| This thread has been locked, it will not receive new replies. |
|
Locked on 09/22/2005 5:50:00 PM PDT by Sidebar Moderator, reason:
New thread: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1489655/posts |
Posted on 09/22/2005 3:25:57 AM PDT by NautiNurse
Extremely dangerous Category 5 Hurricane Rita continues to threaten the Greater Houston Metropolitan area. The forecast track has shifted slightly to the northeast, increasing the risk to Southwest Louisiana, and a significant portion of the oil and gas operations in the Gulf of Mexico. Texas Governor Perry is urging all coastal residents between Beaumont and Corpus Christi to evacuate as soon as possible.
The following links are self-updating:
Public Advisory Currently published every 3 hours 5A, 8A, 11A, 2P, etc. ET
NHC Discussion Published every six hours 6A, 11A, 6P, 11P
Three Day Forecast Track
Five Day Forecast Track
Rita Forecast Track Archive
Forecast Models
Buoy Data Western Gulf of Mexico
Houston/Galveston/Beaumont/Lake Charles Wx Watches/Warnings
Current Weather Warnings and Watches for Texas
Current Weather Warnings and Watches for Louisiana
Hi Res Houston Flood Zone Map Slow load, great detail
Images:
Storm Floater IR Loop
GOM WV Loop
GOM IR Still Image
Visible Storm Floater Still (only visible during daylight hours)
Color Enhanced Atlantic Loop
Streaming Video: (coverage may be intermittent)
KPRC-TV/DT Houston - KPRC-TV/DT Houston - http://mfile.akamai.com/12944/live/reflector:38616.asx
KHOU-TV/DT Houston: mms://beloint.wm.llnwd.net/beloint_khou
WWLTV NOLA
Additional Resources:
FReeper Sign In Thread Check in to let us know whether you are staying, going, and when you get there
FReepers Offering Lodging To Rita Evacuees People and/or Pet Friendly FReepers Offering Shelter
Coastal TX Evacuation Maps
Beaumont TX evac Routes
Lake Charles/Southwest LA Evacuation Map
KHOU Houston
KTRK ABC News Houston
KPLC Lake Charles Evac Routes, news
KFDM Beaumont/Port Arthur News, evac info
Hurricane City
Wxnation Houston
Galveston Webcams
Golden Triangle Weather Page Provides Galveston Weather, Warnings, Radar, etc.
| Category | Wind Speed | Barometric Pressure | Storm Surge | Damage Potential |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tropical Depression |
< 39 mph < 34 kts |
Minimal | ||
| Tropical Storm |
39 - 73 mph 34 - 63 kts |
Minimal | ||
| Hurricane 1 (Weak) |
74 - 95 mph 64 - 82 kts |
28.94" or more 980.02 mb or more |
4.0' - 5.0' 1.2 m - 1.5 m |
Minimal damage to vegetation |
| Hurricane 2 (Moderate) |
96 - 110 mph 83 - 95 kts |
28.50" - 28.93" 965.12 mb - 979.68 mb |
6.0' - 8.0' 1.8 m - 2.4 m |
Moderate damage to houses |
| Hurricane 3 (Strong) |
111 - 130 mph 96 - 112 kts |
27.91" - 28.49" 945.14 mb - 964.78 mb |
9.0' - 12.0' 2.7 m - 3.7 m |
Extensive damage to small buildings |
| Hurricane 4 (Very strong) |
131 - 155 mph 113 - 135 kts |
27.17" - 27.90" 920.08 mb - 944.80 mb |
13.0' - 18.0' 3.9 m - 5.5 m |
Extreme structural damage |
| Hurricane 5 (Devastating) |
Greater than 155 mph Greater than 135 kts |
Less than 27.17" Less than 920.08 mb |
Greater than 18.0' Greater than 5.5m |
Catastrophic building failures possible |
Previous Threads:
Hurricane Rita Live Thread, Part III
Hurricane Rita Live Thread, Part II
Hurricane Rita Live Thread, Part I
Tropical Storm Rita
Tropical Depression 18
Sweet.
Why, oh why didn't I watch Special Report yesterday?
He was reading email with the Bush jokes, but the net effect is the same.
"I cant wait to see the horses flying down the freeway or motorcycles weaving in and out of cars."
LOL!!
