I Wish You All the Best. (Off-topic)

[Anonymous]

Yeah, I think it hit as a Category 4 with 145 MPH winds. I wasn't here at the time it hit, but I've watched The Weather Channel a lot today.

Todd, Dave, and anyone else that lives there...check in as soon as possible, as we'd all like to know if you're all right.

uspscsx

[Anonymous]

I was watching the news and they're saying that the winds were 200+ kph when it touch land. That's scary!

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Lister

I live rather close to Slidell LA which got hit rather hard. I evacuated to Opolousa yesterday. Things have been ok here. I am worried though that my house is either gone or about 6 feet under water. Not a good feeling. I'm probably going to try to make it back tomorrow. The layout I'm sure is destroyed but I'm more worried about the house and neighborhood. At least the family is safe. (I did bring a couple of my favorite locos with me too)
I have friends that I work with that live farther south in St Bernard around Chalmette, and supposedly they have around 6-10 feet of water there in areas. Also have a friend in Picayune MS. He left, but his house is probably levelled. Flooding is massive and wind damage is pretty horrible too. Not sure of the death count so far, probably not too high because the majority of people did evac. Good luck to any of you dealing with the same thing I am.

-Lister

[wow] [:(] [wow]

At least you and the family are okay. Good luck...

[Anonymous]

I live rather close to Slidell LA which got hit rather hard. I evacuated to Opolousa yesterday. Things have been ok here. I am worried though that my house is either gone or about 6 feet under water. Not a good feeling. I'm probably going to try to make it back tomorrow. The layout I'm sure is destroyed but I'm more worried about the house and neighborhood. At least the family is safe. (I did bring a couple of my favorite locos with me too)
I have friends that I work with that live farther south in St Bernard around Chalmette, and supposedly they have around 6-10 feet of water there in areas. Also have a friend in Picayune MS. He left, but his house is probably levelled. Flooding is massive and wind damage is pretty horrible too. Not sure of the death count so far, probably not too high because the majority of people did evac. Good luck to any of you dealing with the same thing I am.

-Lister

[Anonymous]

How far north has it impacted? I have a pal in Shrevesport LA and haven't heard from him. According to the radio, people are now stranded on the roofs of their homes, as well as now there is talk about all the crypts may pop open [xx(]

[rexhea]

Bump!
Central Gulf Coast MR's check-in if you can. How you doing Dave9999?

REX

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by cspmo

Why did't governor Louisiana use Amtrak to evacuate New Orleans, for those who had no way of leaving?

From experience (we took Amtrak to NO in 92, and got stuck in the city during Andrew), the Amtrak tracks run right along the Lake, and even the mildest of waves would make them treacherous. Plus, the train tracks cross over the lake for miles, as someone else mentioned. And finally, the storm gates on the levies take a while to close, and they seal off the train tracks as well, so once they start closing them, no trains can get in or out of the city.

And worst of all, the Crescent is no longer a daily train -- Amtrak cut it to 3x a week, which means it probably hasn't even been in town since Friday or Saturday morning (it leaves NO at around 6am or so).

[Berk-fan284]

Good luck to you guys and your loved ones.

[Anonymous]

Think that is scarey. Wait till you see your latest gas prices. Crude is all ready well over the $70 dollar figure. Allan.

[cspmo]

Why did't governor Louisiana use Amtrak to evacuate New Orleans, for those who had no way of leaving?

[grayfox1119]

To all our MRR friends and their neighbors that find themselves in "harms way" this evening, please know that our prayers are for you in this time of potential great loss. Please God, spare the lives of our brothers and sisters, earthly goods can be replaced, but not our friends and neighbors.

[Anonymous]

Bump!

Only hours away from landfall, down to 160 now though.

uspscsx

[rexhea]

Bump!
Dave9999, seeing your pictures reminded me of crossing Lake Ponchatrain to New Orleans on AmTrak. I don't know how long that trestle is, but it seems like it takes for ever to cross the lake and when you look out the window and down all you see is water on both sides...nothing else. Makes you wonder how it can survive any storm.

REX

[espeefoamer]

[:(]I saw some of those weather reports from New Orleans. It really looks bad.This storm may be the worst on record.High winds are exprcted to down power lines as far away as Pittsburgh and Cleveland.Since New Orleans is below sea level,it is also below the level of Lake Ponchatrain,which is rising.Those in the affected area are definately in my prayers.

[Anonymous]

Good news: Winds down to 165MPH. They say it's going to get right back up, though, as it's going through a period of re-strengthening.

uspscsx

[novicerr]

Thoughts and prayers with all also. I was in Corpus when Celia hit in 69 (I think it was). That was bad enough. Everyone leave and be safe.
Forgot to make this train related. Take Amtrack if you must to get out of harms way.

[fec153]

uspscsx- no do not have any pictures but the Gold Coast RR Museum in south Miami has pictures of the aftermath of Andrew at the museum.
And don't forget what happened to the FEC's Overseas RR in 1935. U.S.1 still uses some of the bridges.
Flip

[csmith9474]

If you want a really good look at this thing, check out some of the lates GOES 12 shots. Center the cursor on the storm and click on it for a closer look. The last NHC discussion showed the central pressure at 907MB. WOW!!!!!

http://www.ghcc.msfc.nasa.gov/GOES/goeseastconus.html[:O][censored]

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by dave9999

QUOTE: Originally posted by uspscsx

QUOTE: Originally posted by uspscsx That thing's about the size of Alaska...just a guess.

