New Orleans and Major Storms

[gk1]

Its seems that every time there is a major storm in the GOM, forecasters seem to always focus on a New Orleans Hit. This storm, however, no one has even mentioned the Cresent City. It would be ironic if this one would head that way. This could be a major problem. It takes plenty of time to Evac. this area. Time is crucial!! I would hate to be an Emergency Planner for Orleans and Jefferson Parishes right now!!! Plaqemine Parish could be in line for hurricane winds on this projected path!!!

[superfly]

New Orleans has never been direct hit by a major cane in recorded history (that I'm aware of) and Katrina won't change that.

P.S. Betsy was not a direct hit.

[cajungal]

That is only because New Orleans does not sit directly on the coast. Betsy was about as direct a hit you can get. It had to go through Grand Isle to get to New Orleans. And New Orleans still had 105 mph winds and massive flooding. I would not call people drowning anything to be taken lightly. The other way for a storm to get to New Orleans would be going up the mouth of the MS river.

[LSU2001]

I agree cajungal,

NOLA cannot get a direct hit. there are miles of marsh between NOLA and the gulf. However that marsh has been disappearing drastically over the past 40 years and a Betsy type storm today would cause far more flooding and damage. NOLA's major problem would be flooding, Evacuating into the high rise buildings would be foolish due to the increase in windspeed as you go up vertically. NOLA could not stand a storm like Betsy approaching from the East moving west or northwest. What would happen is Lake Ponchatrain would fill with storm surge and as the wind pushed the water towards the south shore the levees would be overwhelmed and massive flooding would occur. It is not a pretty scenerio to contemplate.
TIm

[cajungal]

Agreed. And not much is protecting any of the Louisiana coast. All the barrier islands are almost gone. Just the tiny specks left. And all our marsh is turning into open water.