Hurricane Katrina Live Thread, Part VI

NOAA - NHC ^ | 28 August 2005 | NOAA - NHC

[NautiNurse]

Extremely dangerous Hurricane Katrina is bearing down on the North Central Gulf of Mexico and New Orleans metro area. Thousands of people did not evacuate New Orleans. Outer bands of Katrina are reaching the Louisiana coast.

Due to the size and intensity of this storm, all interests in the North Gulf of Mexico should be in their safe locations.

The following links are self-updating:

Public Advisory Currently published every 3 hours 5A, 8A, 11A, 2P, etc. ET
NHC Discussion Published every six hours 6A, 11A, 6P, 11P
Three Day Forecast Track
Five Day Forecast Track
Navy Storm Track
Katrina Track Forecast Archive Nice loop of each NHC forecast track for both three and five day
Forecast Models
Alternate Hurricane Models via Skeetobite
Bouy Data Louisiana/Mississippi
Buoy Data Florida

Images:

New Orleans/Baton Rouge Experimental Radar Subject to delays and outages - and well worth the wait

Mobile Long Range Radar Loop

New Orleans/Baton Rouge Radar

Ft. Polk, LA Long Range Radar Loop

Northwest Florida Long Range Radar

Storm Floater IR Loop
Storm Floater Still & Loop Options
Color Enhanced IR Loop

Other Resources:

Hurricane Wind Risk Very informative tables showing inland wind potential by hurricane strength and forward motion
Central Florida Hurricane Center
New Orleans Web Cams Loads of web cam sites here. The sites have been very slow due to high traffic
New Orleans Music Online Couldn't resist--love that jazz
Golden Triangle Weather Page Nice Beaumont weather site with lots of tracks and graphics
Hurricane City
Crown Weather Tropical Website Offers a variety of storm info, with some nice track graphics

Live streaming:

WWL-TV/DT New Orleans (WMP) - mms://beloint.wm.llnwd.net/beloint_wwltv
WVTM-TV/DT Birmingham (WMP) - mms://a1256.l1289835255.c12898.g.lm.akamaistream.net/D/1256/12898/v0001/reflector:35255
WDSU-TV/DT New Orleans (WMP) - http://mfile.akamai.com/12912/live/reflector:38202.asx
Hurricane City (Real Player) - http://hurricanecity.com/live.ram
ABCNews Now (Real Player) - http://reallive.stream.aol.com/ramgen/redundant/abc/now_hi.rm
WKRG-TV/DT Mobile (WMP) - mms://wmbcast.mgeneral.speedera.net/wmbcast.mgeneral/wmbcast_mgeneral_aug262005_1435_95518

Category	Wind Speed	Barometric Pressure	Storm Surge	Damage Potential
Tropical Depression	< 39 mph < 34 kts			Minimal
Tropical Storm	39 - 73 mph 34 - 63 kts			Minimal
Hurricane 1 (Weak)	74 - 95 mph 64 - 82 kts	28.94" or more 980.02 mb or more	4.0' - 5.0' 1.2 m - 1.5 m	Minimal damage to vegetation
Hurricane 2 (Moderate)	96 - 110 mph 83 - 95 kts	28.50" - 28.93" 965.12 mb - 979.68 mb	6.0' - 8.0' 1.8 m - 2.4 m	Moderate damage to houses
Hurricane 3 (Strong)	111 - 130 mph 96 - 112 kts	27.91" - 28.49" 945.14 mb - 964.78 mb	9.0' - 12.0' 2.7 m - 3.7 m	Extensive damage to small buildings
Hurricane 4 (Very strong)	131 - 155 mph 113 - 135 kts	27.17" - 27.90" 920.08 mb - 944.80 mb	13.0' - 18.0' 3.9 m - 5.5 m	Extreme structural damage
Hurricane 5 (Devastating)	Greater than 155 mph Greater than 135 kts	Less than 27.17" Less than 920.08 mb	Greater than 18.0' Greater than 5.5m	Catastrophic building failures possible

[Types_with_Fist]

87.0 AM

[FMBass]

The real problem is the loss of refining capacity.

[solitas]

Awww... shemp is a mod's favorite?

[lifacs]

Charge Carrier make it in okay?

[KJC1]

Has anyone heard if preparations were made for large quantities of water and food to be at the Superdome? I know each person is asked to bring a 3-4 day supply for themselves, but I'm wondering if any arrangements were made to have supplies on hand if people don't have enough with them or they are there longer than 3-4 days.

[Peach]

After that report about the food, someone posted they saw NG moving in food and water. They would have to have at least MRE's.

I just talked to a neighbor who has family in NO; she and her husband grew up there. When I commented that the mayor wasn't sure he had the authority to order a mandatory evacuation, she defended him.

I tried to explain that the first part of The Plan we keep hearing about is knowing whether or not you even have the authority to order an evacuation. She did NOT get it.

