Video from Gulfport...Ground Zero...No words

[Normandy]

Yes, but this is an area that supposedly received CATEGORY 3 conditions. By the time the storm was nearing the MS coast, the official winds were in the CATEGORY 3 range.

This kind of damage is something you DON'T see in a Category 3, unless the structures are very poorly built.

This is EXTREME damage in my book...

That is incorrect, that is moderate damage. There is zero complete structural failures displayed within that video (which is common feature in in a 4 and particularly 5), even a high Cat 2 can produce results much like those shown. Most People simply don't know what a high 4 or a 5 can do, or looks like, unless you've seen it directly. It is far beyond what is in that video.

Please, that video looks worse than anything charley did, and it was 150 mph.

[NC George]

That was all surge debris, whereas Charley was all wind damage. The difference: Charlie had cat 4 wind (I think that's right) but a Cat 1/2 surge because he blew up so quickly before he hit the coast (Same with Andrew.) Katrina had Cat 3 winds with a Cat 5 surge, because she had a day at Cat 5 to blow the water up into mound before she hit land.

[oneness]

Yes, but this is an area that supposedly received CATEGORY 3 conditions. By the time the storm was nearing the MS coast, the official winds were in the CATEGORY 3 range.

This kind of damage is something you DON'T see in a Category 3, unless the structures are very poorly built.

This is EXTREME damage in my book...

That is incorrect, that is moderate damage. There is zero complete structural failures displayed within that video (which is common feature in in a 4 and particularly 5), even a high Cat 2 can produce results much like those shown. Most People simply don't know what a high 4 or a 5 can do, or looks like, unless you've seen it directly. It is far beyond what is in that video.

Please, that video looks worse than anything charley did, and it was 150 mph.

Been through a 160 mph cyclone’s eye-wall and the result is considerably worse. There are no complete structural failures on the video, and those are typical of extreme damage levels. What’s on the video is very bad but its still moderate damage and repairable (equivalent to what a very strong Cat 2 or 3 storm can do). A strong Cat 4-5 smashes every tree-off at around 12-18 inches above the ground level and then entrained gravel sandblasts the bark off the stump, leaving yellow/white pulp. Not a single tree remains standing. 90% of all structures are completely demolished back to a slab with a few pipes and almost no wall structures left standing. Almost none of the structures are repairable because not enough structure remains to repair it. Everything in the video is repairable.

[JamesFromMaine2]

At this point it doesn't matter if this was a cat 4 or a cat 5! All that matters at this point is the considerable amount of lifes lost! And right now I see it as disrespectful for people to be fighting over what cat. Katrina was! The end result is the same ALOT of deaths! maybe people could show alittle more respect the day and the day after a MAJOR Huricane comes through and changes so many people and families! I hope the numbers are lower then they seem they could be at this point! May God be with the families, victims, and loved ones in the path of Katrina!

[johngaltfla]

Unbelievable. I fear what we'll see in Bay St. Louis and Waveland.

[KatDaddy]

Amazing video

What type of destruction will we see in Pass Christian, Bay St Louis and Long Beach?!

If the surge was 25ft in Biloxi it must have been 27-30ft in those areas

[GalvestonDuck]

I still can't believe people are debating damage. Whether the wind blows a home over or it is submerged in flood waters but remains standing, does it change the fact that it is no longer livable?

Whether you kick a sandcastle over with a combat boot or stomp on it with a construction boot, you've still damaged it.

[TexasStooge]

Saw it on TV early this morning.

I'm speechless as well.

[oneness]

I still can't believe people are debating damage. Whether the wind blows a home over or it is submerged in flood waters but remains standing, does it change the fact that it is no longer livable?

Whether you kick a sandcastle over with a combat boot or stomp on it with a construction boot, you've still damaged it.

Given the gravity of the disaster it may be proper to just let emotion hold-sway over factual correction. I live on another continent so am not as emotionally invested as many directly affected, and was probably asleep whilst others were getting emotive verses fact etc., in earlier discussions, so don’t know what transpired. I do however resent any implied suggestion that correcting inaccuracy, amounts to being less sympathetic to what this really means for unfortunate residents. If that was someone’s intent then I wish you well.

[alicia-w]

This is phenomenal. Those folks have provided an important service by making this video. but with all of those unsteady structures and debris and stuff around, they put themselves in some degree of peril.

I told my son this morning that these are the reasons we should heed the warnings. When the authorities make the decision to evacuate, they're not doing it for fun. Whenever the situation warrants, we have a bag packed and out irreplaceable valuables ready to throw in the vehicles so we can get the heck outta town. There are many people who didnt heed those evac orders and wont be making that mistake (or any other) again. Sad, sad, sad day.

