People Flee as Cyclone Gonu Heads to Oil-Rich Persian Gulf (Monster Cyclone UPDATE)

FOX ^ | 6/5/07 | AP/Fox

[Sax]

MUSCAT, Oman — More people have fled their homes in Oman's eastern coastal towns as a powerful cyclone approaches the oil-rich Gulf area, police officials said Tuesday.

Cyclone Gonu, with winds of 160 miles per hour and gusts of 195 miles per hour, is heading northwest through the Indian Ocean toward Oman's east coast.

Authorities on Monday evacuated nearly 7,000 people from Masirah, a lowland island off the east coast of Oman, said General Malik bin Suleiman al-Muamri, head of the country's civil defense.

He said that a state of emergency was declared in the affected area, including mobilizing army and police forces to help provide shelter and medical services. More families were also leaving their homes in towns on the mainland on Tuesday, officials said. The government said schools and public building were emptied to make room for the evacuees.

[Sax]

Just an update, didn't see any threads posted today.

[Hegemony Cricket]

Oh, man!

[steve86]

Amazing how little attention this is getting. Give it a day — it will get a whole bunch more!!

[Gay State Conservative]

Gas will be $5/gallon by next week.

[x_plus_one]

NE Course correction required for maximum efficiency...

[Arrowhead1952]

Look out “My mood I’m in a jihad”, the 12th iman is headed your way.

[dfwgator]

Where is FEMA?

[dirtboy]

More people have fled their homes in Oman's eastern coastal towns as a powerful cyclone approaches the oil-rich Gulf area, police officials said Tuesday.

Funny, this is the first major cyclone in observed history in that area, yet you don't have to tell folks twice to skeddadle.

Whereas a large segment of New Orleans residents with cars stayed put with the approach of a major hurricane, when that is a common occurrence there.

Just goes to show that the largest deficiency in disaster planning is on the individual level.

[Red Badger]

Now notice the difference between NOLA and these folks...........

[wastedyears]

Indeed

[dirtboy]

Where is FEMA?

They've got trucks full of ice ready to drive to Oman if the cyclone hits there.

[JennysCool]

O man, I ran, from Pakistan!

[dirtboy]

Same Bat thought, same Bat post time...

[popdonnelly]

Them’s the breaks. Nature is still more trouble than acts of humans.

[dfwgator]

Too bad it can’t head straight for Ahmanutjob’s house.

[dirtboy]

Amazing how little attention this is getting. Give it a day — it will get a whole bunch more!!

It's steadily weakening. The sat images are getting less impressive by the hour as it starts sucking in drier air from surrounding landmasses.

[rovenstinez]

I am sure any place around there can use a little extra rain, probably cool things down for the troops there.. Allah be praised.

[Hegemony Cricket]

After all that, you must be Hungary! ;-)

[popdonnelly]

On the upside, they could use the rain.