Whether it does now or not may not matter -- the Superdome could sustain serious damage.
I would say this storm could hit New Orleans with sustained 170 mph winds by landfall.
Add to the fact that Hurricanes usually spawn numerous dangerous tornadoes at the same time...
Jacksonville (MS), Monroe (LA), and Alexandria (LA) should all be safe places to evacuate to. Look for possible tornadoes from around Lafayette (LA) to Mobile (AL) and maybe as far North as Hattiesburg (MS).
The storm is quite large (area that the Hurricane currently has gale force winds and storm squalls).
Alexandria has no lodging available for the next several days and there's price gouging going on at the hotels. Coverage continues at this link:
http://www.thetowntalk.com/apps/pbcs.dll/frontpage
My phone's ringing like crazy with calls from concerned friends and relatives up North. I think we'll be OK in Cenla, but I am posting the same message on several threads so evacuees don't head up I-49 to Alexandria or Shreveport only to find "no room at the Inn."
Prayers to all in Katrina's path!