Old info.....

[MississippiHurricane]

If anyone needs/wants any watches or warnings from the WFO in Jackson or New Orleans from Katrina I have every one of the archived....I even have some recorded weather radio (not for the faint of heart). I have been missing this zip disk I made and just found it full of Katrina stuff. I have a few cloud pics which turned out okay for the most part also.

[KWT]

weather radio?
How much have you got recorded?

[Cyclone1]

^ Yeah I'd like to hear it too.

[Blown Away]

That would be cool, especially the updates a few hours before landfall. Somebody posted TWC's local on the 8's update prior to Katrina that was chilling.

[Category 5]

I saved this. It's just a text warning, but thought I'd post it.


LAC071-087-291915-

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
FLASH FLOOD WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NEW ORLEANS LA
814 AM CDT MON AUG 29 2005

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN NEW ORLEANS HAS ISSUED A

* FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR...
ORLEANS PARISH IN SOUTHEAST LOUISIANA
THIS INCLUDES THE CITIES OF...NEW ORLEANS
ST. BERNARD PARISH IN SOUTHEAST LOUISIANA
THIS INCLUDES THE CITY OF CHALMETTE

* UNTIL 215 PM CDT

* A LEVEE BREACH OCCURRED ALONG THE INDUSTRIAL CANAL AT TENNESSE
STREET. 3 TO 8 FEET OF WATER IS EXPECTED DUE TO THE BREACH.

* LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO ARABI AND
9TH WARD OF NEW ORLEANS.

DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE INTO AREAS WHERE THE WATER COVERS THE
ROADWAY. THE WATER DEPTH MAY BE TOO GREAT TO ALLOW YOUR CAR TO CROSS
SAFELY. VEHICLES CAUGHT IN RISING WATER SHOULD BE ABANDONED QUICKLY.
MOVE TO HIGHER GROUND.

A FLASH FLOOD WARNING MEANS THAT FLOODING IS IMMINENT OR OCCURRING.
IF YOU ARE IN THE WARNING AREA MOVE TO HIGHER GROUND IMMEDIATELY.
RESIDENTS LIVING ALONG STREAMS AND CREEKS SHOULD TAKE IMMEDIATE
PRECAUTIONS TO PROTECT LIFE AND PROPERTY. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO CROSS
SWIFTLY FLOWING WATERS OR WATERS OF UNKNOWN DEPTH BY FOOT OR BY
AUTOMOBILE.

LAT...LON 2992 9012 2994 9003 2987 8987 3001 8985
3004 8982 3008 8993 3002 9012

[Tampa Bay Hurricane]

On youtube there are videos of dozens of
reporters and media tracking Katrina in the 12 hours
prior to landfall and then during and following.
Watching these videos convinces me of the importance
of domed houses.

[Cyclone1]

Well, Katrina's most damage aspect was her surge, wind had little to do with it. It was only a category 3.

Domed house would be more of a consideration for storms like Charley and Andrew.

[Tampa Bay Hurricane]

Agree.
Dome on some type of large stilt foundation could
in theory protect from surge

[brunota2003]

I dont think stilts would work. I dont think they'd be able to hold up the concrete that is needed for a dome home. I think it'd just be better to leave the coastlines as nature wanted them, without man-made structures. However, that is not feasible. In order to put a concrete home onto stilts though, you are talking pilings of some type, maybe similar to those used on bridges. Then you are talking lots of $$$ to do that.

Anyone know if standard used stilts, or any type of wooden stilts would be able to hold up a concrete, Dome home? I highly doubt it'd be able to support the weight, while keeping the structural integrity intact to fight falling over during a surge type event.

[MGC]

There was plenty of wind damage all the way from Mobile to New Orleans. Observed many a roof completely or partially ripped off a good distance from the beach in the area that had the RFQ. It is amazing what 120mph winds with gusts to 150mph will do. The length of time the winds blew were also a factor. Katrina was not a short lived hurricane like Charley or Andrew that came and went. Katrina blew for hours and hours of sustained hurricane force winds......MGC

[Tampa Bay Hurricane]

Another disadvantage would be the possibility
of the structure collapsing if lower support is damaged
by water. This goes for any home. If the lower supporting
structure is undermined, then the force of gravity will make the
rest collapse.

