Monday, August 29, 2005
HURRICANE KATRINA LOCAL STATEMENT
WTUS84 KLIX 291359
HLSLIX
LAZ038-040-050-056>070-MSZ080>082-291600-
HURRICANE KATRINA LOCAL STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NEW ORLEANS LA
900 AM CDT MON AUG 29 2005
...HURRICANE KATRINA DIRECT HIT FOR NEW ORLEANS AND MISSISSIPPI
COAST...
...LEVEES OVERTOPPED IN ORLEANS AND ST BERNARD PARISHES...
...EXTREMELY DANGEROUS HURRICANE MOVING ACROSS NEW ORLEANS AND
MISSISSIPPI COAST...
...HURRICANE WARNING IN EFFECT FOR SOUTHEAST LOUISIANA AND COASTAL
MISSISSIPPI FROM MORGAN CITY EAST TO THE ALABAMA FLORIDA BORDER....
...EXTENSIVE AND LIFE THREATENING STORM SURGE FLOODING
OCCURRING ALONG THE LOUISIANA AND MISSISSIPPI COAST AT THIS TIME.
...AREAS AFFECTED...
IN SOUTHEAST LOUISIANA...THE FOLLOWING PARISHES
ASSUMPTION...ST JAMES...ST JOHN THE BAPTIST...ST CHARLES...
ST BERNARD...TERREBONNE...ORLEANS...JEFFERSON...PLAQUEMINE...
LAFOURCHE...ST TAMMANY...TANGIPAHOA...LIVINGSTON.
IN COASTAL MISSISSIPPI...THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES
HANCOCK...HARRISON...JACKSON
...WATCHES AND WARNINGS...
A HURRICANE WARNING IS IN EFFECT FROM EAST OF MORGAN CITY EAST TO THE
ALABAMA-FLORIDA BORDER AREA. THIS INCLUDES THE METRO NEW ORLEANS
AREA...AND THE MISSISSIPPI COAST.
AN INLAND HURRICANE WARNING IS ALSO IN EFFECT FOR AREAS AWAY FROM THE
COAST.
A FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR MOST OF SOUTHEAST LOUISIANA AND
EXTREME SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI TONIGHT.
A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT THROUGH 12 PM CDT.
...STORM INFORMATION...
AT 800 AM CDT...THE CENTER OF HURRICANE KATRINA WAS LOCATED NEAR
LATITUDE 29.7 NORTH...LONGITUDE 89.6 WEST. THIS LOCATION WAS ABOUT
EASTERN ST BERNARD AND ORLEANS PARISHES.
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 135 MPH...WITH HIGHER GUSTS.
HURRICANE KATRINA IS A CATEGORY FOUR HURRICANE ON THE SAFFIR
SIMPSON SCALE. SOME FLUCTUATIONS IN STRENGTH ARE LIKELY.
...PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
WITH THE ONSET OF HURRICANE FORCE WINDS AND HEAVY SQUALLS...PEOPLE
SHOULD REMAIN IN LAST RESORT REFUGES IN STRONG...WELL CONSTRUCTED
BUILDINGS. IF LIFE THREATENING STORM SURGE FLOODING DEVELOPS...MOVE
TO HIGHER FLOORS OR HOUSE ATTICS. BRING TOOLS TO MAKE AN EMERGENCY
EXIT SHOULD THESE HIGHER FLOORS OR ATTICS BECOME INUNDATED.
...STORM SURGE FLOOD AND STORM TIDE IMPACTS...
KATRINA MAKING LANDFALL IN EASTERN NEW ORLEANS AND
MISSISSIPPI COAST AREA THIS MORNING. EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND LIFE
THREATENING HURRICANE...SIGNIFICANT AND LIFE THREATENING STORM SURGE
18 TO 22 FEET ABOVE NORMAL IS OCCURRING. LEVEES HAVE BEEN OVERTOPPED
IN ORLEANS AND ST BERNARD PARISHES. IN ADDITION DANGEROUS BATTERING
WAVES ARE OCCURRING ON TOP OF THE STORM SURGE NEAR THE COAST.
SEVERE TIDAL FLOODING WILL CONTINUE IN THESE AREAS. IN ADDITION...
SEVERE STORM SURGE FLOODING IS PROBABLY OCCURRING IN SOUTHEAST ST
TAMMANY PARISH AND IN HANCOCK...HARRISON AND JACKSON COUNTIES IN
COASTAL MISSISSIPPI.
IN ADDITION...A STORM SURGE OF 10 TO 12 FEET WILL BE OCCURRING IN
THE SOUTHWEST PART OF LAKE PONTCHARTRAIN AFFECTING THE EAST BANKS OF
JEFFERSON...ST CHARLES...ST JOHN THE BAPTIST AND LIVINGSTON
PARISHES.
TIDES ARE RAPIDLY INCREASING ALONG THE SOUTHEAST LOUISIANA COAST.
SEVERE STORM SURGE FLOODING IS EXPECTED DEVELOP THROUGH THE REMAINDER
OF THE MORNING...WITH HIGHEST VALUES ALONG THE LOUISIANA COAST EAST
OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER...MISSISSIPPI COAST...AND ALONG THE SHORE
LINE OF LAKE PONTCHARTRAIN AND MAUREPAS.
...WIND IMPACTS...
KATRINA HAS EVOLVED INTO A LARGE HURRICANE WITH HURRICANE FORCE WINDS
EXTENDING AROUND 100 MILES FROM THE CENTER. HURRICANE FORCE WINDS ARE
OCCURRING OVER SOUTHEAST LOUISIANA AND SPREADING INTO COASTAL
MISSISSIPPI. POWER OUTAGES WILL BECOME MORE WIDESPREAD DURING THE
MORNING HOURS. HURRICANE FORCE WINDS WILL PERSIST OVER MUCH OF THE
REGION THROUGH EARLY MONDAY AFTERNOON. WIND GUST OF 100 MPH WAS
REPORTED BY THE GULFPORT EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER. BELLE CHASSE
NAVAL AIR STATION HAD A WIND GUST OF 105 EARLIER THIS MORNING.
WINDS ASSOCIATED WITH STRONG CATEGORY 3 HURRICANES CAN TOTALLY
DESTROY MOBILE HOMES AND POORLY CONSTRUCTED DWELLINGS...AND CAUSE
MAJOR DAMAGE TO EVEN WELL CONSTRUCTED BUILDINGS. HIGHER WIND SPEEDS
WILL BE SIGNIFICANTLY STRONGER ON UPPER FLOORS OF TALL BUILDINGS
CAUSING DAMAGE.
...TORNADOES...
A TORNADO WATCH HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR MUCH OF SOUTHEAST LOUISIANA
AND COASTAL MISSISSIPPI DUE TO THE THREAT OF TORNADOES.
...RAINFALL...
RAINFALL TOTALS OF 8 TO 10 INCHES...WITH ISOLATED MAXIMUM AMOUNTS OF
15 INCHES...ARE POSSIBLE.
...NEXT UPDATE...
THE NEXT LOCAL STATEMENT WILL BE ISSUED AROUND 1030 AM CDT.
$$
HLSLIX
LAZ038-040-050-056>070-MSZ080>082-291600-
HURRICANE KATRINA LOCAL STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NEW ORLEANS LA
900 AM CDT MON AUG 29 2005
...HURRICANE KATRINA DIRECT HIT FOR NEW ORLEANS AND MISSISSIPPI
COAST...
...LEVEES OVERTOPPED IN ORLEANS AND ST BERNARD PARISHES...
