Hurricane Katrina

[Hilton]

Don't know if anyone is aware of this, but Hurricane Katrina is currently heading for New Orleans and it's looking pretty disasterous at the moment.

Winds are at 180mph and gusting over 210mph. The sea surface is expected to rise between 30 and 50 feet, which is a problem for New Orleans seeing as it is below see level and it only protected for a storm surge of 10-20 feet.

Local tv coverage here

Time for a few thoughts for people caught up in it I think.

 

[dougdeep]

Scary stuff. I've been following this on CNN and it sure looks nasty.

 

[Happy Seagull]

A total evacuation has been asked for if possible

 

[Silent Bob]

Scary stuff indeed.

 

[Lord Bracknell]

I hope someone knows what they are doing.

Predicting the path of a hurricane is not an exact science. Let's hope it doesn't hit wherever all the yats have gone to hide.

 

[Pevenseagull]

Katrina sounds like a hurricane that means business. Hurricane Karen, Kevin, or Kate just wouldn't cut it

 

[Edward Scissorhands]

Katrina sounds like a hurricane that means business. Hurricane Karen, Kevin, or Kate just wouldn't cut it

or Kurt.

Any idea what strength it is now, anyone?

 

[Vlad the Impala]

Cat 5 - about as high as they go.

National Hurricane Center director Max Mayfield said: "There's certainly a chance it can weaken a bit before it gets to the coast, but unfortunately this is so large and so powerful that it's a little bit like the difference between being run over by an 18-wheeler or a freight train. Neither prospect is good."

 

[Hilton]

Winds have backed off to about 165mph, with gusts to 205mph. Gonna make landfall mid-morning tomorrow our time.

 

[Edward Scissorhands]

Scary

 

[Hilton]

 

[bhaexpress]

New Orleans is a slightly odd place. It's not like any other American City I've ever seen. It's got a huge European influence and if you travel just a few hundred yards from Burbon Street you'll see terraced house just like here.

It's pretty run down and if they do get clobbered by this hurricane then the devastation will be very bad. The weirdest thing is that some of the roads leading in to the city run across vast swamps. Now what's even stranger is that there are people living in these swamps, god knows how though !

 

[Shizuoka Dolphin]

They have a lot of forewarning, which gives most people time to make preperations. Only a few hours till landfall - get the pets indoors!

 

[rogue]

Approx 5hrs before it touches base

 

[dougdeep]

It's a big one.

 

[rogue]

I've been told that a few times

 

[Garry Nelson's Left Foot]

If I was in charge of naming a hurricane, I'd call it Hurricane Rana in honour of the mighty Rey Mysterio.

 

[rogue]

How do they get to name them?

 

[dougdeep]

Apparently the next one is going to be called Lee. Bit ordinary isn't it?

 

[rogue]

Is it not the first person to spot it gets it named after them?