[sweetpea]

Since today is the first real day that people are able to get out and survey the damage I am almost afraid to watch the news channels later today when I get home. I know this morning I was sitting there watching TV drinking a cup of coffee with tears coming down my face. Even my husband was choked up and had to walk away. Why do things like this have to happen? All these poor people. And to think that some of the worst hit and damage was to the poorest sections of New Orleans. My faith is a little shaken today. Very emotional days to come for alot of people. I am so sorry for everyone. Debbie

[msbee]

Mandatory viewing for the uninformed on this board who post that they want to get hit by a Cat 3,4 or 5 and then argue with you when you tell them that they don't know what they are talking about and the insensitivity of it.

Absolutely!

[Rainband]

UnReal My Prayers are with those affected

[The Big Dog]

This video is a must see for everyone who wants a hurricane to come to their town. You know who you are. Still want it?

[Portastorm]

That videoclip may be the most sobering thing I have ever seen.

I feel heartbroken for those in the path of this killer hurricane.

Michael

[scogor]

I am experiencing the same feelings of horror and sadness as I felt during our first hand look at Charley's destruction last year. Any members that have had the pleasure of spending time in NOLA, Biloxi and Gulfport can only share the shock and sadness. Our prayers and thoughts to everyone in the stricken areas.

[wxmann_91]

Yes, but this is an area that supposedly received CATEGORY 3 conditions. By the time the storm was nearing the MS coast, the official winds were in the CATEGORY 3 range.

This kind of damage is something you DON'T see in a Category 3, unless the structures are very poorly built.

This is EXTREME damage in my book...

That is incorrect, that is moderate damage. There is zero complete structural failures displayed within that video (which is common feature in in a 4 and particularly 5), even a high Cat 2 can produce results much like those shown. Most People simply don't know what a high 4 or a 5 can do, or looks like, unless you've seen it directly. It is far beyond what is in that video.

Please, that video looks worse than anything charley did, and it was 150 mph.

Been through a 160 mph cyclone’s eye-wall and the result is considerably worse. There are no complete structural failures on the video, and those are typical of extreme damage levels. What’s on the video is very bad but its still moderate damage and repairable (equivalent to what a very strong Cat 2 or 3 storm can do). A strong Cat 4-5 smashes every tree-off at around 12-18 inches above the ground level and then entrained gravel sandblasts the bark off the stump, leaving yellow/white pulp. Not a single tree remains standing. 90% of all structures are completely demolished back to a slab with a few pipes and almost no wall structures left standing. Almost none of the structures are repairable because not enough structure remains to repair it. Everything in the video is repairable.

I don't want to stray off the topic too much but the Saffir-Simpson Scale is overrated. A large slow moving Cat 3 will produce more damage then a small fast moving Cat 5. Why??? The Cat 3 would produce more surge. And water is much more powerful than wind as we have all seen over the last few months.

Unfortunately, Gulfport seems like Ground Zero, but one can see that it is just the tip of the iceburg.

[Callista]

I'm from the Midwest, and I've seen tornado damage on more than one occasion--this looks so much like it it's spooky.

Thing is, tornadoes are so localized that, in the grand scheme of things, they don't do that much damage... but Katrina was huge. This is a state-sized area that's been hit.

I don't think I'll ever think I'm unlucky for living in Tornado Alley again...

[otowntiger]

I could be mistaken but a lot of what I saw in that video was surge related damage. It is all on the first floor with most of the rest of the buildings above it intact to some extent or at least not obviously destroyed by wind. Eerily similar to what I saw after Camille. Pictures I have seen on CNN tonight that were taken closer to the beaches made me think I was seeing the aftermath of Camille all over again. I'm not even sure I want to know how really bad it may be.

Your exactly right, in my opinon. This is storm surge related damage. The winds I'm sure were pretty bad my cat 2/3, but this is what surge will do. I've come to believe that if a storm out in the gulf ever becomes a cat 5, no matter what it is at landfall, the surge will be correlate to what the peak winds were during its time in the gulf. Look at what Opal and Ivan did. THey were cat 5's in the gulf before weakening and well before making landfall, but still managed to produce cat 5 surge.

[Mattie]

There is also a video shot in Biloxi/Gulfport area by a California man that flew over to "see what a hurricane was all about". He caught footage of the storm surge as he too refuge on high rise parking garage. It was amazing footage! FOX News aired it this morning. I'm sure that will be making the circuit.