...EXTREMELY DANGEROUS HURRICANE MOVING ACROSS NEW ORLEANS AND
MISSISSIPPI COAST...
...HURRICANE WARNING IN EFFECT FOR SOUTHEAST LOUISIANA AND COASTAL
MISSISSIPPI FROM MORGAN CITY EAST TO THE ALABAMA FLORIDA BORDER....
...EXTENSIVE AND LIFE THREATENING STORM SURGE FLOODING
OCCURRING ALONG THE LOUISIANA AND MISSISSIPPI COAST AT THIS TIME.
...AREAS AFFECTED...
IN SOUTHEAST LOUISIANA...THE FOLLOWING PARISHES
ASSUMPTION...ST JAMES...ST JOHN THE BAPTIST...ST CHARLES...
ST BERNARD...TERREBONNE...ORLEANS...JEFFERSON...PLAQUEMINE...
LAFOURCHE...ST TAMMANY...TANGIPAHOA...LIVINGSTON.
IN COASTAL MISSISSIPPI...THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES
HANCOCK...HARRISON...JACKSON
...WATCHES AND WARNINGS...
A HURRICANE WARNING IS IN EFFECT FROM EAST OF MORGAN CITY EAST TO THE
ALABAMA-FLORIDA BORDER AREA. THIS INCLUDES THE METRO NEW ORLEANS
AREA...AND THE MISSISSIPPI COAST.
AN INLAND HURRICANE WARNING IS ALSO IN EFFECT FOR AREAS AWAY FROM THE
COAST.
A FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR MOST OF SOUTHEAST LOUISIANA AND
EXTREME SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI TONIGHT.
A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT THROUGH 12 PM CDT.
...STORM INFORMATION...
AT 800 AM CDT...THE CENTER OF HURRICANE KATRINA WAS LOCATED NEAR
LATITUDE 29.7 NORTH...LONGITUDE 89.6 WEST. THIS LOCATION WAS ABOUT
EASTERN ST BERNARD AND ORLEANS PARISHES.
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 135 MPH...WITH HIGHER GUSTS.
HURRICANE KATRINA IS A CATEGORY FOUR HURRICANE ON THE SAFFIR
SIMPSON SCALE. SOME FLUCTUATIONS IN STRENGTH ARE LIKELY.
...PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
WITH THE ONSET OF HURRICANE FORCE WINDS AND HEAVY SQUALLS...PEOPLE
SHOULD REMAIN IN LAST RESORT REFUGES IN STRONG...WELL CONSTRUCTED
BUILDINGS. IF LIFE THREATENING STORM SURGE FLOODING DEVELOPS...MOVE
TO HIGHER FLOORS OR HOUSE ATTICS. BRING TOOLS TO MAKE AN EMERGENCY
EXIT SHOULD THESE HIGHER FLOORS OR ATTICS BECOME INUNDATED.
...STORM SURGE FLOOD AND STORM TIDE IMPACTS...
KATRINA MAKING LANDFALL IN EASTERN NEW ORLEANS AND
MISSISSIPPI COAST AREA THIS MORNING. EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND LIFE
THREATENING HURRICANE...SIGNIFICANT AND LIFE THREATENING STORM SURGE
18 TO 22 FEET ABOVE NORMAL IS OCCURRING. LEVEES HAVE BEEN OVERTOPPED
IN ORLEANS AND ST BERNARD PARISHES. IN ADDITION DANGEROUS BATTERING
WAVES ARE OCCURRING ON TOP OF THE STORM SURGE NEAR THE COAST.
SEVERE TIDAL FLOODING WILL CONTINUE IN THESE AREAS. IN ADDITION...
SEVERE STORM SURGE FLOODING IS PROBABLY OCCURRING IN SOUTHEAST ST
TAMMANY PARISH AND IN HANCOCK...HARRISON AND JACKSON COUNTIES IN
COASTAL MISSISSIPPI.
IN ADDITION...A STORM SURGE OF 10 TO 12 FEET WILL BE OCCURRING IN
THE SOUTHWEST PART OF LAKE PONTCHARTRAIN AFFECTING THE EAST BANKS OF
JEFFERSON...ST CHARLES...ST JOHN THE BAPTIST AND LIVINGSTON
PARISHES.
TIDES ARE RAPIDLY INCREASING ALONG THE SOUTHEAST LOUISIANA COAST.
SEVERE STORM SURGE FLOODING IS EXPECTED DEVELOP THROUGH THE REMAINDER
OF THE MORNING...WITH HIGHEST VALUES ALONG THE LOUISIANA COAST EAST
OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER...MISSISSIPPI COAST...AND ALONG THE SHORE
LINE OF LAKE PONTCHARTRAIN AND MAUREPAS.
...WIND IMPACTS...
KATRINA HAS EVOLVED INTO A LARGE HURRICANE WITH HURRICANE FORCE WINDS
EXTENDING AROUND 100 MILES FROM THE CENTER. HURRICANE FORCE WINDS ARE
OCCURRING OVER SOUTHEAST LOUISIANA AND SPREADING INTO COASTAL
MISSISSIPPI. POWER OUTAGES WILL BECOME MORE WIDESPREAD DURING THE
MORNING HOURS. HURRICANE FORCE WINDS WILL PERSIST OVER MUCH OF THE
REGION THROUGH EARLY MONDAY AFTERNOON. WIND GUST OF 100 MPH WAS
REPORTED BY THE GULFPORT EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER. BELLE CHASSE
NAVAL AIR STATION HAD A WIND GUST OF 105 EARLIER THIS MORNING.
WINDS ASSOCIATED WITH STRONG CATEGORY 3 HURRICANES CAN TOTALLY
DESTROY MOBILE HOMES AND POORLY CONSTRUCTED DWELLINGS...AND CAUSE
MAJOR DAMAGE TO EVEN WELL CONSTRUCTED BUILDINGS. HIGHER WIND SPEEDS
WILL BE SIGNIFICANTLY STRONGER ON UPPER FLOORS OF TALL BUILDINGS
CAUSING DAMAGE.
...TORNADOES...
A TORNADO WATCH HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR MUCH OF SOUTHEAST LOUISIANA
AND COASTAL MISSISSIPPI DUE TO THE THREAT OF TORNADOES.
...RAINFALL...
RAINFALL TOTALS OF 8 TO 10 INCHES...WITH ISOLATED MAXIMUM AMOUNTS OF
15 INCHES...ARE POSSIBLE.
...NEXT UPDATE...
THE NEXT LOCAL STATEMENT WILL BE ISSUED AROUND 1030 AM CDT.
$$
National Situation Update: Monday, August 29, 2005
National Situation Update: Monday, August 29, 2005
Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).
NExtremely Dangerous Category Four Hurricane Katrina Moving Northward Toward Southeastern Louisiana And The Northern Gulf Coast
A hurricane warning is in effect for the north central gulf coast from Morgan City Louisiana eastward to the Alabama/Florida border including the city of New Orleans and Lake Pontchartrain. Preparations to protect life and property should be completed this
evening.
A tropical storm warning and a hurricane watch are in effect from east of the Alabama/Florida border to Destin Florida and from west of Morgan City to Intracoastal City Louisiana.
A tropical storm warning is also in effect from Destin Florida eastward to Indian Pass Florida and from Intracoastal City Louisiana westward to Cameron Louisiana.
