# Katrina **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [August 27, 2005, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/katrina/318837 "2005-08-27T04:44:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Biotop](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biotop/32/321_2.png) [@Biotop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biotop)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2005, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/katrina/318837/21 "2005-08-28T05:37:31Z")
Uh oh. Catagory 4… 145 mph winds. This is bad. ---
**Author:** ![Jman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jman/32/4416_2.png) [@Jman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jman)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2005, 8:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/katrina/318837/22 "2005-08-28T08:47:22Z")
I hope everything turns out OK…this is it the strangest storm I’ve ever seen…what appeared to be a piddly little Cat 1 / TS when it hit FL, now at Cat 4, and NOAA says ‘possible strengthening Sunday’ before landfall in NO. Hope for all of you in LA, MS, and such that it takes a nose-dive down a few notches instead of getting stronger. ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2005, 12:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/katrina/318837/23 "2005-08-28T12:34:49Z")
> [@Biotop](#): > > Uh oh. > > Catagory 4… > > 145 mph winds. > > This is bad. Cat 5 now, with the pressure at 914 mb as of 4 a.m. That’s almost a record low pressure. Track seems to be bringing the storm in to the New Orleans area from a more SSE direction than from the south … bad, bad news. More for flooding and long-term power outages than structural damage. However, N.O. is full of old buildings that may end up standing, but will be uninhabitable after Katrina passes. My in-laws and all their immediate family are here now. My own family still has some holdouts (my parents, and two of my five siblings) who won’t leave suburban Metairie. They’re in the highest part of Metairie, behind the highest part of the Lake Pontchartrain levee, and in a 2-story house. They’ve got a good chance … but it’s going to be miserable and scary. ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Tiger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6de8d8/32.png) [@Mama\_Tiger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Tiger)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2005, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/katrina/318837/24 "2005-08-28T13:26:55Z")
Pressure is now lower than Camille. At least it looks like the new area-wide evacuation plan is running more smoothly – last year’s nightmare exercise during Ivan was what it took to get everyone working together to set up a coordinated plan, and it looks like it may have been _just_ in time. ---
**Author:** ![whiterabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/cab0a1/32.png) [@whiterabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whiterabbit)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2005, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/katrina/318837/25 "2005-08-28T14:11:41Z")
Get out while you can, people. Please. Stuff can be replaced. People can’t. ---
**Author:** ![Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e19adc/32.png) [@Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2005, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/katrina/318837/26 "2005-08-28T14:20:46Z")
_My memory is muddy what’s this river that I’m in? New Orleans is sinking man and I don’t wanna swim. [Swim!](http://www.lyricsdepot.com/the-tragically-hip/new-orleans-is-sinking.html)_ Every Canuck has been singing that song all weekend, and we will continue to do so. Your mayor has just declared a mandatory evacuation for the city. Good Luck in getting out folks. ---
**Author:** ![PinkMarabou](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ec9cab/32.png) [@PinkMarabou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PinkMarabou)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2005, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/katrina/318837/27 "2005-08-28T14:23:34Z")
Please be safe, New Orleans Dopers. I am not religious, but I will be praying for your safety. This doesn’t look good at all. Please get out while you still can. We don’t want any tragic news here on the dope. Please be safe and let us know how you’re doing afterwards. ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2005, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/katrina/318837/28 "2005-08-28T14:42:46Z")
> [@bordelond](#): > > My own family still has some holdouts (my parents, and two of my five siblings) who won’t leave suburban Metairie. Damn – even the last of my holdout family has changed their minds and are coming to stay with us. People’s “hurricane spidey senses” are really buzzing unlike any storm since 1969 (Camille). So many New Orleanians are proud of their records of never running from hurricanes … and lots of _those_ folks are up here in Baton Rouge. Praying for a power outage no longer than 96 hours or so … that’s what we’ve prepared for. ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Tiger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6de8d8/32.png) [@Mama\_Tiger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Tiger)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2005, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/katrina/318837/29 "2005-08-28T14:43:40Z")
Katrina’s winds are now up to 175 mph. Please, PLEASE, anyone who can leave and hasn’t yet, you still have time! And if you know someone who doesn’t have transportation, or can pick up a stray tourist or two at the airport, give them a ride – if there was ever a time to help anyone you can, this is it! ---
**Author:** ![Ogre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ecb155/32.png) [@Ogre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ogre)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2005, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/katrina/318837/30 "2005-08-28T15:55:00Z")
175 miles per hour. Sweet jesus. This may be the worst storm I’ve ever heard of, barring a supertyphoon in the open Pacific. This is an absolute raging beast. I hope New Orleans survives, since I love that city so much. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2005, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/katrina/318837/31 "2005-08-28T16:07:10Z")
