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August 28, 2005
Katrina Looks Like Bad News
By: Rowan
Katrina is now a Category 5 hurricane and is heading directly for New Orleans. Even if we are lucky enough to have it drop to a 4, it will cause significant damage. It may have already caused significant damage. Look at the two images in the extended entry.
First, Katrina as of Sunday Evening
Next, from page 50 of Deepwater Gulf of Mexico 2004: America's Expanding Frontier (Adobe format report published by the U.S. Department of the Interior Minerals Management Service Gulf of Mexico OCS Region).
Yes, comrades, Katrina is spinning at 160-175 mph right on top of the Gulf oil operations. Since this is where about 1/3 of the oil comes into the United States damage to the pipelines or rigs could have a big economic hit. Add this to the major Gulf refinery also being in the path of Katrina, and the nation's gas woes could get a lot worse. I heard that the expectation is that oil will hit $70 a barrel tomorrow.
If it seems cold to be discussing oil in the face of a hurricane, it is also a major revenue (and job) source for the Gulf region. I hope that people have gotten out of the way of the storm and that they and the animals are safe. I also hope they have homes and jobs to return to.
If Katrina does take out part of the pipelines, refineries, or storage facilities, then the environmental destruction is likely to be huge. It could end up being the largest oil spill ever. Given the expected flooding, any spill could be spread far and wide with little hope of containment. At a category 5, Katrina is expected to be "catastrophic." Let's keep our fingers crossed that the damage is primarily to property.
Posted by Rowan at August 28, 2005 08:03 PM Category: Environment