Fear and Prayers for New Orleans

I just got back from church, fixing lunch, and reading online and watching the updates on Hurricane Katrina. What had seemed like a few days ago of a Tropical Storm that became a Hurricane, killing a few people in Florida, it has become a monster in the Gulf. I literally fear for the people affected and soon to be affected of this storm. Just a few minutes ago, its sustained winds were 184 mph with a pressure of 902mB. It's not showing much signs of weakening, but is actually growing. Its eye is currently 29 miles wide. Suddenly the term "there's no stopping what can't be stopped" is here in our backyard, and all we on the safer side can do is pray for those in Katrina's path, and be prepared to help out in any which way we can.

http://redcross.org/

To put it in perspective,
Galveston was hit by a category 4 in 1900. Of cource, the city did not have a seawall at the time, and no one took heed of the weatherman's predictions. Many people were killed and the town was wiped out. It's pressure was 936 mB.

Hugo (1989) was a Cat. 4 at 934mB, Andrew (1992) was a Cat. 5 at 922mB, Camille (1969) was a Cat 5 at 909mB, and the Labor Day Hurricane of 1935 was a Cat.5 with 892mB. Andrew was at the time the costliest at $26,500,000,000 of damage.

This storm is stronger than Hurricane Camille, the devastating storm that hit New Orleans in 1969. Camille killed 256 people after it slammed ashore with winds at over 200 miles per hour. Thousands of people were left homeless all along the shore and far inland.

Only three Cat. 5 storms have ever hit the United States:
The unnamed Labor Day hurricane of 1935;
Hurricane Camille in 1969; and
Hurricane Andrew in 1992.

Katrina might also disrupt the nation’s oil supply, as Nagin said nearly one-third of the nation’s oil moves through the area. He added that at least 1,500 National Guard troops are available, to deploy and assist with cleanup efforts after the storm moves through the area.


Category Five Hurricane:
Winds greater than 155 mph (135 kt or 249 km/hr). Storm surge generally greater than 18 ft above normal. Complete roof failure on many residences and industrial buildings. Some complete building failures with small utility buildings blown over or away. All shrubs, trees, and signs blown down. Complete destruction of mobile homes. Severe and extensive window and door damage. Low-lying escape routes are cut by rising water 3-5 hours before arrival of the center of the hurricane. Major damage to lower floors of all structures located less than 15 ft above sea level and within 500 yards of the shoreline. Massive evacuation of residential areas on low ground within 5-10 miles (8-16 km) of the shoreline may be required. Only 3 Category Five Hurricanes have made landfall in the United States since records began: The Labor Day Hurricane of 1935, Hurricane Camille (1969), and Hurricane Andrew in August, 1992. The 1935 Labor Day Hurricane struck the Florida Keys with a minimum pressure of 892 mb--the lowest pressure ever observed in the United States. Hurricane Camille struck the Mississippi Gulf Coast causing a 25-foot storm surge, which inundated Pass Christian. Hurricane Andrew of 1992 made landfall over southern Miami-Dade County, Florida causing 26.5 billion dollars in losses--the costliest hurricane on record. In addition, Hurricane Gilbert of 1988 was a Category Five hurricane at peak intensity and is the strongest Atlantic tropical cyclone on record with a minimum pressure of 888 mb.