Coast Guard Auxiliary gears up for action
As Hurricane Katrina bears down on New Orleans and Lake Pontchartrain, the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary is gearing up to assist the Coast Guard in responding the aftermath of what is being called the "Fourth Strongest Atlantic Hurricane" on record.
William Crouch, Vice Commodore of the Auxiliary Eighth District Central Region stated this afternoon that "units from outlying areas are preparing to depart for the disaster area as soon as the situation becomes clear."
Only three prior Category 5 Hurricanes have been this powerful, the Labor Day hurricane of 1935, 1969's Hurricane Camille and Hurricane Andrew.
Units from as far away as Arkansas, Alabama, the Florida Panhandle, Missouri and Mississippi and other areas of Louisiana are preparing to respond.
"Boats, radios, aviation units will be manned and ready to respond," according to Crouch, "based on the District's Contingency plan which has been in effect since Hurricane Ivan".
I'm in Massachusetts and I'm transfixed with this storm.
Prayers for all of the folks on the Gulf.
Way beyond my pay grade, but like the ice skater, narrower means speed, wider means less.
I seen some canes but this is the mother of em all
Amazing slideshow here:
http://news.yahoo.com/photo/050829/480/laeg10408290634&g=events/ts/080304tropicalweathe;_ylt=AnKWjjtgYGLxroSNadLoA_9H2ocA;_ylu=X3oDMTA3bGk2OHYzBHNlYwN0bXA-
TWC is indicating the storm is weakening as of 2:28 CDT due to dry air ingestion in the NE quadrant; evidenced by the growing asymmetry of the storm and the banding appearing on the west side...