New Orleans pounded by hurricane

BBC Information news ^ | BBC Information news

[anonymoussierra]

New Orleans pounded by hurricane

Hurricane Katrina is pummelling New Orleans with howling gusts and blinding rain, after sweeping ashore over the southern Louisiana coast. The storm has knocked out power and submerged part of the low-lying city in up to 6ft (1.8m) of rising water.

Katrina has torn part of the roof of the stadium, where many sought refuge.

Mississippi and Alabama are also being pounded by the violent storm, which weakened as it moved inland, but brought winds of 125mph (200km/h).

The category-three storm flung boats onto Mississippi, flooded roads in Alabama and swamped bridges in Florida.

[end]

The National Hurricane Center warned the Louisiana city would be pounded throughout Monday - and the potential storm surge could still swamp the city, which sits some 6ft (2m) below sea level.

"It's capable of causing catastrophic damage," Director Max Mayfield warned.

"New Orleans may never be the same."

[end]

'Nervous'

Correspondents in the city say walls of water run down the skyscrapers like waterfalls.

A police officer told the BBC he had never seen anything like it.

Jonathon Carol said the shattered glass on the city streets looked like ice.

"This is unbelievable," he said.

Mayor Ray Nagin has said he believed 80% of the city's 485,000 residents have heeded his order for a mandatory evacuation of the city.

Those unable or unwilling to leave are huddled in shelters, as emergency vehicles patrol deserted streets.

Officials warn that the post-hurricane surge could topple the barriers that protect the city and its historic French Quarter.

There are fears the city's defences could be overwhelmed by floodwaters - inundating New Orleans with chemicals from refineries, and human waste from damaged septic systems.

"We are facing the storm that most of us have feared," Mayor Nagin said. "This is a once in a lifetime event."

A man in the east of the city said the water in his home was "rising pretty fast".

"Tell someone to come get me please," Chris Robinson said via mobile phone.

[end]

"I want to live."

The evacuation claimed three lives, when three nursing home residents died after being taken by bus to a Baton Rouge church.

States of emergency

Mississippi and Alabama have also told residents in coastal areas to leave their homes.

US President George W Bush has issued a state of emergency in Louisiana and Mississippi, freeing the path for federal aid.

The storm, which formed in the Bahamas, lashed South Florida on Thursday, killing nine people, uprooting trees, downing power lines and causing extensive flooding.

[anonymoussierra]

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "I'm standing by your nation; of in fore His Majesty will give you helping hand; just be patient and have faith."

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- thank you all

[DogBarkTree]

I hope the people inside are ok.

[FBD]

Looks like New Orleans was spared the direct hit, hurricane passed by on the east. I just talked to my son who lives in new Orleans, some friends of his stayed there; there is an average of two feet of water in the streets, but not as much structural damage, as anticipated.

[anonymoussierra]

“Everything is going be well; His Majesty will help you have faith.”

[Izzy Dunne]

the post-hurricane surge could topple the barriers that protect the city

Click here to watch a NOVA episode on why the "barriers" intended to keep the water out could actually keep it in.

[anonymoussierra]

thank you all be strong!!!!!!!!!GOOD G-D WILL HELP!!!!!!!!thank you all

[anonymoussierra]

thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Izzy Dunne]

thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Uhh, you're welcome. Please save your exclamation points for someone more in need than myself, though. ;->

[anonymoussierra]

BE STRONG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!GOOD G-D WILL HELP YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!thank you

[anonymoussierra]

thank you"FBD"thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[anonymoussierra]

thank you

[pettifogger]

Had to laugh when FNC's Shep Smith was on the third-floor balcony at the corner of Bourbon and Iberville at the Royal Sonesta Hotel -- Mr. P and I were there just two weeks ago in that VERY ROOM to celebrate our 11th anniversary. Any hurricanes we experienced were self-made or purchased at Pat O'Briens!

[FBD]

http://us.news3.yimg.com/us.i2.yimg.com/p/cpress/20050829/capt.u082911a.jpg>

Canal Street

[anonymoussierra]

}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}

[anonymoussierra]

THANK YOU

[FBD]

Miami-Dade couty aerial

Inside the Superdome, New Orleans

Downtown New Orleans

[anonymoussierra]

My good G-D!!!!!!!

[FBD]

My son said Slidel area and Gulfport, Miss. are a lot worse...he's went to a hotel in Pensacola, FL

[montag813]

What happened to the hysterial "toxic disaster of biblical proportions" warnings from those environmental wackos?

Shorted crude at 70.450, now at 66.50. What a bunch of absurd hype this was.

[anonymoussierra]

---

“I’m standing by your nation; is he well are you well”

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“You know what bothers me is this. Something makes me think things are getting connected.”

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"Through times I have warned you. Through times I have console you and you still persist in your evil doing. My angles are ready; my sword will come upon you with swiftness you have not seen; I have enough! If people in Sodom and Gomorra would know me they would be safe, but you my people are walking on path of self destruction. Time has come. I will turn out your houses to the ground each by each sound by sound, angle of death has been release and thus other angles of my justice shall come upon you with my sword. I have warned you but you are not listening, neither do you understand times. Through this I shall judge you with all my might and no power will stand against me for I am what I am Alpha and Omega.

Before my Father judgment, come to me all, come to me you who are week and lonely come to me all so I can put you in my mother mental protection. Don’t be afraid take my hand I will be caring you all the way through the cross, otherwise my Father judgment be done. You don’t understand anger of my Father. Heaven was created for you this is my last appeal to you, if you rejected my helping hand my Father hand will fall on you so fast and with such a fury you will not be able to stand it. Is that what you want?

Walk with me, talk with me, love me dear children of mine for time is short soon my Father will remove his protection and you will see evil this world have not seen and you are not ready to face this ultimate trial of love and destiny of life I gave it to you as gift of mine. What have you done, where have you gone children of mine. In yourself you are dead. What should I do towards you if you are so far away?


Time is short, you shall receive my judgment. You will face me and neither of you will escape me for I can see in the day and in the night. I can see all your thoughts and your heart. My time has come I shall remove all and I shall come upon you very soon. Read my signs and if you are too blind to see it woe to you for you shall face me soon. No power on Earth or Universe will stop me for I am God and there is no one besides me. I shall come and with me shall come my justice!!!

Children of mine my sword of justice is upon you; for surely I will cast you out. I control elements of foundations that come out of my mighty hand. Do you dare stand next to me children of mine: I say; face me face to face: do you dare? I surely tell you none of you will survive; either you repent or perish by your own doings. My Hand is upon you, my justice is coming I tell you; it has come.

I shall come upon you with my fury and none of you will know my time of coming. My angles are ready are you?
I am God and there is none besides me come to me before my justice will fall upon you time is short."

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