Hurricane Rita Live Thread

NHC - NOAA ^ | 20 September 2005 | NHC - NOAA

[hobson]

My house was built in 1942 so I may be hosed.

[DrewsMum]

i missed the "traveling with firearms" thingy,,,can you refresh me?

[RDTF]

Did you know that Fran and Betsy were both only CAT 3 when they made landfall?

http://www.weather.com/encyclopedia/tropical/history.html

[geopyg]

Hugo was the most powerful hurricane to strike the United States in twenty years. Not since hurricane Camille in 1969 had a storm of such intensity made landfall in the United States. Hugo blasted the South Carolina coast with sustained winds of over 130 mph. In Charleston, the highest sustained wind was estimated at 138 mph. A ship anchored in the Sampit River five miles west of Georgetown reported a sustained wind speed of 120 mph. One hundred miles inland, gusts of 99 mph were reported at Columbia and 109 mph at Sumter. At Folly Beach, on the weaker, southern side of the storm, sustained winds of 85 mph were reported.

[CajunConservative]

It was on the floor in an air conditioned house.

[dogbyte12]

I am east of Lake Charles. In Gonzales, which is about 55-60 miles west of New Orleans. I am not too concerned at the moment, but if it does move towards Lake Charles, I will bug out, because of the damage I have from Katrina. Two big oak trees (approx 100 feet high) are about 50 feet from the house, with the root balls lifted into the air from Katrina. I may just shelter at a local school. It really depends on the weather forecasts.

[Aggie Mama]

We had a bad storm blow through here about 2 days before Katrina hit. It took a neigbor's trampoline and wrapped it around a telephone pole like a taco.

[CedarDave]

(Location: A Stone's Throw Due East of Waco (Deliberately Vague Because My Husband Is Paranoid))

Oh, that means you must have reoccupied the former Mount Carmel compound!

[Dane]

There are people scrambling trying to find hotel rooms. I heard from a lady today who told me the only thing available is north of Dallas. There is nothing else in the state anywhere. You all in Dallas may be able to help those looking for rooms etc.

JMO and FWIW, try to find reletives or friends to stay with.

During Andrew every room in the Orlando area from the top 5 star resorts to the flea bag motels was taken and that is in Orlando which along with Vegas has the most hotels and motels in the country.

Also all the hotels will be charging their "rack rate"(highest rate).

Hope for the best, prepare for the worst.

[RummyChick]

Fox guy Accuweather saying it is almost already a Cat 3. Will likely miss NO.

[Milly]

Will all your Texans put your locations in your TAGLINES????

It'll help us compile a list so we can look for you later!

Good idea .

[GOP_Thug_Mom]

Rob't's wacky sense of humor to the rescue again!!!!

and a much-needed rescue! Now, who wants to help unhook the 96 springs on our trampoline???

[shield]

Harris County Flood Control:

We are facing are severe hurricane disaster on the TX coast.

This hurricane deserves the full attention of everyone…PLEASE take this seriously.

Preparations for the landfall of a very dangerous category 4 need to be underway.

TAKE ACTION NOW. This is a life threatening situation.

Current Analysis:

Rita continues to increase in organization with a defined eye embedded within deep thunderstorms. The upper level outflow is increasing in all quads and the intensification process today will continue.

Intensity:

Rita is now forecast to strike as a cat 4. The 200mb outflow pattern is "incredible" over the northern Gulf of Mexico. Sea surface is hot. There is nothing to contain this monster. We are going to be hit very hard. EVACS:

Galveston / Brazoria Counties:

Voluntary EVACS underway.

600am WED---Mandatory EVAC all special needs

600om WED---Mandatory EVAC ZONE A

200am THURS---Mandatory EVAC ZONE B

Noon THURS ---mandatory EVAC ZONE C

****Regional traffic plan will go into effect at 600pm Wednesday.****

Harris County:

Voluntary EVACS for low lying areas and storm surge zones.

Chambers County:

Voluntary EVAC for low lying areas

Matagorda County:

Voluntary EVAC starting WED AM.

You must leave the storm surge zones…if not you will drown when the hurricane makes landfall.

PLEASE tune to local media for emergency information regarding evacuation.

Leave early…be patient…expect long delays

Impacts:

Significant impacts forecast for the upper TX coast.

Storm Surge:

Surge values of 14-18 feet can be expected along and to the east of where the center crosses the coast. This includes all of Matagorda, Brazoria, and Galveston County. Sea level water rise will begin late Thursday with tides running 1-2 feet above normal. Tides will begin to rise quickly on Friday cutting off EVAC routes. Storm surge values of 10-15 feet are expected in Galveston Bay.

Wind:

Extensive wind damage is expected over a large area. Hurricane force winds will extend outward almost 75 miles from the center with TS force winds extending outward nearly 200 miles from the center. TS force winds will arrive on the coast midday Friday and build to hurricane force Friday evening. Damaging core winds will impact the coast after midnight Saturday. Wind damage will be widespread and far reaching.

Rainfall:

Average 6-8 inches with isolated 12 inch amounts. Flooding is possible along some of the bayous.

Tornadoes:

High tornado across all of SE TX since we will be on the dirty and sheared side. Watch box will go up 6-8 hours before landfall.

Final NOTES:

This is as real as it gets people. The decisions you make in the next 24 hours may save your life. I am pleading with those in the storm surge zones to get out of those zones before 600pm Thursday.

It is going to be increasingly difficult to move around in Harris County starting at 600pm WED.

PLEASE tune to local media for emergency information with regards to evacuation and shelter information.

[Milly]

Will all your Texans put your locations in your TAGLINES????

It'll help us compile a list so we can look for you later!

Good idea .

[numberonepal]

URNT12 KNHC 210027
VORTEX DATA MESSAGE
A. 21/00:09:50Z
B. 24 deg 00 min N
082 deg 41 min W
C. 700 mb 2818 m
D. NA kt
E. 000 deg 000 nm
F. 294 deg 086 kt
G. 213 deg 014 nm
H. 967 mb
I. 8 C/ 3053 m
J. 15 C/ 3050 m
K. 9 C/ NA
L. CLOSED WALL
M. C32
N. 12345/ 7
O. 0.02 / 1 nm
P. AF302 1218A RITA OB 19
MAX FL WIND 94 KT NW QUAD 22:34:30 Z

[DrewsMum]

that's Bastardi and he's good

[sinkspur]

We're two minutes from Harwood and 121. There's no excuse for us not to get together.

Our Catholic Church has its feast day celebration on Saturday, which is usually fun for kids.

That is, unless Rita works its way up here by Saturday afternoon, which is in the forecast.

[Arrowhead1952]

Our house will be FULL.

[RummyChick]

Accuweather says it will go to Cat 5 and then hit as Cat 4.

[Gabz]

Sorry - can't help you with that - too far away.