At 5 am edt (0900z) the center of hurricane Katrina was located near latitude 28.8 north longitude 89.6 west or about 90 miles south-southeast of New Orleans Louisiana and about 120 miles south-southwest of Biloxi Mississippi.
Katrina is moving toward the north near 15 mph and this motion is forecast to continue today. A gradual turn toward the north-northeast at a slightly faster forward speed is expected later tonight and tomorrow. On the forecast track Katrina will move onshore the southeastern Louisiana coast just east of Grand Isle this morning and reach the Louisiana/Mississippi border area this afternoon. Conditions will continue to steadily deteriorate over central and southeastern Louisiana, southern Mississippi, and southern Alabama throughout the day.
Maximum sustained winds are near 150 mph (240 km/hr) with higher gusts. Katrina is a strong category four hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson scale. Some fluctuations in strength are likely prior to landfall but Katrina is expected to make landfall as a category four hurricane. Winds affecting the upper floors of high-rise buildings will be significantly stronger than those near ground level.
Katrina remains a very large hurricane. Hurricane force winds extend outward up to 105 miles from the center and tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 230 miles. Recently, a sustained wind of 53 mph with gust to 91 mph was reported at Grand Isle Louisiana, and a wind gust to 71 mph was reported in New Orleans.
The minimum central pressure recently reported by an Air Force Reserve unit reconnaissance aircraft was 915 mb (27.02 inches).
Coastal storm surge flooding of 18 to 22 feet above normal tide levels, locally as high as 28 feet, along with large and dangerous battering waves can be expected near and to the east of where the center makes landfall. Some levees in the greater New Orleans area could be overtopped. Significant storm surge flooding will occur elsewhere along the central and northeastern Gulf of Mexico coast. NOAA buoy 42040, located about 50 miles east of the mouth of the Mississippi river recently reported waves heights of at least 46 feet.
Rainfall totals of 5 to 10 inches with isolated maximum amounts of 15 inches are possible along the path of Katrina across the gulf coast and the Tennessee Valley. Rainfall totals of 4 to 8 inches are possible across the Ohio Valley into the eastern Great Lakes region tomorrow and Wednesday.
The tornado threat ahead of Katrina continues to increase and scattered tornadoes will be possible today over southeastern Louisiana, southern Mississippi, southern Alabama, and over the Florida panhandle. (NWS National Hurricane Center)
Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).
NExtremely Dangerous Category Four Hurricane Katrina Moving Northward Toward Southeastern Louisiana And The Northern Gulf Coast
A hurricane warning is in effect for the north central gulf coast from Morgan City Louisiana eastward to the Alabama/Florida border including the city of New Orleans and Lake Pontchartrain. Preparations to protect life and property should be completed this
evening.
A tropical storm warning and a hurricane watch are in effect from east of the Alabama/Florida border to Destin Florida and from west of Morgan City to Intracoastal City Louisiana.
A tropical storm warning is also in effect from Destin Florida eastward to Indian Pass Florida and from Intracoastal City Louisiana westward to Cameron Louisiana.
At 5 am edt (0900z) the center of hurricane Katrina was located near latitude 28.8 north longitude 89.6 west or about 90 miles south-southeast of New Orleans Louisiana and about 120 miles south-southwest of Biloxi Mississippi.
Katrina is moving toward the north near 15 mph and this motion is forecast to continue today. A gradual turn toward the north-northeast at a slightly faster forward speed is expected later tonight and tomorrow. On the forecast track Katrina will move onshore the southeastern Louisiana coast just east of Grand Isle this morning and reach the Louisiana/Mississippi border area this afternoon. Conditions will continue to steadily deteriorate over central and southeastern Louisiana, southern Mississippi, and southern Alabama throughout the day.
Maximum sustained winds are near 150 mph (240 km/hr) with higher gusts. Katrina is a strong category four hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson scale. Some fluctuations in strength are likely prior to landfall but Katrina is expected to make landfall as a category four hurricane. Winds affecting the upper floors of high-rise buildings will be significantly stronger than those near ground level.
Katrina remains a very large hurricane. Hurricane force winds extend outward up to 105 miles from the center and tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 230 miles. Recently, a sustained wind of 53 mph with gust to 91 mph was reported at Grand Isle Louisiana, and a wind gust to 71 mph was reported in New Orleans.
The minimum central pressure recently reported by an Air Force Reserve unit reconnaissance aircraft was 915 mb (27.02 inches).
Coastal storm surge flooding of 18 to 22 feet above normal tide levels, locally as high as 28 feet, along with large and dangerous battering waves can be expected near and to the east of where the center makes landfall. Some levees in the greater New Orleans area could be overtopped. Significant storm surge flooding will occur elsewhere along the central and northeastern Gulf of Mexico coast. NOAA buoy 42040, located about 50 miles east of the mouth of the Mississippi river recently reported waves heights of at least 46 feet.
Rainfall totals of 5 to 10 inches with isolated maximum amounts of 15 inches are possible along the path of Katrina across the gulf coast and the Tennessee Valley. Rainfall totals of 4 to 8 inches are possible across the Ohio Valley into the eastern Great Lakes region tomorrow and Wednesday.
The tornado threat ahead of Katrina continues to increase and scattered tornadoes will be possible today over southeastern Louisiana, southern Mississippi, southern Alabama, and over the Florida panhandle. (NWS National Hurricane Center)
URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE
WWUS74 KLIX 291122
NPWLIX
URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NEW ORLEANS LA
619 AM CDT MON AUG 29 2005
...EXTREMELY DANGEROUS HURRICANE KATRINA MOVING ACROSS LOWER PLAQUEMINES PARISH...
...DEVASTATING DAMAGE EXPECTED...
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 POSSIBLY TO THE POINT OF TOTAL COLLAPSE. MANY 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.
$$
NPWLIX
URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NEW ORLEANS LA
619 AM CDT MON AUG 29 2005
...EXTREMELY DANGEROUS HURRICANE KATRINA MOVING ACROSS LOWER PLAQUEMINES PARISH...
...DEVASTATING DAMAGE EXPECTED...
THE MAJORITY OF INDUSTRIAL BUILDINGS WILL BECOME NON FUNCTIONAL. PARTIAL TO COMPLETE WALL AND ROOF FAILURE IS EXPECTED. ALL WOOD FRAMED LOW RISING APARTMENT BUILDINGS WILL BE DESTROYED. CONCRETE BLOCK LOW RISE APARTMENTS WILL SUSTAIN MAJOR DAMAGE...INCLUDING SOME WALL AND ROOF FAILURE.
HIGH RISE OFFICE AND APARTMENT BUILDINGS WILL SWAY DANGEROUSLY...A FEW POSSIBLY TO THE POINT OF TOTAL COLLAPSE. MANY WINDOWS WILL BLOW OUT.
AIRBORNE DEBRIS WILL BE WIDESPREAD...AND MAY INCLUDE HEAVY ITEMS SUCH AS HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCES AND EVEN LIGHT VEHICLES. SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES AND LIGHT TRUCKS WILL BE MOVED. THE BLOWN DEBRIS WILL CREATE ADDITIONAL DESTRUCTION. PERSONS...PETS...AND LIVESTOCK EXPOSED TO THE WINDS WILL FACE CERTAIN DEATH IF STRUCK.
POWER OUTAGES WILL LAST FOR WEEKS...AS MOST POWER POLES WILL BE DOWN AND TRANSFORMERS DESTROYED. WATER SHORTAGES WILL MAKE HUMAN SUFFERING INCREDIBLE BY MODERN STANDARDS.