How long, I wonder, before Pat Robertson declares this the vengeance of God for the city’s wicked alliance with the forces of gay satanism in hosting Southern Decadence (which is supposed to start this week)? Be safe, Orleanians. ---
**Author:** ![SnakesCatLady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4af34b/32.png) [@SnakesCatLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SnakesCatLady)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2005, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/katrina/318837/32 "2005-08-28T16:24:51Z")
Please get out and do it safely. If you know any neighbors that have no transportation or place to go…and you have room… My thoughts are with all of you. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2005, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/katrina/318837/33 "2005-08-28T16:38:04Z")
Good luck, everyone. ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2005, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/katrina/318837/34 "2005-08-28T16:49:03Z")
I picked one hell of a time to win a new collecting contract from FEMA. I’ve got stories for 75 papers so far and more to come. And my kin out in the Bayou have declared they ain’t leaving. Dumbasses. ---
**Author:** ![Jurhael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/cab0a1/32.png) [@Jurhael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jurhael)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2005, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/katrina/318837/35 "2005-08-28T16:50:22Z")
> [@](#): > > I hope New Orleans survives, since I love that city so much Same here. I was just there in May. > [@](#): > > How long, I wonder, before Pat Robertson declares this the vengeance of God for the city’s wicked alliance with the forces of gay satanism in hosting Southern Decadence (which is supposed to start this week)? Heh. I was thinking the same thing. Never mind that New Orleans doesn’t seem to get directly hit too often(at least not that I know of). No one is taking any chances. Even on Okaloosa County(which 4-5 hours away from NO) has mandatory evacuations for low lying areas. There’s supposed to be a NE turn though, but I doubt that’s a consolation for anyone. ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2005, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/katrina/318837/36 "2005-08-28T17:01:35Z")
> [@Jurhael](#): > > No one is taking any chances. Even on Okaloosa County(which 4-5 hours away from NO) has mandatory evacuations for low lying areas. There’s supposed to be a NE turn though, but I doubt that’s a consolation for anyone. A last-second NE turn would be literally a “hand of God” swooping in and saving New Orleans. Even 20 miles extra eastward would make a tremendous difference. ---
**Author:** ![KeithT](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e47774/32.png) [@KeithT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KeithT)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2005, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/katrina/318837/37 "2005-08-28T17:09:08Z")
[Holy F\*ck!](http://weather.noaa.gov/cgi-bin/iwszone?Sites=:laz062#t2) > [@National Weather Service](#): > > A MOST POWERFUL HURRICANE WITH UNPRECEDENTED > STRENGTH…RIVALING THE INTENSITY OF HURRICANE CAMILLE OF 1969. > > MOST OF THE AREA WILL BE UNINHABITABLE FOR WEEKS…PERHAPS LONGER. AT > LEAST ONE HALF OF WELL CONSTRUCTED HOMES WILL HAVE ROOF AND WALL > FAILURE. ALL GABLED ROOFS WILL FAIL…LEAVING THOSE HOMES SEVERELY > DAMAGED OR DESTROYED. > > THE MAJORITY OF INDUSTRIAL BUILDINGS WILL BECOME NON FUNCTIONAL. > PARTIAL TO COMPLETE WALL AND ROOF FAILURE IS EXPECTED. ALL WOOD > FRAMED LOW RISING APARTMENT BUILDINGS WILL BE DESTROYED. CONCRETE > BLOCK LOW RISE APARTMENTS WILL SUSTAIN MAJOR DAMAGE…INCLUDING SOME > WALL AND ROOF FAILURE. > > HIGH RISE OFFICE AND APARTMENT BUILDINGS WILL SWAY DANGEROUSLY…A > FEW TO THE POINT OF TOTAL COLLAPSE. ALL WINDOWS WILL BLOW OUT. > > AIRBORNE DEBRIS WILL BE WIDESPREAD…AND MAY INCLUDE HEAVY ITEMS SUCH > AS HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCES AND EVEN LIGHT VEHICLES. SPORT UTILITY > VEHICLES AND LIGHT TRUCKS WILL BE MOVED. THE BLOWN DEBRIS WILL CREATE > ADDITIONAL DESTRUCTION. PERSONS…PETS…AND LIVESTOCK EXPOSED TO THE > WINDS WILL FACE CERTAIN DEATH IF STRUCK. > > POWER OUTAGES WILL LAST FOR WEEKS…AS MOST POWER POLES WILL BE DOWN > AND TRANSFORMERS DESTROYED. WATER SHORTAGES WILL MAKE HUMAN SUFFERING > INCREDIBLE BY MODERN STANDARDS. > > THE VAST MAJORITY OF NATIVE TREES WILL BE SNAPPED OR UPROOTED. ONLY > THE HEARTIEST WILL REMAIN STANDING…BUT BE TOTALLY DEFOLIATED. FEW > CROPS WILL REMAIN. LIVESTOCK LEFT EXPOSED TO THE WINDS WILL BE > KILLED. > > AN INLAND HURRICANE WIND WARNING IS ISSUED WHEN SUSTAINED WINDS NEAR > HURRICANE FORCE…OR FREQUENT GUSTS AT OR ABOVE HURRICANE FORCE…ARE > CERTAIN WITHIN THE NEXT 12 TO 24 HOURS. > > ONCE TROPICAL STORM AND HURRICANE FORCE WINDS ONSET…DO NOT VENTURE > OUTSIDE! ---
**Author:** ![rexnervous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e9c0ed/32.png) [@rexnervous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rexnervous)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2005, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/katrina/318837/38 "2005-08-28T17:27:58Z")
> [@KeithT](#): > > [Holy F\*ck!](http://weather.noaa.gov/cgi-bin/iwszone?Sites=:laz062#t2) God help anyone who stays there. Hope it weakens drastically in next 12 hours. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2005, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/katrina/318837/39 "2005-08-28T17:41:16Z")
> [@bordelond](#): > > A last-second NE turn would be literally a “hand of God” swooping in and saving New Orleans. Even 20 miles extra eastward would make a tremendous difference. Is God pissed off at Mobile d’ya suppose? ---
**Author:** ![KeithT](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e47774/32.png) [@KeithT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KeithT)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2005, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/katrina/318837/40 "2005-08-28T17:50:11Z")
1pm advisory is out. Still moving northwest. Winds still 175 mph, gusting to 215. Pressure down to 906 mb. No change in the forecast track. Looking very dire for NO. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/katrina/318837.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/katrina/318837.md?page=3)