This is one way bad actor. Godspeed to all in harm's way.
M

Just talked to my brother who left New Orleans 2.5 hrs. ago and has only made it 45 miles. They had been on I-10 but it was gridlocked and not even moving.

So if you're not out yet -- GET OUT! Hurricane force winds are expected late tonite in the city. Only 55,000 people can stay in the Sundome and for those people there will be no power. Get out so you can be in a air-conditioned place without water up to your knees.

We're starting to see the wind kicking up here in Baton Rouge. We were in Destin for a nice weekend getaway and came home 24 hours early when we saw what was happening.
For those who have relatives on I-10 trying to get out, I have heard people on the radio say they took the Donaldsonville exit, crossed over the Mississippi river on the Sunshine Bridge, then Highway 1 north; this would get them around Baton Rouge. They are not having contraflow on I-10 in Baton Rouge, so the Sunshine bridge might be a good option if you just want to get west and north.
We're battening down and trying to waterproof what we can (ie, big trash bags!)
God bless everyone!

I know good shelters are hard to come by, but I got shivers thinking of holding out in the Sundome during 175 mile an hour winds. Is it really THAT strong? Sounds very scary to me!

I can't imagine anyone not leaving New Orleans which sits below sea level with what is expected.

Please pray for the estimated **100,000 people** in New Orleans who don't have cars and won't be able to evacuate no matter how much they'd like to. I am fearful that this could be a disaster of epic proportions.

I live in Miami and I went through Andrew and just went through a Cat 1 Katrina, my thoughts and prayers are with everyone who remain in New Orleans and with those who have had to flee. What a nightmare this is for them! Please, stay safe!

I just went through a Cat 1 Katrina and lived through Andrew, my thoughts and prayers are with everyone who remain in New Orleans and with those who have had to flee. What a nightmare this is for them! Please, stay safe!

My gut feeling is that this will be "deja vu all over again" for the people of MS. Camille reincarnate. Rarely does a storm hit where it's projected this far out and this is eerily like Camille in '69, with the eye coming ashore at Pass Christian, MS, east of NO.

There are people unable to evacuate NO...if you have no money, where and how do you go. Cannot imagine spending days in the Superdome in the dark!

I have been hearing on the radio that there will be free public transportation to take people to various shelters in NO--hopefully people can get to the bus pickups!

I hope everyone gets out safely. THis will be devastating to NOLA. I just heard that the winds are now at 184 mph. That is terrifying.

In response to a post above, I believe the hurricane gates are a system of levee gates built around the city. Unfortunately, this hurricane is expected to bring a higher storm surge than the gates can handle.

Our thoughts are with all who are in the path of Katrina. Please stay safe!

I have friends on Hwy 90 from Thibodaux/Houma heading my way to Lafayette. They aren't really moving, but are managing to inch along. I am glad most people are listening and getting out, although as of 8am my father was planning to stay in Morgan City. A woman is in my complex staying with her son. She evacuated from St. Bernard Parish (South of NO). She took her dog & her pictures and doesn't expect to have anything to go home to.

No cell phone service either, unless you're lucky. This is not a good time to be living like it's 2005 without a home phone. Although, I'm the only one I know AT HOME. The others I would call are on the roads driving.

Last I heard, they are expecting it to hit the eastern part of N.O., Slidell and that area. I normally don't wish a hurricane on anyone, but N.O. just cannot recover from this. Though, as someone said, they rarely hit where predicted. Jim Cantore was still in Biloxi. That's my guess. Just waiting for that North turn!!

Latest word is that it is stronger than Camille...not good news

Sustained winds over 180, gusts to 217? This is simply surreal!

That's a good description, Patrick. Simply surreal. I had a dream that I was tubing in the bayou and there were 2 huge alligators near me. I saw one swim by that was a "dark spot" in the water like they say you will see for a shark. That was at 6:10 this morning. I woke up scared. Then I turned on the Weather Channel... It's only gotten worse today.

Also, it's 97 right now. Can't imagine being stuck in traffic.

Opening my first beer. I want to sit in front of the tv all day, but I've got packing to do. Europe awaits. Hurricane or no hurricane. We've changed our flight for Wednesday & are planning to drive to Dallas instead of N.O.

Fox News is showing the lines at the Superdome. OMG. What a horrible night they will have.

This thing is a MONSTER. You're in my thoughts and prayers up there. Do not take this lightly, please!!! No doubt about it, this will be catastrophic.
We thought it was bad here in South Florida, but it was nothing compared to now!

What made me so angry about this storm is when it was scheduled to hit Miami, the weather forcasters kept calling it a 'minimal' hurricane. There is no such thing as a minimal hurricane.

Godspeed to those of you on the Gulf Coast.

Best wishes and prayers to all in Katrina's path.

When I fled Frances last summer I decided to go to NOLA. Why not have some good food and see the sights? I would imagine that Bourbon Street will be Rockin' with some of those "It can't hurt us" crowd. I have the Beadcam on so I can see how the fish are biting on Conti tomorrow morning. Obviously the tourists haven't been on the Cemetary tour to understand why the dead are intered above ground.

I heard they're running out of gas on the highways. I'm sure there are no trucks headed IN to fill up those underground gas tanks. This just keeps getting worse and worse.