten groceries, 4 bags ice, gas for generator and vehicles, batteries. Have moved bedding downstairs, brought generator to porch, and secured outdoor items as best we can.

That's about all we can do. I don't like bad weather and am quite a little nervous. Daughter is worried about her horse and the barn.

The 24 hours Wal-Marts south of me closed at 7 pm. That's nothing to take lightly.

Thank you for your concern. Will update as I can.

[zeldas]

I can really feel for you Terri. I have been through quite a few. But never any like this one.
At the deli we are lighting candles and praying for you and anybody in its path.
You too Jo.
http://p087.ezboard.com/fthedelinashfrm27.showMessage?topicID=423.topic :1hug1: stay safe

[agogoboots]

Just checked out the situation out there.

I couldn't have gotten into the Texaco parking lot if I had wanted to. Packed. Only place open in town. Most people eating by their cars and walking dogs. The interstate is bumper to bumper as far as I can see but moving steady at about 50-60 mph. Bottle necking near exits then resuming.

Lots of flat tires and car trouble out there. Evidently quite a few people didn't have really roadworthy cars.

Hot, muggy, dead calm. Barometric pressure dropped all day. Now 83 degrees. 75% humidty. 11:30 PM.

[chococake]

My DIL has an aunt and uncle in Slaughter LA. I have no idea where that's at except close to Baton Rouge. Should I be worried?

[chynna]

I'm in the outer bands of it. Winds are already a steady blow here, no rain yet.
I'm about 60 miles above the gulf of mexico, sortof above Destin-SanDestin, Fl. area. It's blowing here even being as far from the eye as we are. Duck and cover, Terri. the wind will be to you soon.

[newslady]

Chy stay safe.
Terri, you too.

[agogoboots]

Very worried Choco if they didn't leave.

[chococake]

I understand the Dome being used as a shelter because it's steel construction, but what about the flooding there?

[chococake]

No they didn't leave because they said they'll just have some flooding. Oh no, I am worried now, thanks for letting me know. I had no idea.

[agogoboots]

But at least they are on the west side which is better, as better in this case goes. Go to yahoo maps and search for Slaughter.

Local news: http://www.clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/frontpage

Hattiesburg wil be "closed" tomorrow.

McComb could get hit by wind gusts of up to 155 mph this morning.

Metro-area residents should expect power outages when Katrina pummels the Jackson area Monday, Entergy officials warned today.


I wish you well too, Chy.

[agogoboots]

The dome is 25 feet above sea level v. much of NO being 9 feet below and they do expect the dome to flood. Some experts are saying 50 to 70 % of NO will be under 18+ feet of water by morning. Keep in mind that this "water" will really be a sewer deadly chemical cocktail; and that cemetaries in NO are above ground vaults due to the water table. They are saying it might take 6 MONTHS to pump the water out. NO is surrounded by chemical plants and refineries. And NO is the ONLY place in the US that can unload supertankers.

Sorry Sadie missed New Orleans. It was so cool.

[paleryder]

I most certainly did... I took a few in fact.

Are you gonna share?.......Your pocketbook is not really fat. :1rotfl1:

[newslady]

what is a "pocketbook?"

Sounds soooo, old.

[paleryder]

Oh, it's purse now, right? That bag will all that stuff in it.... :1raygun2:

[chococake]

Oh my gosh, Terri that's horrible! Terri shouldn't you have left? I'm hoping for the best for everyone.

[packyrat]

Chynna.....I didn't realize you were just down the road from me....well for another couple of weeks at least!

Thanks to Erin, Opal, Georges, Ivan, Dennis, and this monster now.....the panhandle is all yours after Sept. 20th, and the UHaul is already reserved. Stay safe.

[Emily]

Any updates on how it's going? I've been busy and haven't checked the news. Part of me doesn't want to, either. I had such a good time touring New Orleans last year with my SIL. Now I'm gladder than ever I spent as much time as I did away from ebay live out in the touristy and non-touristy parts of the city with her.

[nobs]

Chyna and all my fellow boardmates in harms way from Katrina -

I hope and pray that you and yours are okay and hope you will let us know. Stay safe!

[hilady]

Emily...hopefully "nual-l -l -l -lenz is left with its charm. Nevertheless, water everywhere, stormshutters gone, Superdome w/ hole in roof. After the water clears, the damage can be assessed. Also, no reports so far of deaths or injuries.

Baton Rouge got a hit too with officials announcing no power for a month in some areas. Hopefully, my sis will not wait that long. She was not so happy w/ the power company and lights out prior to Katrina.

The worst happened in Biloxi - Gulfport area following the path of Camille.
The towns west... Waveland, Hattiesburg, Miss and also Louisiana.. Covington, Franklinton, Bogalusa which is where I grew up... have not heard from my Mother or my son.... lines are overloaded with callers. Jackson is expected to get a bad hit too. Agogo has a generator; perhaps we will hear from her tonite.
T

Grand Isle in La and also Mobile Ala are reported with severe damage. Chynna and packy may have some damage.

Deaths and injuries are unconfirmed.

[Shadowcat]

I'm glad people checked in. We worry, yanno.

[packyrat]

Came thru this one fine....only 50+ mph wind gusts on a regular basis and sporadic power surges that would kick everything off for a minute or two. Much less than Dennis was a few weeks ago.

So no real damage here, but thanks to the feeder rain bands....I have had to bail almost 100 gallons of water from the multiple buckets in just the kitchen alone the past 9 hours. That and the family room & living room roof leaks left from Ivan last year probably added another 10-20 gallons standing on the floors.

Gawd how I just LOVE living in the paradise of the "sunshine" state! :1barf1:

[Heartland]

The aerial photos are coming in now. The flooding and wind damage is horrendous.

