« Hurricane Katrina | Home | Documentaries Are The New Opposite-Editorial! »
Monday, August 29, 2005
WWUS74 KLIX 282139
Thanks to the simmering cauldron of speculation and deep linkage that is the blogosphere, this NOAA-NWS weather message has received significant echoing. It is positively biblical in its prognosis:
…EXTREMELY DANGEROUS HURRICANE KATRINA CONTINUES TO APPROACH THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER DELTA…Without underplaying the real and certain damage Hurriance Katrina will inflict, there is something to be said for avoiding panic. Mandatory evacuations are one thing. Prophesying doom is quite another; and I’m not sure there are any denizens in New Orleans who would ignore the former but jump on the latter. So how productive are alerts like these, when those who would take shelter have?…DEVASTATING DAMAGE EXPECTED…
MOST OF THE AREA WILL BE UNINHABITABLE FOR WEEKS…PERHAPS LONGER. AT LEAST ONE HALF OF WELL CONSTRUCTED HOMES WILL HAVE ROOF AND WALL FAILURE. ALL GABLED ROOFS WILL FAIL…LEAVING THOSE HOMES SEVERELY DAMAGED OR DESTROYED.
THE MAJORITY OF INDUSTRIAL BUILDINGS WILL BECOME NON FUNCTIONAL. PARTIAL TO COMPLETE WALL AND ROOF FAILURE IS EXPECTED. ALL WOOD FRAMED LOW RISING APARTMENT BUILDINGS WILL BE DESTROYED. CONCRETE BLOCK LOW RISE APARTMENTS WILL SUSTAIN MAJOR DAMAGE… INCLUDING SOME WALL AND ROOF FAILURE.
HIGH RISE OFFICE AND APARTMENT BUILDINGS WILL SWAY DANGEROUSLY… A FEW TO THE POINT OF TOTAL COLLAPSE. ALL WINDOWS WILL BLOW OUT.
We must also remember that the National Weather Service is increasingly behaving like a private company. It’s ability, honesty, and trustworthiness have never been in doubt. (Or at least not more than any other forecasting firm.) But by providing quality weather data for free, it has brought itself into a competitive market with other players not owned by the government. NWS distinguishes itself with this colorful language that happens to give cause for broken and tired newsheads- not to mention bloggers- to presuppose things.
But really, the evacuations have occured. What’s done is done; what will be will be. The blogosphere is doing a wonderful job covering what is happening right now.
So to those in the Superdome and sundry motels and hotels: keep courage, keep faith, and keep focused on staying safe now. And know that the nation prays for you and your homes.
Posted on August 29, 2005 12:34 AM. Permalink 