Spktyr....Just bought a sweet 1989 Grand Wagoneer from the original owner. As others are buying coffins on wheels to save on gas....I am purchasing what will get me and mine over hill and dale. These Woodies are tanks!
Is that cars out of fuel? Watching the screen and listening to Sean.
Make certain your sharpen your chain before sawing... that chainsaw gasoline will go a lot further if you do...
Knock Knock
Who's there?
Awgo
Awgo who
Awgo poop in a shoebox.
Update:
Galveston roads are almost completely empty. Hwy 146 (freeway on the west border of Galveston Bay) is also empty all the way up to at least Baytown. I-45 gulf freeway is nearly empty all the way up from Galveston to almost Loop 610(a few miles southeast of downtown.) Southwest freeway nearly empty at Beltway 8 on the west side of Houston.
Still stacked up on all the freeways to the west and north, but traffic has begun moving faster in the last hour or two. Outbound side roads out those directions also clogged, but the rear of the backup is advancing north and west. Keep in mind, the evac plan wasn't designed for a 100% evac of the metro, just 100% of the lowlying areas. Those in suitable buildings 60 miles or more inland might be ok staying. La Porte officials believe 80% of town has evacuated.
I-45 contraflow open, I-10 soon to open, Hwy 290 still not open because bottlenecks in Giddings and Brenham are not yet cleared. Some pissant counties out to the west don't have their act together and haven't been able to implement their portions of the statewide evac plans. Huge backup in Fulshear because the lights are on their normal cycle and the town police can't be bothered to direct traffic. Guess he's too busy "Blocking the bridge"?
Biggest unforseen headache seems to be the shutdown of nearly all gas stations. Since the evac plans didn't anticipate a full evacuation of the metro, it appears they weren't treated as essential services. Rolling gas resupply fleet was part of the plan, but it may not be enough. Wonder if officials will commandeer closed gas stations that still have inventory. Let the Libertarians bitch all they want about that. Those stranded who don't get gas will be taken to shelters. Still nearly 36 hours of evacuation time left.
According to Channel 11 in Houston, IF the current track holds Conroe could be looking at 75 mph sustained winds, hurricane winds maybe as far west as Sealy. Baytown could see 90-100mph, downtown Houston 75-90mph. 1 in 4 pine trees could be blown down in the metro.
Some possible suggestions:
Head southwest along the coast and turn north or west. In fact Harlingen/Brownsville, Laredo, (and maybe even Corpus depending on what happens the next 12-24 hours) might be the best place to head to. You can always sleep in your car, but a lot easier to do so without hurricane winds.
If you must evac using I-45, 290, I-10, etc., perhaps wait a few more hours and see if the lines start to lessen. If you are stuck in traffic(congrats on being online in your car!) towards the rear of the backup and starting to run low on gas, pull over for a few hours to conserve gas and let the backup drain down. Things will most likely start moving faster over the next few hours as contraflow takes its effect and others have been scared off from trying to get in line to get out.
But remember, a direct hit on Galveston is still about the highest possibility, at 24% (chance of a landfall within 50 miles either way.) Port Arthur is at 21%, Corpus at 19%, and New Orleans still at 16%. The models are still divergent, so there is NO guarantee that the track will continue to move east, and may at some point move west again. There are 2 different highs affecting this track, and the solid ridge is going to break at some point.
Okay; who gets first dibs on Wolf Blitzed?
ROFL
Hi John!! Yep, looks like we just might get a sprinkle or two! LOL
Well said.
Kinda light there!
; < )
Thanks for the laugh!
My husband is calling it "quarterbacking"... everyone is an expert on everything now - before during and after. And they are always right no matter what happened before during or after... because you know, it was JUST WRONG.
Ditto that. I'll NEVER give up my 1999 GORGEOUS black "Texas Stationwagon". NEVER, I TELL YA!
If anyone knows how to insure you get sound on a video capture card and not just video, I can save it and upload it somewhere.
That is the one part I am stuck on.
I didn't see the interview. Still there are cases I would rather pay $6 than look at a bag over a pump. People like this owner are often panicking themselves, topping off their own tanks and exacerbating the shortages everywhere else. There was one whining on CSPAN that he bought gas wholesale at $3.49 and was forced to sell it at $3.19. Well, duh!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
