damn this thing called work sometimes makes it hard for me to keep up with the posts...but Frank P. (out on his 6 month sabbatical from the WPP) pretty much summed up CAT V Rick awright...to anyone out there who does not know some of the long timers on this board, up until Ivan, Rick saw every cloud over the GOM as a potential CAT V headed straight for Mobile...it was kinda the boards own inside joke...then Ivan came and it wasn't quite so funny anymore...so that's that.

as far as New Orleans...I believe a strong CAT III (or higher) would basically DESTROY that city, something residents have realized since 1979...despite the city planners best efforts, NO is basically a bowl shaped piece of land and much of it is below sea level...a 25+" rain event coupled with storm surge would cripple the city, as the pumps would be overwhelmed....basically, New Orleans could be considered America's most vulnerable city...not necessarily from a probability standpoint, but from it's ability to withstand a major cane...

let us all hope and pray that day never comes, because if it does...it will certainly be our costliest (if not deadliest) hurricane ever