But there is one design that survived this problem:
http://www.housingzone.com/article/CA6463572.html

Demo House Survives Katrina
Construction was about half-finished on a demonstration house in Baton Rouge, La., when Hurricane Katrina pummeled the city. But the house survived. Now builders tour the completed home every week to view examples of building materials and techniques that can withstand nature's worst.

Arch Wood Protection of Smyrna, Ga., provided several types of treated wood for the Louisiana House (LaHouse), an educational venture organized by the Louisiana State University Agricultural Center. LaHouse showcases three different foundation types: a raised-floor system, a slab-on-fill system and a piling system. "All of them bring the first floor up to a minimum of 3 feet above the historic high-water line for floods or tidal surge," says Scott Hoffman, business manager, interior protection for Arch, "but most coastal builders aren't taking the chance that 3 feet's going to be enough; they're going 10, 12 feet up."

Treated wood was used during the construction of the first floor to prevent decay, termite infestation and exposure to water. The preserved wood decking is highly resistant to termites and fungal decay and has a built-in water repellent.

Since water from a storm surge can float a home off its foundation if it isn't built properly, LaHouse has flood control vents that allow water to flow through the home, keeping the structure anchored to its foundation and letting the water drain when the storm subsides. Different types of hardware were used to help hold the home together through high-impact, Cat-5 storms.

Thanks to mold-resistant framing, "Even if the wood gets wet due to a storm or something as simple as a bathtub leak, once it dries out it will still be mold-free," Hoffman says.

Vapor barriers were reversed in the home's heated and air-conditioned crawlspaces because research has shown that the traditional way of applying vapor barriers in coastal areas may actually be detrimental to the effectiveness of insulation and the resistance of a structure to mold.

Also, this is a design for 235 mph winds and surge:

The Case for Concrete
In March 2007, Royal Concrete Concepts of Tampa, Fla., became the first manufacturer of single-family homes to earn the Fortified ... for safer living designation from the Institute for Business and Home Safety. The Fortified program specifies construction and design guidelines to increase a home's resistance to disasters such as hurricane winds, wildfires and flooding. To meet or exceed the High Velocity Wind Zone requirements of the Florida Building Code, it's using patented, steel-reinforced concrete modules.

The idea for the modular homes originated with Wally Sanger — who patented the Royal Wall system, a combination of concrete, polystyrene and reinforced steel — in 1989. In 1997, Sanger found a way to integrate the floor, walls and roof into a single structure, and launched RCC. Until recently most of the company's business came from educational facilities, but interest from the residential sector is growing, says John Albert, director of business and project development.

Due to spikes in concrete and steel prices, an RCC home costs a little more than stick-built, but "we're probably neck and neck with block, which consumes a huge portion of concrete construction in the state," Albert says. Custom builders tend to prefer the Royall Wall System because it allows more design flexibility than the modulars while still offering durability and sound insulation.

RCC claims its homes can withstand up to 186 mph winds because of the home's engineering. Six-inch-thick walls are built on tilting tables and individually joined. Then concrete is poured into a frame to create an 8-inch-thick ribbed floor. After the roof structure is set in place, concrete is poured to form the roof. There's little likelihood of uplift even when hurricane-force winds batter the roof, says Albert.

Tarpon Coast Builders of Venice, Fla., also has earned the Fortified ... for safer living designation for its homes. Tarpon Coast exceeds state code as well as the most stringent code for the barrier islands and the Florida Keys.

The company typically builds a mono-pad foundation (pouring the pad and footer together, then reinforcing the footer). The only utilities run through the slab are drains, says Tarpon Coast President Mike Romig.

