OT: Hurricane Katrina

Andrew · 28th August 2005, 05:41 PM

As of the last advisory, Hurricane Katrina has been upgraded to a strong Category 5 Tropical Cyclone, with sustained winds of 175mph, gusts >200mph and a minimum central pressure of 907mb.

This is a catastrophic storm, and it is heading directly for New Orleans, LA. New Orleans lies entirely below sea level, and is kept dry with a system of dikes, levies and pumps. The predicted storm surge exceeds 30'. A direct hit will likely turn the city into a contemporary Atlantis.

I just rode out Katrina as a Category 1 storm. We're still cleaning up, and suffering power outages/internet disruptions. Anyone within the potential path of this monster needs to make the appropriate preparations NOW. Anyone in New Orleans should leave RIGHT NOW.

Rick · 28th August 2005, 07:00 PM

I talked to my buddy who runs a 125' crew boat out of LA this am ; they are making a run for Galveston and for sure he's bucking a heavy quartering swell .

He's passing fully loaded supertankers heading for port in LA and TX .

Traffic out of New Orleans is creeping along at 2mph.

The storm is showing 200mph gusts with no sign of weakening before landfall .

here's a handy page to watch the progress from :
http://www.geocities.com/tropicwx/

/pops

Jim McDougall · 28th August 2005, 07:45 PM

Hopes and prayers for our friends in New Orleans. I have always loved that city and hope to God it will not be destroyed...but most important, that the folks will get out of there. It seems every hurricane season good fortune has smiled on New Orleans, please let it prevail.

Jim

P.S.Andrew glad all went pretty well there, we were watching via our flight operations here. Most of the problem for us was many operational ones as we could not get crews to the airport, some damage at the airport etc. but the flooding was the main problem. Handled quite a few people from cancelled Miami flights for those reasons, rerouted into various other Florida cities. Gotta say that people in Florida are incredibly resilient, all handle things very matter of factly and calmly. All the best!

Rick · 28th August 2005, 08:19 PM

For New Orleans .

http://weather.noaa.gov/cgi-bin/iwsz...tes=:laz062#t2

Andrew · 28th August 2005, 11:18 PM

Folks, this couldn't be more serious. I was just talking online with a friend of mine who is a forecaster for the National Weather Service.

For the first time I can recall, he sounds scared of a weather event. New Orleans may not be there this time tomorrow.

Good luck and Godspeed to everyone in Katrina's path.

Andrew · 28th August 2005, 11:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim McDougall

P.S.Andrew glad all went pretty well there, we were watching via our flight operations here. Most of the problem for us was many operational ones as we could not get crews to the airport, some damage at the airport etc. but the flooding was the main problem. Handled quite a few people from cancelled Miami flights for those reasons, rerouted into various other Florida cities. Gotta say that people in Florida are incredibly resilient, all handle things very matter of factly and calmly. All the best!

Hi Jim. Those of us in "hurricane alley" have definitely developed a certain relilience (some might call it "numbness"

). However, I'm worried sick about this one. Literally: I'm a bit nauseated.

I don't think NO will ever be the same after tomorrow.

Rick · 29th August 2005, 01:07 AM

Go out to the people stranded In New Orleans tonight .
Whatever you believe in please send positive energy to these unfortunates .
I am very concerned that we may be looking at a 21st century Galveston in the making .

Tim Simmons · 29th August 2005, 03:51 PM

Listening to the news this morning it all sounds very frightening. I dread to think how it must feel to have your home and living threatened by the elements. Tim

fearn · 29th August 2005, 05:13 PM

First off, I join with the others in hoping that New Orleans does not get totally trashed by Katrina.

That said...

Chill out, people! You're scaring yourselves silly (literally)!

I've spent my share of time digging out from mudslides, cleaning up after quakes, and the like. I know. I've also watched news people searching for hours, looking for the sob story that will best dramatize the crisis, so that they'll have a good story to sell. That's not what most people do in a crisis.

Most people are pretty resilient, and most of them tend to respond pretty well in the crisis and in the rebuilding afterwards.

As others have said, people on the Gulf are pretty resilient to hurricanes, just as people on the west coast are pretty resilient to quakes, fires, and floods. I suspect that some of our Asian members will have good stories about monsoons and typhoons, too (not to mention tidal waves).

We can get through it.

Fearn

Andrew · 30th August 2005, 06:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fearn

First off, I join with the others in hoping that New Orleans does not get totally trashed by Katrina.

That said...

Chill out, people! You're scaring yourselves silly (literally)!

I've spent my share of time digging out from mudslides, cleaning up after quakes, and the like. I know. I've also watched news people searching for hours, looking for the sob story that will best dramatize the crisis, so that they'll have a good story to sell. That's not what most people do in a crisis.

Most people are pretty resilient, and most of them tend to respond pretty well in the crisis and in the rebuilding afterwards.

As others have said, people on the Gulf are pretty resilient to hurricanes, just as people on the west coast are pretty resilient to quakes, fires, and floods. I suspect that some of our Asian members will have good stories about monsoons and typhoons, too (not to mention tidal waves).

