Hurricane Katrina

[bmattock]

Woke up this morning to the news that Katrina is now an F5 and headed smack dab at New Orleans. CNN says it is only one millibar less powerful than the most powerful hurricane that has ever been measured hitting the USA, and perhaps the 3rd or 4th most powerful hurricane ever measured anywhere.

As of this moment, there is no mandatory evacuation order for New Orleans, but they have reversed the flow of traffic for all interstate highways in the area, all vehicles must flow outward away from New Orleans.

I was in a 'Super Typhoon' (F4 hurricane) in Okinawa Japan in 1983 and it was no picnic. Three days of sideways rain and winds so strong a grown man could not stand up in it. In fact, we had 2 1/2 ton trucks knocked over - only 5 ton trucks could navigate safely during the storm. Cars literally were blown down the street like they had been thrown by a giant's hand, end over end. Most buildings survived because they get a lot of typhoons there - all the buildings are made of cinder blocks.

I hope all our RFF friends in New Orleans get out safely and find their homes and property in good shape when they return. My wife and I have a vacation planned to New Orleans in October - we hope there is a New Orleans there to visit, but more than that, we're concerned for those there now.

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

 

[rover]

New Orleans is below sea level is it not? The strongest storm surge should be the east of the eye so that will be where the highest tides are expected.

 

[Skinny McGee]

I went through 3 Hurricanes last year the eyes of all of the past over our house... This thing is a F*%kin' monster.... I feel sorry for the people in that area... If you have not been to New Oreleans you might have missed you chance.. This thing looks like it might tip there 5 scale up a notch. Good luck if anyone is in that area.. you had best get the hell out.

 

[bmattock]

New Orleans is six feet below sea level - they are predicting stom surges of 30 feet or more. Apparently, this scenario has been a 'prediction exercise' for meteorologists for generations - the 'big one' hits New Orleans; what are the results? This has been predicted for a long time; none of the predicted potential outcomes are pretty.

Skinny, I'm sorry for what you've been through in FLA. Here in NC, we've been braced for a big one, but for some reason, Florida has been getting the hammer over and over again.

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

 

[back alley]

tons of snow and the occasional tornado, that's what happens here in the frozen north.

i can't imagine those kinds of winds.

i'm not much for prayer but i will keep a good thought for all those in the path of this storm.

joe

 

[digitalox]

i don;t listen to news much on the weekend so I had no idea. We here in houston had predicted that katrina would probably pass over florida, stop, go in reverse and pass over it again. Just kidding, florida has such a bad time with these lately.

I read recently that new orleans is predicted to be gone either way within the next century due to it rapidaly sinking (and already below sea level) and the whole area with all its old buildings is absolutely termite infested. Don't know if the termite part is true.

 

[bmattock]

Mayor of New Orleans has just issued a mandatory evacuation order for the entire parrish of New Orleans. Martial Law declared - city will commandeer any and all vehicles and property considered necessary for the operation of the city and arrest anyone who remains in the city and is not on a small list of those exempted.

I just read a very scary website about 'worst case scenarios' for New Orleans. It is called 'filling the bowl' because the levee that protects New Orleans will also hold the water IN when the levee is topped by the water surges and the city fills to a depth of 20 to 30 feet. New Orleans could become an actual, permanent, lake. This is being considered as 'the big one' by all concerned.

My wife and I will keep New Orleans and all those affected by this hurricane in our prayers.

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

I really don't know what I can say or add to any of that, except I really really hope that people take all precautions and are not home already; those who can should head to a shelter or buildings. I think it's also a good time to reflect about laws against unscrupulous insurance agents, real estate agents and constructors.

 

[peter_n]

Indeed. And I second Bill's sentiments above - I hope that all in southern Louisiana will be safe after this storm blows over.

 

[digitalox]

This is all a bit surreal. I have family an hour or two west of new orleans. I hope everything goes ok.

 

[Todd.Hanz]

Good Luck to all in the "Big Easy", I hope yall get of town instead of staying low, this is no time for a Hurricane party.

Todd

 

[bmattock]

National Guard has just been mobilized in New Orleans at the order of the Governor. No, this is no time for hurricane parties. Read:

http://www.nola.com/hurricane/index.ssf?/washingaway/thebigone_1.html

The commanding general of the National Guard is saying this is 'the big one' the worst event to ever happen to New Orleans, including the Civil War's sacking and burning. NOLA.com predicts 25,000 dead - Lake Ponchetrain turned into a bigger lake where New Orleans used to be.

This may be a bad one. I hope and pray that the storm turns - the weather people are saying it won't.

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

 

[oftheherd]

I add my good wishes and prayers for all in the path of the hurricane. But especially those in New Orleans. In Virginia, we had been expecting to see some of the rain from Katrina. Wonder where it will go now. The Mid-west has really had as much as it needs already I think. But, prayers to all for sure.

 

[bmattock]

More info - the storm is now passing Cat 5 and moving into new territory - 175 mph sustained winds at this time. Storm is now the strongest storm ever measured in the USA, ever. Predicted direct hit of the eye on New Orleans. The CNN weather guy says he is also a professor at FEMA - they have feared this particular hurricane for years. Andrew destroyed 200,000 homes and it was a Cat 4. They are saying flatly - 25,000 people dead, 90 percent of all buldings in New Orleans eradicated. Not damaged - gone. Prediction models done in the past insinuated that it would not be worth rebulding the city afterwards - nothing left to rebuild. Power of 10-15 atomic bombs in a city of 100,000.

I know news organizations get ratings by being inflammatory - but I'm not used to hearing weather guys say this is the 'worst storm ever'. They're usually a bit more reserved.

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

 

[glenbarn]

Things are gonna get pretty breezy tomorrow here in Baton Rouge.

I've lived in New Orleans (French Quarter, Garden District, Lakefront) for 25 years and I fear much of it may be gone by Tuesday.

Predictions are that there aren't enough body bags in US inventory now to meet the coming need.

Even with the largest pumps in the world (the city of Amsterdam modeled their pumps on the New Orleans system), engineers predict it will take 6 months to pump the water out.


This one doesn't look good.

 

[bmattock]

Govenor is now telling people not to head west to Texas - roads are all jammed. Head north instead. The 'window' is still open, but is closing rapidly. New Orleans says that they'll be forced to close all the roads out of the city when the winds start tonight, and then it will be too late. I wish more people would take these warnings seriously and get out.

Also - 1/3 of all oil that comes into the USA comes through New Orleans. Get ready for $8 per gallon US prices within a week. Not kidding - all crude oil refineries in LA. will be destroyed tomorrow.

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

 

[bmattock]

Things are gonna get pretty breezy tomorrow here in Baton Rouge.

I've lived in New Orleans (French Quarter, Garden District, Lakefront) for 25 years and I fear much of it may be gone by Tuesday.

Predictions are that there aren't enough body bags in US inventory now to meet the coming need.

Even with the largest pumps in the world (the city of Amsterdam modeled their pumps on the New Orleans system), engineers predict it will take 6 months to pump the water out.


This one doesn't look good.

I just looked at the map - didn't realize how close Baton Rouge was to New Orleans. I hope you're planning to evacuate as well?

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

 

[glenbarn]

Thanks for your concern, Bill.

I'll be staying put in B.R. Winds may reach 65 or so with lots of rain.

The big difference is being 30+ feet above sea level here versus 6 feet below as in New Orleans.

The winds are a big problem, but the water is the biggest problem.

 

[Socke]

That looks bad!

All I can do is send everybody my best wishes.

 

[bmattock]

Anyone know if Natalia is out of the area? Sure hope so. Anybody else from RFF in the area?