THE VAST MAJORITY OF NATIVE TREES WILL BE SNAPPED OR UPROOTED. ONLY THE HEARTIEST WILL REMAIN STANDING...BUT BE TOTALLY DEFOLIATED.
$$
Sunday, August 28, 2005
National Situation Update: Sunday August 28, 2005
National Situation Update: Sunday August 28, 2005
Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).
Dangerous Category Four Hurricane Katrina Continues West-Northwestward But Expected To Turn Northward
A Hurricane Warning is in effect for the North Central Gulf Coast from Morgan City Louisiana eastward to the Alabama/Florida border including the city of New Orleans and Lake Pontchartrain.
A tropical storm warning and a hurricane watch are in effect from east of the Alabama/Florida border to Destin, Florida and from west of Morgan City to Intracoastal City, Louisiana.
At 5 am EDT (0900z), a Tropical Storm Warning has been issued from Destin Florida eastward to Indian Pass, Florida and from Intracoastal City, Louisiana westward to Cameron, Louisiana.
At 5 am EDT (0900z), the center of Hurricane Katrina was located near latitude 25.4 north, longitude 87.4 west or about 275 miles south-southeast of the mouth of the Mississippi River.
Katrina is moving toward the west-northwest near 10 mph. A gradual turn toward the northwest is expected later today.
Maximum sustained winds are near 145 mph with higher gusts. Katrina is a Category Four hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson scale. Some strengthening is forecast during the next 24 hours.
Hurricane force winds extend outward up to 85 miles from the center and tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 185 miles.
Estimated minimum central pressure is 935 mb (27.61 inches).
Coastal storm surge flooding of 15 to 20 feet above normal tide levels, locally as high as 25 feet along with large and dangerous battering waves can be expected near and to the east of where the center makes landfall.
Rainfall totals of 5 to 10 inches with isolated maximum amounts of 15 inches are possible along the path of Katrina across the Gulf Coast and the southeastern United States. The hurricane is still expected to produce additional rainfall amounts of 2 to 4 inches over extreme western Cuba and 1 to 3 inches of rainfall is expected over the Yucatan Peninsula.
Isolated tornadoes will be possible beginning sunday evening over southern portions of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and over the Florida Panhandle. (National Hurricane Center, media sources)
Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).
Dangerous Category Four Hurricane Katrina Continues West-Northwestward But Expected To Turn Northward
A Hurricane Warning is in effect for the North Central Gulf Coast from Morgan City Louisiana eastward to the Alabama/Florida border including the city of New Orleans and Lake Pontchartrain.
A tropical storm warning and a hurricane watch are in effect from east of the Alabama/Florida border to Destin, Florida and from west of Morgan City to Intracoastal City, Louisiana.
At 5 am EDT (0900z), a Tropical Storm Warning has been issued from Destin Florida eastward to Indian Pass, Florida and from Intracoastal City, Louisiana westward to Cameron, Louisiana.
At 5 am EDT (0900z), the center of Hurricane Katrina was located near latitude 25.4 north, longitude 87.4 west or about 275 miles south-southeast of the mouth of the Mississippi River.
Katrina is moving toward the west-northwest near 10 mph. A gradual turn toward the northwest is expected later today.
Maximum sustained winds are near 145 mph with higher gusts. Katrina is a Category Four hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson scale. Some strengthening is forecast during the next 24 hours.
Hurricane force winds extend outward up to 85 miles from the center and tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 185 miles.
Estimated minimum central pressure is 935 mb (27.61 inches).
Coastal storm surge flooding of 15 to 20 feet above normal tide levels, locally as high as 25 feet along with large and dangerous battering waves can be expected near and to the east of where the center makes landfall.
Rainfall totals of 5 to 10 inches with isolated maximum amounts of 15 inches are possible along the path of Katrina across the Gulf Coast and the southeastern United States. The hurricane is still expected to produce additional rainfall amounts of 2 to 4 inches over extreme western Cuba and 1 to 3 inches of rainfall is expected over the Yucatan Peninsula.
Isolated tornadoes will be possible beginning sunday evening over southern portions of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and over the Florida Panhandle. (National Hurricane Center, media sources)
URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE
WWUS74 KLIX 282139
NPWLIX
URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NEW ORLEANS LA
413 PM CDT SUN AUG 28 2005
...EXTREMELY DANGEROUS HURRICANE KATRINA CONTINUES TO APPROACH THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER DELTA...
...DEVASTATING DAMAGE EXPECTED...
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 WATCH IS ISSUED WHEN SUSTAINED WINDS NEAR HURRICANE FORCE...OR FREQUENT GUSTS AT OR ABOVE HURRICANE FORCE...ARE POSSIBLE WITHIN THE NEXT 24 TO 36 HOURS.
NPWLIX
URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NEW ORLEANS LA
413 PM CDT SUN AUG 28 2005
...EXTREMELY DANGEROUS HURRICANE KATRINA CONTINUES TO APPROACH THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER DELTA...
...DEVASTATING DAMAGE EXPECTED...
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 WATCH IS ISSUED WHEN SUSTAINED WINDS NEAR HURRICANE FORCE...OR FREQUENT GUSTS AT OR ABOVE HURRICANE FORCE...ARE POSSIBLE WITHIN THE NEXT 24 TO 36 HOURS.
HURRICANE KATRINA ADVISORY NUMBER 24
WTNT32 KNHC 282041
TCPAT2
BULLETIN
HURRICANE KATRINA ADVISORY NUMBER 24
NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL
4 PM CDT SUN AUG 28 2005
...POTENTIALLY CATASTROPHIC HURRICANE KATRINA HEADED FOR THE NORTHERN GULF COAST...
A HURRICANE WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR THE NORTH CENTRAL GULF COAST FROM MORGAN CITY LOUISIANA EASTWARD TO THE ALABAMA/FLORIDA BORDER...INCLUDING THE CITY OF NEW ORLEANS AND LAKE PONTCHARTRAIN. PREPARATIONS TO PROTECT LIFE AND PROPERTY SHOULD BE COMPLETED THIS EVENING.
A TROPICAL STORM WARNING AND A HURRICANE WATCH ARE IN EFFECT FROM EAST OF THE ALABAMA/FLORIDA BORDER TO DESTIN FLORIDA...AND FROM WEST OF MORGAN CITY TO INTRACOASTAL CITY LOUISIANA.
A TROPICAL STORM WARNING IS ALSO IN EFFECT FROM DESTIN FLORIDA EASTWARD TO INDIAN PASS FLORIDA...AND FROM INTRACOASTAL CITY LOUISIANA WESTWARD TO CAMERON LOUISIANA.
FOR STORM INFORMATION SPECIFIC TO YOUR AREA...INCLUDING POSSIBLE INLAND WATCHES AND WARNINGS...PLEASE MONITOR PRODUCTS ISSUED BY YOUR LOCAL WEATHER OFFICE.
AT 4 PM CDT...2100Z...THE CENTER OF HURRICANE KATRINA WAS LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 26.9 NORTH... LONGITUDE 89.0 WEST OR ABOUT 150 MILES SOUTH OF THE MOUTH OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER.
KATRINA IS MOVING TOWARD THE NORTHWEST NEAR 13 MPH...AND A GRADUAL TURN TO THE NORTH IS EXPECTED OVER THE NEXT 24 HOURS. ON THIS TRACK THE CENTER OF THE HURRICANE WILL BE NEAR THE NORTHERN GULF COAST EARLY MONDAY. HOWEVER...CONDITIONS ARE ALREADY BEGINNING TO DETERIORATE ALONG PORTIONS OF THE CENTRAL AND NORTHEASTERN GULF COAST...AND WILL CONTINUE TO WORSEN THROUGH THE NIGHT.
