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

[BurbankKarl]

That isnt exactly how it went down. They needed the parts to convert the M16s to semi-automatic fire, and the ammunition needed to be flown down from San Luis Obispo. Then one of the helos tasked with this had a problem

The CA Natl Guard was repeatedly told by LA law enforcement they would not be needed.



>>>Good question. In LA during the Rodney King riots, the National Guard was deployed without ammunition. They couldn't find the key to the ammo or something.

[RegulatorCountry]

"I hope I'm wrong; somehow I doubt you do."

You somehow doubt that I hope I'm wrong about the storm threat being ghoulishly exaggerated?

Your doubt is well-founded.

[U S Army EOD]

It should with its own emergency lighting. But you don't plan for people trying to stampede upstairs. I hope everything goes okay, but putting that many people in one place under the conditions they are fixing to go through might not have been a good idea. But that is truely Monday morning quarter backing on my part. Maybe a evacuation plan in the future by trains, even freight trains, might be a good idea in the future.

[CFC__VRWC]

I just did a refresh - you're right. Due north.

[cincinnati65]

With any hurricane or other foreseen natural disaster, all you can do is PREPARE for the worst, and HOPE for the best.

I agree I haven't seen anyone writing the epitaph for New Orleans yet, but the potential for widespread damage and serious loss-of-life is definitely there.

[jimtorr]

I recall the freak cyclonic storms that hit Oregon every 40 or 50 years, and wreak a path far across the state.

Twice in my lifetime so far, 1962 and 2001, I think was the last one. Of course, they come from the South-West.

[Fudd Fan]

Irresponsible on Fox's part in my opinion.

I must agree.
Also, although I hope and pray he comes through this fine, I nominate Shep for the "Geraldo Disaster Reporting Award."

[don-o]

You know better than that L

Take that off line.

[filbert]

People now being let into Superdome--bag checks now being performed on the Superdome floor. The National Guard wanted to get the people in the long lines out of the elements. -- From WDSU-TV Internet feed. Good decision.

[cajungirl]

I was on the last flight into BR and it was fine The airport was swamped at 430 with people wanting out on one of the last two flights out.

Am I wrong or does the storm passing east of new orleans mean things won't be so bad, or so horrific for NO.

We have tornado alert and power outages in BR already.

[SE Mom]

Am hearing it's doing the north turn ...

This is mind-numbing..

[MikefromOhio]

any chance we could avoid comments like that until after people are out from under the gun?

thanks.

[tomkat]

You're still here, huh ?

[mtbopfuyn]

What amazes me is people are totally oblivious to the weather now days, even to the extent of ignoring forcasts and warnings. Folks in NO and surrounding areas knew several days ago Katrina was out there and headed their direction. They, of all people, should know to pack and be ready to head out. But, nooo. So many have waited until the last minute and bottle necked the roads which only slows evacuation efforts.

Yes, yes, there are those who don't have transportation out but they too should have prepared. Lining up at the dome or other shelter anytime past noon was a bit late.

[rolling_stone]

thanks i knew I could count on freepers..FR should be running the evacuation...it would have been done sooner..

[Howlin]

That coming from you? :-)

[MOgirl]

Hello,

I heard that, it was unexpected to say the least!

Glad to be here, praying as hard as I can for those in the path of this monster storm, MOgirl

[Doogle]

Shep should be at the dome. That is the more important story.

they already have a reporter there


Doogle

[Major_Risktaker]

And Shep is scared - very scared. I hope he doesn't pay the ultimate price for accepting this assignment.

Shep face was ghostly. If Lake Pontchartrain levees
crevasse or break Shep will be swimming.

Mississippi River Levees