From storm2k message board:
An amazing phone call just aired on The Weather Channel a few minutes ago from Jim Cantore's producer, Simon Temperton. The two of them are at the Armed Forces Retirement Home in Gulfport, Miss. (current conditions), where they have sought refuge from rapidly rising floodwaters on the second floor along with 300-400 residents of the home.
Here's some of what Simon reported in his phone call:
"We're going through some unbelievable conditions. Water is seeping into the building. I'd say we've had at least a 20-feet [of] storm surge. It has washed away all our rental cars, and everything else [in the parking lot]...
"Now water is seeping into the home and they are evacuating everyone to the second floor. I'm standing in 5 or 6 inches of water [on the second floor]. The power is out. There are a few emergency lights. It's a very daunting prospect right now....
"It's a very dangerous situation. I've been doing this for 15 years, and [I've] been Mr. Cantore's producer for many hurricanes, and I've never seen anything like this. This is probably the scariest situation we've ever been in -- just the sudden rise of water and how fast. They said we were good here for 27, 30 feet [of storm surge] -- they've never seen anything like it. They thought we were completely safe.
"We're not even shooting [video] anymore. We're basically in self-preservation [mode] right now. We're helping people put up boards and sandbags to keep the water from coming in. We've become part of the crew.
"In the time we've been talking, the water has risen, I'd say, another 3 inches. It's up to the top of my boots. The water keeps rising."
-- Posted by Laurel, Product Manager, The Weather Channel Interactive
Jim Cantore changed his mind about bugging out yesterday. Hopefully, the residents of the Retirement Home were evacuated to a safe location prior to the storm.
I was watching those guys last night. My wife noticed that the reporter looked spooked, but the nurse was calm.
Wow. I was watching that Jim Cantore this morning. They were pretty sure that they were completely safe. It has hit them hard and fast. They were so sure they were safe they didn't bother evacuating anyone from the Retirement home.
Wow. I was watching that Jim Cantore this morning. They were pretty sure that they were completely safe. It has hit them hard and fast. They were so sure they were safe they didn't bother evacuating anyone from the Retirement home.
They had the mgr. of this facility brag yesterday that everything would be business as usual here (meals would be served on schedule) and that the windows were tested to withstand 160-180 mph winds...though he conceded they leaked @ 180 mph.
It seems something else must be leaking @ 145 mph winds, then, eh?
The places where the power is out are not being televised. The places being televised are not the worst hit. So the impression is: "It's not that bad."
So foolish. There are going to be a number of deaths (less than 500, I hope), there will be tens of billions of damage. The worst part of the storm is the flooding--from the coast and inland up to 300-400 miles.
I lived in Corpus Christi thru several direct hits, including Celia and Allen. New Orleans may or may not escape the Lake flooding it. Either way, she is undergoing a few billion in damage. Unlike a tornado, Katrina is effecting 10,000 sq. miles more or less equally and simultaneously. We're such limited creatures, we have to have a soundbite to hold on to. So we hear from the news: "The worst is over for New Orleans" (meaning the Hyatt), never mind Gulfport, Biloxi, and the poorer sections of NO that the reporters are not seeing yet.
Wow, keep us posted if you see any more from them. That sounds really serious.
these storm chasers take big chances. 00 will come sometimes.
That's a classic, but terrifying description of inland storm surge.
I hope they are all right!
That is amazing, nicholle, because I saw them there last night and Cantore was so sure that they were in a safe place!