Tarpon Coast uses precast concrete walls guaranteed to test a minimum 5,000 pounds per square inch compared to a typical foundation slab, which is poured using 3,000 to 3,200 psi concrete. The walls have been large-projectile wind-tested to 235 mph. At 5,000 psi, concrete is impermeable, so once the wall system goes up, even if left unpainted, no water will penetrate — and therefore, mold won't grow. For additional strength, the wall system is expansion-bolted to the foundation.

I think that with these designs, there is some hope that homes that are
hurricane (wind and surge) proof can be constructed, so that people
will be protected from disaster more than they were with 2005's technology.
Also that pressure standard if made 5000 psi can be very effective
against wind and surge.

Remember hundreds of years ago, homes were built from much weaker materials,
especially in ancient times, that a strong gust could destroy. Now technology
is giving us hope.

Still unsolved though, is the issue of mudslides and falling rocks
in Puerto Rico/Haiti/Dominican Republic/Cuba/Caribbean Islands.
To withstand that is going to require much more protective engineering.
But the 5000 psi structures could help out with this. But unfortunately
many caribbean areas are very poor; so leaders need to dedicate
their efforts more to those poorer vulnerable areas; also many
groups of leaders/engineers/people/economists must work hard together to
help protect poorer areas. People should help others get protection
from disasters. Otherwise the situation is very unfair to poorer people
in vulnerable areas.

For everyone, whenever someone needs help we are obligated
to help them. They are human beings and we would not want a
person to go through disaster. For the reason that disaster hurts
people horribly, we are obligated to help prevent it, especially
when people are in a financially poor situation so that it is
impossible for them financially to fully protect themselves.

And even if someone enjoys watching a 45 mph tropical storm
for nature's power, they should still help out anyone who is in danger,
otherwise that is like watching someone get hurt and doing nothing about
it which is wrong.

[Stratosphere747]

Well, Katrina's most damage aspect was her surge, wind had little to do with it. It was only a category 3.

Domed house would be more of a consideration for storms like Charley and Andrew.

This is just a very naive statement.

Do a search on this site alone and you will find that the winds were more than "little to do with it."

[Cyclone1]

Well, Katrina's most damage aspect was her surge, wind had little to do with it. It was only a category 3.

Domed house would be more of a consideration for storms like Charley and Andrew.

This is just a very naive statement.

Do a search on this site alone and you will find that the winds were more than "little to do with it."

Erm...Sorry, I didn't mean it to sound like a tropical storm or anything, I was just saying, when you think Katrina, you think water. It had very strong winds, but it's surge totally overshadows that.

[Coredesat]

Comparatively speaking, the damage was primarily caused by surge. Wind damage was not insignificant, but compared to the surge damage it was.

[Opal storm]

Yes, when you think Katrina you think surge. But what a lot of people outside of the area didn't see was that the wind damage was quite severe. I took a trip to Hattiesburg shortly after Katrina to help some of my relatives out and I was very surprised at how bad the damage was up there. Acres upon acres of trees were just GONE and the structural damage to homes was pretty bad as well. But of course the media doesn't care about those areas, they only cover the cities along coastline. That's why a lot of people think Katrina was all surge because that's all you've seen on tv, but I'm sure most people north of I-10 would disagree.

It was only a category 3.

That's a dangerous statement. Cat 3 conditions would do a tremendous amount of damage, and very few people have actually experienced true category 3 conditions and a lot of people think they did when really they didn't. Just sayin, putting the word "only" in with categories of a hurricane can be dangerous.

[Cyclone1]

Yeah.. I know.

I've experienced a category 3 and it wasn't fun.

But what I meant to say was that the surge was far more notable than the wind.

Sorry if it sounded like I was diminishing the effect of Hurricane Katrina in any way.

