Hurricane Katrina - II

News has been reporting all morning that they are just waiting for the Mayor of NO to announce the mandatory evacuation....what is he waiting for?

That he just did is indicative that we who live in NOLA are all ******.

The reason why New Orleans doesn't do mandatory evacuations, from what I have heard, is that it is impossible to evacuate the city, really, even with contraflow. I think there is some legal reason following from that (responsibility for harm due to telling people to go who can't go? Dunno, never figured it out). Plus, there are no shelters. The Red Cross won't go anywhere South of I-12. The city-run "shelters" he just announced are pretty grim not to mention only marginally safer than your house.

Everyone who lives in NOLA knows Nagin's "voluntary evacuation" means "get out quickly if you can". That's what I did last night.

But, the reality is that there will be 100s of thousands of people left in the city, I would bet. New Orleans is very poor. Many can't just hop into their SUV.

Katrina's strength in perspective

From the Nat'l Hurricane Site -
<a href=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/pastint.shtml>Record Hurricanes </a>

Camille was second at 909 mB
Andrew was third at 922 mB

As you look at this, I just heard on the Weather Channel that Katrina is at 175 mph and 904 mB. Ouch!

And there is nothing to slow it down until it reaches land.

The mayor of NO and the governor of LA. are amazing in their
idiocy. The President of the United States had to call that
sputtering woman that is govenor urging for mandatory evacuation
of NO. That said, I'm not able to find out what is predicted for
South Walton. I'm in Texas now and so worried about wave height,
surge and all that goes with it for our beautiful SoWal. God bless us
all on the Gulf Coast

Station 42003 - E GULF 260 nm South of Panama City, FL., buoy quit reporting info after midnight. Waves were around 30 feet. Appears as if the storm has taken this bouy out. I have a sickening feeling that this monster strorm may
taken an eastern turn and that is not good news for us.

Back to my earlier post that Travl felt was too dramatic but evidently wasn't. It's sad. Most of the people who live in the city don't have the ability to evacuate - many don't have automobiles and use public transportation and those that do won't have the money for gas and other expenses associated with evac. Hopefully, if it's as bad as the worse scenerios, the Federal government will really dump all their resources in putting the city back together and repairing al the historic structures. Hopefully, also they Feds will work with the state to finally come up with solutions to help prevent this from happening again.

I'll volunteer to help afterwards because I love the City and it's history.

[url="http://www.wgtx.com/"]WWW.WGTX.COM[/url]

We Obviously are facing a Extremely Dangerous situation, although at this point not as bad as LA and MS. the storm could possibly hook right a little east and change some of the equation.

WGTX AM 1280 - Nobody is mentioning this so I will be the first to do so. :!: GET GAS! :!: If Katrina Hits LA and MS that is where our area gets all of it's gas, the refineries will be closed or shut down, and the waterway route from there to here will be clogged with Debris and no barge would be able to get through!

:!: GET GAS :!:

SJ,

Thanks for the up to the minute info on SoWal and how the area is doing while Katrina churns up the gulf. Being remote watching TWC and looking at weather web sites does not give us the real story. Thanks to you, Kurt and all of the locals for the posts. I just saw a picture of the Pensacola pier and the wave action there is getting very rough.

Keep the reports coming (even if they are not positive) and please stay safe and keep out of harms way. This board will be our only direct lifeline to SoWal until we drive down this Friday for the Laborday weekend. We hope the dunes and beach are still there for us to enjoy but we (me, wife, and 3 boys) will look to volunteer and do cleanup duty if/where needed.

Thanks again.

You are definitely in the right place on this board. I am fairly certain that I can speak for everyone who has used this board as an info gathering tool during past storms that Kurt, SJ and other selfless locals are our heroes! These people have a very special place in my heart...they really want us to know what is going on and care so much for the area that I feel calm when they post any info! Bless SoWal and it's caretakers!!! You guys rock!

As reported the surf is already up to the walkovers and close to the dunes. Almost all the sand that was scraped at Seaside into big piles is gone already and the winds are still out of the east. When they turn and start onshore we will have serious problems I'm afraid. Photos to come later today.

God Bless the city of New Orleans.

You are definitely in the right place on this board. I am fairly certain that I can speak for everyone who has used this board as an info gathering tool during past storms that Kurt, SJ and other selfless locals are our heroes! These people have a very special place in my heart...they really want us to know what is going on and care so much for the area that I feel calm when they post any info! Bless SoWal and it's caretakers!!! You guys rock!

Kurt, SJ, others, all:

We are hanging on every word and every scrap of info. Please keep the info and precautions coming, but stay safe and make good decisions. I know you will, and your experience and insight is invaluable to the rest of us.

We can not thank you enough... but "Thanks."

