A very serious storm. Anyone reading this in the NOLA area, or on their way out, that needs a place to shack up there is a rapid response thread here at dKos. This is a serious storm and the superdome is not a good idea. Please consider leaving immediately!

[UPDATE] This is now the strongest hurricane ever in the Gulf of Mexico.

I (this is Dr. Masters) put the odds of New Orleans getting its levees breached and the city submerged at about 70%. This scenario, which has been discussed extensively in literature I have read, could result in a death toll in the thousands, since the evacuation order was given too late to get all the people out of the city. I recommend that if you are trapped in New Orleans tomorrow, that you wear a life jacket and a helmet if you have them. High rise buildings may offer good refuge, but Katrina has the potential to knoick down a high-rise building. A 25 foot storm surge and 30 - 40 foot high battering waves on top of that may be able to bring down a steel-reinforced high rise building. I don't believe a high rise building taller than six stories has ever been brought down by a hurricane, so this may not happen Monday, either. We are definitely in unknown waters with Katrina.

More info:
[UPDATE] As if this couldn't be any worse; there are few Nat'l Guard in LA these days, they are in Iraq.

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2005/8/28/11339/2233

[UPDATE]
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2005/8/28/132749/044

Steve Gregory

Hurricane Katrina is now as strong as Hurricane Camille in 1969 - but this storm is larger, and will cause more extensive damage, and if it strikes New Orleans at 'just the right angle' - will no doubt MAY lead to the greatest loss of life from a land falling hurricane in nearly 100 years.

Dr. Jeff Masters

Katrina is in the midst of a truly historic rapid deepening phase--the pressure has dropped 34 mb in the 11 hours ending at 7am EDT, and now stands at 908 mb. Katrina is now the sixth strongest hurricane ever measured in the Atlantic. At the rate Katrina is deepening, she could easily be the third or fourth most intense hurricane ever, later today.

further posts will cease until this storm makes landfall and dissipates. Sorry for being an alarmist but this is the big one.

I'm located in North Charleston, SC and offer any help in this comment here.

I encourage others to leave contact info in the comments here but more importantly in the rapid response thread at dKos (above). Primarily those closer to groundzero, but out of any threat from the storm; which will be rather large as this storm strengthens.

Thank you and Godspeed!