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 165 MPH...WITH HIGHER GUSTS. KATRINA IS A POTENTIALLY CATASTROPHIC CATEGORY FIVE HURRICANE ON THE SAFFIR-SIMPSON SCALE. SOME FLUCTUATIONS IN STRENGTH ARE LIKELY UNTIL LANDFALL. KATRINA IS EXPECTED TO MAKE LANDFALL AT CATEGORY FOUR OR FIVE INTENSITY. WINDS AFFECTING THE UPPER FLOORS OF HIGH-RISE BUILDINGS WILL BE SIGNIFICANTLY STRONGER THAN THOSE NEAR GROUND LEVEL.
KATRINA IS A LARGE HURRICANE. HURRICANE FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 105 MILES FROM THE CENTER...AND TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 230 MILES. SUSTAINED TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS ARE OCCURRING OVER THE SOUTHEAST LOUISIANA COAST. SOUTHWEST PASS...NEAR THE MOUTH OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER...RECENTLY REPORTED SUSTAINED WINDS OF 48 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 53 MPH.
A NOAA HURRICANE HUNTER PLANE REPORTED A MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE OF 902 MB...26.64 INCHES.
COASTAL STORM SURGE FLOODING OF 18 TO 22 FEET ABOVE NORMAL TIDE LEVELS...LOCALLY AS HIGH AS 28 FEET...ALONG WITH LARGE AND DANGEROUS BATTERING WAVES...CAN BE EXPECTED NEAR AND TO THE EAST OF WHERE THE CENTER MAKES LANDFALL. SOME LEVEES IN THE GREATER NEW ORLEANS AREA COULD BE OVERTOPPED. SIGNIFICANT STORM SURGE FLOODING WILL OCCUR ELSEWHERE ALONG THE CENTRAL AND NORTHEASTERN GULF OF MEXICO COAST.
RAINFALL TOTALS OF 5 TO 10 INCHES...WITH ISOLATED MAXIMUM AMOUNTS OF 15 INCHES...ARE POSSIBLE ALONG THE PATH OF KATRINA ACROSS THE GULF COAST AND THE TENNESSEE VALLEY. RAINFALL TOTALS OF 4 TO 8 INCHES ARE POSSIBLE ACROSS THE OHIO VALLEY INTO THE EASTERN GREAT LAKES REGION TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY.
ISOLATED TORNADOES WILL BE POSSIBLE BEGINNING THIS EVENING OVER SOUTHERN PORTIONS OF LOUISIANA...MISSISSIPPI...AND ALABAMA...AND OVER THE FLORIDA PANHANDLE.
REPEATING THE 4 PM CDT POSITION...26.9 N... 89.0 W. MOVEMENT TOWARD...NORTHWEST NEAR 13 MPH. MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...165 MPH. MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE... 902 MB.
AN INTERMEDIATE ADVISORY WILL BE ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER AT 7 PM CDT FOLLOWED BY THE NEXT COMPLETE ADVISORY AT 10 PM CDT.
FORECASTER PASCH
TCPAT2
BULLETIN
HURRICANE KATRINA ADVISORY NUMBER 24
NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL
4 PM CDT SUN AUG 28 2005
...POTENTIALLY CATASTROPHIC HURRICANE KATRINA HEADED FOR THE NORTHERN GULF COAST...
A HURRICANE WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR THE NORTH CENTRAL GULF COAST FROM MORGAN CITY LOUISIANA EASTWARD TO THE ALABAMA/FLORIDA BORDER...INCLUDING THE CITY OF NEW ORLEANS AND LAKE PONTCHARTRAIN. PREPARATIONS TO PROTECT LIFE AND PROPERTY SHOULD BE COMPLETED THIS EVENING.
A TROPICAL STORM WARNING AND A HURRICANE WATCH ARE IN EFFECT FROM EAST OF THE ALABAMA/FLORIDA BORDER TO DESTIN FLORIDA...AND FROM WEST OF MORGAN CITY TO INTRACOASTAL CITY LOUISIANA.
A TROPICAL STORM WARNING IS ALSO IN EFFECT FROM DESTIN FLORIDA EASTWARD TO INDIAN PASS FLORIDA...AND FROM INTRACOASTAL CITY LOUISIANA WESTWARD TO CAMERON LOUISIANA.
FOR STORM INFORMATION SPECIFIC TO YOUR AREA...INCLUDING POSSIBLE INLAND WATCHES AND WARNINGS...PLEASE MONITOR PRODUCTS ISSUED BY YOUR LOCAL WEATHER OFFICE.
AT 4 PM CDT...2100Z...THE CENTER OF HURRICANE KATRINA WAS LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 26.9 NORTH... LONGITUDE 89.0 WEST OR ABOUT 150 MILES SOUTH OF THE MOUTH OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER.
KATRINA IS MOVING TOWARD THE NORTHWEST NEAR 13 MPH...AND A GRADUAL TURN TO THE NORTH IS EXPECTED OVER THE NEXT 24 HOURS. ON THIS TRACK THE CENTER OF THE HURRICANE WILL BE NEAR THE NORTHERN GULF COAST EARLY MONDAY. HOWEVER...CONDITIONS ARE ALREADY BEGINNING TO DETERIORATE ALONG PORTIONS OF THE CENTRAL AND NORTHEASTERN GULF COAST...AND WILL CONTINUE TO WORSEN THROUGH THE NIGHT.
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 165 MPH...WITH HIGHER GUSTS. KATRINA IS A POTENTIALLY CATASTROPHIC CATEGORY FIVE HURRICANE ON THE SAFFIR-SIMPSON SCALE. SOME FLUCTUATIONS IN STRENGTH ARE LIKELY UNTIL LANDFALL. KATRINA IS EXPECTED TO MAKE LANDFALL AT CATEGORY FOUR OR FIVE INTENSITY. WINDS AFFECTING THE UPPER FLOORS OF HIGH-RISE BUILDINGS WILL BE SIGNIFICANTLY STRONGER THAN THOSE NEAR GROUND LEVEL.
KATRINA IS A LARGE HURRICANE. HURRICANE FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 105 MILES FROM THE CENTER...AND TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 230 MILES. SUSTAINED TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS ARE OCCURRING OVER THE SOUTHEAST LOUISIANA COAST. SOUTHWEST PASS...NEAR THE MOUTH OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER...RECENTLY REPORTED SUSTAINED WINDS OF 48 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 53 MPH.
A NOAA HURRICANE HUNTER PLANE REPORTED A MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE OF 902 MB...26.64 INCHES.
COASTAL STORM SURGE FLOODING OF 18 TO 22 FEET ABOVE NORMAL TIDE LEVELS...LOCALLY AS HIGH AS 28 FEET...ALONG WITH LARGE AND DANGEROUS BATTERING WAVES...CAN BE EXPECTED NEAR AND TO THE EAST OF WHERE THE CENTER MAKES LANDFALL. SOME LEVEES IN THE GREATER NEW ORLEANS AREA COULD BE OVERTOPPED. SIGNIFICANT STORM SURGE FLOODING WILL OCCUR ELSEWHERE ALONG THE CENTRAL AND NORTHEASTERN GULF OF MEXICO COAST.
