Cecelia Wigal wrote:

> I've been communicating with the ASEE-SE President this week.  Seems
> they are expecting to be hit hard by Ivan in Alabama.

It is currently forecast to make a direct hit on Mobile, AL.  My father, who
lives there, has already evacuated.  Of course it could miss by a few miles
either way, but it is certain to hit somewhere on the central Gulf Coast, most
likely between New Orleans and Pensacola.

http://hurricane.accuweather.com/adcbin/hurricane/storms.asp?ocean=ATLANTIC&storm=IVAN&imagetype=move

At its current intensity level (Category 4) it is stronger than Hurricane
Frederic, which made a direct hit on the same area 25 years ago this week
(9/12/79).  If it intensifies it could approach the strength of Hurricane Andrew
or even 1969's Hurricane Camille (a category 5 storm which was the second
strongest ever to strike the U.S.).

http://wwwa.accuweather.com/adcbin/public/headlines.asp?iws=0

>> The official statement from the power company is that if the power goes
>> out, do not expect it to be on for at least 2 days and it could be more
>> than a week.

After Hurricane Frederic, power was out for 3 weeks in most of the Mobile area.
  After Camille, there weren't many buildings remaining on the Mississippi coast
to bother re-connecting power to.  It looked like the aftermath of a nuclear
exchange (I was only 8 at the time but remember it vividly).

http://www.disasterrelief.org/Disasters/990816Camille/

If you have any friends or relatives living on the central Gulf Coast, between
New Orleans and Pensacola, tell them to get out now while they still can!

Joe