Jason Lefkowitz covers the possibility that New Orleans as we remember it may not exist tomorrow. Who’s sounding such alarmist talk? Our normally weasel-worded government, that’s who. Read the alert.

(Link via Sploid)

A few choice quotes:

MOST OF THE AREA WILL BE UNINHABITABLE FOR WEEKS…PERHAPS LONGER. AT
LEAST ONE HALF OF WELL CONSTRUCTED HOMES WILL HAVE ROOF AND WALL
FAILURE. ALL GABLED ROOFS WILL FAIL…LEAVING THOSE HOMES SEVERELY
DAMAGED OR DESTROYED.

[…]

THE BLOWN DEBRIS WILL CREATE
ADDITIONAL DESTRUCTION. PERSONS…PETS…AND LIVESTOCK EXPOSED TO THE
WINDS WILL FACE CERTAIN DEATH IF STRUCK.

[…]

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. FEW
CROPS WILL REMAIN. LIVESTOCK LEFT EXPOSED TO THE WINDS WILL BE
KILLED.

Usually the government saves these sorts of lurid descriptions for overstatements of the latest drug scourge. Here’s hoping this is hyperbole–but having been through hurricane Hugo, I’m afraid there will be areas of the coast for whom this is understatement.

Prepare to give a few bucks to the Red Cross or other relief agency–there will likely be people needing it.