This statement from Katrina...Would it hold true elsewhere

[spinfan4eva]

OK, I took this from the 2005 quotes tread... Was this just for New Orleans in a Cat 5 or is it true if a cat 5 struck any other location? I know NOLA was vulnerable due to being below sea level so that may have been why this statement was so gruesome. If a cat 5 hit Miami, Tampa, Houston, or Jacksonville, would similar impacts as this statement be expected??? It basically makes it sound like if a hurricane hit with cat 5 intensity in lets say Jacksonville, that everyone should leave. I am 21 miles inland and dont consider myself coastal so I would stay-no matter what and prepare if a storm was approaching by buying maybe some extra water and canned foods otherwise staying home and watching the local reports on tv. Is that a good/bad idea??? Maybe I just dont grasp the reallity of a storm like Katrina was but that statement had to be the most morbid ever issued by noaa...EVER

000
WWUS74 KLIX 281550
NPWLIX

URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NEW ORLEANS LA
1011 AM CDT SUN AUG 28 2005

...DEVASTATING DAMAGE EXPECTED...

.HURRICANE KATRINA...A MOST POWERFUL HURRICANE WITH UNPRECEDENTED
STRENGTH...RIVALING THE INTENSITY OF HURRICANE CAMILLE OF 1969.

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.

AIRBORNE DEBRIS WILL BE WIDESPREAD...AND MAY INCLUDE HEAVY ITEMS SUCH
AS HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCES AND EVEN LIGHT VEHICLES. SPORT UTILITY
VEHICLES AND LIGHT TRUCKS WILL BE MOVED. THE BLOWN DEBRIS WILL CREATE
ADDITIONAL DESTRUCTION. PERSONS...PETS...AND LIVESTOCK EXPOSED TO THE
WINDS WILL FACE CERTAIN DEATH IF STRUCK.

POWER OUTAGES WILL LAST FOR WEEKS...AS MOST POWER POLES WILL BE DOWN
AND TRANSFORMERS DESTROYED. WATER SHORTAGES WILL MAKE HUMAN SUFFERING
INCREDIBLE BY MODERN STANDARDS.

THE VAST MAJORITY OF NATIVE TREES WILL BE SNAPPED OR UPROOTED. ONLY
THE HEARTIEST WILL REMAIN STANDING...BUT BE TOTALLY DEFOLIATED. FEW
CROPS WILL REMAIN. LIVESTOCK LEFT EXPOSED TO THE WINDS WILL BE
KILLED.

AN INLAND HURRICANE WIND WARNING IS ISSUED WHEN SUSTAINED WINDS NEAR
HURRICANE FORCE...OR FREQUENT GUSTS AT OR ABOVE HURRICANE FORCE...ARE
CERTAIN WITHIN THE NEXT 12 TO 24 HOURS.

ONCE TROPICAL STORM AND HURRICANE FORCE WINDS ONSET...DO NOT VENTURE
OUTSIDE!

[Jim Cantore]

absolutely, Katrina could have done that in Tampa at least, possiably Houston, likely less in the other places you mentioned.

[Stephanie]

It relates to ANY city or town that is facing the wrath of a Cat 5.

Re-reading that gives me chills over what did end up happening with New Orleans.

[boca]

That was insane reading that but how true. It could happen to any city in which a Cat 5 is bearing down on them.

[Ixolib]

One of the things that most concerns me about ANY landfalling hurricane is the tornadoes. And actually, they are often more prevalent 20 miles inland than they are on the coast. If evacuation was a consideration on the northern GOM, go west - or northwest. North and northeast of the landfall can quickly become tornado alley...

Of course, if it's a landfalling storm on Florida's east coast, with a westward trend in its track, then all bets are off!!

[spinfan4eva]

One of the things that most concerns me about ANY landfalling hurricane is the tornadoes. And actually, they are often more prevalent 20 miles inland than they are on the coast. If evacuation was a consideration on the northern GOM, go west - or northwest. North and northeast of the landfall can quickly become tornado alley...

Of course, if it's a landfalling storm on Florida's east coast, with a westward trend in its track, then all bets are off!!

I would guess that since the worst weather is along and north of a storms path that if a storm hit the east coast of Florida with a NW or WNW heading, to avoid the tornados and strongest winds, you should head south. Most people head west or north but that may not always be the best way to go. If a storm hit Jacksonville headed WNW or NW, I would guess that you would wanna go to Daytona or Gainesville where you would be getting winds from the land vs headed to Brunswick or Waycross where you would be getting an onshore flow and the worst winds and tornado threat.

[skysummit]

OMG....reading that again gave me the chills. I hope to never read, or hear those words again.

[Extremeweatherguy]

Yes, that statement would apply to any coast where a Cat. 5 is expected to make landfall. Those exact conditions, however, would only be felt by area that recieved the SUSTAINED Category 5 force winds. Either way, most places would still see major damage with no power, water or phone for weeks...most roofs blown off...and most doors, garages, and windows heavily damaged.

[HurricaneHunter914]

Whoa, that reading about some houses will be destroyed and vehicles made into projectiles gave me the willies. It just shows how powerful mother nature is and how angry she can be.

[Ivan14]

Wow Amazing what a Category 5 can do . At least it weakened to a 4 before landfall.

[Orlando_wx]

now after reading that and seeing these storms and what they can do just goes to show you that we can't take these monsters lightly


John

[Dionne]

spinfan.......the northern most county (Copiah) in Mississippi that was declared a disaster zone after Katrina is 160 miles inland. Our entire infrastructure failed. We vastly under-estimated Katrina. In the early morning hours of August 29, 2005 we were casually watching the storm on the television. We anticipated some power outages and rain. When the first outer band hit us......we could hear it coming from miles away. Over the next five hours conditions rapidly deteriorated.

You say your 21 miles from the coast and would ride out a cat 5? I would suggest that you reconsider that plan.

Hurricanes are fascinating to watch on the TV. Although when your in a hurrricane and you watch your neighbors roof blow off, the fascination quickly turns to panic and terror.

We plan to become habitual with evacuation. We are NOT riding out another hurricane. Hurricanes are like eating chitlins.....once you've tasted it all......you'll never try it again.

[skysummit]

Very well put Dionne. Riding out a Cat 5 that close to the coast is a death wish. You might as well get a gun and a bullet and just end it right now. Being that close to the coast, chances of survival are minimal.

[Steve]

>>MOST OF THE AREA WILL BE UNINHABITABLE FOR WEEKS...PERHAPS LONGER

Heh. Perhaps. But what do I know? Funny thing was, they let you in our Parish (mildly hit in most places) for 1 day in the second week following the storm then you had to stay out for a while until things simmered down. We got in with medical passes, but the house remains uninhabitable 8 months later. Much of the city, MGC and SWALGC will be uninhabitable for years - and maybe forever.

Life's a mean lady, then you die or get hit with at strong Cat 3.