Katrina Wave Heights?

[Javlin]

A collegue of mine brought this topic up today that in around the area of Venice and an oil rig.He stated that an oil rig worker informed him that Venice looks like it probably did a hundred years ago.That also something about a bridge in that area? sits about 60'-65' above the gulf was covered in debris.Maybe someone from that neck of the woods knows the bridge in question.The worker then also informed him that one week later after the storm when they headed back to the rig that the whole bottom floor was gutted again about 60' up from the gulf.If this is true buddy you talk about some wave heights unreal.This seems to fall in line with the NHC report of 55' waves for the most part as being recorded.Anyone else along the coast heard that if another major comes it's auto evac for all along the LA and MS coast?

[Jim Cantore]

I saw buoy reports of 45-55" waves but thats all

[hopeful]

Only bridge, that i know of down there that's that high is in empire, but it's not really above the gulf more like above an 8' deep bay, and it's behind a flood gate of sorts.

[yzerfan]

One thing to remember about inland/bay bridges is that if the waterway is fairly narrow and perpendicular to the coastline, then you get the funneling effect, which is a pretty significant wall of water that AFAIK doesn't count as storm surge. During Ivan, water heights in Escambia/Pensacola Bay got higher the further into the Bay 'funnel' you went, and the I-10 Bridge, which is actually several miles from the coast, lost many sections of roadway, while the Pensacola-Gulf Breeze bridge (which is lower and closer to the coastline) came through the storm essentially undamaged.

[Javlin]

Only bridge, that i know of down there that's that high is in empire, but it's not really above the gulf more like above an 8' deep bay, and it's behind a flood gate of sorts.

I don't know from the conversation it was like the oilrig worker went through Venice to get to work.

[Audrey2Katrina]

The only bridge that comes to mind for me is the one you cross over right around the Fort Jackson area. We always crossed that thing when we went to play Boothville-Venice in baseball (Needless to say that won't happen this year), and for whatever it's worth, while it crosses over a waterway, it is not perpendicular to the direction from which any surge would have been directed, as the roadway parallels the river in its southeastern track toward the Gulf. If anything, the surge would have been coming in from a 45-60 degree angle off the Gulf. I will say that while the bridge is fairly well elevated, I don't know that it was 60 feet up--could be, but then again....

A2K

[Javlin]

Could be the A2K even if not quite that height it's amazing that that much debris could be piled up that high.I met with alot of co-workers today from Pic-Goula and Lucedale.I had not seen alot of them in awhile all with a story.Exchanged emails some said they had some interesting photos from the storm like Eagle Point and such when I get them I will try to post.

[Javlin]

Oh yea by the way talked with friend through work today whos on the PD tha mandatory evac looks to coming into effect once those new lines are redrawn.Also some of the new poliicies for them in the event of a storm.They stay of course but they stay in designated areas it seems.They lost 40+ cars last year because some where sitting at home flooding.

[SouthFloridawx]

Javlin please refer to this post as this might be the information you are looking for. I received the email from him it has lots of data and just might be what you are looking for.

http://www.storm2k.org/phpbb2/viewtopic.php?t=82864

[Javlin]

Thks SF emailed.

[f5]

How big were those waves at Katrina's most intense?

[CHRISTY]

those waves most have been incredible!

[f5]

half of those wave heights got translated into catastrophic surge once it ran into super shallow water