August 29, 2005
Pray for those in Katrina's path
As I type this, Katrina is making her way onto land in New Orleans and I have this overwhelming feeling of dread. What we have been through the past few days here in Miami is absolutely nothing compared to what is happening in New Orleans and the surrounding areas now. Katrina basically knocked down trees and power for a few days here. Not much structural damage reported nor too much damage to the city's infrastucture.
What awaits New orleans is something completely different. Not only is the city below sea level, with basically two levees to protect it, but the building codes and standards up there are nothing like those here in Miami, where every single building has to be built with high hurricane winds in mind. A royal pain in the ass for those of us in the building industry, but a God send when a hurricane comes.
I also dont know how prudent it is to cram the SuperDome with people and use it as a shelter during the storm. Regardless of the fact that this building is structurally sound, sustained winds over 150 miles per hour wreak havoc on all structural elements of any building. The structural members spanning the vast space of the dome will be pushed to their structural limits. Not to mention the uplift forces acting upon said structural members and the predicted 28 foot storm surge. I pray to God that the SuperDome withstands, but cant help but think that it just cant. If there was ever a time for a miracle, I cant think of a better one.
Pray for all those in the storm's path. Katrina is strong and vicious and, unfortunately, a killer.
Posted by Val Prieto at August 29, 2005 07:12 AM
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Comments
We are praying for the people of this beautiful city.
Posted by: Kathleen at August 29, 2005 07:50 AM
My thoughts on putting people into the Superdome were: 'I hope they know what they are doing.'
I am now much less assured.
Posted by: A.M. Mora y Leon at August 29, 2005 09:05 AM
From what I've read here & there so far, the disaster planning for New Orleans hasn't gone well. Everyone should have been evacuated because the entire city is a low-lying area. There's no safe spot. Someone in comments somewhere said the airport was the highest ground, but even it gets flooded.
There was a small pocket of dry air that took off some of Katrina's edge last night (whew!), but she's still a big mean monster. :(
Posted by: FL Mom at August 29, 2005 10:21 AM
