Louisiana, Mississippi keeping eye on Gustav (Category 5 by the time it hits New Orleans?)

KATC ^ | 8/27/08

[Libloather]

Louisiana, Mississippi keeping eye on Gustav

NEW ORLEANS -- As Friday's third anniversary of Hurricane Katrina approaches, officials in Louisiana and Mississippi are keeping an eye on a storm named Gustav.

The storm was downgraded from a hurricane to a tropical storm after moving over Haiti but forecasters expect it to regain strength and move into the Gulf of Mexico in a few days. Long-range forecasts say the storm could be a major hurricane threatening the central Gulf Coast by Monday.

In New Orleans, where thousands were stranded after Katrina hit and flooded most of the city, officials are making plans in case an evacuation is needed. People who might need help evacuating were being advised to call the city's 311 information number.

[Libloather]

(Category 5 by the time it hits New Orleans?)

I've heard reports that this could be another big 'un. Nagin better dust off that megaphone...

[ClearCase_guy]

Last night at the convention, one of the speakers seemed to be blaming McCain for Katrina. I suppose Gustav will also be laid at his door.

[johnny7]

Since it will make landfall during the Republican Convention... they’ll blame this one on McCain.

[kms61]

Could well blow up to a 5 in the Gulf, but probably fall off a bit before it hits land. Way too early to make the call about where it’s going, though. The latest data shows it slowing down, which will introduce more uncertainty.

Since this is a political board, I will say this. If it does come in to Louisiana, it will either propel Jindal into the 2012 presidential frontrunner, or sink his career, depending on what happens.

[Lawgvr1955]

Nagin: Now is the time for us to sit on our arses!! Man the lawnchairs!!

He and his city did nothing last time, people died and he got re-elected. Why change a winning strategy??

[Truth29]

I wonder about the political implications. The storm would step all over the coverage of the Republican National Convention and would allow for another round of it is all Bush’s fault. How many “undecideds” would vote Democrat because of a weather disaster in a city built below sea level?

[icwhatudo]

I hope the people don't get stranded with no way to evacuate again. /s

[silverleaf]

Better hop on the bus, Gus. Has Nagin retrofitted his city school buses with snorkels?

[silverleaf]

great minds.....

[MuttTheHoople]

Katrina didn't even hit New Orleans very hard. The eye came in between Slidell, LA and Waveland, MS. The only reason N.O. got flooded was that some levees on the North Shore busted and it flooded the whole town. If a Cat-5 were to hit N.O. like it did Mississippi, the Big Easy will cease to exist.

As a member of the Miss. DOT, I drove Hwy. 90 between Biloxi and Pass Christian two weeks after Katrina. The whole coast looked like Hiroshima August 7, 1945.

[WKB]

Mississippi ping

[Old Grumpy]

“would allow for another round of it is all Bush’s fault”

Exactly right. Bush is plotting and planning right now to make this hurricane hit N.O., just like he did Katrina. /s

[mware]

This is suppose to hit on the first day of the convention.

I think the governor of LA should make sure he is home instead of in MN.

The Dems would have a field day if he appeared oat the convention when NO is getting hit by hurricane.

[Slapshot68]

Glad to see the ol’ Bush/Cheney hurricane-maker still works!

/s off

[Renfield]

Looks like it's headed for the Big Easy...

[Types_with_Fist]

Katrina didn't even hit New Orleans very hard. The eye came in between Slidell, LA and Waveland, MS. The only reason N.O. got flooded was that some levees on the North Shore busted and it flooded the whole town. If a Cat-5 were to hit N.O. like it did Mississippi, the Big Easy will cease to exist.

Quite right, all of this. I remember the morning after, when we didn't hear immediately from the area on the other side of the lake. I knew what had happened--and it turned out to be much worse than I believed it might be. As for N'awlins, I grew up hearing nightly reports on the Corps of Engineers and its efforts to secure the levees. Especially after Betsy. What happened in the city could have happened at any time... a heavy April rain or a barge striking a levy at the worst point. A direct hit from Katrina and we wouldn't even be talking about New Orleans in the present tense.

[demshateGod]

When do you think God is going to send a hurricane to SF?

[Truth29]

"Exactly right. Bush is plotting and planning right now to make this hurricane hit N.O., just like he did Katrina. /s"

Seriously, they will blame any problems on the Corps of Engineers, FEMA, failure of the national government to immediately take care of everything and everybody, failure to combat global warming, etc. etc. and some will buy the permanent victimization spiel.

[nevergore]

Time to brush off the old Looter Guy pictures....

[Sig Sauer P220]

Get the government issued debit cards ready. Electronic stores better re-locate the big screen tv’s until after the looting. They can sell them later to the debit card holders.