RAINFALL TOTALS OF 5 TO 10 INCHES...WITH ISOLATED MAXIMUM AMOUNTS OF 15 INCHES...ARE POSSIBLE ALONG THE PATH OF KATRINA ACROSS THE GULF COAST AND THE TENNESSEE VALLEY. RAINFALL TOTALS OF 4 TO 8 INCHES ARE POSSIBLE ACROSS THE OHIO VALLEY INTO THE EASTERN GREAT LAKES REGION TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY.
ISOLATED TORNADOES WILL BE POSSIBLE BEGINNING THIS EVENING OVER SOUTHERN PORTIONS OF LOUISIANA...MISSISSIPPI...AND ALABAMA...AND OVER THE FLORIDA PANHANDLE.
REPEATING THE 4 PM CDT POSITION...26.9 N... 89.0 W. MOVEMENT TOWARD...NORTHWEST NEAR 13 MPH. MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...165 MPH. MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE... 902 MB.
AN INTERMEDIATE ADVISORY WILL BE ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER AT 7 PM CDT FOLLOWED BY THE NEXT COMPLETE ADVISORY AT 10 PM CDT.
FORECASTER PASCH
URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE
WWUS74 KLIX 281550
NPWLIX
URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NEW ORLEANS LA
1011 AM CDT SUN AUG 28 2005
...DEVASTATING DAMAGE EXPECTED...
.HURRICANE KATRINA...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!
NPWLIX
URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NEW ORLEANS LA
1011 AM CDT SUN AUG 28 2005
...DEVASTATING DAMAGE EXPECTED...
.HURRICANE KATRINA...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!
Saturday, August 27, 2005
National Situation Update: Saturday, August 27, 2005
National Situation Update: Saturday, August 27, 2005
Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).
Katrina Becomes a Category Three Hurricane, Aims Towards Northern Gulf Coast
At 5 a.m. EDT, the eye of Hurricane Katrina was located by radar near latitude 24.4 north and longitude 84.4 west, about 435 miles southeast of the mouth of the Mississippi River and about 165 miles west of Key West, Florida.
Katrina is moving toward the west-northwest near 7mph and a gradual turn to the west and west-northwest is expected during the next 24 hours.
Maximum sustained winds have increased to near 115 mph with higher gusts. Hurricane force winds extend outward up to 40 miles from the center and tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 150 miles. Estimated minimum central pressure is 963 mb or 28.44 inches.
Katrina is now a Category Three hurricane and some strengthening is forecast during the next 24 hours. Reconnaissance aircraft data indicates that the Katrina has also become a larger hurricane.
Storm surge flooding of 2 to 4 feet above normal levels can be expected along the southeast coast of Florida in areas of onshore flow east of Cape Sable and in Florida Bay. Storm surge will gradually subside today.
Rainfall from Katrina is expected to slowly diminish across the lower Florida Keys though an additional 1 to 2 inches of rain is possible in some of the heavier rain bands. Isolated tornadoes are also possible this morning over the Florida Keys. (National Hurricane Center, media sources)
State of Emergency Declared in Mississippi, Louisiana DueIn anticipation of a possible landfall, Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour and Louisiana Governor Kathleen Blanco declared States of Emergency Friday. In Louisiana, New Orleans is of particular concern because much of that city lies below sea level.
According to Gov. Blanco, Lake Pontchartrain is a very large lake that sits next to the city of New Orleans and if the hurricane winds blow from a certain direction, there are dire predictions of what may happen in the city.
Robert Latham, director of the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency, said evacuations of tourists along the coast could begin late Saturday afternoon, followed by mandatory evacuations of coastal residents on Sunday. The National Guard had been activated to help with storm preparations, he said.
The last time Mississippi or Louisiana saw landfall from a storm classified as Category 4 or stronger was in August 1969, when Hurricane Camille roared ashore with winds in excess of 155 mph, killing 143 people.
In the Gulf of Mexico, six oil companies operating offshore facilities evacuated at least 150 people as a precaution. However, most of those employees were described as "non-essential" to production, and rigs and platforms continued to operate.
At least 12 platforms and nine oil rigs in the Gulf have been evacuated -- a small portion of the 953 manned rigs and platforms operating there, according to the Interior Department's Mineral Management Service.
Friday afternoon, the Air Force began evacuating aircraft from at least two bases in the Florida Panhandle to minimize any possible damage. (Various media sources)
State and Federal Preparedness for Hurricane Katrina
FEMA Headquarters:
The FEMA National Response Coordination Center (NRCC) remains at modified Level II operations with Emergency Support Functions (ESFs) 1 (with an Air Operations Element), 3, 4, 5, 7, 15, and a Military Liaison.
On Saturday, the NRCC will transition to a 24-hour Level I on Saturday, August 27 at 07:00 a.m. EDT. ESFs 2, 6, 8, 9, 10-15 and the Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC) are being activated.
FEMA Headquarters is conducting daily video-teleconferences with FEMA Region IV, the National Hurricane Center, Florida, and other potentially affected States.
FEMA Region IV:
The Regional Response Coordination Center (RRCC) remains at Level II operations. In addition to ESFs 1, 3, 4, 7, 14, 15 and the Department of Defense (DOD), ESF 6 has been activated. ESFs 2, 8, 9, 11, 12 and Rapid Needs Assessment are being activated.
RRCC Level I will be established on Saturday, August 27 at 12 p.m. EDT. Beginning Sunday, August 28 the RRCC will go to 24-hour operations.
An Emergency Response Team-Advance Element (ERT-A) from Region IX has been activated and will arrive to pre-stage in the RRCC on Saturday.
A request for a disaster declaration has been received from the Governor of Florida and acknowledged. Preliminary disaster assessments (PDAs) are being scheduled.
Alabama: Emergency Operations Center (EOC) will move to Level 1 (full activation) on Saturday. A FEMA Liaison and a full ERT-A has been requested and is scheduled to arrive on Saturday.
Florida: Florida’s EOC is at Level 1 (full activation). An ERT-A from the Long Term Recovery Center in Orlando has been sent to the EOC in Tallahassee.
Mississippi: EOC is at Level 1 (normal) Operation.
Georgia: EOC continues operating at Level I (monitoring).
South Carolina: EOC currently operating at Level 5 (normal). (FEMA Region VII)
National Weather Forecast
South: Scattered thunderstorms will move down through the Tennessee Valley on Saturday ahead of a cold front. Isolated, strong thunderstorms may show up around the Texas and Oklahoma Panhandles. It will be hot in areas from Texas to the Gulf Coast of Mississippi, Alabama and the Florida Panhandle..
Midwest: A cold front will trigger showers and thunderstorms through the Midwest from the eastern Great Lakes to the middle Mississippi Valley on Saturday. A few thunderstorms could turn severe from the Ohio Valley to the eastern Great Lakes. The Plains will be dry, allowing flood waters across Kansas and Missouri to recede and river levels to lower. High temperatures will range from the 70s from the eastern Great Lakes back to Minnesota with 80s in most other locations.
Northeast: In central to northern New England it will be warm to hot with plenty of sunshine raising the high temperatures 5 to 10 degrees above average. Although the majority of the region will be dry, showers and some thunderstorms will track eastward into western Virginia, West Virginia, western Pennsylvania, and southwestern New York, especially during the afternoon hours.
West: Except for southern Colorado and parts of New Mexico, the West will be dry on Saturday. Temperatures will be very hot in the Southwest with a possible high of 110 degrees around Phoenix. Highs may also reach 100 degrees over parts the Sacramento Valley while the LA Basin will hover in the low 90s. A cold front will bring much cooler temperatures and showers to parts of the Pacific Northwest late in the weekend into Monday. (Various media sources)
Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).
