FEMA (the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency) lists some ways we can provide some help to people who have been most affected by this disaster.

*American Red Cross, 800-HELP NOW (435-7669) English, 800-257-7575 Spanish.
*Operation Blessing, 800-436-6348.
*America’s Second Harvest, 800-344-8070.
*Adventist Community Services, 800-381-7171.
*Catholic Charities, USA, 703-549-1390.
*Christian Disaster Response, 941-956-5183 or 941-551-9554.
*Christian Reformed World Relief Committee, 800-848-5818.
*Church World Service, 800-297-1516.
*Convoy of Hope, 417-823-8998.
*Lutheran Disaster Response, 800-638-3522.
*Mennonite Disaster Service, 717-859-2210.
*Nazarene Disaster Response, 888-256-5886.
*Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, 800-872-3283.
*Salvation Army, 800-SAL-ARMY (725-2769).
*Southern Baptist Convention — Disaster Relief, 800-462-8657, ext. 6440.
*United Methodist Committee on Relief. 800-554-8583.

If you haven’t yet picked up the Weather Bug and placed it on your desktop, now is an excellent time. I’ve been using the Weather Bug for a while now and it really provides great, real time weather information. It’s not intrusive and can help keep you on top of the weather — both locally and nationally. Just click the box, then enter your zip code to begin.

Hurricane Katrina continues weakening over Mississippi, but strong winds and heavy rains are still a threat.

Katrina is moving toward the north near 18mph and a gradual turn to the north-northeast is expected along with an increase in forward speed the next 24 hours.

Maximum sustained winds are near 75mph — still a Category One — and continued weakening is forecast during the next 24 hours.

National Hurricane Center

Although downgraded to a Category Four, Hurricane Katrina is an extremely dangerous storm packing 150mph winds.

The center of Hurricane Katrina is located just south-southeast of New Orleans, Louisiana.

Katrina is moving toward the north near 15mph and is expected to continue. A gradual turn toward the north-northeast at a slightly faster forward speed is expected later tonight and on Tuesday.

Hurricane force winds extend outward up to 105 miles from the center and tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 230 miles.

Coastal storm surge flooding of 18 to 22 feet above normal tide levels, along with large and dangerous waves can be expected near and to the east of where the center makes landfall.

National Hurricane Center

The Weather Channel is reporting that winds in Hurricane Katrina are now at 175mph.

Hurricane Katrina is an extremely dangerous Category 5 storm on the Saffir-Simpson scale. Maximum sustained winds have now been greatly increased to 160 mph. Katrina continues not only grow stronger, but it continues to grow larger. Hurricane force winds extend 75 miles from the center in all but the southwest quadrant of the system. The center of Katrina was 275 miles from the mouth of the Mississippi River at 4am CDT, but the hurricane force winds are only 200 miles from the coast.

For more info see Weather.com

As expected, Hurricane Katrina got stronger overnight and is now packing winds near 145mph with higher gusts making her a Category Four hurricane.

A hurricane warning is in effect for the north central gulf coast from Morgan City Louisiana eastward to the Alabama / Florida border — including the city of New Orleans and Lake Pontchartrain.

Hurricane Katrina is moving toward the west-north west near 10mph and a gradual turn toward the northwest is expected later today.

Hurricane force winds extend outward up to 85 miles from the center and tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 185 miles.

National Hurricane Center

Hurricane Katrina strengthened overnight to a Category Three hurrican packing 115mph winds and is continuing to move westward through the southeastern Gulf of Mexico.

Still a slow mover, Hurrican Katrina is chugging along at 7mph giving her plenty of time to increase in size and strengthen. There is some speculation that Hurricane Katrina may become a seriously dangerous Category Four prior to landfall somewhere on the northern Gulf of Mexico coast.

National Hurricane Center

Hurricane Katrina is gradually moving west, away from south Florida.

Katrina continues to move west-southwest near 8mph and a gradual turn toward the west is expected on Saturday.

Maximum sustained winds remain near 100mph with higher gusts, making Hurricane Katrina a Category Two hurricane. Some strengthening is forecast over the next 24 hours.

Katrina is forecast to become a Category Three — major — hurricane by Saturday.

National Hurricane Center

Hurricane Katrina has crossed the Florida Peninsula and is churning westward over the Gulf of Mexico.

Katrina is moving west near 5mph and this motion is expected to continue for the next 24 hours with a slight increase in forward speed.

Maximum sustained winds are near 75mph with higher gusts — a category one hurricane. Some strengthening is expected within the next 24 hours. Hurricane force winds extend outward up to 25 miles from the center and tropical storm force winds extend up to 85 miles.

Katrina is expected to produce additional rainfall of 5 to 8 inches and possibly 15 to 20 inches in isolated areas. Isolated tornadoes are also possible today over southern Florida and the Florida Keys.

National Hurricane Center