Posted on 08/27/2005 11:46:06 PM PDT by Crazieman
Does the Superdome have an upper deck?
Does the Superdome have an upper deck?
Thanks for the ping.
Why don't y'all come over to the Live Thread?
Will do, trying to catch up.
It had very strong gusts, but it didn't seem any worse than the fringes of the storms we went through last year. And I went through the fringe of Andrew and Katrina wasn't anywhere near that powerful. Andrew had a steady howling wind. Katrina strengthened and got better organized just as it hit the coast. It didn't weaken much as it went over land and the turn southwest caused it to hit areas that weren't expecting it.
Sadly, the oil industry relies on some of these coastal towns and facilities.
So this storm may cause additional spikes in gasoline, oil, and natural gas prices.
It could gain strength to almost rival Hurricane Camille.
Whether it does now or not may not matter -- the Superdome could sustain serious damage.
I would say this storm could hit New Orleans with sustained 170 mph winds by landfall.
Add to the fact that Hurricanes usually spawn numerous dangerous tornadoes at the same time...
Jacksonville (MS), Monroe (LA), and Alexandria (LA) should all be safe places to evacuate to. Look for possible tornadoes from around Lafayette (LA) to Mobile (AL) and maybe as far North as Hattiesburg (MS).
The storm is quite large (area that the Hurricane currently has gale force winds and storm squalls).
Yep. I'm a pilot, and flew out in front of jeanne.
We passed over 150 miles of traffic on I95 that didn't move at all.
It may not be too lare to leave the area, but it will be hard.
I haven't looked at the AV forecasts or WX charts, but I believe there is a very large upper trough that is predicted to pull the storm more N/NE.
Not that I would bet the farm on that. 8^)
Alas, given the very warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico right now we could see the strongest storm in the Gulf since Camille in 1969. The damage from this storm could reach over US$100 billion, especially if the city of New Orleans floods from Lake Pontchartrain overflowing its banks.
You are right...it will be cataclysmic....here is an example of what a CAT 4 storm surge could do to New Orleans..
http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/HAW2/english/surge/new_orleans.shtml
If the report of 905mb is accurate, the sustained wind estimate is incredibly low....
Camille had sustained winds of 200mph with a central pressure of 902mb....
This isn't a hurricane...
This is a Tornado the size of Texas......
NeverGore :^(
I have lived in the middle of many evacuations. It is really a crap shoot as to which way to go. Unless you leave very early (like before most employers will release you), you are likely to get caught in traffic snarls and ride out tornados in the open. I was shocked to see I-10 (east-west) at a dead stop for many, many miles at the height of Hurricane Opal. The same was true for the north-south US Highways. The roads were clogged, cars had mechanical problems and/or ran out of fuel. There was little or no food, water, sanitation facilities or emergency responders. I can't imagine what would happen in the event of a heart attack, stroke or prenatal event. Since one rarely knows for certain where the eye will hit or how far out they will encounter tornado volleys, evacuations are crap shoots. Inland folks could be just as well off seeking shelter in a sturdy building and hoping that it can withstand a chance tornado hit. After many years of dodging these monsters, many folks feel that evacuation plans are no better than stampedes initiated by politicians at the last minute to cover their rears.
Saw a NOAA report last night that waves will be 35-50'.
Anrew was a Cat5 ...one of only three to hit the US last century.
Camille and the 35 Keys storm were the other two.
The clogged roads you talk about is a good indication of what might happen to any large city in the US faced with sudden evacuation due to a WMD attack. I would have an alternate bugout plan that involved walking out with an A.L.I.C.E. pack, Camelback hydration system MRE's, AR-15 and Kimber .45.
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