Hurricane Gustav Strengthens to Category 4

[Martinucho]

Source: NY Times

By ADAM NOSSITER and SHAILA DEWAN
Published: August 30, 2008

NEW ORLEANS — As potentially dangerous Hurricane Gustav approached the Louisiana coast on Saturday, New Orleans began a far more carefully planned evacuation of the city than it experienced exactly three years ago when Katrina struck. Buses began ferrying low-income residents to shelters in the north, cars began streaming out on interstate highways and hotels shooed away valuable tourists.

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/31/us/30cnd-gustav.html?...

[Robbien]

1. Category 4

A Category 4, with wind speeds of 131-155 mph, will generate a storm surge of 13-18 feet. It will tear roofs off homes, blow down shrubs, trees and signs and destroy mobile homes. Water will rise three to five hours ahead of the storm's eye, cutting off escape routes.

http://www.houmatoday.com/article/20080830/HURBLOG/8083...

Ouch. Stay safe Gulf Coast DUers

Peace

[Kali]

2. I hope everybody will be ok

Much as I would love to watch another big repuke fuck-up, NO and area don't deserve to be it.

[Ilsa]

3. Gusts up to 175mph; sustained 145. Cat. 5 is 155mph sustained. nt

[Robbien]

4. First train with evacuees leaves New Orleans

NEW ORLEANS -- The first Amtrak train to Memphis has left downtown New Orleans with 984 evacuees aboard.

Federal Emergency Management Agency spokesman Ronald Simpson says evacuees were boarding the second and final train of the day Saturday afternoon.

Tennessee is working with federal disaster officials and state authorities in Louisiana to provide shelter for up to 6,000 people who may be moved north in government-managed evacuations.

http://www.katc.com/Global/story.asp?S=8926472

and closer to the storm

Cubans forced to evacuate homes

HAVANA (AP) In Cuba, authorities have evacuated more than 240,000 people. Cuba has grounded all national airline flights, though planes bound for overseas destinations are still taking off at Havana's Jose Marti International Airport.
http://www.kxmc.com/News/270216.asp

[djp2]

5. For Conspiracy Theorists

that believe the Gov. can control the weather, this is Bush's chance to show that they can "Do it Right" this time, while wiping New Orleans off the map for good, chase away its residents, and eliminate any Democratic Majority which could throw LA. to OBAMA in November...

[Regret My New Name]

6. lolwut???

I don't think I've ever seen anyone seriously suggest that Bush can control the weather.. I mean, people say shit in jest, but they are usually being funny or just trying to rile people up... I'm of course referring to here at DU, not 'those other' sites.

[djp2]

7. GOOGLE--

"hurricane conspiracy theorists" and you will see 349,000 hits. look at
http://www.usatoday.com/weather/climate/2005-09-20-wack...
for a USA today link.

I'm not going along with this, but look at Hurricane Wilma's photo with a Number 2 in the center:


I saw this on NOAA's website after the storm, so its not a PhotoShop.
Check out--
http://weatherwars.blogspot.com/2005/11/cloud-holes-wil...