[JohnW]

It could well do that T. I certainly hope that New Orleans do not get a direct hit. I think that would be the biggest disaster because the whole city is below sea level. It would appear, at the moment, that it will make landfall round about the Florida/Alabama border. As there is nothing but warm water in between them and Ivan, it is potentially a great disaster with billions of dollarsworth of damage and more than likely, some loss of life. Very frightening for the people in its path.