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Posted on 08/28/2005 2:38:16 PM PDT by NautiNurse
Extremely dangerous Hurricane Katrina is bearing down on the North Central Gulf of Mexico and New Orleans metro area. Thousands of people did not evacuate New Orleans. Outer bands of Katrina are reaching the Louisiana coast.
Due to the size and intensity of this storm, all interests in the North Gulf of Mexico should be in their safe locations.
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
Bouy Data Louisiana/Mississippi
Buoy Data Florida
Images:
New Orleans/Baton Rouge Experimental Radar Subject to delays and outages - and well worth the wait
Ft. Polk, LA Long Range Radar Loop
Northwest Florida Long Range Radar
Storm Floater IR Loop
Storm Floater Still & Loop Options
Color Enhanced IR Loop
Other Resources:
Hurricane Wind Risk Very informative tables showing inland wind potential by hurricane strength and forward motion
Central Florida Hurricane Center
New Orleans Web Cams Loads of web cam sites here. The sites have been very slow due to high traffic
New Orleans Music Online Couldn't resist--love that jazz
Golden Triangle Weather Page Nice Beaumont weather site with lots of tracks and graphics
Hurricane City
Crown Weather Tropical Website Offers a variety of storm info, with some nice track graphics
Live streaming:
WWL-TV/DT New Orleans (WMP) - mms://beloint.wm.llnwd.net/beloint_wwltv
WVTM-TV/DT Birmingham (WMP) - mms://a1256.l1289835255.c12898.g.lm.akamaistream.net/D/1256/12898/v0001/reflector:35255
WDSU-TV/DT New Orleans (WMP) - http://mfile.akamai.com/12912/live/reflector:38202.asx
Hurricane City (Real Player) - http://hurricanecity.com/live.ram
ABCNews Now (Real Player) - http://reallive.stream.aol.com/ramgen/redundant/abc/now_hi.rm
WKRG-TV/DT Mobile (WMP) - mms://wmbcast.mgeneral.speedera.net/wmbcast.mgeneral/wmbcast_mgeneral_aug262005_1435_95518
| Category | Wind Speed | Barometric Pressure | Storm Surge | Damage Potential |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tropical Depression |
< 39 mph < 34 kts |
Minimal | ||
| Tropical Storm |
39 - 73 mph 34 - 63 kts |
Minimal | ||
| Hurricane 1 (Weak) |
74 - 95 mph 64 - 82 kts |
28.94" or more 980.02 mb or more |
4.0' - 5.0' 1.2 m - 1.5 m |
Minimal damage to vegetation |
| Hurricane 2 (Moderate) |
96 - 110 mph 83 - 95 kts |
28.50" - 28.93" 965.12 mb - 979.68 mb |
6.0' - 8.0' 1.8 m - 2.4 m |
Moderate damage to houses |
| Hurricane 3 (Strong) |
111 - 130 mph 96 - 112 kts |
27.91" - 28.49" 945.14 mb - 964.78 mb |
9.0' - 12.0' 2.7 m - 3.7 m |
Extensive damage to small buildings |
| Hurricane 4 (Very strong) |
131 - 155 mph 113 - 135 kts |
27.17" - 27.90" 920.08 mb - 944.80 mb |
13.0' - 18.0' 3.9 m - 5.5 m |
Extreme structural damage |
| Hurricane 5 (Devastating) |
Greater than 155 mph Greater than 135 kts |
Less than 27.17" Less than 920.08 mb |
Greater than 18.0' Greater than 5.5m |
Catastrophic building failures possible |
Pressure is NOT going to crush it like a tin can. That is bad science. You also DO NOT open doors or windows in a tornado and or hurricane. You will compromise the entire structure.
That's kind of my point - it's too late to try aerial evacuation.
However, evacuation by rail should still be a viable option. Load up the boxcars and flatcars, chain locomotives at the front and rear and firewall the throttles. Should get out pretty quick - people weigh a lot less than what those things usually haul.
That's understandable.
The problem is . . . . . there's no place for the good guys to stash their weapons, and they'll be sorely needed in the aftermath. So then what?
yeah but NHC didn't have it going that far west...
I think that is what the Mayor was looking at.....
no. I can understand that NO may have a crime issue, but during this event, with women and children lined up for an emergency evacuation, can't they take a time out?
I think you need to take into consideration is that water being 1000 times denser than air has an unbelieveable moving force itself compounded along with the windspeed. This is WAY worse than an f3 tornado or mere wind alone.
"Anything to get the storm to weaken."
People keep commenting on how huge the eye is, when in actuality, a large eye is indicative of weakening. It's the tight eyewalls that are the really bad ones, counterintuitive though that may seem.
The wildcard here is that New Orleans is so subject to widespread flooding that will remain long after the storm is gone. Beyond that obviously problematic difference, I really think the town will fare OK, just as many a city in FL has, just as Charleston, SC did, and will be back to a semblance of normality in a year's time, just as the aforementioned were.
People just love a good scary story, and there's a lot of that going on, here, and particularly with the news media, who stand to gain ratings by exaggerating the threat, IMHO.
Always someone around with a lot of common sense. ; )
back later
Love that spirit!
They search people at all sporting & concert events as well.
Thanks,
Bill
I am afraid so.
It would have to be nearly a historic weakening for it to really matter at this point.
It's an old tornado myth....
Actually the WORST thing to do in a building in a tornado (or hurricane) is open any windows or doors.
Buildings don't explode from the low pressure; they loose their roof from air getting into the building through openings and lifting the roof off.
Unfortunately the whole "you need to open a window thing" was actually in NWS brochures in the 1950s, and it's been impossible to kill this bad advice since.
Had Andrew hit only five miles north of where it did, much of Miami would have been devastated.
However Moose pointed out that the snakes also head for the highland too, along with rats, fireants, etc.
Shep has encountered the "legend of the hurricane party" and unfortunately, those who have died in previous "hurricane parties" don't seem to have much effect on those who are bent on going to one now. My idea of a hurricane party would be to go to Des Moines Iowa, then get out the party hats. No sense of adventure here.
"Don't despair, folks. Every one of those high-rise hotels and other buildings in New Orleans is built upon steel pilings that are embedded in bedrock. By law they have to be, because New Orleans' soft soil will not support multistory construction built upon surface foundations. These structures will survive the winds and floods. The people in these buildings can survive as well as long as they stay above the fourth floor and lie low to avoid flying glass and other missiles during the strike itself.
As far as the aftermath goes, a big-city hotel is actually a pretty good survival shelter: solid concrete and steel construction, wide stairways, and plenty of sleeping space. Water is readily available in a hotel: every toilet in the building will have 1-3 gallons of clean, drinkable water in its tank, and then there are the big hot water heater tanks and indoor swimming pools that can be drained. The toilets won't flush anymore of course, but human waste can be disposed of by simply throwing it off a balcony. As far as food goes, it's a fact that healthy people can survive two to three weeks without any food at all, but then again there are are vending machines on every floor and you'd be surprised how long a person can live on a diet of Fritos and Diet Dr Pepper provided they have access to potable water. The pantries and minibars will contain food as well. Liquor from the bar can be used as a disinfectant, tranquilizer, and anesthetic if necessary. And there are clothes, blankets, soap, and other amenities to spare. "
Worth Repeating!!
I think some self defense (12 ga.) is another wish list tem.
Maybe fuel too for some cooking - keeps the spirits up too.
So God tallies up the prayer count, and if there's not quite enough votes for intervention, he does nothing?
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