From New Orleans

[frustrated_lefty]

7pm CTD. There's a bit of wind. There were a few drops of rain about 30 minutes ago.

In another thread, someone indicated there were high-rise buildings around the Superdome. That is flatly wrong, and there are no adjacent buildings whose collapse might affect the Superdome infrastructure.

Panic-mongering is now OFF limits.

[BrklynLiberal]

1. Stay safe..and keep us posted if you can.

[demnan]

2. Please be safe

Yes I'm sure the media is going into hysteria but still this is a massive force of nature of which no one has control. Best to be safe.

[proud2BlibKansan]

3. Where are you?

In the city or in the burbs or where?

[BrklynLiberal]

4. Recent post said winds are down and pressure is up and that is good news.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=4488720&mesg_id=4488749

[ultraist]

5. Stay safe!

Please keep us updated, if you can. Where are you, outside of the city?

[frustrated_lefty]

6. I'm in central New Orleans.

About 10-15 minutes from downtown. Walking distance from LSU and Tulane. Rest assured, we're very nervous about now.

[RevolutionStartsNow]

8. Why are you still there?

Just curious, really -- why haven't you evacuated?

[frustrated_lefty]

25. I've explained this elsewhere.

My wife is in the hospital. My kids are with me. It sounds stupid. I can't leave my wife, and she would go out of her mind if I took the kids out of the city.

If I took the kids out of town, my wife would feel a) I had abandoned her and b) I had betrayed her to the deepest depths of her soul.

I can NOT leave. It is NOT an option. :(

For what it's worth, the rain here is still fairly mild as of 9pm CDT.

[MoonRiver]

26. Lefty, why don't you & the kids go to the hospital & stay with your wife.

You'd probably be safer there and they have an emergency generator. PLEASE GO NOW!

[shireen]

31. give him a break

we need to stop telling FL what to do -- he's obviously thought this through and is doing what is right for him and his family. Let's just support him and wish him well.

[ultraist]

32. Your wife is in the hospital?

:hug: Wishing the best for you and your family.

[RevolutionStartsNow]

33. That makes perfect sense to me

I wouldn't leave my family either.

Best of luck to you. My prayers and with you and your family.

[expatriot]

10. Please please please please evacuate if at ALL possible.

get the fuck out of there. leave everything behind and just get into somebody's car, a bus, a police car,

[ultraist]

12. Where in your house are you going to stay when it hits?

Do you have a windowless, downstairs room, that's in the center of the house, safe from trees falling?

Keep your head down and your chin up! ;) Hoping you weather the storm all right.

[thinkingwoman]

17. FL, hope you see this

I just wanted to let you know that you and your family have been in my thoughts all day and you'll remain there tonight and tomorrow.

Hang in there. May you be blessed with the strength and good fortune to carry you and yours through this storm.

[DefenseLawyer]

60. You mean Loyola and Tulane

right? I'm an old Tulane grad, have you heard if they had much damage up there?

[oneighty]

7. Last time I was in NO

we stayed at a Hyatt hotel across the street from the dome. I could swear it was far higher than the dome?

180

[KittyWampus]

35. The Issue Is Wind Tunnels Created By Buildings, Not Falling Towers

[xultar]

9. Please take care. I know you'll be OK. PM me if you need anything

or need me to contact anyone for you.

[shireen]

11. if you're going to be staying there, please stay on-line as long

as you can, and let us know how you're doing. stay safe and good luck!

[Eloriel]

13. Yes, we'll keep you company as long as you've got electricity n/t

[shireen]

15. exactly ..

I've bookmarked this thread and will keep checking in to hear from you .... take care!

[Lorien]

36. His electricity will go out pretty much instantly when the storm

hits. Mine did during Charley (everyone else I knew lost power too), but I stayed online for about an hour and a half with a battery. I spent only a bit of that time checking for updates from DUers on the storms progress (the rest of the time I was hiding out in a closet), but most were having fun making jokes about Florida getting what it deserved and only provided me with good wishes (at best). Hopefully this time around, more considerate DUers can be standing by with radar images and other info for those that can stay online with battery power for a short time.

[NYC]

14. It was Bill Curl, Superdome spokesman, who said there were

high rise buildings:

It appears a facility as large as the Dome could hold up in hurricane conditions but Bill Curl, spokesman for the Superdome, says that is yet to be tested and if there is no other choice then maybe the Dome could serve as a shelter.

“Only in dire emergencies. The Superdome is not a shelter,” said Curl.

According to Curl, the assumption that the Superdome can withstand hurricane force winds is just that: an assumption. He says more analysis is needed to determine what the Dome can actually withstand because previous wind studies have become somewhat irrelevant since they did not factor in the new high-rise buildings around the Dome.

“They create a wind tunnel effect and that needs to be tested. There were initial studies that indicated 130 miles per hour, but we don’t know,” said Curl. He adds that the Dome is not impervious to the same elements other areas would be exposed to.

[Cooley Hurd]

18. It's my concern, as well...

This is a view looking to the northeast of the Superdome complex (the likeliest direction of the heaviest winds from Katrina):


The turbulence from even a 120 mph wind would be tremendous. :(

And, what about a direct hit from a tornado?:scared:

[NYC]

20. Quite a few buildings between the Superdome

and the water. Thanks for the picture.

