
Ike was a powerful Category 2 hurricane with maximum sustained winds near the center at 105 mph as it approached the upper Texas coast Friday morning. Its outer bands are producing squalls of tropical storm-force gusts and wind-driven rain. Tornado warnings are in effect across southern Louisiana and coastal Texas.
The deadly storm is projected to make landfall early Saturday morning just west of Galveston, Texas. The National Hurricane Center warned that an extremely dangerous storm surge of up to 20 feet could occur near and to the east of where Ike's eyewall makes landfall. A surge of 25 feet could occur at the head of Galveston Bay which could lead to significant flooding all the way up to Houston.
Feed The Hungry has tractor-trailer loads of emergency food and water supplies ready to dispatch to areas most affected by Hurricane Ike.
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Katrina, a category four hurricane slammed into the southern state of Louisiana early Monday morning with winds at around 225 kph. The storm is continuing to weaken as it moves over land, but is still battering the region with winds of more than 160kph.
According the U.S. National Hurricane Centre, hurricane force winds are expected to spread as far as 200km inland along the storms path, and rainfall is expected to total between 10cm - 25cm.
Significant damage and flooding is expected to result from storm surges, which could reach up to 6m above normal tide levels. This is of particular concern in low lying costal areas. The city of New Orleans is especially vulnerable as 70 percent of the city lies below sea level.
According to local authorities, parts of city's system of levees and pumps have failed, leaving portions of the city under 1.5m to 1.8m of water. In the state of Mississippi, there are reports of up to 3m of water in some areas and extensive structural damage to buildings. It is expected that police and emergency workers will be able to enter the area late Monday afternoon to rescue stranded residents and assess damages.
Click here for a first-hand report by Stefan Radelich
Click here here to view photos from the Katrina Gallery
Click here to review the FTH relief efforts
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