[agogoboots]

We made it through. Typing by candlelight. The only two places within miles with power are a 24 hour adult bookstore and a bar. (Figures.)

We had a window broken in the house by sheer force of the wind, several smaller trees down, the entire top of one of our giant oa trees lying in the front yard, and tree debris everywhere. We lost some pieces of the shop roof and barn roof. Power pole snapped off with a burst of blue lightning.

On driving around, looks same most everywhere. Few cars crushed by trees, many roads nearly to completely impassable. Awnings and signs wrapped around trees.

Yet we are well.

Working on laptop battery so time here is valuable. Don't know when we might regain power. Power lines strewn everywhere like spider webs.

Still raining and extremely gusty, but the hours of straight line winds have died out here. My mom further north is getting them now.

I feel very fortunate.

[Heartland]

They're saying it could be a month or more before some people get power.

I'm glad you're ok, Terri. How scary it must have been for you.

[chynna]

Glad you and family made it through ok, Terri.

I'm back too, at least for the time being. We're still having pretty strong wind gusts and rain. We're also under tornado warnings for the night. We were in the outter bands of the hurricane... my weather was similar to Packrat (Hi neighbor :) ) or maybe a little lighter. I feel so sad about all the damage I'm seeing on the TV news. YaY... I do have power.

[paleryder]

KatieP and Chynna are OK ......

[paleryder]

Speakin ' of the devil....

[chynna]

:1both:

[Heartland]

I'm so glad you all are okay.

I fear the death toll won't be known for several days. They can't even get in to some areas yet, and can't contact anyone in those areas.

Some of those building look like they were bombed.

[kim]

glad you all are okay...

[newslady]

Glad to hear folks made it through OK.

[Therp]

Very glad to see everyone made it through (so far!). :) The damage as seen on TV is terrible, I can't imagine how it is in person.

You all still be careful! There may still be flooding possible for a couple of days yet!

[paleryder]

AP:

......"at least 55 died in Mississippi"

[chococake]

Thanks for checking in and I'm glad you're all OK. We haven't been able to get through on land line or cell to Slaughter LA. But, I'm sure they're lines are down too.

[KatieP]

Morning --

we lost power at 9:30 last night and it's still not back on. I'm on the laptop, on a dialup line, but need to conserve battery power.

No major damage here. Just tree limbs and debris down as far as I can see. No damage to the house.

So we are safe and I'll be back when I can.

[sadie999]

http://server1.inlandnet.com/~jilittle/jump.gif Katie and Chynna are safe. http://server1.inlandnet.com/~jilittle/jump.gif

http://server1.inlandnet.com/~jilittle/jump.gif For anyone I didn't know was in danger but is safe this morning. http://server1.inlandnet.com/~jilittle/jump.gif

Peace.

[mango man]

AP:

......"at least 55 died in Mississippi"
I'm afraid that number is but a drop in the bucket , their going to be finding bodies and dealing with missing persons for weeks.

[Eriu]

This morning the news mentioned that over 80 are dead and they expect the number to climb. I saw the pictures od destruction and I just can not imagine going through something like that. Katrina is now visiting us, we are getting pouring rains and have flood warnings out, but the winds are only 35 mph. A drop in the bucket compared to down south.

[Heartland]

I just saw a man on the news who brought me (and the reporter interviewing him) to tears. He was crying, could barely talk. He said that his house was split in half, and his wife was torn from his grasp, and he has no idea where she is. He had two little boys with him.

There are going to be thousands of horror stories.

[Heartland]

FEMA: Tens of thousands will be homeless for months.

[Shadowcat]

The tom sent photos of the destruction at Keesler AFB, in Mississippi. About the only plus I could see is they weren't flooded.

[Shadowcat]

I'm glad Katie, Terri, Chynna, and Packrat are okay.

Gads, I hope I didn't miss anyone. If so, I apologize and hope all is well.

[gigilee]

My ex-sister-in-law, her hubby, their daughter and my two nephews live in Pearl River, LA (about 10 miles from Slidell and not far from Hattiesburg). I thought surely they had evacuated, but I learned from my mother today that they had decided to ride the storm out. Kim is a transplanted California girl who landed in Louisana because her new husband was in the Coast Guard. Neither of them had ever experienced a hurricane and apparently just assumed it wouldn't be all that bad.

Even the cell phone towers are down -- there is no earthly way to find out if they are okay. The area they live in is pretty rural and very low-lying. It may be days before we learn their fate. I'm really worried about them, especially the three kids.

:(

Gina

[Heartland]

I hope they're okay, Gina. How scary for you.

[kim]

sandy - i also saw that guy on the news - made me cry too...

giglee - i hope your people are okay...

[packyrat]

Gina....keep good thoughts.....it took us close to a week to have cell phones even work half assed after Ivan.....and the RC is willing to try to help, but are literally swamped with assistance calls the first couple fo weeks

[chynna]

I quit watching the news for awhile. I just had to walk away, it was to sad.

giglee... I hope you hear soon that your folks are ok.

[paleryder]

BREAKING NEWS: NEW ORLEANS MAYOR,.......

HUNDREDS, MAYBE THOUSANDS, DEAD!

CNN: Reporting that emails from law enforcement and military suggest that the the number may be greater than the Mayor's announcement

http://p218.ezboard.com/fghosttown30502frm54.showMessageRange?topicID=3126 .topic&start=286&stop=290

[zeldas]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9063708/

More on it. It is surreal.

[GammaWaif]

It is surreal, Z, really beyond my comprehension.

My brother used to live in the Garden District. I am so grateful he no longer lives there. And glad I got to see that lovely city a few times. I am so sorry it is destroyed. Sorrier still for all the human suffering.

God help everyone there.