387 years, 1 Katrina. We'll be fine.

Everyone in the country may want to keep their tanks full the next several days because if oil production off the coast of LA (the largest concentration of rigs in the country) gets shut down gas is going WAY up!

Evacuating to higher ground is not as easy as it would appear. It took me 12 hours of bumper to bumper traffic at a snails pace to get to Beaumont, Tx from NOLA when I evacuated for Katrina.

A cool tracking site.

http://www.stormpulse.com/hurricane-gustav-2008

At this point the "cone of death" covers from the outer banks of NC to just about Brownsville TX. I'd say they are spot on!

It's not raining in Tampa.

You're still going to die. The news says so.

I still don't understand how FEMA can give me so much crap about remodeling my house (has to be 9' about mean sea water level or you can only improve 50% of what the structure is currently worth) and in the same breath allow NOLA to rebuild UNDER SL. Makes no friggin sense. Even Galveston Island got a clue and raised the whole island (and built a huge seawall) after the big one.

Boise Idaho is having a big fire right now. Arizona and Texas have had huge wildfires in the past couple of years. Colorado too.

the largest US earthquake in recorded history happened in the mid-west and could happen again.

There is a region in this country that already has a disaster name, tornado alley.
The largest volcano is in Wyoming and has the potential to kill hundreds of millions of people. Experts are sure it will eventually blow again.

They discovered a significant earthquake fault under New York city last week.

You name a city in this country and I'll find a potential disaster waiting to happen there or an example of a natural disaster that has already occured there. There isn't a place in this world that is immune, I can give an example of why people shouldn't live anywhere because of some sort of natural danger.

It is a matter of likelyhood and probablility. Some places are more prone than others. Some are more dangerous than others.
Building houses on top of a hill overlooking huge amounts of dry brush in a known fire zone is stupid and just asking for it. Those are the huoses that burn.

Building a city on the coast that is below sea level and only protected by piles of dirt is subject to the same scrutiny.
If it were possible to raise the city higher it would make more sense but that may be impossible. Until then they have to rely on earthen dykes and levees and huge pumps.

If I were the governor of that state I'd try to figure out a way to make the levies more secure. Me. My state. not wait for the feds to do it for me and hope they do it right. Giant concrete barriers, whatever it takes. Heck if they can build hoover dam they should be able to make levees strong enough to withstand a big hurricane.
We do lots of stuff to make Los Angeles more capable of withstanding an earthquake. Buiolding codes that require stronger and better designed buildings, etc. Usually the worst hit buildings are old brick style construction, not more modern buildings. But, there is no way to maske a city earthquake proof or fire proof or hurricane proof or tornado proof.
We can and should try but there's only so much we can do.

Besides, it's Bush's fault ;)

Yeah, but God hates California.:D

Good thing too. We're all stocked up on idols. ;)

And apparently New Orleans

On another MB I go to, one member who lives just north of NOLA was talking about how they needed to get some older family members and get the heck outta Dodge, but all the hotels are already full way "up the road."

That's always the case always. Evacuation for the able bodied should be a last resort.

Super cool high tech tracking map.
http://www.stormpulse.com/

Here's one of my favorite tracking sites, Mule - all on one page:

http://www.bearpawsweather.com/tropical/index.html

Well, all I gotta say is that I have a personal stake in NOLA now, I helped get supplies down there to rebuild a lutheran church. if it gets wrecked from a hurricane I'm gonna be pissed. ;)

Does anyone here live in NO?

Are they beginning to evacuate? Maybe starting with the hospitals and elderly?

They have 5 days to get ready for this how close do you think they will let if come before they try to take action and its too late?


I guess we get to see if they learned anything from Katrina.


I am sure the projected path can change a lot between now an Monday but if I was in charge there I would have plans in place right now to get the city cleared out.

One right here. Right now there's lot's of talk but it's a little too early to start moving people. I know this is almost on the anniversary of Katrina, but this storm is no Katrina. It would have to blow up in the gulf, and nobody's predicting that. Anybody with no ride can call 311 & arrange for a ride out of town. I'm watching the LSU game, Saturday with some friends. After that I'll make a decision, but I don't see this being an "evacuation" type storm. I've been through dozens of hurricanes, Katrina was one of a kind. None of us will probably live long enogh to see another Katrina, regardless what Algore says.

Yep. My in-laws stayed put through Betsy & Camille, but Katrina was the "charm"...she played "3 Little Pigs" with their house, and my FIL died shortly after. There's a great parody song out of Monroe, LA by a guy named Chuck Redden based on "The Ballad of New Orleans" that points out the similarities of Katrina & this one as far as the gov't goes. If you want to hear it, check out Moon Griffon's show online tomorrow between 9-11 Central time. You'll hear it for sure.

from your lips............