Mon, Aug 29, 2005

Katrina's Trek Through Florida Just A Preview

Storm's Worst To Hit Louisiana Monday

As Hurricane Katrina strengthened to a Category 5 storm -- the strongest measurable -- on Sunday over the Gulf of Mexico, residents of southeastern Louisiana were preparing for the worst while those in southern Florida picked up the pieces, and counted themselves as fortunate.

"We're calling this Little Andrew," said Lawrence Percival of Kendall, FL to the Miami Herald. Percival's driveway was blocked by a 30-foot downed oak.

With damage reported along the storm's wide path through southern Florida, Miami International and Fort Lauderdale International airports reopened Friday, less than 24 hours after they closed in anticipation of Katrina's wrath. Inbound and outbound schedules had returned to almost normal by Saturday afternoon.

Minor damage was reported at both airports, with a few of Fort Lauderdale's canvas awnings damaged by wind-driven rain and hail. A single-engine airplane was knocked into a drainage ditch.

Miami International also reported damage, including a Bolivian LAB A300 that was blown off the tarmac.

Observers fear even with flooding reported throughout southern Florida and a death toll of seven reported from Friday's storms, the news will be far worse for those in southeastern Louisiana, specifically New Orleans.

The newly-strengthened Katrina is expected to make landfall there at 1400 local time tomorrow, but hurricane force winds approaching 160 mph will hit coastal areas Sunday night.

A forced evacuation of New Orleans has been called. As many as 30,000 residents fled the city Saturday, with many more behind them attempting to outrun the vicious storm.

It is feared that levees and flood walls protecting New Orleans -- much of which lies below sea level -- will not be enough to prevent tidal waves and torrential rains expected with the hurricane from drowning the city of New Orleans.

"Katrina continues not only grow stronger, but it continues to grow larger," the city of New Orleans said in a statement posted on its Web site. "Everyone along the northern Gulf of Mexico needs to take this hurricane very seriously and put action plans into play now."

Michelle Duffourc, spokeswoman for Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport, says it is up to each airline to determine when they can no longer fly from the airport. The airport will close, she told local TV station KLFY-10, when management can no longer ensure safe operations. She added that decision usually comes well after the airlines decide to stop flying.

Stay tuned to ANN for the latest updates concerning Hurricane Katrina's impact on the southern US.

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Airborne On YouTube	Airborne-Unlimited-04.29.24	Airborne-NextGen-04.30.24	Airborne-Unlimited-05.01.24	Airborne-AffordableFlyers--05.02.24	Airborne-Unlimited-05.03.24

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Katrina's Trek Through Florida Just A Preview

Storm's Worst To Hit Louisiana Monday

FMI: http://www.flymsy.com, www.weather.com

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