Hurrican Katrina - Not sure what to do

[hunt_jump]

Andrew, are y'all ok down in Miami? It really is true what the state officials said the other day about there is no such thing as a minor hurricane. I am sure they are already in your area, but I did see numerous power trucks headed south Friday evening on I95 in Brevard county so I hope you get lucky and get your power back quickly. Unfortunately it does take time when over a million people are without power and the pole have to be replaced or repaired. It is scary to think that the winds are 100 mph higher right now than they were when the storm came through south FL.

[Bugs-n-Frodo]

My sister-in-law and her husband just evacuated New Orleans. This is going to be a mean storm. Please evacuate... I am very worried about this. If you need help, please do not be afraid to ask for it here. There are many wonderful people on this BB who would lend a hand. I am too far away or I would do what I could. Be safe... Jingling for you and yours.

[Tucked_Away]

I'm sitting here reading Google News and already seeing casualties.

Please get out of there.

[RacetrackReject]

I just got a phone call from a friend who said they are out of gas in and around NO, and that many people aren't going to be ableto make it out. Has anyone else heard that?
The friend called to tell me to go fill up my vehicle and any extra gas cans ASAP. I'm on the TX/LA border, so while not in the thick of it, tornadoes will probably be our problem. This same friend said there are some predictions that the hurricane may come further West than anticipated as well.

[Andrew]

We are inconvienced with this HOWEVER, those in the " Bayou Cone" PLEASE, PLEASE,PLEASE, get out.

They totally misforcasted Katrina here in Florida. She was to make landfall in Ft. Lauderdale,but made land fall in North Miami Beach and headed directly South. The folks in Key West, really weren't worried as all the all the modles showed it coming in and going west across the state and were severly hit Friday morning.

The power crews have been doing a great job trying to get everybody online and think they are working extra hard to get all of us online before they need to head to Bayou!!!

[Phaxxton]

This thread now has me in tears b/c I am terrified for you and your animals, Bopper.

Please take one of the extremely generous people up on their offers. I know you know that a hurricane is dangerous, but my god... you have a way out - TAKE IT!!!

[pmc]

I can only hope that the absence of the OP from here since this morning means that she's decided to get out of the storm's way.

If you're outta there, Bopper, Godspeed!

If not, I pray you and your horses are spared.

[Tucked_Away]

http://nielsenhayden.com/makinglight...664.html#91592

...do they usually use phrases in weather warnings like "certain death"?

Good luck, people. Take care, okay?

[Pie in the Sky]

I was a n instrucor at City Park Stables in the Heart of new orleans years ago.. I am in horror is i sit here safe worried sick.. every one will not be able to get out and realisically a major precentage of the population will refuse to leave. some ofthe most important people in my life are hunkered down to protect there oun... I am just ill. however Im sure the horses a t city park will be ok they have hauled them all out in the past for emergencys and Im sure they are set up to do it again .. my love to all those who stay. and god speed to those trying to leave...and to those of you casting stones you can not know the reasons unless you are there.. If I were there I probably not leave ether.. all my love and god speed..

[maxxtrot]

please, please anyone in the path of this storm GET OUT!!! i have lived in florida most of my life and this is no joke. a cat 5 storm is going to be really bad news. we are feeling the rain all day today from this storm that is how big across this thing is! please get out now while you can. i have plenty of pasture space here in ocala if you need it.

[macmtn]

quote"Im sure the horses a t city park will be ok they have hauled them all out in the past for emergencys and Im sure they are set up to do it again"
I too used to live there and rode in the park. They will be long gone. I am hoping the Zoo got all their critters out also...

[jester1113]

"A category 5 hurricane is a bit like a F3 or F4 tornado, but in this case one that cuts a swathe up to 30 miles wide."

