Fearful New Orleans Awaits the Potentially Catastrophic Hurricane Katrina

[steve2470]

http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGB7P2LEYCE.html

NEW ORLEANS (AP) - Powerful winds and rain lashed the Gulf Coast early Monday as a slightly weakened Hurricane Katrina charged toward this low-lying city with 155-mph winds and the threat of a catastrophic storm surge.

The sheer force of Katrina, which was downgraded from a Category 5 storm to a strong Category 4 as it approached land, had earlier prompted residents to flee in bumper-to-bumper traffic or huddle in the Superdome for safety.

Mayor Ray Nagin said he believed 80 percent of the city's 480,000 residents had heeded an unprecedented mandatory evacuation as Katrina threatened to become the most powerful storm ever to slam the city.

"It's capable of causing catastrophic damage," said National Hurricane Center Director Max Mayfield. "Even well-built structures will have tremendous damage. Of course, what we're really worried about is the loss of lives.

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[Christa]

1. Chilling letter from a child in New Orleans

There is no hope of escape from Kat for some of us. I imagine we will be deep under water in only a matter of hours and i wont try to fight it since i cant run. This is the storm my mom use to tell me would eventually come when i was a kid and she made me expect it during my lifetime. Mom was right, the end has now come. Hopefully my next life will be better.
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