We can get through it.

Fearn

We will certainly get through it, Fearn. That's not really the point. Having lived through more hurricanes than I care to discuss, I am fearful for those who faced this storm. I started this thread to share those feelings.

I'm gratified this event wasn't as bad as predicted when I started this thread. It was shaping up to be one of the worst ever. Thankfully, the storm shifted, and decreased in strength shortly before landfall. However, preliminary reports indicate massive property damage, 55 dead in Gulfport, LA and 50 dead in Biloxi, MISS.

I expect this to get much worse before it gets better.

fearn · 30th August 2005, 08:23 AM

Hi Andrew,

Well, New Orleans seems to have gotten through the storm, and it could have been worse. Now we get the long, slow process of taking stock and cleaning up. Hopefully the death toll won't get much higher.

F

Rick · 30th August 2005, 03:57 PM

Well , I guess it just got a lot worse .
There are substantiated reports of a 200 meter long breach in the Lake Ponchitrain levee .

28th August 2005, 05:41 PM	#1
Andrew Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: USA Posts: 1,725	OT: Hurricane Katrina As of the last advisory, Hurricane Katrina has been upgraded to a strong Category 5 Tropical Cyclone, with sustained winds of 175mph, gusts >200mph and a minimum central pressure of 907mb. This is a catastrophic storm, and it is heading directly for New Orleans, LA. New Orleans lies entirely below sea level, and is kept dry with a system of dikes, levies and pumps. The predicted storm surge exceeds 30'. A direct hit will likely turn the city into a contemporary Atlantis. I just rode out Katrina as a Category 1 storm. We're still cleaning up, and suffering power outages/internet disruptions. Anyone within the potential path of this monster needs to make the appropriate preparations NOW. Anyone in New Orleans should leave RIGHT NOW.

28th August 2005, 08:19 PM	#4
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,293	The Bad News For New Orleans . http://weather.noaa.gov/cgi-bin/iwsz...tes=:laz062#t2

29th August 2005, 01:07 AM	#7
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,293	My Prayers Go out to the people stranded In New Orleans tonight . Whatever you believe in please send positive energy to these unfortunates . I am very concerned that we may be looking at a 21st century Galveston in the making .

28th August 2005, 07:00 PM	#2
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,293	I talked to my buddy who runs a 125' crew boat out of LA this am ; they are making a run for Galveston and for sure he's bucking a heavy quartering swell . He's passing fully loaded supertankers heading for port in LA and TX . Traffic out of New Orleans is creeping along at 2mph. The storm is showing 200mph gusts with no sign of weakening before landfall . here's a handy page to watch the progress from : http://www.geocities.com/tropicwx/ /pops

28th August 2005, 07:45 PM	#3
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 9,945	Hopes and prayers for our friends in New Orleans. I have always loved that city and hope to God it will not be destroyed...but most important, that the folks will get out of there. It seems every hurricane season good fortune has smiled on New Orleans, please let it prevail. Jim P.S.Andrew glad all went pretty well there, we were watching via our flight operations here. Most of the problem for us was many operational ones as we could not get crews to the airport, some damage at the airport etc. but the flooding was the main problem. Handled quite a few people from cancelled Miami flights for those reasons, rerouted into various other Florida cities. Gotta say that people in Florida are incredibly resilient, all handle things very matter of factly and calmly. All the best!

28th August 2005, 11:18 PM	#5
Andrew Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: USA Posts: 1,725	Folks, this couldn't be more serious. I was just talking online with a friend of mine who is a forecaster for the National Weather Service. For the first time I can recall, he sounds scared of a weather event. New Orleans may not be there this time tomorrow. Good luck and Godspeed to everyone in Katrina's path.

29th August 2005, 03:51 PM	#8
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,807	Listening to the news this morning it all sounds very frightening. I dread to think how it must feel to have your home and living threatened by the elements. Tim

29th August 2005, 05:13 PM	#9
fearn Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,247	First off, I join with the others in hoping that New Orleans does not get totally trashed by Katrina. That said... Chill out, people! You're scaring yourselves silly (literally)! I've spent my share of time digging out from mudslides, cleaning up after quakes, and the like. I know. I've also watched news people searching for hours, looking for the sob story that will best dramatize the crisis, so that they'll have a good story to sell. That's not what most people do in a crisis. Most people are pretty resilient, and most of them tend to respond pretty well in the crisis and in the rebuilding afterwards. As others have said, people on the Gulf are pretty resilient to hurricanes, just as people on the west coast are pretty resilient to quakes, fires, and floods. I suspect that some of our Asian members will have good stories about monsoons and typhoons, too (not to mention tidal waves). We can get through it. Fearn

30th August 2005, 08:23 AM	#11
fearn Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,247	Hi Andrew, Well, New Orleans seems to have gotten through the storm, and it could have been worse. Now we get the long, slow process of taking stock and cleaning up. Hopefully the death toll won't get much higher. F

30th August 2005, 03:57 PM	#12
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,293	Well , I guess it just got a lot worse . There are substantiated reports of a 200 meter long breach in the Lake Ponchitrain levee .