[hunt_jump]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content"> to those of you casting stones you can not know the reasons unless you are there </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Though we are not the ones making the choice in this particular situation, several of us on this thread saying GET OUT have been faced with the difficult decision of leaving or staying. I know a lot of people who chose to stay on the beach during Jeanne last Fall here in FL (including my grandparents). Many I know were simply out of money and energy after so many storms in such a short period of time. They were lucky as Jeanne was not as strong and stayed south of our immediate area. My parents and I tried to get my grandparents to leave and went to bed knowing that they might not make it through the night. That didn't happen, and they were very lucky, but it could have been very different. IMO it was a very stupid risk to take. Had they taken a hit from this type CAT 5 they would be dead - it is that simple. I am very aware that their building, as with much of the newer construction in my area, is Miami/Dade code which means it is built to withstand 150mph winds - this hurricane currently has 175-184mph winds and strengthening. It will kill people - that I have no doubt of (actually it has already killed 7 or more in FL). I have been to NO and my sister's best friend and roommate from college is from NO, I know that there are a ton of people in the city who cannot evacuate because they simply don't have the means. What I can't get over is the fact that the emergency services hasn't prepared better for this in a city that will not only flood but will remain flooded (at least that is how it seems from watching the national coverage which can skew things at times). Again, my thoughts are with those in the area, but given the option of getting out take it (of course by now it is probably too late to make that decision).

[CosmosMariner]

I will add my vote to a long list of others. Get out! The storm coming at you is a cat 5. The levee system is predicted to fail. If it fails New Orleans will flood.
I have heard that people are trapped because of the gas situation. I have also heard that some are trapped becuase they have no transportation. All of the planes are booked and tha taxis also. I hope that the feds will step in and help any who want to get out.

[alabama]

Besides being scared to death for all the people staying, I'm sorry I've never been to NO. I'm not sure it's ever going to be the same.

[mairzeadoats]

I'll be praying for all of you in this storm's path. Not only is it now category 5 with 165 mph winds, it is *big*. 100 miles of hurricane force from the eye. If you're anywhere near where it lands, I wouldn't expect a barn to survive it, or necessarily a house.

I really wish some of you had evacuated. If there's any way you still can -- by side roads instead of main highways? -- please, please, please load up your horses and do it.

Like the other's said...paint name/addy/phone on your horses. Tags and halters may get blown right off.

They're predicting maybe a million trees down, so store enough food and water for yourself and your critters for at least 2-3 weeks (revised from 1+ week), if not a month.

They're also predicting lots of tornados with it, so inside vs outside for the horses...take that into consideration.

With wire fencing...any way you can pull that stuff down now? Or will the wind mostly blow around the wires...until the posts go?

My gut tells me this is going to be a really, really, really bad one...If I weren't all the way heck up north, I'd offer shelter for as many as I could cram in...

Alabama...same feeling here. That NO might not even exist after this.

I hope we're not hearing back from Bopper and others because they decided to get out while they still could...

[HiJumpGrrl]

i am nauseated watching the coverage. my thoughts and prayers are with everyone in the path of this storm.

[SimplySarah]

Those unable to get out of N'awlins because of lack of transportation may have the Superdome opened up to them, from what the mayor has said. A good friend of mine is in the medical field, and she was unable to evacuate because she is a nurse, and so she, her young son, her husband, and her mother-in-law will be riding it out in one of the hospitals- 4th floor and above.
I'm getting goosebumps, because a month or two ago, there was a documentary on either NGC or the Discovery channel, in which the universitys in LA who have done all these forcast models for what would happen if the big one ever hit the Big Easy, and the amount of devestation that they predicted does not bode well for those who are staying.
Shepard Smith from FNC is in N'awlins right now and was interviewing people outside of one of the daiquri shops earlier and it seems that a lot of people just don't believe that it is actually going to happen or that if it does, the levee system will hold. I was thinking, Sure, the levee system will hold and won't budge, but it won't matter much since there will be possibly 12ft of storm surge going over the top of it.
I've got family just SW of NO and I hope that they've evacuated.
My thoughts and prayers are with you all.

Please, if you are staying, be as safe as possible.

[beausgirl]

I am sick over the animals that people will leave behind. The herds of cattle and goats and sheep, left to fend for themselves, the dogs and cats and horses. I hope all goes well, althought, I really don't think that it will.

If anyone needs shelter for an extended period of time for thier animals, I offer twenty acres of pasture and a few clean stalls, and the ability to help with the dogs and cats.

[Arado]

SS I am watching the same thing [fnc] it is SCARY.They are saying no wooden built structures will be left standing and devastating damage to concrete buildings. The storm is 400 miles wide [gulp] I have a cousin in Tn and they are headed to Nc as they are expect heavy rains, some flooding and possble mudslides.
I worry about how well the "dome" will hold up .Does anyone have any info on that??
If there is a way to get out they want people in "the 3 states" to evacuate.PLEASE be safe get out.