Storm of a lifetime

Gasp. I have never seen anything like this warning before.

URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NEW ORLEANS LA
619 AM CDT MON AUG 29 2005


EXTREMELY DANGEROUS HURRICANE KATRINA MOVING
ACROSS LOWER PLAQUEMINES PARISH

DEVASTATING DAMAGE EXPECTED

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 POSSIBLY TO THE POINT
OF TOTAL COLLAPSE. MANY 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.

Godspeed to the folks in Louisiana.