"I'd hate to be an Emergency Management official in New Orleans right now"

[steve2470]

http://www.weatherunderground.com/blog/JeffMasters/show.html

<snip>

I'd hate to be an Emergency Management official in New Orleans right now. Katrina is pretty much following the NHC forecast, and appears likely to pass VERY close to New Orleans. I'm surprised they haven't ordered an evacuation of the city yet. While the odds of a catastropic hit that would completely flood the city of New Orleans are probably 10%, that is way too high in my opinion to justify leaving the people in the city. If I lived in the city, I would evactuate NOW! There is a very good reason that the Coroner's office in New Orleans keeps 10,000 body bags on hand. The risks are too great from this storm, and a weekend away from the city would be nice anyway, right? GO! New Orleans needs a full 72 hours to evacuate, and landfall is already less than 72 hours away. Get out now and beat the rush. You're not going to have to go to work or school on Monday anyway. If an evacuation is ordered, not everyone who wants to get out may be able to do so--particularly the 60,000 poor people with no cars.

Dr. Jeff Masters


<snip>

[pitohui]

1. nagin has ordered voluntary evac now

not a very tactful statement by dr masters tho he meant well

[KyndCulture]

2. This could be a disaster of epic proportions...

They've escaped so many times, but this one looks like it's headed right for the city.. I hope they get their ducks in a row and quickly.

I just spoke with some friends in Key West, the NWS did not raise a hurricane warning there and they get hit head on yesterday afternoon. My friends, who've weathered many a storm down there, said the keys are looking pretty bad. There are several deaths not being reported by the MSM and power is out all the way down to key west from Miami.

[wli]

3. did the New Orleans metro area vote dem or rethug in 2000/2004?

I suspect that will have a lot to do with how thoroughly things are addressed (and disaster relief aid, too).

[pitohui]

4. it voted democratic, also there were voting machine "issues"

college kids at xavier university (black, dem) waited up to 9 hrs to cast their vote

not enough voting machines supplied in black, dem precincts