It's a big league storm now. Heading towards New Orleans. It could flood the entire city. They put out a warning that 50,000 to 60,000 could die if there's a direct hit. That'll get 'em the hell out of there. 180mph sustained winds. Wow. I need to check out some CNN coverage.
Update 7:33PM: Looking big. It's going to hit New Orleans. Only three cat 5's have hit the U.S. I'm filled with stats after napping with CNN/The Weather Channel on in the background. They're using the SuperDome to protect people. It's rated for 200mph and the lower portion of it, including the playing field, will be covered in water. I bet the architects and engineers who rated it at 200mph are going to have a nervous couple of days. In the exciting times of design it's easy to over-sell the capabilities of a building. But faced with the actual winds is something different.
Predictions for New Orleans range from it being under water for six months to it being annihilated. We'll see. Certainly some sensationalism from the media, but I've heard about the risk of hurricane + New Orleans for years.
I wish the people in the area the best... and... RUN, you crazy bastards!
Update 9:21PM: Heather and I have been to New Orleans once. We rode Amtrack with Robin and John to see a Phish show. We stayed at an incredible bread and breakfast... a beautiful old house. I wish I had GPS on that location so that I could check on it after the storm.
Update 9:22PM: Katrina is bigger than Lance. Lance was scheduled for Larry King Live, but was usurped by Katrina coverage. Suck.
Update 9:53PM: Ooh, one of the guys on CNN just said that they in fact do not know how much wind the SuperDome can take. They were apparently in the middle of scientific evaluation and testing when Katrina come onto the scene. So the previous reports of it being able to handle 200mph winds were actually estimates. And Katrina is already documented as having gusts over 200mph. It's at 155mph sustained. The engineers are poopfarting themselves all night. I hope they didn't cheap out on some critical element. Actually, it's often the builder that cheaps out on parts that they think are non-critical. The design is sound but the construction is faulty. And there are also cases where the design is flawed. Let's hope for the best with the SuperDome... there'll be a lot of folks in there.
Update 10:05PM: "A storm of historic proportions."
Update 10:07PM: "Statisticians put it at a one-in-500-year event."
Update 12:36AM: Up late watching Katrina coverage. Actually, got CNN on in the background. I've been getting some work done this evening. And playing with Ava, hanging with Heather. I'd like to stay up all night to watch the coverage, but I'm getting tired.
25 Min Stationary Bike, 20 Min Treadmill Run