If a strong Category 4 storm such as Ivan made a direct hit, he warned, 50,000 people could drown, and the city could cease to exist.

"This could be The One," Maestri said. "You're talking about the potential loss of a major metropolitan area."

Now I knew this was bad, and I knew that New Orleans is below sea level, but this is just insane...predictions for a city ceasing to exist? Sounds kind of like the dire Y2K predictions.

Oh yeah...how long before Kerry latches on to Blair's comments on global warming and urges the president to sign the Kyoto treaty? But then again, he probably has already taken two stances on the global warming issue (though I'm not certain).

URL: HoustonChronicle.com - New Orleans prepares for worst as Ivan slowly approaches coast