Danny, I know you abhor comparing Katrina to Camille, so I will. I, like you and a few others in this forum, lived through Camille near the point of impact (in NE quadrant eyewall). This storm has all of the markings of Camille's equal in all but one area, the point of projected impact. I did NOT have the opportunity to leave (military) the area, nor the time (warning <12 hrs) but I wish I had been able to. It was a time of terror, unabated terror and destruction I could have never imagined. If Katrina hits anywhere near its projected impact area, Camille may be peanuts in comparison even though Camille likely will still hold an edge in sustained wind speed (and even that is in question given the way Katrina continues to intensify). The entire area from N.O. to BIloxi where I was, has radically changed since I lived there, Many more people will be exposed and much more property to be damaged.

I fear for the lives of the people in the path of Katrina. I have seen total deviastation in the past with Camille, as have you, and I fear this may be worse.

I echo your warning Get the hell out of the warning area!!!

Steve, you may not have another opportunity to see a CAT V storm in your lifetime, but in fact, if you stay, you may not get a chance to see what it is like to see the aftermath of one either.

I haven't posted much this year or on Katrina because the posts have been top-notch from our Mets and forum members, but because relatively few people have actually lived through a CAT V storm as I and danielw have, I feel compelled to tell you, don't learn what it is like from experiencing it first hand, learn from the experience of others that have first hand experience. Heed the advice and don't become a statistic.