[ultraist]

21. Whoa, there is going to be a LOT of glass flying through the air.

:scared:
Debris likely will hit the superdome, but it doesn't appear from that picture that any building is close enough to topple onto the superdome. I hope that domed roof holds up.

[Catherine Vincent]

16. If you're not going to drive out of the city are you heading over to

the superdome later?

[Carni]

19. Damn you NO-leener's are a brave ballsy bunch

My thoughts are with the city and it's people--you guys have dodged other bullets and you may just do so again!

If safety and protection can be willed to your city then please know that you have many people pulling for you!

Best vibes and best of luck!

[tjdee]

22. "High rise buildings"--the picture.

I don't know that they meant high rise as in...the former WTC, but high rise as in...higher than the Superdome. Here's the pic from another thread:



Obviously there's nothing right next to it, but I think people were wondering what will happen should something happen with the taller buildings and be carried/blown in the SD direction.

[JDPriestly]

24. What a beautiful city.

We went there on our honeymoon many many years ago. For us, the draw was the Dixieland music. There was also the beautiful architecture and that it was close to home. I remember the cathedral, the chicory in the coffee, the pralines. Right near the cathedral, we saw a kid about 11 years old doing the hand jive for small change. I remember the ads for the strippers on strip clubs, but I don't remember going in any. Anyway, we were young and innocent. I was under 21. Wonderful city. We are praying for you New Orleans.

[bobbieinok]

34. also in NO for honeymoon in December of 65

[JDPriestly]

42. June 63

[AuntPatsy]

23. I'm sure you will be just fine, I just read your other thread and

just for others to know that they shouldn't ask you why you haven't left yet, here is the thread. I hope those that asked you on this thread did not upset you, I know you realize that was no their intent..

Hang in there and if you need to jabber this is a good place to do it, free of gloom and doom and the panic mongering that really doesn't do any good and I am sorry that I for one contributed my fair share of that today..


http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=155x1858#1866

[frustrated_lefty]

28. AuntPatsy

Thank you. :) The kind words and thoughts really, really mean a lot.

I don't know how to convey this. Thank you so very, very much for paying attention.

FL.

[WiseButAngrySara]

29. Please go to the hospital, the Dome or a high rise building if you

absolutely must stay in the city!

[shireen]

30. FL, so glad to hear from you!

Hang in there .....

[Kool Kitty]

43. My hopes are with you and your family.

Tell your wife and children that a lot of people are holding them in our hearts and wishing all of you well.

[AuntPatsy]

46. How are you and the family doing this morning?.

[meganmonkey]

27. I hope all is well. Please update us if you can

so we know you are okay.

Hope you don't mind a virtual hug from a stranger

:hug:

[mikita]

37. keeping you and yours in our hearts...

May you stay safe.... :hug:

Mikita

[ellie]

38. I am sick with worry for New Orleans

and her citizens. Please stay safe! And for the record I would never leave my significant other either.

[Cassandra]

39. Sending light to you and your children and your wife

Hold them close.

[politicasista]

40. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.

:hi:

[thebaghwan]

41. Looking at the NOAA radar and reflectivity, it looks like you will be

getting some nasty rain cells through there short;y.

[tom_paine]

44. Good luck, FL. Stay safe.

We're all pulling for the safety of yourself, your family, and everyone still left in NO.

[cry baby]

45. You are really stuck between a rock and a hard place.

I know everything will be OK for you and your family. I wouldn't leave my husband if he was in the hospital, I think I'd just go there with him.

Hang in there!!

[frustrated_lefty]

47. Quick note

We've just gotten internet connectivity back.

The rain is pouring down, winds are high and getting worse by the minute.

Not sure how long we'll keep power, but please accept our thanks to the well-wishers out there.

[AuntPatsy]

49. Im thrilled you let us all know you and your family are doing okay.

Ive been worried about you..

[meganmonkey]

51. I'm glad to hear you are okay

I woke up thinking of you. It's so weird to say that about a total stranger :crazy:

Please be strong - we are all hoping/praying/vibing/whatever-we-do for the best for you and the whole region.

PEACE!!!

[Tsiyu]

52. hang in there frustrated_lefty

We are pulling for you all

[Karenina]

53. We certainly are.

Across the big pond too.

[ScreamingMeemie]

54. Hang tight fl!!! You're in my thoughts.

Be safe!

[progmom]

55. wow - how wonderful to see your post

:hug:

you will continue to be in my thoughts.

[crispini]

56. So glad to see your post.

stay safe, good thoughts to you. :hug:

[thinkingwoman]

57. Hey there!

Good to hear from you! Keep on hanging on.

Be safe.

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

58. Thinking of you in Alabama. Thanks for keeping us posted.

[VolcanoJen]

48. Reports from the WWL feed

From the WWL feed:

Jessie St. Amant, Plaqueminas Parish E.O.C., in a lengthy live phone call segment, reports:

"As far as a worse-case scenario goes, it could have been worse."

He says that the front of the eye wall is passing over his parish. The anchors are speculating that this might not be nearly as bad a storm as predicted.

I'm starting to breathe again... maybe, just maybe, you'll get through this.

Please....

[AuntPatsy]

50. Thats great to hear...

[shireen]

59. are you ok?

Hey FL, are you, your kids, and wife doing OK? When you have a chance please post on DU and let us know how you're doing.

thinking of you ...
shireen