Jefferson Parish – mandatory evacuation for Grand Isle, Crown Point, and Barateria recommended evacuations for the rest of the parish.

Mizar, get those grandparents and force them to leave with you, at least head to a shelter if you can't leave the city. Old people tend to get brave and are usually more willing to risk their lives in this stage of a hurricane, but when the worse comes and they change their mind, it will be too late.

Put your foot down man and stress to them how unsafe it is right now to be staying anywhere in New Orleans.

btw peak wind gusts right now at 191 mph



[edit on 8-28-2005 by worldwatcher]

In case you ever wondered what a hurricane hunter sends back here is the latest vortex message.

000
URNT12 KNHC 281431
VORTEX DATA MESSAGE
A. 28/14:17:00Z
B. 25 deg 58 min N
088 deg 03 min W
C. 700 mb 2294 m
D. NA kt
E. deg nm
F. 306 deg 140 kt
G. 221 deg 014 nm
H. 907 mb
I. 12 C/ 3059 m
J. 26 C/ 3048 m
K. 6 C/ NA
L. CLOSED WALL
M. C22
N. 12345/ 7
O. 1 / 1 nm
P. AF302 1712A KATRINA OB 21
MAX FL WIND 166 KTS OUTBOUND NE QUAD 1422Z. PERFECT STADIUM EFFECT AND TEXTBOOK RADAR DEPICTION OF EYEWALL.

Mizar

This is from 'how to survive a hurricane'

What if I need help to evacuate?
Arrange beforehand with friends or family to help you evacuate. If you have no one to turn to or you have special needs, get in touch with your local officials now. They need to know who you are, where you live, and what kind of help you need so they can be ready to provide aid when a storm threatens.

Call someone, explain the problem. Hard A** or not, they may be able to help you convince your grandfather to go.

Mizar, DUDE!!! your officials are on tv, saying that Jefferson Parrish is in imminent danger. Please honey get out now. You'll bring me to tears in a few minutes if you don't leave. We value you as a member here and care for your wellbeing, please heed the warnings and RUN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

10am central time advisory. Pressure down to 907mb. Sustained winds at an incredible 175mph. Gusts to 215.

To put this storm in perspective the winds are now as strong as Hurricane Gilbert. How much stronger can this storm get? Once they get this big forecasting strength becomes impossible. With this storm moving over warmer waters it could get worse. There is still some 30 hours left for it to intensify more. It could also weaken. At this point it would take a significant amount of weakening to save whatever target she hits.

Catagory 6? - 175mph sustained just reported msnbc

Do they need new catagory cause this thing just went off the scale!

[edit on 28-8-2005 by Phoenix]

There has only been three Cat 5's ever to hit the US, from when records have been kept.

[edit on 28-8-2005 by SpittinCobra]

If this storm holds up and stays on course we may be looking at the first $100 billion dollar storm. Somewhere in the area is supposed to be some oil refineries. This would cause havok with gas prices if they get taken out.

Hey Indy thoes are east bound shots. Most people down here are heading north and thats yesterday afternoon. Thats why its so thin. MOst people were headed I10.

You have voted Indy for the Way Above Top Secret award. You have two more votes this month.

That was an incredible post Indy.

Mizar -- show this to your family and read it yourself a few times to understand exactly what it is saying. Head East then north if you have to but get the heck out of Dodge. They are showing a 20-25 feet water level rising -- I don't care how good the pump house is - if the power fluctuates or if their generators for some reason breaks down (it happens) you are sunk.

Unless the storm makes a dramatic turn you look to be hit on the bad side of it -- you won't be able to go outside to do anything if anything does happen so don't let anyone say that is why they are staying.. You cannot stand up to 175 mph sustained winds with gusts over 200 mph.

In our area my husband would be one of the ones staying behind because of people who don't evacuate in time (Fire Department and Rescue Squad) and it makes me furious to read about people who would put him and others like in him more danger. There also comes a time where the FD and Rescue Squad have to take their lives into consideration and they don't go out because it is BEYOND LIFE THREATENING -IT IS SUICIDE!!. So don't think they will be able to come to you when you need them -- not to mention you may not be able to call 911 at that time because power is out and cell towers have blown down. If you come home and your home is fine -- you can listen to everyone tell you "I told you so" but if you stay and things get as bad as it looks right now -- your last words to them might be "I told you so"

If nothing else makes an impression -- when the weather channel people are leaving it is BAD really really bad.

BTW everything I addressed to Mizar goes to anyone in that area thinking of staying......

edited to add -- The American Red Cross has stated that they won't even stay in NO -- that is how bad this is .... And the Mayor of NO is saying he expects that NO will be looking like Venice soon and he is expecting that it will be for awhile. Not good -- really really not good

[edit on 28-8-2005 by justme1640]

Thanks for the vote Justme. I can't help but notice that Mizar is still online here. I hope that 911 has been called and its just a matter of waiting for transportation to leave.

Mizar.. if you are really staying then find the center of your house and build yourself a mini shelter out of furniture. Use anything you can to act as a barrier between you and flying debris. Probably no time to make sandbags and bring them in the house to build a mini bunker out of. Best of luck to you if you are staying.