|
Ivan Expected To Hit Gulf States Thursday
Written by
Lesly C. Hallman
, Staff Writer, RedCross.org
Wednesday, September 15, 2004 — Massive Hurricane Ivan is now dangerously close to the Gulf Coast of the United States, headed due north for the coastal communities near Mobile, Ala. and Pensacola, Fla. Landfall is expected sometime early tomorrow.
Ivan continues its journey as an extremely dangerous Category 4 hurricane, packing maximum winds up to 135 mph, with even higher wind gusts. When the storm does reach land later tonight or early tomorrow, forecasters expect it to be at least a Cat. 3 storm—they don’t expect it to lose much of its current strength, if any.
Hurricane Ivan is now less than 200 miles away from the coast of Mississippi. (Photo Credit: NOAA) |
Residents can expect up to 15 inches of rain, and all along the Gulf Coast hurricane watches and warnings remain in place. Flooding from storm surges up to 16 feet above sea level can also be expected. According to the National Weather Service, hurricane force winds may be felt up to 105 miles out from the center of the storm, and tropical force winds could extend 290 miles outward.
The Red Cross has shelters open in the four states directly in Ivan’s forecasted path: Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, and Georgia. Red Cross President and CEO Marty Evans encourages all area residents to evacuate immediate if they have not already done so.
“People need to get to a shelter,” Evans said. “It is very important to get to higher ground quickly.”
Additionally, isolated tornadoes are possible starting today in Alabama, the Florida Panhandle, and southwest Georgia.
Ivan has left death and destruction throughout the Caribbean, killing at least 60 people in Jamaica, Grenada, Venezuela, the Dominican Republic and other islands. Grenada was the hardest hit experiencing a majority of those deaths and the loss of nearly 90 percent of the structures on the island.
Meanwhile, yet another major storm is stirring in the Caribbean. Tropical Storm Jeanne is expected to drop up to 10 inches of rain on Puerto Rico today, and a hurricane warning is in effect there as well as the U.S. Virgin Islands and the east coast of the Dominican Republic. The Bahamas and Turks and Caicos may go under hurricane watches at some point today as well. Meteorologists predict that Jeanne could soon become a hurricane.
You can help the victims of Hurricane Ivan and thousands of other disasters across the country each year by making a financial gift to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund, which enables the Red Cross to provide shelter, food, counseling and other assistance to those in need. Call 1-800-HELP NOW or 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish). Contributions to the Disaster Relief Fund may be sent to your local American Red Cross chapter or to the American Red Cross, P. O. Box 37243, Washington, DC 20013. Internet users can make a secure online contribution by visiting our Online Donation Page.
Related Links:
Related Content:
|