[jeffers]

Even if the roof comes off, a lot of people survived similar situations in churches during the Galveston hurricane.

You get wet, but substantial walls stop the high energy debris.

[WestCoastGal]

"Supertankers cannot deliver cargo at NYC or LA? "I find that VERY hard to believe.

I thought they did offload in Long Beach, California.

[jacquej]

Alarm Rider, my architect husband agrres with your structural engineer brother-in-law completely! These guys know enough about structures to not venture any guesses without detailed information about how the thing is actually put together.

My hu8sb and says this, however. If he were forced into the Superdome as a last resort, he wouldn't go into the seating or arena, but would try to stay near the exterior walls in the concession areas...

[Ingtar]

I never saw a guardsman with a weapon in the shots around the Superdome. I hope I just missed seeing them. If there is a panic, it could get ugly.

[hole_n_one]

...tell Shep not to be scared! We got his back!

Go ahead, hero.

As far as I'm concerned, the idiot is on his own.

[PAR35]

I was told that the potential existed for the entire lower river basin to be re-routed through what is now the Atchafalaya.... if something like that could result from Hurricane Katrina the devastation would be off the charts..

The Old River Control Stucture is far enough up river that there is no risk of this. About 30 years ago seasonal flooding almost washed out the structure, but it has been beefed up since then. The Morganza structure is farther downstream than Old River, but it shouldn't be at risk either.

[homemom]

ANYONE who was over there is a hero.

THANKS to any and all military people and their families who are reading this. God bless you all.

If I didn't have a family--and wasn't too old!--I'd go.

[steveegg]

I'm worried about everybody in the NO area. This just feels way wrong.

[WestVirginiaRebel]

And the nominees for this year's Most Outstanding Darwin Award are...BTW, anybody find out what happened to those fools on the rocks who were watching the waves?

[Txsleuth]

Gosh, I must have missed your post about it...

WOW...CNN is really changing isn't it. Hopefully Hemmer will like it at Fox.

[Atlas Sneezed]

Mrs. B and I spent our honeymoon at the Royal O. We did get out for a few meals. A private room at Antoine's the first night in town. Been back for milestone anniversary, and other happy visits. The best city in the world for celebration.

I am enjoying a Sazerac as we type, with a few dashes of Peychaud's and Angustora bitters. Fond memories of Antoine's, Ugelitshes, Johnnie's Po' Boys (being stranded there one afternoon in a downpour - poor us! With fried oyster po-boys.) Another dozen, and a dozen more at Acme, with another pint of Abita. Dreaming about taking home a muffeletta on the plane. Pecan pie at the Cammilia grill, and heading home on the streetcar, seeing the grand foyers of St. Charles street mansions glistening through the cut-glass front doors.

Fine dining at Christian's (the waiter correctly says: "you don't want a half bottle of wine with lunch, have a full bottle"), Bayona, Commander's Palace and Galatoires. Soft. Shell. Crab.

Learning how they REALLY say it, from the society lady volunteer at the history museum. ("Nuh-WAH-yuns" or "NWAH-yuns" - no "L" or "R").

Touring the old cemetery, and being glad that Florida carry permits are good in Louisiana. Soul food a cab ride away from the tourists. A city with an intense racial mix, but politeness and warmth all around, where no one seems to feel or act like "a minority."

Hot, hot steamy weather (who visits in Summer?!) Ducking out of a cab after a block when it proved not to have A/C.

Street performers on Royal street. Fat cops. Fatter perps. Cabbies with a Cajun patois that only a non-French speaker can decipher. Cabbies that really go fast, and need to be reined in when you tell them that you are in a bit of a hurry.

Ducking into and out of the rain, always to or from a fine meal, more times than I can count.

Art galleries that used to be cheap, and the great D-Day museum, with all of its exhibits on the very high second floor.

Hurricanes. At Pat O'Brian's (now I am misting up, considering the irony of that name, tonight.) A tacky tourist drink that is actually well-made, delicious, and potent enough to make you not care about the consequences. A steamy evening with my new bride on Pat's terrace, with the house photographer capturing our sweaty sheen, and happy smiles.

I love New Orleans.

[Founding Father]

N.O. Police chief: curfew in effect; trying to help move old people;nat'l guard out in force; no weapons,alcohol,contraband allowed in superdome-people must bring own food and water;dome will save lives, but little more;"I want people to pray, I believe in prayer.";people calm have good attitudes;city people now at their best;police will stay out until their lives in jeopardy;price gouging not reported, but will be prosecuted;after storm passes will work with nat'l guard, will be using boats, high-wheel vehicles;will stop looting; now concentrating on saving lives.

[Man50D]

"Damn the RATs for blocking ANWR in 2001."

They don't have hurricanes in Alaska!

[Veto!]

Good point, Rummy Chick. Expect donations to flood in from the Muslim countries particularly to help with NO survivors and rebuilding. Hah!