Hurricane Rita Live Thread

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

[NautiNurse]

Hurricane Rita is in the Florida Straits, impacting the Florida Keys and South Florida Peninsula. Hurricane watches and warnings are in effect for numerous portions of South Florida. Check local weather statements for updates.

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 SE Florida
Current Weather Warnings and Watches for Florida

Images:

Storm Floater IR Loop
Visible Storm Floater Still (only visible during daylight hours)
Color Enhanced Atlantic Loop
Florida Radar/Sat Loop Caution: Broadband users only
Extra Large Miami Radar Broadband only
Extra Large Key West Radar Broadband only
Miami Long Range Radar Loop
Key West Long Range Radar Loop
Miami Experimental Radar Still Image
Key West Experimental Radar Still Image

Streaming Video: (coverage may be intermittent)

WTVJ-TV/DT Miami (NBC6)
WFOR-TV/DT Miami (CBS 4)
WSVN-TV/DT Miami (Fox)

Other Resources:

Florida East Coast Surf Reports Lots of great info here, including surf cams
Central Florida Hurricane Center
Hurricane City

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:
Tropical Storm Rita
Tropical Depression 18

[NautiNurse]

Very important info - thank you!

[Types_with_Fist]

We have a potential mess.

So... either north or south, right? Jesus. This thing could go north and east and into Louisiana again?

[Howlin]

Before, During, and After the Storm:

http://www.wral.com/hurricanes/3456311/detail.html


Evacuation Checklist: What to Take:

http://www.phantomranch.net/comunity/evaclist.htm

[don-o]

Here we go - from now on; every hurricane puts the feds on maximum alert.

Tick - a million bucks - Tick a million bucks. After a few millions, we are talking abot a pile of money.

Mass insanity here.

[geopyg]

No cell phones? Buy a $5 phone card for emergencies at a phone booth.

[Txsleuth]

I am sure the looters are rubbing their hands together right now, in anticipation...

[Howlin]

Is there somebody you can call for help or advice?

[texas_brewer]

My wife and I were getting all circuits busy today on Cingular already.

[spectre]

I'm so concerned about ALL our FReepers in Rita's harms way..

Prepare your drinking WATER friends. Please don't forget to buy Clorox and an eyedropper. If you can't find an eyedropper, buy "anything" that comes with one that you can use to measure the amount of Clorox to disinfect the drinking water. You will need additional water for your pets. And get your prescriptions filled.

"Remember the lessons of New Orleans"..

God Bless..sw

[Lanza]

Thanks for that info. Looks like we are heading north to my sister's in east Texas.

We can't find a hotel/motel anywhere outside of Houston for Friday and Saturday!

[sinkspur]

Aren't you nice offering to take pets as well....

Well, I don't want anybody leaving pets behind.

We've got three dogs and five cats, so some new critters will stir the pot around here a bit, but the dogs will love it.

The cats will hide for a couple of days, but then come out and sniff the scents.

I've got five cousins living in Houston and Pasadena, but I checked with them earlier, and they're all staying. I find that hard to believe, but they all say "we've been through Alicia and Allison, and we can handle this too."

I told them "You ain't been through a Cat 4. Think Gulfport, Ms."

No sale. So I thought I'd offer a couple of beds to more rational people.

[FlJoePa]

A few tips I learned last year with 2 eyes coming over my house in Jupiter, and going without power for a total of 16 days through both Frances and Jeanne:

* Bottled water - buy it not to drink, but to FREEZE! Fill your freezer with little bottles. They'll last longer and keep things cooler more efficiently than bags of ice.

* If you're lucky enough to have a big freezer, use THAT space for your regular ice - or fill THAT with bottled water.

* Once the power goes out, start putting the frozen water in your fridge/coolers, but do it quickly. Don't ever open your fridge for more than 5 or 10 seconds.

* If you don't have access to a generator, try to find an inverter. They cost about $40-$50 at Walmart and can run a television, electric fan, or even a computer from your car battery. This was invaluable to me as the local stations were on air w/ radar and I was able to plan accordingly. I actually moved my car at one point based on the television satellite images and saved it from being crushed by a tree limb. After the storm, it allowed me to use my computer and even play a game or two of pinball to pass the time.

* Ice is more valuable than water. Our water worked fine, it was the electricity that was missing. You can stockpile all the ice you want, but it will just melt. Realize that you will run out of ice and will basically rely on the gubbmint to give it to you. We had a very nice system in place where you would drive through a parking lot and it would be put in your trunk for you. It's the only way to get it, so don't be too proud to take it.

* Propane. Fill all the tanks you have and keep them safe. I figured out quickly how to make coffee on a gas grill. You will too once you have to.

* Gas - get a big portable gas tank and fill it up. Obviously top off your car's tank. You will need this gas to go get the gubbmint ice ;)

* After the storm, work! We didn't have to clear branches,debris, and cut down remains of trees (we pay a HOA to do that), but it keeps your mind off your present circumstances, and allows you to get to know your neighbors. Also you may get to know the neighbor with the generator and some ICE!

* Keep your chin up. It may be hot. It was unbearably hot here after both storms, but it's not Iraq. Don't lose your composure.

Good luck and God Bless.

[groanup]

I always thought of it as Lutherans and beer. LOL.

[Types_with_Fist]

For what it's worth, the loop seems to be showing a jog to the southwest.

[ladyjane]

I am sure the looters are rubbing their hands together right now, in anticipation...

In Texas? Don't be so sure. It will be interesting.

[Prolifeconservative]

"Hadn't heard about the hurricane clips until this thread, sounds really easy - are they rated for very strong storms?"

I don't know about any type of ratings......they've never let me down though.

[CindyDawg]

I did but I couldn't remember:') Someone did a topical and I was a lot lower than I thought. I got the best flood coverage rate though so I'm ok but our weather guy did a simulation of if we were hit by a 5 and my house would get hit by a 16 ft surge (according to his data). I wouldn't be there though.

[Howlin]

Great advice, blam; from experience, I guess.

Have someone outside the impact area as a contact point for all your friends and relatives. Communications of any kind are tough or non-existant. If possible, give them your FR access codes and have them contact us here on FR.

[dawn53]

Tape isn't laughable, if you don't have anything else.

We have pre-cut plywood, but we live in Florida. If you don't have plywood, tape may keep a shattered window in place. It all depends on the level of damage.

Tape is better than nothing.

I grew up in Florida, and for years and years, most people just taped their windows during a hurricane. Now we're more saavy, but every storm that came through when I was a kid and teenager, we would just tape the windows, and if something hit it, the glass at least wouldn't shatter into the house.

[rwfromkansas]

It would be a surprise for it to maintain strength for that long.