As it does so, it will be moving up toward Long Island and New England over the next 24 hours. |
ask for clarification, or perhaps alternate scenarios or interpretations. We speak the some of the same language but want to make sure everybody's on the same page. |
Basically, we're talking about a swath that's at least 100 miles (161 kilometers) wide on either side [of landfall] where there will be very strong winds and heavy rain and some storm surge, |
Basically, we're talking about a swath that's at least 100 miles (161 kilometers) wide on either side [of landfall] where there will be very strong winds and heavy rain and some storm surge. |
Conditions in the central Gulf are much like they were for Katrina. |
Fortunately, there's been a lot of time to prepare, |
Fortunately, there's been a lot of time to prepare. The bad news is that because it's moving so slowly, it prolongs the impact, both because of the winds and the rainfall. |
I think it has probably reached its maximum intensity now. |
I would expect there to be considerable damage, heavy flooding and unfortunately there's a possibility of significant loss of life. |
If it came ashore with the intensity it has now and went to the New Orleans area, it would be the strongest we've had in recorded history there, |
If it spends 24 hours or more over (the Yucatan), it's likely to weaken, |
If it spends 24 hours or more over (the Yucatan), it's likely to weaken. |
If it stayed at this intensity, it would be one of the two or three strongest to ever hit this country, ... And on top of that of course we have a special concern for the area -- New Orleans is below sea level. |
It will probably strengthen a little bit more. The primary threat remains to Jamaica, eastern Cuba and Haiti. |
It would be the strongest we've had in recorded history there, ... We're hoping of course there'll be a slight tapering off at least of the winds, but we can't plan on that. ... We're in for some trouble here no matter what. |