Okay, I take that back, it's about the size of Texas, at least it looks to be.


I hope I'm not running this into the ground.


On a train-related note: I have seen pictures of CSX locomotives sitting in the wreckage of Hurricane Floyd. Anyone else seen/have any shots of trains submerged in the aftermath of a tropical system?

uspscsx

I don't have any of sumerged locos, but here are some pics I found online of the tracks
along Escambia Bay in Pensacola. These are the tracks that were washed out
during Ivan. According to the reports on the local news, the storm surge from
Katrina will hit Pensacola like a Cat 3 storm... These tracks may get washed
out once again. Dave

Nice photos, wow, tracks running right beside the bay. That's kinda cool in one sense, but scary in another.


uspscsx

[Anonymous]

The headline on http://www.weather.com: Hurricane Katrina 4th Strongest Atlantic Hurricane



Amazing.

[wow][yeah]

[Anonymous]

It looks like one of my favorite cities, New Orleans, is in for a hammering. To all the people of that area, may God protect you and keep you safe.

[dave9999]

QUOTE: Originally posted by uspscsx

QUOTE: Originally posted by uspscsx That thing's about the size of Alaska...just a guess.

Okay, I take that back, it's about the size of Texas, at least it looks to be.


I hope I'm not running this into the ground.


On a train-related note: I have seen pictures of CSX locomotives sitting in the wreckage of Hurricane Floyd. Anyone else seen/have any shots of trains submerged in the aftermath of a tropical system?

uspscsx

I don't have any of sumerged locos, but here are some pics I found online of the tracks
along Escambia Bay in Pensacola. These are the tracks that were washed out
during Ivan. According to the reports on the local news, the storm surge from
Katrina will hit Pensacola like a Cat 3 storm... These tracks may get washed
out once again. Dave

[Fergmiester]

Our thoughts and prayers are with all in harms way. Let us know how you made out.

This is one where roughing it should not be an option, so stay safe!

Fergie

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by uspscsx That thing's about the size of Alaska...just a guess.

Okay, I take that back, it's about the size of Texas, at least it looks to be.


I hope I'm not running this into the ground.


On a train-related note: I have seen pictures of CSX locomotives sitting in the wreckage of Hurricane Floyd. Anyone else seen/have any shots of trains submerged in the aftermath of a tropical system?


uspscsx

[Anonymous]

Alright, I'll come out and say it, I kinda know a thing or two about weather(No brag just fact[:D])...Okay, my friends call me an actual meteorologist(Even though I'm not.)...But is it just me, or is this thing getting bigger? http://www.weather.com/maps/news/atlstorm12/gulfofmexicosatellite_large.html (Make it in motion)I notice the cloud cover and purples getting larger. And that eye...Oh mannn! It's obvious that it's strengthening, the pressure is dropping almost as we speak. I'm worrying about the whole state of Louisiana and most of Mississippi and Alabama. I mean, we're talking large tornado-force winds, except over a long period of time. The pressure's down to 902. I think the lowest all time for a tropical cyclone is 879, or something like that. This is certainly one of the strongest hurricanes I've seen in quite a while. That thing's about the size of Alaska...just a guess. I hope this one doesn't pull a Charley on us...

uspscsx

[Anonymous]

As a child, I spent many weeks each summer at my Grandparents' house in LaFourche Parish in south Louisiana (yup, I'm part Coonass). I can attest that the area is nothing but swamp, marsh, ponds, lakes and bayous. Bayou Lafourche passes right in front of the house, and I can remember the soil always being wet.

During Camille, my brother was unknowingly playing "hurricane football" with his friends on the LSU campus up in Baton Rouge, while two of my father's sisters got trapped and drowned in the storm surge.

Thank goddness we have early warnings now.

[Anonymous]

Many dittos to all the prayers and wishes above. Of course, if we still had a huge and efficient rail passenger system, instead of clogged interstates, global warming would likely not be melting polar ice caps and snow in the ski areas of the Alps, and causing hurricanes to become stronger and stronger in recent years. It's not nice to fool Mother Nature. Trains are not natural, but they're a long shot better than highways.

[steffd]

Thankfully I've never been through anything like a Hurricane or tornadoes living in my little part of the world except for the Ice Storm back in ’97 which caused havoc and the occasional severe thunder storm but I would have to say don’t chance it and take shelter somewhere safe. Material possessions are replaceable but the lives and welfare of your family and your own are not. Be safe and Good Luck to all those in the path of natures Fury, our thoughts are with you.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by loathar

QUOTE: Originally posted by uspscsx

175 MPH! Holy COW! Todd and Dave-The best of luck to you all. I hope that you all are not harmed. I just got home from church and I saw the headline-"Katrina Now Up To 175 MPH"

It's scary, really scary, even if you do not live near the gulf.


uspscsx

WOW! I rode a few out when I lived in Fl, but I think I'd head for the hills on this one.Good Luck! At least the cloud cover has cooled things off here in Tn.
uspscsx-What part of Tn. are you in? I'm in Lawrenceburg.

Mountainous territory, Around the Knoxville Area. Luckily, it's tracking too far west for us to get more than an inch or two of rain. (Or so they say[:D]

uspscsx

[fec153]

dave9999- Kat looks as bad as Andrew. We had his eye over our house while we rode it out. If a big comes our way we are getting out.
Good luck to you.and all others.
Flip in central Fla.