Katrina Becomes a Category Three Hurricane, Aims Towards Northern Gulf Coast
At 5 a.m. EDT, the eye of Hurricane Katrina was located by radar near latitude 24.4 north and longitude 84.4 west, about 435 miles southeast of the mouth of the Mississippi River and about 165 miles west of Key West, Florida.
Katrina is moving toward the west-northwest near 7mph and a gradual turn to the west and west-northwest is expected during the next 24 hours.
Maximum sustained winds have increased to near 115 mph with higher gusts. Hurricane force winds extend outward up to 40 miles from the center and tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 150 miles. Estimated minimum central pressure is 963 mb or 28.44 inches.
Katrina is now a Category Three hurricane and some strengthening is forecast during the next 24 hours. Reconnaissance aircraft data indicates that the Katrina has also become a larger hurricane.
Storm surge flooding of 2 to 4 feet above normal levels can be expected along the southeast coast of Florida in areas of onshore flow east of Cape Sable and in Florida Bay. Storm surge will gradually subside today.
Rainfall from Katrina is expected to slowly diminish across the lower Florida Keys though an additional 1 to 2 inches of rain is possible in some of the heavier rain bands. Isolated tornadoes are also possible this morning over the Florida Keys. (National Hurricane Center, media sources)
State of Emergency Declared in Mississippi, Louisiana DueIn anticipation of a possible landfall, Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour and Louisiana Governor Kathleen Blanco declared States of Emergency Friday. In Louisiana, New Orleans is of particular concern because much of that city lies below sea level.
According to Gov. Blanco, Lake Pontchartrain is a very large lake that sits next to the city of New Orleans and if the hurricane winds blow from a certain direction, there are dire predictions of what may happen in the city.
Robert Latham, director of the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency, said evacuations of tourists along the coast could begin late Saturday afternoon, followed by mandatory evacuations of coastal residents on Sunday. The National Guard had been activated to help with storm preparations, he said.
The last time Mississippi or Louisiana saw landfall from a storm classified as Category 4 or stronger was in August 1969, when Hurricane Camille roared ashore with winds in excess of 155 mph, killing 143 people.
In the Gulf of Mexico, six oil companies operating offshore facilities evacuated at least 150 people as a precaution. However, most of those employees were described as "non-essential" to production, and rigs and platforms continued to operate.
At least 12 platforms and nine oil rigs in the Gulf have been evacuated -- a small portion of the 953 manned rigs and platforms operating there, according to the Interior Department's Mineral Management Service.
Friday afternoon, the Air Force began evacuating aircraft from at least two bases in the Florida Panhandle to minimize any possible damage. (Various media sources)
State and Federal Preparedness for Hurricane Katrina
FEMA Headquarters:
The FEMA National Response Coordination Center (NRCC) remains at modified Level II operations with Emergency Support Functions (ESFs) 1 (with an Air Operations Element), 3, 4, 5, 7, 15, and a Military Liaison.
On Saturday, the NRCC will transition to a 24-hour Level I on Saturday, August 27 at 07:00 a.m. EDT. ESFs 2, 6, 8, 9, 10-15 and the Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC) are being activated.
FEMA Headquarters is conducting daily video-teleconferences with FEMA Region IV, the National Hurricane Center, Florida, and other potentially affected States.
FEMA Region IV:
The Regional Response Coordination Center (RRCC) remains at Level II operations. In addition to ESFs 1, 3, 4, 7, 14, 15 and the Department of Defense (DOD), ESF 6 has been activated. ESFs 2, 8, 9, 11, 12 and Rapid Needs Assessment are being activated.
RRCC Level I will be established on Saturday, August 27 at 12 p.m. EDT. Beginning Sunday, August 28 the RRCC will go to 24-hour operations.
An Emergency Response Team-Advance Element (ERT-A) from Region IX has been activated and will arrive to pre-stage in the RRCC on Saturday.
A request for a disaster declaration has been received from the Governor of Florida and acknowledged. Preliminary disaster assessments (PDAs) are being scheduled.
Alabama: Emergency Operations Center (EOC) will move to Level 1 (full activation) on Saturday. A FEMA Liaison and a full ERT-A has been requested and is scheduled to arrive on Saturday.
Florida: Florida’s EOC is at Level 1 (full activation). An ERT-A from the Long Term Recovery Center in Orlando has been sent to the EOC in Tallahassee.
Mississippi: EOC is at Level 1 (normal) Operation.
Georgia: EOC continues operating at Level I (monitoring).
South Carolina: EOC currently operating at Level 5 (normal). (FEMA Region VII)
National Weather Forecast
South: Scattered thunderstorms will move down through the Tennessee Valley on Saturday ahead of a cold front. Isolated, strong thunderstorms may show up around the Texas and Oklahoma Panhandles. It will be hot in areas from Texas to the Gulf Coast of Mississippi, Alabama and the Florida Panhandle..
Midwest: A cold front will trigger showers and thunderstorms through the Midwest from the eastern Great Lakes to the middle Mississippi Valley on Saturday. A few thunderstorms could turn severe from the Ohio Valley to the eastern Great Lakes. The Plains will be dry, allowing flood waters across Kansas and Missouri to recede and river levels to lower. High temperatures will range from the 70s from the eastern Great Lakes back to Minnesota with 80s in most other locations.
Northeast: In central to northern New England it will be warm to hot with plenty of sunshine raising the high temperatures 5 to 10 degrees above average. Although the majority of the region will be dry, showers and some thunderstorms will track eastward into western Virginia, West Virginia, western Pennsylvania, and southwestern New York, especially during the afternoon hours.
West: Except for southern Colorado and parts of New Mexico, the West will be dry on Saturday. Temperatures will be very hot in the Southwest with a possible high of 110 degrees around Phoenix. Highs may also reach 100 degrees over parts the Sacramento Valley while the LA Basin will hover in the low 90s. A cold front will bring much cooler temperatures and showers to parts of the Pacific Northwest late in the weekend into Monday. (Various media sources)
Friday, August 26, 2005
National Situation Update: Friday, August 26, 2005
National Situation Update: Friday, August 26, 2005
Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).
Hurricane Katrina Makes South Florida Landfall and Becomes Tropical Storm
The eye of Katrina came ashore at 6:30 p.m. EDT Thursday near the Broward/Dade County line as a category one hurricane with sustained winds of 75 mph. Hurricane force winds extended outward up to 10 miles from the center and tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 70 miles meaning that several hours before the eye made landfall tropical storm force winds and the accompanying rains were already impacting the south Florida area. By 1 a.m., maximum sustained winds had decreased to 70 mph and Katrina had again become a tropical storm.
Media reports attribute Katrina with four fatalities, three due to blown-down trees. Florida Power & Light said more than a million customers were without electricity, including 777,000 customers in Miami-Dade County, 533,000 in Broward County and 64,000 in Palm Beach County. Florida Power and Light has said it will restore power as soon as possible but it does not dispatch workers when winds are greater than 30 miles per hour. No damage is reported to power generating facilities.
Severe flooding was reported in Key Biscayne and Homestead in Miami-Dade County. Some flooding was also reported in Broward County, and flood watches are in effect for Charlotte, Desoto, Hardee, Highlands, Lee, Manatee, Martin and Sarasota counties. Radars indicated up to 15 inches of rain fell in Key Biscayne, Sweetwater and the Coral Gables-Kendall area of Miami-Dade County. Rainfall in Miami-Dade was significantly higher than in Broward County. Before Katrina hit land, water management officials lowered canal levels to avoid possible flooding, and pumps were activated in several low-lying areas of Miami-Dade.
