Hurricane Katrina becomes Category 4

Mobile, Alabama (where I lived a year ago and went through Hurricane Ivan) is a bit hillier than the New Orleans area. Here is the storm surge map for Mobile County:
 

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Looks like Hurricane Katrina will be tied for the top 10 most powerful hurricanes.

Maybe they should make 180mph a Category 6 hurricane? BTW, I heard somewhere that around Australia, they sometimes get hurricanes that have 200mph winds. There's a lot more open space in the pacific than in the Atlantic, Carribean and Gulf. This storm is also moving over warmer water right along the coast, too (90 degrees), so I don't think it'll weaken too much.

BTW, my great-aunt has a cousin that lives in New Orleans.
 
h4ppy said:
That might be true but since I don't know anyone down there I am hoping that the place gets hit badly so that I can watch it on TV.

Didn't you see the projection path? It's headed straight to Pennslyvania! :mischief:

On a serious note...New Orleans is screwed. The city itself is 10-15 ft. below sea level and will be flooded up to 30 ft.
 
Winner said:
You obviously need more reality shows in your TV :rolleyes:

Sorry, but if I said something like that, I'd be accused of anti-americanism.
Not if you phrased it the same way as I did.
 
Chieftess said:
Maybe they should make 180mph a Category 6 hurricane? BTW, I heard somewhere that around Australia, they sometimes get hurricanes that have 200mph winds. There's a lot more open space in the pacific than in the Atlantic, Carribean and Gulf. This storm is also moving over warmer water right along the coast, too (90 degrees), so I don't think it'll weaken too much.

Only 25 (now, 26) hurricanes in the Atlantic basin have ever reached Category 5 strength, though there has been one per year for the last three years (Isabel, Ivan & Katrina). Only four of those (Allen, Gilbert, Camille and Dog) have passed 180 mph winds. It seems excessive to make a new category for just four historical hurricanes.

Granted, Pacific basin hurricanes regularly reach Category 5 strength. There, a "Category 6" might be warranted.


Speaking of Category 6, Katrina is approaching it, now tied for fifth-most powerful hurricane in the Atlantic basin:
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B-List weatherman on CNN, this morning: "The storm surge is expected to exceed 25 ft. Everyone at or below 25ft is urged to get high."
 
Bozo, in New Orleans, there is something known as vertical evacuation. In other words, people that cannot get out of the city, will be urged to get into high-rise buildings, and off the lower floors that are prone to flooding. And apparently, to take their stashes with them. ;)

We can engineer such high-rise buildings to withstand hurricane-force winds. But water weighs a lot more than air, and the storm surge will likely damage a lot of structures.
 
CNN: Bob Sheets of the Hurricane Center urges residents to secure their stash at 30 ft, and then to get high as quickly as possible.
 
I always see footage of some congested highway backed up for miles as people evacuate. What I never understand is why nobody's allowed to use the other side of the road to speed things along. Keep one lane open the other way and let the rest of the people just get out.

For those that remain...there will be one hell of a party.
 
Quasar1011 said:
WillJ, have you moved to higher ground yet?
We're in the process of doing so. We're taking shelter at the University of South Alabama.

Edit:
The Yankee said:
I always see footage of some congested highway backed up for miles as people evacuate. What I never understand is why nobody's allowed to use the other side of the road to speed things along. Keep one lane open the other way and let the rest of the people just get out.

For those that remain...there will be one hell of a party.
That's what we did last time. Not sure why it's not the same this time.
 
I've heard predictions at loss of life up to 45,000 on one News channel. :eek: Did anybody here any other figures?

One of my professors is very worried. He's from New Orleans and has a wife and baby girl living in the French quarter by themselves.
 
WillJ said:
Edit:

That's what we did last time. Not sure why it's not the same this time.
It's always a shot of some four-lane highway with like one car enjoying all the open road going back into the city or coast.

Then, officials keep wondering why some people never evacuate in time...:rolleyes:

Duh!

Must suck to be there and have no car though...
 
A guy on CNN said a little while ago that its not a ghost town, plenty of people around, and that lots of people are planning to 'ride it out'.

As for all those people streaming out: where are they all going? Motels, tent cities? Not everybody has an Aunt May who lives at 40ft.
 
Crawford, Texas.

Assuming, they brought enough cash to spring for another tank of gas, that is.
 
Well, why not? I'm sure protesting or counterprotesting is more fun than being stuck in an extremely powerful hurricane.
 
Chieftess said:
Looks like Hurricane Katrina will be tied for the top 10 most powerful hurricanes.

Maybe they should make 180mph a Category 6 hurricane? BTW, I heard somewhere that around Australia, they sometimes get hurricanes that have 200mph winds. There's a lot more open space in the pacific than in the Atlantic, Carribean and Gulf. This storm is also moving over warmer water right along the coast, too (90 degrees), so I don't think it'll weaken too much.

BTW, my great-aunt has a cousin that lives in New Orleans.

According to MSNBC, it might actually still be strengthening as it approaches land because of the warm water.

Don't they spin in the other direction south of the equator? Does that affect the speed at all?
 
They can all have a Mardi Gras-type party over there. Secret Service invited!!
 
Between Dubyas ears, theres a stillness, an eeirie silence, like Katrinas Eye.
 
Looks like New Orleans residents are actually challanging the hurricane :).

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