WWW.WGTX.COM

EOC
KATRINA.NOW EVEN STRONGER.CONTINUES TOWARD THE NO. CNTL
GULF COAST AS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS CATEGORY FIVE HURRICANE
TROPICAL STORM WARNING CONTINUES FOR THE PANHANDLE COAST FROM
DESTIN EASTWARD TO INDIAN PASS.

AREAS AFFECTED.
THIS STATEMENT RECOMMENDS ACTION TO BE TAKEN FOR RESIDENTS OF THE
EASTERN FL PANHANDLE COAST.INCLUDING COASTAL WALTON.BAY &
GULF COUNTIES.

WATCH & WARNING INFORMATION.
A TROPICAL STORM WARNING IS IN EFFECT FROM EAST OF DESTIN TO INDIAN
PASS IN GULF COUNTY FL. THIS MEANS TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS
ARE EXPECTED IN THE WARNING AREA WITHIN THE NEXT 24 HRS.

STORM INFORMATION.
AT 10 AM CDT.EXTREMELY DANGEROUS CATEGORY FIVE KATRINA WAS
CENTERED NEAR LATITUDE 26.0 DEGREES NORTH.LONGITUDE 88.1 DEGREES
WEST.OR ABOUT 225 MILES SO. SE OF THE MOUTH OF THE
MS RIVER. THIS IS ALSO ABOUT 315 MILES SO. SW OF
PANAMA CITY FL. KATRINA IS MOVING TO THE WEST NW AT 12
MPH. THE MAX SUSTAINED WINDS HAVE INCREASED TO 175 MPH. THIS
MAKES KATRINA A VERY DANGEROUS & DESTRUCTIVE CATEGORY FIVE ON THE
SAFFIR SIMPSON HURRICANE INTENSITY SCALE. THE MIN CNTL
PRESSURE HAS FALLEN TO 907 MILLIBARS. WHILE IT IS DIFFICULT TO
FORECAST INTENSITY CHANGES OF MAJOR HURRICANES.SOME ADDITIONAL
STRENGTHENING MAY BE POSSIBLE. KATRINA CONTINUES TO EXPAND HER WIND
FIELD. TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS NOW EXTEND OUTWARD TO 205 MILES.
EVEN THOUGH THE CENTER OF KATRINA IS FORECAST TO MAKE LANDFALL WELL
TO THE WEST OF THE FL PANHANDLE.THE EXPANDING WIND FIELD AND
THE POSSIBILITY THAT KATRINA MIGHT MAKE LANDFALL A LITTLE FURTHER TO
THE EAST THAN EXPECTED COULD BRING TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS TO
PORTIONS OF THE EASTERN FL PANHANDLE LATER TODAY & MONDAY.

PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS.
RESIDENTS ALONG THE COAST OF THE WARNED AREA SHOULD PREPARE FOR
TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS. SECURE LOOSE ITEMS SUCH AS GARBAGE
CANS.PATIO FURNITURE OR OTHER ITEMS THAT COULD EASILY BE PICKED UP
BY GUSTY WINDS. TAKE APPROPRIATE STEPS TO PROTECT AGAINST COASTAL
FLOODING.ESPECIALLY SINCE SO MUCH SAND WAS WASHED AWAY BY
HURRICANE DENNIS LAST MONTH. LOW LYING AREAS & LOCATIONS ON BAYS
AND INLETS WILL BE EVEN MORE PRONE TO COASTAL FLOODING. BE PREPARED
TO EVACUATE IF LOCAL EMERGENCY OFFICIALS ORDER AN EVACUATION.

STORM SURGE FLOOD & STORM TIDE IMPACTS.
HIGH SURF WILL CONTINUE THROUGH MON AS LARGE SWELLS EMANATE FROM
HURRICANE KATRINA. LAW ENFORCEMENT IN WALTON COUNTY HAVE REPORTED
WAVES UP TO 10 FEET IN THE SURF ZONE.WHICH HAS CAUSED MUCH OF THE
REPLACEMENT SAND FOR HURRICANE DENNIS TO BE WASHED AWAY. THE SURF
WILL ONLY GROW LARGER AS KATRINA APPROACHES THE CNTL GULF COAST.
STRONG ONSHORE FLOW ASSOCIATED WITH KATRINA WILL PRODUCE TIDES OF 4
TO 6 FEET ABOVE NORMAL ALONG THE PANHANDLE. THESE ABOVE NORMAL TIDES
AND HIGH SURF WILL CAUSE BEACH EROSION & COASTAL FLOODING THROUGH
MONDAY.ESPECIALLY AROUND & AT THE TIME OF HIGH TIDE. THE BEACHES
OF WALTON COUNTY WERE CLOSED AS OF 8 AM CDT TODAY. THE FOLLOWING ARE
TIMES OF HIGH TIDE FOR SELECTED LOCATIONS.

APALACHICOLA.924 AM EDT SUN & 1037 AM MONDAY.

