[WestCoastGal]

People have been asking about the Dome weathering this storm all day and not one official has been able to answer that question.

Also, did anyone listen to the professor from one of the universities who said when the storm surge comes through, it will come through a chemical plant area probably spilling the chemicals in the water, coffins will float, sewers will backup and disease will break out after this is done in the next few days.

[NautiNurse]

There is no official answer to whether the SuperDome can weather this storm. It was built to withstand hurricanes, never tested like this.

[MamaB]

They have started opening up some of the schools for shelter.

[mercy]

Don't forget a few thousand drowned pets and snakes.

[MizSterious]

And once people get their bearings and water has gone down enough, there will be investigations about what happened to the emergency preparedness funds (Louisiana taxpayers paid for it) and why the President had to twist the Louisiana officials' arms to get an evacuation started. (Been there, saw that, many years before.)

[del4hope]

I feel like I am watching the Titanic sink. The mayor of NO just doesnt recognize and iceberg when he sees it staring him in the face.

TWC just said possible weakening, but still catastrophic

[AGreatPer]

They had better open most of the doors at the Dome during the storm or it could crush like a tin can from the pressure.

Interisting how no official has mentioned that.

They have been talking about most windows blowing out in high rises. But no talking about the dangers at the Dame.

[daybreakcoming]

a chemical plant area probably spilling the chemicals in the water,

I think that part is hype. Having been in and around chemical plants on the Gulf Coast for years - they are prepared better than most for this scenario.

[Churchillspirit]

Heard that. Very frightening.

Also a former member of the LA National Guard? remembers the scene after Camille and was appalled by the sight of so many dead bodies - not from the storm but from snake bites. The snakes had moved in land to escape the sea water.

[ricoshea]

I did not hear that Professor but I heard someone on Fox I believe say that New Orleans could and he emphasized could{ not would}go the way of Atlantis.

[alarm rider]

For what it's worth, I just talked to my brother-in-law, a structural engineer.

I asked him about the Superdome. He says all bets are off above 175MPH, without exact blueprints and technical data. Maybe it won't get that strong. Here's hoping, prayers up.

AR

[Rennes Templar]

From Drudge...not a pretty picture...


Urgent Weather Message from NWS New Orleans

WWUS74 KLIX 281550NPWLIXURGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NEW ORLEANS LA

1011 AM CDT SUN AUG 28 2005


DEVASTATING DAMAGE EXPECTED

HURRICANE KATRINAA MOST POWERFUL HURRICANE WITH UNPRECEDENTED STRENGTH...RIVALING THE INTENSITY OF HURRICANE CAMILLE OF 1969. MOST OF THE AREA WILL BE UNINHABITABLE FOR WEEKS...PERHAPS LONGER. ATLEAST ONE HALF OF WELL CONSTRUCTED HOMES WILL HAVE ROOF AND WALL FAILURE. ALL GABLED ROOFS WILL FAIL...LEAVING THOSE HOMES SEVERELY DAMAGED OR DESTROYED.THE MAJORITY OF INDUSTRIAL BUILDINGS WILL BECOME NON FUNCTIONAL.PARTIAL TO COMPLETE WALL AND ROOF FAILURE IS EXPECTED. ALL WOOD FRAMED LOW RISING APARTMENT BUILDINGS WILL BE DESTROYED.


CONCRETE BLOCK LOW RISE APARTMENTS WILL SUSTAIN MAJOR DAMAGE...INCLUDING SOME WALL AND ROOF FAILURE. HIGH RISE OFFICE AND APARTMENT BUILDINGS WILL SWAY DANGEROUSLY...A FEW TO THE POINT OF TOTAL COLLAPSE. ALL WINDOWS WILL BLOW OUT. AIRBORNE DEBRIS WILL BE WIDESPREAD...AND MAY INCLUDE HEAVY ITEMS SUCH AS HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCES AND EVEN LIGHT VEHICLES. SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES AND LIGHT TRUCKS WILL BE MOVED. THE BLOWN DEBRIS WILL CREATEADDITIONAL DESTRUCTION. PERSONS...PETS...


AND LIVESTOCK EXPOSED TO THE WINDS WILL FACE CERTAIN DEATH IF STRUCK. POWER OUTAGES WILL LAST FOR WEEKS...AS MOST POWER POLES WILL BE DOWN AND TRANSFORMERS DESTROYED. WATER SHORTAGES WILL MAKE HUMAN SUFFERING INCREDIBLE BY MODERN STANDARDS.THE VAST MAJORITY OF NATIVE TREES WILL BE SNAPPED OR UPROOTED. ONLY THE HEARTIEST WILL REMAIN STANDING...
BUT BE TOTALLY DEFOLIATED. FEWCROPS WILL REMAIN. LIVESTOCK LEFT EXPOSED TO THE WINDS WILL BEKILLED.AN INLAND HURRICANE WIND WARNING IS ISSUED WHEN SUSTAINED WINDS NEARHURRICANE FORCE...OR FREQUENT GUSTS AT OR ABOVE HURRICANE FORCE..


.ARECERTAIN WITHIN THE NEXT 12 TO 24 HOURS.ONCE TROPICAL STORM AND HURRICANE FORCE WINDS ONSET...DO NOT VENTUREOUTSIDE!LAZ038-040-050-056>070-282100-ASSUMPTION-LIVINGSTON-LOWER JEFFERSON-LOWER LAFOURCHE-LOWER PLAQUEMINES-LOWER ST. BERNARD-LOWER TERREBONNE-ORLEANS-ST. CHARLES-ST. JAMES-ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST-ST. TAMMANY-TANGIPAHOA-UPPER JEFFERSON-UPPER LAFOURCHE-UPPER PLAQUEMINES-UPPER ST. BERNARD-UPPER TERREBONNE-1011 AM CDT SUN AUG 28 2005