[Shekel]

An update from CNN

New Orleans braces for monster hurricane
New Orleans under evacuation; storm may overwhelm levees

Sunday, August 28, 2005; Posted: 8:58 p.m. EDT (00:58 GMT)

HURRICANE KATRINA
8 p.m. ET Sunday

Position of center: 130 miles south of the mouth of the Mississippi River

Latitude: 27.2 north

Longitude: 89.1 west

Top sustained winds: near 160 mph
Source: National Hurricane Center SPECIAL REPORT


NEW ORLEANS, Louisiana (CNN) -- New Orleans braced for a catastrophic blow from Hurricane Katrina overnight, as forecasters predicted the Category 5 storm could drive a wall of water over the city's levees.

The huge storm, packing 160 mph winds, is expected to hit the northern Gulf Coast in the next 12 hours and make landfall as a Category 4 or 5 hurricane Monday morning.

The National Hurricane Center reports that conditions are already deteriorating along the central and northeastern coast. (Watch video to see the worst case scenario)

A statement from the National Weather Service in Slidell, near New Orleans, Louisiana, warned that much of the affected area "will be uninhabitable for weeks, perhaps longer."

Low-rise, wood-frame buildings will be destroyed, and concrete apartment buildings "will sustain major damage," it said.

"High-rise office and apartment buildings will sway dangerously, a few to the point of total collapse," the warning read.

"All windows will blow out. Airborne debris will be widespread, and may include heavy items such as household appliances and even light vehicles."

New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin declared a state of emergency Sunday and ordered a mandatory evacuation of the city. (Watch video of mayor's announcement)

Nagin exempted essential federal, state, and local personnel; emergency and utility workers; transit workers; media; hotel workers; and patrons from the evacuation order."We are facing a storm that most of us have feared," Nagin said. "I do not want to create panic, but I do want the citizens to understand that this is very serious and it's of the highest nature."

About 1.3 million people live in New Orleans and its suburbs, and many began evacuating before sunrise. (Watch video to see who's staying and who's leaving)

Highways out of the city were jammed, while thousands who opted to stay behind lined up to take shelter in the Louisiana Superdome.

City officials told stranded tourists to stay on third-floor levels or higher and away from windows.

Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Blanco said that New Orleans could expect a complete loss of electricity and water services as well as intense flooding. She added that the Superdome, the city's main shelter, "is not going to be a very comfortable place at some point in time." (See video from New Orleans, a city below sea level)

About 70 percent of New Orleans is below sea level, and is protected from the Mississippi River by a series of levees. (Full story)

Forecasters predicted the storm surge could reach 28 feet; the highest levees around New Orleans are 18 feet high.

Hurricane-force winds extend 105 miles from the center of the mammoth storm and tropical storm-force winds extend outward up to 230 miles. It is the most powerful storm to menace the central Gulf Coast in decades.

[Marta]

Jeep, on Aug 28 2005, 07:33 PM, said:

They were saying today that as far up as the Tennessee valley could experience cat 2 type winds from this hurricane...

JHamner.......Hey JEEP, busy place indeed, we all see the significance and for what Shekel has posted???!!!! Wow

What up Hamner? Aww....how odd is that? We'll have to meet up! I was actually at Wallyworld today. Man, I really hate that place...they are taking over the planet. Perhaps the storm will take out a few Wal-Marts in Louisiana? Hmmm, I pray for all the people there.

I'll have to PM you JHamner..