Distrubing Comments from New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin

WeatherNLU · #1 Postby **WeatherNLU** » Mon Sep 13, 2004 6:09 pm

The mayor of New Orleans just recommended a voluntary evacuation of all areas because:

"As I understand it the storm has to go around a high pressure system that we need to weaken. Based on the information that I have been given I as your mayor do not feel comfortable at all that the turn will happen. I believe this storm will pass very close to the city of New Orleans."

Wonder what he was told on the conference call???????????

#2 Postby **crazycajuncane** » Mon Sep 13, 2004 6:15 pm

I sure wish I knew.

Last night out boss at work said that he would have a hotel room for all the workers wanting to work this week. He thinks we are going to get a pour in of people from New Orleans.

The next 12 hours are going to be crucial as to the path of this storm.

We got evacuations from New Orleans to Flordia!

Sean in New Orleans · #3 Postby **Sean in New Orleans** » Mon Sep 13, 2004 6:27 pm

He also suggested everyone get gas tonight, batteries, non-perishable goods, etc....They may declare a state of emergency tomorrow and tonight at 11:00 the decision will be made whether or not City Hall will be closed tomorrow.

#4 Postby **Buck** » Mon Sep 13, 2004 6:27 pm

A Cat 4/5 at New Orleans is the worst possible scenario for a storm hitting the US. Worse than Miami.

A close second though would be Tampa and New York City.

WeatherNLU · #5 Postby **WeatherNLU** » Mon Sep 13, 2004 6:28 pm

Sean in New Orleans wrote:He also suggested everyone get gas tonight, batteries, non-perishable goods, etc....They may declare a state of emergency tomorrow and tonight at 11:00 the decision will be made whether or not City Hall will be closed tomorrow.

There you are Sean. Did you see the news conference. I mean I am not overstating what he said, am I? Cause as he was saying it I said I must have heard him wrong. Then he said it again. His tone was scary.

What's your take?

Website · #6 Postby **FritzPaul** » Mon Sep 13, 2004 6:30 pm

DOT says I-55 north of I-10 will switch to north bound lanes only "ASAP"

P.S. I'm posting updates for NO area closings and sandbag locations in the Important New Orleans info sticky

Sean in New Orleans · #7 Postby **Sean in New Orleans** » Mon Sep 13, 2004 6:33 pm

My take is all of the "big decisions" will either be made later tonight or tomorrow before noon. As for the storm...I have no idea where this system is going...I'm waiting to see a consistent path at about 10mph...my gut says that the high pressure is building back and that Ivan is beginning to feel it already and will probably move more NW or W/NW...I'm watching satellite very, very closely and it appears, to me, that some of the outflow clouds on the northern edge of Ivan are being moved back West as the system rotates, which, to me signals they are hitting steering patterns from the high---but, I've just noticed that in the last hour. I've only been off of work since 5:00, so I need to do some more "staring," if you will, at the clouds and satellite--these are what is most telling to me....

wabbitoid · #8 Postby **wabbitoid** » Mon Sep 13, 2004 6:38 pm

Sean, could you do us all a favor before it gets dark?

Go outside and look at the clouds, and tell us how high they are, and if the tops look like they are sheared off.

Thanks.

Also, if you want, listen for birds making very eerie noises. It's a bit early yet, but I swear that for Andrew they knew a day in advance where it was going.

Sean in New Orleans · #9 Postby **Sean in New Orleans** » Mon Sep 13, 2004 6:40 pm

The birds left the parishes below New Orleans in huge flocks heading north yesterday---there was a thread about it on a local weather forum...

wabbitoid · #10 Postby **wabbitoid** » Mon Sep 13, 2004 6:41 pm

Sean:

As for the birds, I'm not superstitious or anything, but I do think they often know things. I find it hard to believe they'd sense the oncoming low this far out, but maybe they can.

Sean in New Orleans · #11 Postby **Sean in New Orleans** » Mon Sep 13, 2004 6:45 pm

All I know is what was posted---I'm in the center of the City of New Orleans so I rarely notice birds---there's nothing but live oaks in my neighborhood everywhere, so we have alot of shade. As for the clouds there are only low level scattered clouds that are moving to the SW at a decent clip, but, not very fast...maybe a bit faster than normal. My suspicions are that we are beginning to be influenced by Ivan somewhat in the skies, but, any rain is at least 24 hours away. If you watch satellite, you can see many of the clouds just south of here dissipating very rapidly as they feel the onslaught of Ivan..

wabbitoid · #12 Postby **wabbitoid** » Mon Sep 13, 2004 7:05 pm

Thanks, Sean. All the best to you and your city. I hope we can worry it away for you!

Janie34 · #13 Postby **Janie34** » Mon Sep 13, 2004 7:09 pm

Animals know when something is about to happen. Watch them sometime just before a wx event.

crabbyhermit · #14 Postby **crabbyhermit** » Mon Sep 13, 2004 7:09 pm

I watched the press conf on Fox8 so i could see if Bob Breck would have any comments on what the mayor said. He did. He said he did not agree with Nagin's point that everything would have to be perfect for the storm to make the expected turn away from NO. Bob said there's still a good chance Ivan will miss us altogether. Bob advised waiting until we know more at noon tomorrow, when they'll know more, to make the decision to leave or not.

crabbyhermit · #15 Postby **crabbyhermit** » Mon Sep 13, 2004 7:11 pm

Janie34 wrote:Animals know when something is about to happen. Watch them sometime just before a wx event.

My cats run and hide when a thunderstorm is coming, before there's any thunder or anything. I believe the thing about the birds too.

Guest · #16 Postby **Guest** » Mon Sep 13, 2004 7:13 pm

could do a georges... could do a camille... could do an ivan which has never happened before. not to panic anyone, but if i lived in new orleans i would get out of the city by tomorrow. this thing could hit the city, and even if the track is in alabama there will be evacuations. if the track keeps moving west everyone will evacuate and there will be huge traffic problems. the real blame lies with the idiots that built that city below sea level...

CYCLONE MIKE · #17 Postby **CYCLONE MIKE** » Mon Sep 13, 2004 7:15 pm

Sean, I was watching the local weather guy here in BR and he said the high moving in from the west will shove Ivan further NE. And said the chances for a LA landfall are diminishing. I think it will slide in over him and like you said turn him more to the NW. Did you get a chance to see what the guys in your area think is going on?

debbiet · #18 Postby **debbiet** » Mon Sep 13, 2004 7:17 pm

My dog senses a storm coming often an hour or more before we even hear the first rumble of thunder. Since she's terrified of storms, she crouches down under a chair or table and lays her chin flat on the floor...and we know its coming.

galvestonboi · #19 Postby **galvestonboi** » Mon Sep 13, 2004 7:20 pm

Having lived in Galveston most of my life, I remember my grandmother always saying that she would wait for the birds to leave when an "east wind was blowing up out of the gulf" and that then she knew that a tropical storm was heading our way. She was, in fact, never wrong about them in her 83 years of living on the island....

goodlife · #20 Postby **goodlife** » Mon Sep 13, 2004 7:20 pm

not to say I disagree with him or anything..but I find Bob Breck has a tendency to downplay things...

Distrubing Comments from New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin

Distrubing Comments from New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin

Disturbing Comments from New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin

Who is online