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Gustav expected Monday
Published Sunday, August 31, 2008
NATCHEZ — Up to 70 mile-per-hour wind gusts are possible in the Miss-Lou as early as Monday evening as Hurricane Gustav moves into the area.
On Saturday afternoon, the hurricane was a Category 4 and has been predicted by the National Weather Service to gain power in the Gulf of Mexico and grow to a Category 5.
Projected landfall has sped up to Monday afternoon and Gustav has been predicted to hit as a Category 4.
Senior Meteorologist Mike Edmonton of the National Weather Service in Jackson said Adams County is well within the cone of the hurricane.
He said if Gustav makes landfall between noon and 4 p.m. Monday, Adams County will feel the full force around 6 p.m. Monday night.
He said a tropical storm watch will probably be issued soon for the county.
Sustained winds are still predicted to be between 35 and 50 miles per hour and with gusts that could reach 70 miles per hour at times.
Spin-off tornados are a threat, as is heavy rainfall.
In response to the information and several conference calls with NWS on Saturday, Stan Owens, Adams County Emergency Management Agency director, said he encourages evacuees to continue to move north of Interstate 20.
Adams County Chapter of the Red Cross Chapter Manager Angie Brown agreed.
“I would go as far north as you could go,” she said. “The farther north they go, the safer they’ll be.”
In light of the knowledge of dangerous weather, Owens said he has decided to postpone the opening of shelters.
It was said before that the first shelter, Parkway Baptist Church, would open 24 hours prior to landfall, which would have been this afternoon.
“We don’t believe the evacuees should be put in this weather,” Owens said.
But that doesn’t mean preparations won’t continue.
“They are still on standby and are ready to open,” he said.
Starting today, winds could begin to pick up and showers and thunderstorms are possible.
Residents are urged to continue to prepare for an onslaught of inclement weather.
“It’s very, very possible that portions could be without power for easily three days,” Owens said.
Concordia Parish School District Superintendent Loretta Blankenstein announced that all schools in the parish district will be closed Tuesday and Wednesday.
Natchez-Adams School District Superintendent Anthony Morris said, as of Saturday evening, all schools in the district are still open.
Comments
Posted by picture_music101 (anonymous) on August 31, 2008 at 12:28 a.m. (Suggest removal)
ok this makes me a little glad but mad ok concordia schools is out till thrsday i go to vidalia well still natchez is in and thats not right! I have a sister that teachers at the middle school and i know she probly doesnt wana get out during a hurricane that superintentdent lost his/her mind. Them children do not need to be out on a bus or at a bu stop during this time MR.SUPERINTENT SIR IF YOU READING THIS I HOPE YOU DO KNOW THAT I THINK YOU LOST YOUR MIND.
Posted by kernel (anonymous) on August 31, 2008 at 12:32 a.m. (Suggest removal)
For one thing, it wasn't Concordia's decision to close the schools...they hadn't made up their minds yet. Instead, the governor sent out a mandatory closing for 30 parishes to close schools Tues and Wed. Some parishes had already made the decision to close. Here is the link to see the parishes with schools closed: http://www.louisianaschools.net/lde/comm...
Posted by BOBCAT1974 (anonymous) on August 31, 2008 at 12:43 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Just use you're own judgement.Monday is a Holliday anyway,come Tuesday im sure there want be any schools open for several days to come.
Posted by oldschool (anonymous) on August 31, 2008 at 6:56 a.m.
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
Posted by amyrenene (anonymous) on August 31, 2008 at 9:39 a.m. (Suggest removal)
oldschool, you crack me up ;)~
Posted by harvest1 (anonymous) on August 31, 2008 at 9:49 a.m. (Suggest removal)
As the storm approaches I wish everyone God Speed. I pray for all.
Posted by NatchezBell (anonymous) on August 31, 2008 at 10:37 a.m. (Suggest removal)
hello ur putting children lives in danger 4 what ???? whats one more day!!! especially when most parents will KEEP their children at hope 4 safety, so it will be a waste of workers time going to work putting their own lives in danger ...
Posted by rose18 (anonymous) on August 31, 2008 at 11:46 a.m. (Suggest removal)
our children should be with our familys at this time.please hold on to your family. may God be with us.
Posted by blogfather (anonymous) on August 31, 2008 at 3:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I think people are underestimating this storm. Natchez appears to be a safe haven for some but to me Natchez looks right in the path. They don't really know the direction it will take when it hits land.
Posted by ikinapoe (anonymous) on August 31, 2008 at 4:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)
what you need to do is everyone get together and speak to that storm in the name of Jesus and demand that it will deminsh before it gets to land
Posted by MARIE (anonymous) on August 31, 2008 at 4:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)
way to go ikinapoe i love your comment
Posted by scarlettohara (anonymous) on August 31, 2008 at 4:57 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Has anyone heard about any school closings for Natchez?
Posted by rose18 (anonymous) on August 31, 2008 at 9:15 p.m. (Suggest removal)
this what i am feeling at this time seems like we are waiting for company to get here all the cooking,cleaning,getting things ready. this is company that i do not want. everybody please try to be safe.
Posted by NatchezBell (anonymous) on September 1, 2008 at 8:31 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Natchez-Adams School District Superintendent Anthony Morris, what are you thinking? What about all the evac's in our town? What about all the traffic? What about all the parents that have house guest from N.O., LA? Don't you think at all? We've got (5) generations in my home right now due to evacuation. Think about other things before you decide upon such a problem causeing storm; more than just our town.
Post above this one is by my daughter....
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