Huricane Katrina looming over New Orleans

I've spent some time watching the television news about impending hurricane Katrina which at this moment is about to hit New Orleans. If what the analysts are saying is true it will be devastating. It's a scary thing. Over 1 Million people have been evacuated and the rest are stuck in New Orleans and surrounding areas. I wish them all well over the next few days.

Thanks to the Internet I know of one fella who works at MSY (New Orleans Airport). We've been out of touch over the past couple of years but I sent him an e-mail wishing him safety. Another one of my friends has family down in Alabama which is also on the hurricane track for this storm. Hopefully they too will be safe. It all becomes such a small world when we start interacting on global discussion boards. Suddenly I know or know of people everywhere.

Anyways, apparently New Orleans is in a basin between a lake, a bay and the Gulf of Mexico. There are 18' high levees protecting it but since Katrina is a category 5 hurricane with 280kph winds they predict the storm surge of 20' or about 7 meters. If they break over the levees the city will be submerged. There are 25,000 people held up in the Superdome all of whom will live in the stands above ground level since they actually expect the stadium to flood. I hope the roof stays on. That's one tall massive structure for the winds to hit. All in all it's shaping up to be the Perfect Storm.. Hopefully something will happen to make it veer off and slow down.. Anyways good luck New Orleans.