More than likely this will not Hit NOLA and won't be a CAT 4....it will probably hit on the TX coast of the border of TX/LA.

and will most likely hit as a Cat 3

and as everyone is saying its way too soon to knoe for sure!

Everyone who's making the statement that the government should just abandon New Orleans and everyone should move apparently knows very little about our national economy.

The Port of New Orleans is the 5th largest cargo port in the United States and the Port of South Louisiana (which also lies mostly below sea level along the river coast line from New Orleans to Baton Rouge) is the largest seaport in the Western Hemisphere in terms of cargo volume. Over half of our nation's domestic grain exports leave the Midwest down the Mississippi river and are transfered to oceanic cargo vessels in the Port of New Orleans.

For as much exposure as New Orleans gets as a city of partying, revelry, voodoo, and general tomfoolery, people seem to be completely oblivious to her true economic value & importance to this country. All of those Gulf offshore drilling rigs use the port to get the crude into this country and a fair share of our national refineries are located in the region. Those ports also hold two of our 4 national strategic petroleum reserve stores.

Every single barge that comes down (or up) the Mississippi or Missouri rivers with imported or exported cargo passes through that port. Also, anyone who loves gulf shrimp or gulf oysters/clams can thank the port of New Orleans for getting them from the gulf to the land.

Yeah, it cost us some money to rebuild the city after Katrina and it very well could happen again... but if you place the trade value (actually an almost uncalcuable value) against the cost of rebuilding the city however many times it gets flooded, the vitalness of the city & her ports, refineries, and storage capacity will tip the scales everytime.

[edit on 7-9-2008 by burdman30ott6]

As someone else said, far too early to forecast with any real certainty of track and strength till it passes by/thru Cuba. It will weaken over Cuba then regroup over the Gulf. Heck it might even hit the tip of Southern Florida. Too many variables still, to say anything for certain 4 or 5 days out.

Whoever decided to build a city of that scale in hurricane ally is seriously an idiot.

Who cares if they do this and that with their ports, its just an obvious move to build around things like geography and weather... its like putting up houses with no roof cuz you think it won't rain...

Models shifted farther west:

Looking pretty bad for Cuba

What happens when Ike gets into the Gulf remains to be seen.

To early to say where its heading, Gustav looked like 'the storm of the century' then fizzled, yes its good to be prepared and expect the worst, but you cant do it every time something enters the gulf.
just be prepared.
in saying that,

After Katrina hit i believe there's no choice, but to never return to the city again.

Its enevitable for it to happen again, and again, and again.
those waters are getting warmer, and hurricanes seem to have a very common habbit of heading in that direction.

People should of learned from Katrina, that city just isnt where people should live any longer.

good luck to florida and the gulf water states, theres many more hurricanes heading your way in the years to come.

I live in Houston and was here when Alisha hit. That was the last hurricane we had. I think it was in 1983. We're WAY overdue for one. I know it's too early to tell where it's headed, but I wouldn't be surprised if it comes here. Oh and BTW.... I'm not evacuating. I'd rather be in my house than stuck with millions of people on a freeway going nowhere.

I feel that it's going to weaken just like what Gustav did. Oil prices are going to take a big swing. More people will decide to stay, because of the not so big threat that comes from the media.

New Orleans is like the American economy: We all know it's going to be crushed but those that are inside of it will ignore it until it's too late for them to escape.

It seems Ike may be slightly changing its trajectory and staying more to the northern of Cuba than the center of the Island, if this happens it will be a dangerous hurricane for the Florida keys and southern Florida.

This is still developing so is very interesting.

If it does head for NO then it will be a big disaster. Many people will not leave because of the last one that failed to hurt the city. Many people will have no money to cut and run, Short of being escorted to a camp set up by the government half way across the country.

I for one think that homes should not be allowed to be under sea level anymore. Businesses yes but homes no. The port has to run but there is no excuse for having homes in a place like that.

{I for one think that homes should not be allowed to be under sea level anymore. Businesses yes but homes no}

I agree ...I mean if you build your house on sand (beaches) thats just plain stupid anyway knowing that the Ocean has access to that sand too lol..and of course Hurricaines coming in all the time .....
Also building a house on a huge ACTIVE fault line like (California)
Then you have tornado alley ...
And building a city under a volcano ..
Cities built right on the ring of fire ...

I mean sheeshh ...what was man thinking ...talk about living on the edge ..

We cannot get away from all disasters ..but why would anyone want to live right on top of one .


If my house kept getting swept away,flooded or whatever..I would get the hint that my house doesnt belong there ......