[MississippiHurricane]

http://www.zshare.net/audio/6589959507d489/

Sorry it took so long I had to find how to host a audio file......this is a few days before Katrina hit (before the online NOAA weather radio site for New Orleans got overloaded and I couldn't listen to it anymore)

[Chacor]

The most chilling Katrina bulletin:

000
WWUS74 KLIX 281550
NPWLIX

URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NEW ORLEANS LA
1011 AM CDT SUN AUG 28 2005

...DEVASTATING DAMAGE EXPECTED...

.HURRICANE KATRINA...A MOST POWERFUL HURRICANE WITH UNPRECEDENTED
STRENGTH...RIVALING THE INTENSITY OF HURRICANE CAMILLE OF 1969.

MOST OF THE AREA WILL BE UNINHABITABLE FOR WEEKS...PERHAPS LONGER. AT
LEAST ONE HALF OF WELL CONSTRUCTED HOMES WILL HAVE ROOF AND WALL
FAILURE. ALL GABLED ROOFS WILL FAIL...LEAVING THOSE HOMES SEVERELY
DAMAGED OR DESTROYED.

THE MAJORITY OF INDUSTRIAL BUILDINGS WILL BECOME NON FUNCTIONAL.
PARTIAL TO COMPLETE WALL AND ROOF FAILURE IS EXPECTED. ALL WOOD
FRAMED LOW RISING APARTMENT BUILDINGS WILL BE DESTROYED. CONCRETE
BLOCK LOW RISE APARTMENTS WILL SUSTAIN MAJOR DAMAGE...INCLUDING SOME
WALL AND ROOF FAILURE.

HIGH RISE OFFICE AND APARTMENT BUILDINGS WILL SWAY DANGEROUSLY...A
FEW TO THE POINT OF TOTAL COLLAPSE. ALL WINDOWS WILL BLOW OUT.

AIRBORNE DEBRIS WILL BE WIDESPREAD...AND MAY INCLUDE HEAVY ITEMS SUCH
AS HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCES AND EVEN LIGHT VEHICLES. SPORT UTILITY
VEHICLES AND LIGHT TRUCKS WILL BE MOVED. THE BLOWN DEBRIS WILL CREATE
ADDITIONAL DESTRUCTION. PERSONS...PETS...AND LIVESTOCK EXPOSED TO THE
WINDS WILL FACE CERTAIN DEATH IF STRUCK.

POWER OUTAGES WILL LAST FOR WEEKS...AS MOST POWER POLES WILL BE DOWN
AND TRANSFORMERS DESTROYED. WATER SHORTAGES WILL MAKE HUMAN SUFFERING
INCREDIBLE BY MODERN STANDARDS.

THE VAST MAJORITY OF NATIVE TREES WILL BE SNAPPED OR UPROOTED. ONLY
THE HEARTIEST WILL REMAIN STANDING...BUT BE TOTALLY DEFOLIATED. FEW
CROPS WILL REMAIN. LIVESTOCK LEFT EXPOSED TO THE WINDS WILL BE
KILLED.

AN INLAND HURRICANE WIND WARNING IS ISSUED WHEN SUSTAINED WINDS NEAR
HURRICANE FORCE...OR FREQUENT GUSTS AT OR ABOVE HURRICANE FORCE...ARE
CERTAIN WITHIN THE NEXT 12 TO 24 HOURS.

ONCE TROPICAL STORM AND HURRICANE FORCE WINDS ONSET...DO NOT VENTURE
OUTSIDE!

[Dionne]

Katrina was a Cat 1 over Hattiesburg. It was a 5 hour windstorm. Damages to homes on Adeline st in the historic district was substantial. We lost every tree. You could not even see our home for the tree fall. The home is an older design with a full hip roof. Our daughter told us the walls were vibrating. The home survived although was unihabitable for several months.

[CrazyC83]

Katrina was a Cat 1 over Hattiesburg. It was a 5 hour windstorm. Damages to homes on Adeline st in the historic district was substantial. We lost every tree. You could not even see our home for the tree fall. The home is an older design with a full hip roof. Our daughter told us the walls were vibrating. The home survived although was unihabitable for several months.

Cat 1 there? I thought it was Cat 2 at that point...