SAINT ANDREWS BAY AT PANAMA CITY.618 AM CDT MONDAY.

EAST PASS AT DESTIN.648 CDT MONDAY.

WIND IMPACTS.
THE EASTERN FL PANHANDLE WILL BE ON THE EASTERN EDGES OF
TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS. SUSTAINED WINDS OF 30 TO 40 MPH WITH
LOCALLY HIGHER GUSTS TO 55 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE NEAR THE COAST. THIS
WILL OCCUR LATER TODAY THROUGH MONDAY.MAINLY IN SOME OF THE
HEAVIER RAINBANDS ASSOCIATED WITH KATRINA. SUCH WINDS TYPICALLY
CAUSE SEVERAL DOWNED TREE BRANCHES.A FEW DOWNED POWER LINES &
POWER OUTAGES.TIPPED OVER GARBAGE CANS & PATIO FURNITURE & A
FEW UPROOTED TREES.

RAINFALL & FLOOD POTENTIAL.
THE STORM TOTAL RAINFALL FROM TODAY THROUGH TUES IS EXPECTED TO
RANGE FROM 2 TO 4 INCHES.WITH THE HIGHER AMOUNTS OCCURRING FARTHER
WEST. SOME LOCALLY HIGHER AMOUNTS WILL BE POSSIBLE WHICH COULD
CAUSE FLOODING IN LOW LYING & POOR DRAINAGE AREAS.
HOWEVER.WIDESPREAD FLOODING IS NOT EXPECTED.

TORNADO THREAT.
ISOLATED TORNADOES WILL BE POSSIBLE BEGINNING THIS EVENING.

RIP CURRENTS.
THERE IS A HIGH RISK OF DANGEROUS RIP CURRENTS TODAY THROUGH MONDAY.
EVERYONE.INCLUDING EXPERIENCED SWIMMERS.SHOULD STAY OUT OF THE
SURF TODAY THROUGH MONDAY.

THE NEXT HURRICANE LOCAL STATEMENT WILL BE ISSUED BY THE NATL
WEATHER SVC IN TALLAHASSEE BY 300 PM EDT (200 PM CDT).

$$

38-GODSEY

WWW.WGTX.COM


MEDIA ADVISORY - STATE BUILDING CLOSURES
~ Please share with local affiliates ~

TALLAHASSEE - The approach of Hurricane Katrina has necessitated the
closure of the following DMS pool facilities effective August 29, 2005:


Escambia County
James Building
160 Governmental Center
Pensacola, Florida 32501
Agencies impacted: DEP, DOE, DCF, APD, AHCA, FDLE, DMS


The Department of Management Services closes DMS Pool Facilities in
affected counties during disaster/emergency situations based on; local
government's decision to close offices, mandatory evacuation notice for
the area or declaration of a local state of emergency. Office closures
for non-pool facilities will continue to be left to the discretion of
the agency head in the affected areas.


For more information, please log on to the Florida Division of Emergency
Management's website at www.FloridaDisaster.org
<www.FloridaDisaster.org> .


# # #

Please note: Florida has a very broad public records law. Most written
communications to or from state officials regarding state business are
public records available to the public and media upon request. Your e-mail
communications may be subject to public disclosure.

Back to my earlier post that Travl felt was too dramatic but evidently wasn't....

Nope, didn't feel it was too dramatic, rather as a long-time NOLA resident know the story cold, as most do. It is really disconcerting, living in NOLA, to have the national media sensationalizing the potential harm when you are living there. We don't need the tv drama, just want to save our lives and stuff.

People in NOLA are taking this very seriously.

Kurt, SJ, others, all:

We are hanging on every word and every scrap of info. Please keep the info and precautions coming, but stay safe and make good decisions. I know you will, and your experience and insight is invaluable to the rest of us.

We can not thank you enough... but "Thanks."

I could not have said it better. Thanks you guys and stay safe.

T2M and all of New Orleans ... you are in my prayers.

TWC is doing a big, very informative (non sensationalizing) story on NOLA and Hurricanes and their issues. They are stating that the pumps in the city of NOLA can pump an inch a minute but with a slow moving Cat 4/5 they will be overwhelmed.

Dr Steve Lyons and others are saying that the best case scenario for NOLA is if it hits just east of NOLA. The biggest issues is with the lake on one side, the river on the other and the city being below sealevel that the hit is one thing but then the rains and flooding will be the paramount issue.

Big time flooding and health issues in the aftermath is the bigger long, term issue. Now they are showing Gulfshores, Al and they are stating the "beaches are gone..." but they just restated that everyone and everything is off of the beach "NOT THAT THE BEACHES ARE GONE". The surf looks 6-8 ft swells.

As said, all of us in remote northern areas are praying for all on the Gulf especially NOLA. Stay safe and take all precautions.