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Post by 101ABN on Aug 28, 2005 16:22:43 GMT -8
Sustained winds of 175 mph. Please pray for the souls in her path.  "La belle dame sans merci" |
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Post by retire05 on Aug 28, 2005 19:11:07 GMT -8
God, please protect the people of the gulf coast.
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Post by Sailor on Aug 29, 2005 15:32:20 GMT -8
Thankfully this damned thing lost a bit of punch overnight and sidestepped a touch to the right, taking New Orleans out of the path of the very worst winds - the people of Gulfport MS though are wishing it hadn't. It clobbered them hard.
As I write this most of the hurricane damaged coast has yet to be visited, goodly portions of New Orleans are under 5 to 10 feet of water, and all over the stricken area are reports of people stranded on rooftops or having to be evacuated by boat.
The area I live in was hit 2 years ago by Hurricane Isabel, a Catagory 1 storm. Some areas were without electrical power for a full month and the place was trashed, buildings damaged but little catastrophic damage.
Katrina was several geometric progressions more powerful, the Gulf Coast there and the Big Easy are going to be rebuilding for years.
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Post by leftisthater on Aug 29, 2005 16:55:53 GMT -8
I will have these people in my praying of the Holy Rosary tonight.
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Post by Sailor on Aug 30, 2005 16:44:24 GMT -8
Navy is putting together an aid package of 3 major "Gators" here in Norfolk. A 4th ship, USS BATAAN (LHD 5) is already in the Gulf of Mexico and is standing by for FEMA to decide where she will be of the best use.
This ship is very similar to my old NASSAU, her full length flight deck capable of handling multiple large helicopters simultaneously, her sickbay is the equivalent of a major hospital Level 1 Trauma Center with 4 operating rooms and up to 500 hospital beds. Her engineering plant makes enough fresh water every day for a crew of 1000 sailors and 2000 marines with capacity to spare to support a like number ashore...or supply badly needed water for survivors just as another LHD and the CVN LINCOLN did after the Indonesian tsunami.
The ships under orders to prepare to sail from Norfolk will likely load Army or National Guard combat engineer units and Navy and Marine Corps helo squadrons and Navy medical personnel.
After watching the news this evening, I'd say this ain't enough, not by half.
UPDATE: From Drudge
NAVY SHIPS AND MARITIME RESCUE TEAMS SENT TO REGION
Tue Aug 30 2005 21:33:11 ET
The Pentagon late Tuesday ordered five Navy ships and eight maritime rescue teams to the Gulf Coast to bolster relief operations as worsening conditions overwhelmed the initial response.
The NEW YORK TIMES plans to report later tonight: One Navy amphibious assault ship, the Bataan, with six Sea Stallion and Sea Hawk helicopters that could be used for search and rescue missions.
The ships will carry food, fuel, medical and construction supplies, as well as hovercraft that can be used for evacuation and search-and-rescue missions.
The Navy was also considering sending the hospital ship Comfort.
Developing...
5 ships, not the 3 reported earlier - I was wondering if COMFORT would be deployed, hope she is. She is going to be badly needed at least until those civilian hospitals ashore are back up or are replaced - especially once the inevitable disease outbreaks start.
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