Take a good look at this picture...

[artist]

superfly - where did you get cat 1 winds?? more than cat 1 will survive going 50 miles inland.

[Mello1]

This is not the 'Day After Tomorrow' scenario. Having said that, this is not a walk in the park either. If Katrina is anything close to the likes of Andrew and Camille, there will be major destruction and flooding the likes of which not seen in 40 years. It will take months and in many cases, years to recover and rebuild.

This is the practical reality of the situation people.

[superfly]

superfly - where did you get cat 1 winds?? more than cat 1 will survive going 50 miles inland.

Only Cat 1 winds extend 45 miles from the center, that was in response to someone. I never said only cat 1 winds will sustain 50 miles inland.

As far as what winds I personally expect if Katrina does actually make landfall coming from due south of New Orleans as a cat 4, I expect no sustained winds worse than cat 2 in the greater New Orleans area. If it landfalls as a cat 5, I expect cat 3 winds. Flooding will be the main problem as far as overall damage goes, but this thread is talking about total devastation of the downtown area which will not happen due to flooding.

[themusk]

It will be back if it is hit - amaing how communities come together at a time like this, but it will take a long time to recover.

New Orleans will be rebuilt, I'm sure -- but I'm just as sure that financing and insurance to rebuild in some flooded areas will be very difficult or even impossible to obtain. Both Federal and private finance and insurance industry policies these days are to strongly discourage rebuilding in flood-prone areas.

The map of the rebuilt city is unlikely to look the same as the map of New Orleans today. The lowest lying areas may well become parkland, or perhaps even will be allowed to be permanently reclaimed by the waters surrounding the city.

[beachbum_al]

I love the pic of NO. Reminds me of the many happy times my husband and I have spent down there with our friends. Also the time our friend got married and we spent the whole night in the french quarter dancing. I am praying for NO and all of us who are in the path of this monster.

[Mattie]

Dear Everything -

Us Southerners think a lot of our Nawlins! Please don't make lite of a potentially devasting event. No soap opera - just good old "life as we know it".

[Swimdude]

Are folks really this dramatic!?!?!? it like a big crowd hyping each other up. And I am not saying there wont be severe damage, but some of these dramatics are like bad acting on a soap opera.

Yup, it's almost amusing.

But i'll admit, this is the most scared i've ever been for New Orleans. My Aunt and Uncle are here for 5 days... Their house could be gone upon return.

[sandy73]

I wonder if I will be boarding my plane on Friday in NOLA for New York ?