Hurricane Katrina Live Thread, Part IX

NOAA - NHC and Various ^ | 29 August 2005 | NOAA - NHC

[NautiNurse]

Hurricane Katrina made landfall today at 6:10AM CDT, and she continues to drive northward into Mississippi and Alabama. Several local radar sites are down. Tornado and flash flood watches and warnings are widespread.

President Bush has declared major disaster areas, clearing the way for federal aid.

The following links are self-updating:

Public Advisory Currently published every 3 hours 5A, 8A, 11A, 2P, etc. ET
NHC Discussion Published every six hours 6A, 11A, 6P, 11P
Three Day Forecast Track
Five Day Forecast Track
Navy Storm Track
Katrina Track Forecast Archive Nice loop of each NHC forecast track for both three and five day
Forecast Models
Alternate Hurricane Models via Skeetobite

Wind Speed Data

Images:

Birmingham AL Radar

Mobile Long Range Radar Loop

Memphis Radar

Montgomery AL Long Range Radar

Storm Floater IR Loop
Storm Floater Still & Loop Options
Color Enhanced IR Loop

Other Resources:

Birmingham AL Weather
Meridian MS Weather (Radar down at this time)
Jackson MS Weather (Radar down at this time)

Hurricane Katrina NOLA Photos

Hurricane Katrina Live Thread, Part VIII
Hurricane Katrina Live Thread, Part VII
Hurricane Katrina Live Thread, Part VI
Hurricane Katrina Live Thread, Part V
Hurricane Katrina, Live Thread, Part IV
Hurricane Katrina Live Thread, Part III
Katrina Live Thread, Part II
Hurricane Katrina Live Thread, Part I
Tropical Storm 12

[maineman]

Hemmer fired?? Why??

[Mo1]

Hemmer was fired from CNN and immediately hired by FOX

He was fired huh?

Ok .. I'll watching him on FNC :0)

[Arizona Carolyn]

Why did CNN fire him???

[MplsSteve]

I've been following on and off all day.

Have they located the USS Alabama yet?

Last I heard, it had broken from its moorings and was adrift somewhere in Mobile Bay.

[ContemptofCourt]

From another forum

http://mb11.scout.com/fmississippistatefrm2.showMessage?topicID=101502.topic

Just found out my home has been covered by the storm surge, which is on the back bay. Our house recieved NO water during Camille, so this says alot. The last contact I had with my family members is that my father (former 1970-74 MSU kicker), my brother, and gradfather were waiting on a police boat to rescue them. I assume my house is gone. Please keep them in your prayers. I know they will be okay, they are fighters!

Some other info I have recieved:

Mary Mahoney's had waves crashing in on thier second floor, forcing my friends into the third level.

Bombay Bicycle Club is nothing more than a slab.

Hard Rock has lost much of it's structure.

Many homes on the beach are slabs.

Water levels rose over 25 feet in many areas.

Treasure Bay has broken from it's moorings, nothing else is known about it.

Many boats have washed on shore, destroying anything in their path.

This storm is WORSE than Camille as far as destruction. There is much more on the coast now to destroy than in 1969. Prayers are needed very much!

- end of quote -

[silentknight]

Slidell - some storm chasers in Slidell said that they were able to drive out earlier this afternoon. They said that it was "no cat 5" there in Slidell. Sounded like there was a lot of water damage but that it wasn't total destruction.

[blueberry12]

We lost power a few hours ago. The grounds are covered with big branches.

[Howlin]

Bump.

[rodguy911]

I think portions of the NOAA site are slammed. I tried to log on to the on the water data buoys and could not even get close.

I knew that was going to be quite a storm when I went to Miami on Sat. and 700,000 had no electric and half the traffic lights were out. By the way the electric crews moved only in larger groups with "police" escorts in Miami and Hialeah. Probably why it's taking a little longer than usual.

[abb]

CNN just had pics of damage to the Cochrane-Africatown Bridge in Mobile (US98). Either a ship or oil platform broke loose and was blown into the structure.

[Amalie]

"The federal military forces may use force "reasonably necessary" to prevent arson, but under no circumstances will they fire on looters. Warning shots will NOT be fired because of the potential danger to innocent bystanders."

The result of the 60s era riots in Watts and Detroit, after LIFE magazine covers showed little kids bleeding in the streets. Any looter who knows this "not be shot" clause is grinning from ear to ear as he/she/they load up and head out. Unbelievable...

[Alia]

Addendum for those reading -- as to how I understand these threads to be working: Local stations will report more news (in the disaster "zones") than will be available via MSM. Ergo, those who are picking up "local signals" are relaying information here via phone or cyber.

During the 1987 quake of SF, I was in the Bay Area. For some strange reason, folks in the southern part of CA could NOT contact by phone anyone in the SF Bay Area. They'd dial their friends or loved one's number, and they'd get... me. But I could get their loved ones -- I could contact them. So, I operated a "communications relay system" between Bay Area and So California for almost 24 hours -- until the phone lines were up again.

Never figured it out, was amply glad to oblige.

[WoodstockCat]

huh? are you sure that's not a tanker you are talking about?

[Howlin]

Where are you located, if you don't mind saying; Spiff is trying to keep up with everybody here in harm's way.

[SE Mom]

Thanks for the update...and for taking on this monumental task:)

Item- just saw the FOX guy standing outside Gulfshores,AL...saying it "looks fine except for the flodding- no bad damage"...this is an interesting contrast to the report from the police (or was it fire chief?) who said he'd been there and it was total devastation.

Also saw a reporter standing on I-10 trying to drive into NO but it was covered with water so she couldn't get in.

It will take days to discover what the real deal is throughout the area.

[TaxRelief]

I am concerned that the earthquake last week may have set us up for some serious landslides in Western NC.

Minor Earthquake Rattles Western North Carolina -Aug. 24, 2005

[RobFromGa]

I fear the worst for Bay St. Louis

anecdotal info, Bay St Louis. a friend of mine has family down there they spoke to them at 1 pm and they are on a high spot 27 ft above sea level 3 blocks from beach. water was flooding their house at that time. no news since.

[Howlin]

Not sure, but I read it several times on here in the last few days.

Somebody will be right along to tell you.

Watch your back; this baby is coming your way.

[bwteim]

Just from DOT site

ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

MOBILE, August 29, 2005 - Officials with the Alabama Department of Transportation have closed the Cochrane-Africatown USA Bridge along U.S. 98 in Mobile County until they can conduct a structural assessment for possible damage that may have been caused when the bridge was struck by an oil drilling platform that had broken free in Mobile Bay.
ALDOT officials have no word on exactly where the oil drilling platform came from, but sometime shortly after 11 a.m. it apparently broke away from its moorings in Mobile Bay and drifted north until it became jammed under the west end of the bridge's main span.

The bridge will remain closed until ALDOT engineers can conduct an inspection. There is no definitive word as of 1 p.m. whether the bridge has sustained damage, but crews will be en route to the bridge as soon as safe travel is possible.

The bridge is the route used for hazardous material to bypass the Wallace Tunnel on Interstate 10. Trucks carrying hazardous material are being detoured up Interstate 65 to Alabama 59 to bypass the closed bridge.

[rodguy911]

The nasty little story about Andrew was that thousands were killed but NOAA reported only a couple of dozen,massive cover up there.