AP: Disaster officials warn New Orleans over Karen

Harry · October 3, 2013

Miami — Authorities on the Gulf Coast told residents Thursday to brace for a hit from Tropical Storm Karen, set to become the first named system to strike the United States this year.

President Barack Obama was briefed on disaster preparations, and his administration recalled hurricane emergency workers who had been furloughed due to a government shutdown.

A hurricane watch was in effect from Grand Isle, Louisiana, eastward to Indian Pass, Florida, forecasters said.

The city of New Orleans -- devastated by Hurricane Katrina in 2005 -- was under a tropical storm watch, according to the National Hurricane Center.

"Gulf Coast residents in potentially impacted areas should take steps now to be prepared and follow the direction of local officials," said Craig Fugate, head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Households should stock up on essentials such as water, non-perishable food and medication, as well as cell phone chargers and extra batteries for radios and flashlights, FEMA said.

Obama directed his team to ensure that federal resources and manpower needed to help state and local officials was in place, his spokesman Jay Carney said.

"The president directed his team to keep him apprised as weather conditions change and as preparations continue," he said.

"He urged residents in potentially affected areas to follow the instructions of local response and law enforcement officials."

Karen -- expected to be at or near hurricane strength on Friday -- could approach land within the hurricane watch area on Saturday, the Miami-based forecasters said.

Read more: http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5jnALKqD6GqlU5RXzpTorRnaeBrTw?docId=fa7ed5f8-6325-41f0-adab-01eb1bc44d47

FireFightnJoey · October 4, 2013

Who is going to respond if the govt is shut down?

All About UNT · October 4, 2013

Who is going to respond if the govt is shut down?

State Gov't is still in effect.

FirefightnRick · October 4, 2013

State Gov't is still in effect.

The State of Texas and it's USAR teams will be as well.....just in case.

Rick

UNTexas · October 4, 2013

State Gov't is still in effect.

That is bad news for Louisiana if something happens there.

I wonder if they would try and send unpaid government officials to go help? (Since the recalled folks in emergency preparedness were furloughed and recalled to work for no pay.) I am sure they're going to be really ambitious in their unpaid efforts.

Edited October 4, 2013 by UNTexas

UNT90 · October 4, 2013

Much ado about nothing.

SSP · October 4, 2013

WTH!!! Stupid Karen! I hate you!!!

UNT90 · October 4, 2013

Local weather just said that even if Karen is a 75 MPH hurricane, winds in New Orleans will only reach between 20-50MPH.

The hookers on Bourbon St blow harder.

So I've heard...

F U Karen!!!!

All About UNT · October 4, 2013

Local weather just said that even if Karen is a 75 MPH hurricane, winds in New Orleans will only reach between 20-50MPH.
The hookers on Bourbon St blow harder.
So I've heard...
F U Karen!!!!

You've been dranken.

UNT90 · October 4, 2013

You've been dranken.

Only a couple o beers.

That forecast was a worse case senecio, also, so get your rear here.

filmerj · October 4, 2013

Who is going to respond if the govt is shut down?

"...recalled hurricane emergency workers who had been furloughed due to a government shutdown." - just saying things can still happen. Edited October 4, 2013 by filmerj

meangreenthirteen · October 4, 2013

I'm still not convinced to be hysterical yet.

untbowler · October 4, 2013

This is a non-event in the end, Katrina got so bad because the Mayor and then the State Governor at the time sat with their thumbs up their butt rather than calling in all resources, then blamed FEMA for no response when it trickles up from Local to State to Federal.

So many lessons learned.

Just hope the game still happens or worse case move it to Lafayette or Shreveport so it can be played

filmerj · October 4, 2013

Lets move the game to Apogee!

Harry · October 4, 2013

USA Today update as of 9:10AM CST:

Tropical Storm Karen continued its path toward the Gulf Coast Friday, with landfall expected sometime late Saturday or early Sunday morning.

As of 8 a.m. Friday, Karen had maximum winds of 60 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center in Miami. The storm was about 275 miles south-southwest of the mouth of the Mississippi River and was moving northwest at 10 mph.

The storm could become a hurricane as it approaches land. A tropical storm becomes a hurricane when its winds reach 74 mph.

Link: http://www.usatoday.com/story/weather/2013/10/04/tropical-storm-karen-gulf-coast/2921343/