Is anyone near or in the path of Katrina?

Nurses General Nursing

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I have been following the weather channel, and I know this is a scary hurricane. Wondered how the folks in the direct area are holding up?

May God bless and keep you safe.

I am also thinking of the nursing homes that are under evacuation at the moment, and the hospitals that will on alert for what is to come.

Specializes in ICF/MR, ER.

I am in the path even after it makes landfall. It's not like being near the ocean, but it will still pack a punch once it moves into the Tennessee Valley area.

With Katrina, there are several things to consider:

1. If the storm surge reaches 20+ feet in New Orleans, the city will flood. There's Lake Pontchartrain to the north and the Mississippi River to the south. The land between the two is BELOW SEA LEVEL. The levees are what keeps the lake and the river out. Once the water goes over the levee, it's unlikely the pumping stations (if operating) will be able to pump out all the water.

2. Almost all of Southeast Louisiana is marsh/bayou. Very little of the area is more than a few feet above sea level. A storm surge could possibly wipe out small towns like Boothville and Venice. Add to this the fact that parts of the southern coast of Louisiana is sinking into the Gulf, as there is no bedrock shelf to support the land. Compare present maps of the area to ones made 30, 50 and 100 years ago. You will see a BIG difference.

3. There are still people in New Orleans who were unable to get out. The Superdome has been opened as a shelter but if the worst happens (city flooding) what then?

4. Contraflow plans for I-10, I-12, (east-west interstates) I-55 and I-59 (north-south interstates) helped alleviate some traffic problems but not all of them. (Contraflow: where traffic in all lanes is moving in the same direction.)

5. Will there be enough healthcare professionals to adequately care for survivors? After Hurricane Camille in 1969, there were multitudinous health problems related to impure water, snakebite, and spoiled food.

If you can, tune your radio to station WWL (870 AM) for real-time storm progress. WWL is a VERY powerful AM station serving most of the Eastern US, especially at night.

PS: And just my luck, I'm scheduled to work that night it moves into my area!

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Being a Tampa (FL) resident, I just want to send my blessings to all of those that are in the path of this storm. We had several "close calls" last year with some of the storms and it was terrible. I cannot imagine what these people are going through right now, nor do I want to. All I can say to those in her path is ~Please know that someone in Florida is sending lots of prayers and (((HUGS))) your way!!!~

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Stay safe. We are all thinking of you.

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I am 135 miles west from New Orleans. Pretty terrifying.

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Specializes in Psych, Med/Surg, Home Health, Oncology.

My thoughts and prayers go out to all the ppeople in the area.

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Thinking of and praying for everyone. It looks like a potentially devestating storm. I hope it weakens before it hits land.

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I pray the media is over exaggerating this! The city of New Orleans still has some electricity. Maybe it won't be as bad as they think?!?!?

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Specializes in Cath Lab, OR, CPHN/SN, ER.

Watching CNN (instead of sleeping). They are interviewing folks from the hospital at Tulane, and they said they've moved the ER from the first floor to the third floor due to the fear of flooding. They have triage folks at the Superdome (isn't that what's called?), and when the folks who need O2 or dialysis and such showed up, they assessed them and sent them to the hospital, since they could better provide the care the patient needs.

-Andrea

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Specializes in LDRP.

You know, supposing the hospital is strong enough to withstand the winds, and is on higher ground (is it?), the hospital would be a better place to be than the superdome.

they have

beds

food

tv's to watch progress

medicine

much more comfortable than stadium seats i imagine.

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There is no high ground in New Orleans. I cannot imagine being in the superdome right now though, or in the hospital. Can you imagine what the superdome will be like if they loose electricity? Thousands of people (strangers) all in one building? How terrifying. I can not imagine, nor do I want to.

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There is no high ground in New Orleans. I cannot imagine being in the superdome right now though, or in the hospital. Can you imagine what the superdome will be like if they loose electricity? Thousands of people (strangers) all in one building? How terrifying. I can not imagine, nor do I want to.

And JUST who thinks that if the hospital floods first/basement floors that their backup electrical generators won't go out???? All hospitals should have been evacuated.

They have had 2-3 days to do this, no excuse.

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I live in Mississippi, so I'm in the direct path of the hurricane. The hurricane has moved a little bit to the east so it will be (so the meterologist says) a little easier (whatever that means....) on New Orleans, but worse for us, especially those that live on the Gulf Coast. It is supposed to reach in as far as Central Mississippi with winds up to 100 mph. School was cancelled for me and the kids, but my husband still went to work:( . Hopefully they will let him leave early. Central Mississippi shouldn't experience the effects of Katrina until early afternoon.

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