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Ernesto: Now a Category One Hurricane

Tropical Storm Ernesto became Hurricane Ernesto over the weekend, a Category 1 storm hurtling over the south Atlantic toward the Dominican Republic and Cuba. If it continues on its present course, and likely gains strength while doing so, the very same communities which were struck last year by Hurricane Katrina could be in harm?s way once again. According to some estimates, the storm could transform into a Category 3 hurricane by this coming Thursday.

Residents of battered New Orleans were told over the weekend that the levee system, which broke in the wake of Hurricane Katrina and led to terrible flooding of the city (much of which lies below sea level), might not withstand the strength and rains from yet another powerful hurricane. Many are likely already planning an exit strategy, unlike with Katrina last year when officials waited until nearly the last minute to get people out of the rampaging Katrina?s path.

Other nations bound to be affected by Hurricane Ernesto, such as Jamaica and Haiti, have issued hurricane warnings and are attempting to prepare their populaces as best they can. Western and central areas of Communist Cuba have been put on hurricane watch. Hurricane Ernesto is the fifth storm of the 2006 hurricane season, and as of press time was centered about 120 miles southwest of Port-au-Prince, Haiti, and 255 miles southeast of Kingston, Jamaica.