As of Sunday morning, Hurricane Katrina had strengthened to Category 5 (capable of catastrophic impact) with winds of 175 mph. With most of Southeastern Louisiana under evacuation orders – including the  US city of New Orleans (mandatory) - federal forecasts and computer models continued to show deadly Hurricane Katrina on a course that would take it directly over metro New Orleans on Monday. Landfall is expected at 1 p.m. Monday with winds and rain to begin Sunday afternoon.

The Port of New Orleans locked-down its bridges across the Inner Harbor Navigational Canal beginning at 7:00 AM. By noon all bridges will have been locked-down. The Orleans Levee District closed flood gates leading to port access bridges; vehicular traffic and rail traffic has ceased. At the earliest possible time after hurricane Katrina, Port personnel will restore normal operations.

BDP will issue periodic updates as events unfold in New Orleans.