At 5 a.m. EDT, the eye of Hurricane Katrina was located just offshore of southwestern Florida over the Gulf of Mexico about 50 miles north-northeast of Key West. Katrina is moving west near 5 mph. This motion is expected to continue for the next 24 hours with a slight increase in forward speed. Now that Katrina has emerged over the Gulf of Mexico maximum sustained winds have again increased to 75 mph and Katrina is once again a category one hurricane.
Katrina will regenerate on Friday over the Gulf of Mexico and head west northwest and then turn northward up into the northern Gulf of Mexico. Hurricane winds and flooding rain is a threat late Sunday into early next week in the northern Gulf and up into the Southeast.
Total rainfall accumulations of 6 to 10 inches with isolated maximum amounts of 15 to 20 inches are possible. Isolated tornadoes will also be possible over eastern Florida and the Florida Keys. (National Hurricane Center, media sources)
State and Federal Preparation for Hurricane Katrina
FEMA Headquarters: The FEMA National Response Coordination Center (NRCC) Red Team was activated at a modified Level II on Thursday, August 25 at 0700 EDT with ESFs 1 (with an Air Ops Element), 3, 4, 5, 7, 15, and a Military Liaison.
FEMA Headquarters is conducting daily video-teleconferences with FEMA Region IV, the National Hurricane Center, Florida, and other potentially affected States.
The Logistics Readiness Center (LRC) has adequate initial resources on hand in Florida to meet emergency commodity requests. State resources are staged at the Palm Beach Fairgrounds. Florida plans to deploy a combination of PODS and comfort stations for victim relief. Homestead, Palm Beach and Lakeland Florida are FEMA emergency commodity staging areas capable of initially delivering 100 truck loads of water, 75 truck loads of ice and 24 reefers within a 24 hour window. A 50-pack of generators is in route. The LRC has also executed contracts for additional water, ice, reefers and carriers.
FEMA Region IV: At 1200 EDT on August 25, operations transitioned from the FEMA Region IV Regional Response Coordination Center (RRCC) activated at Level III in Thomasville, GA, to the RRCC in Atlanta activated at Level II. Emergency Support Functions (ESFs) activated at the RRCC are: ESF 1, 3, 4, 7, 14, 15 and Department of Defense (DOD).
Region IV is anticipating back up support from Region X for Individual Assistance (IA) and Logistics for a full Emergency Response Team (ERT) at a Joint Field Office (JFO) in the event of a declaration. In the event of the need for a second ERT-A team, Region IX will field the team.
Alabama: Emergency Operations Center (EOC) is at Level 4 (Normal) Operations.
Florida: Florida's (EOC) is at Level 1 (full activation). The Governor issued a State of Emergency on August 24, 2005.
Mississippi: EOC is at Level 1 (Normal) Operation.
Georgia: EOC currently operating at Level I (Monitoring).
South Carolina: EOC currently operating at Level 5 (Normal). (FEMA Region IV)
Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).
Hurricane Katrina Makes South Florida Landfall and Becomes Tropical Storm
The eye of Katrina came ashore at 6:30 p.m. EDT Thursday near the Broward/Dade County line as a category one hurricane with sustained winds of 75 mph. Hurricane force winds extended outward up to 10 miles from the center and tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 70 miles meaning that several hours before the eye made landfall tropical storm force winds and the accompanying rains were already impacting the south Florida area. By 1 a.m., maximum sustained winds had decreased to 70 mph and Katrina had again become a tropical storm.
Media reports attribute Katrina with four fatalities, three due to blown-down trees. Florida Power & Light said more than a million customers were without electricity, including 777,000 customers in Miami-Dade County, 533,000 in Broward County and 64,000 in Palm Beach County. Florida Power and Light has said it will restore power as soon as possible but it does not dispatch workers when winds are greater than 30 miles per hour. No damage is reported to power generating facilities.
Severe flooding was reported in Key Biscayne and Homestead in Miami-Dade County. Some flooding was also reported in Broward County, and flood watches are in effect for Charlotte, Desoto, Hardee, Highlands, Lee, Manatee, Martin and Sarasota counties. Radars indicated up to 15 inches of rain fell in Key Biscayne, Sweetwater and the Coral Gables-Kendall area of Miami-Dade County. Rainfall in Miami-Dade was significantly higher than in Broward County. Before Katrina hit land, water management officials lowered canal levels to avoid possible flooding, and pumps were activated in several low-lying areas of Miami-Dade.
At 5 a.m. EDT, the eye of Hurricane Katrina was located just offshore of southwestern Florida over the Gulf of Mexico about 50 miles north-northeast of Key West. Katrina is moving west near 5 mph. This motion is expected to continue for the next 24 hours with a slight increase in forward speed. Now that Katrina has emerged over the Gulf of Mexico maximum sustained winds have again increased to 75 mph and Katrina is once again a category one hurricane.
Katrina will regenerate on Friday over the Gulf of Mexico and head west northwest and then turn northward up into the northern Gulf of Mexico. Hurricane winds and flooding rain is a threat late Sunday into early next week in the northern Gulf and up into the Southeast.
Total rainfall accumulations of 6 to 10 inches with isolated maximum amounts of 15 to 20 inches are possible. Isolated tornadoes will also be possible over eastern Florida and the Florida Keys. (National Hurricane Center, media sources)
State and Federal Preparation for Hurricane Katrina
FEMA Headquarters: The FEMA National Response Coordination Center (NRCC) Red Team was activated at a modified Level II on Thursday, August 25 at 0700 EDT with ESFs 1 (with an Air Ops Element), 3, 4, 5, 7, 15, and a Military Liaison.
FEMA Headquarters is conducting daily video-teleconferences with FEMA Region IV, the National Hurricane Center, Florida, and other potentially affected States.
The Logistics Readiness Center (LRC) has adequate initial resources on hand in Florida to meet emergency commodity requests. State resources are staged at the Palm Beach Fairgrounds. Florida plans to deploy a combination of PODS and comfort stations for victim relief. Homestead, Palm Beach and Lakeland Florida are FEMA emergency commodity staging areas capable of initially delivering 100 truck loads of water, 75 truck loads of ice and 24 reefers within a 24 hour window. A 50-pack of generators is in route. The LRC has also executed contracts for additional water, ice, reefers and carriers.
FEMA Region IV: At 1200 EDT on August 25, operations transitioned from the FEMA Region IV Regional Response Coordination Center (RRCC) activated at Level III in Thomasville, GA, to the RRCC in Atlanta activated at Level II. Emergency Support Functions (ESFs) activated at the RRCC are: ESF 1, 3, 4, 7, 14, 15 and Department of Defense (DOD).
Region IV is anticipating back up support from Region X for Individual Assistance (IA) and Logistics for a full Emergency Response Team (ERT) at a Joint Field Office (JFO) in the event of a declaration. In the event of the need for a second ERT-A team, Region IX will field the team.
Alabama: Emergency Operations Center (EOC) is at Level 4 (Normal) Operations.
Florida: Florida's (EOC) is at Level 1 (full activation). The Governor issued a State of Emergency on August 24, 2005.
Mississippi: EOC is at Level 1 (Normal) Operation.
Georgia: EOC currently operating at Level I (Monitoring).
South Carolina: EOC currently operating at Level 5 (Normal). (FEMA Region IV)
