Hurricane Rita Live Thread, Part IV

NHC - NOAA ^ | 22 September 2005 | NHC - NOAA

[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

[IamConservative]

Shep just wants to say, "dodged a bullet" I'll never forget him saying that!

I remember exactly when I heard him say it, 6:00AM or so EST. I told my wife then he was nuttier than a squirrel turd.

[BurbankKarl]

KPRC showing Contraflow

[Jrabbit]

I can start an IV....you hold em down....NautiNurse can supply the sedative. I'll meet you at the seawall :-)

[franky]

I visited my brother in-law in VA Beach and commented to my wife. "God forbid a hurricane the size of the last two hit this area". We got stuck on 64 on Friday because of a brush fire for 2 hours and the 4 into 2 lanes was horrible. Where would they evacuate to?

[Cedar]

Hey, that report sounds better than my relative's report.

4 AM left Sugarland

12 Noon arrived at Kingwood (usually 1 hour drive)

They decided just to stay at another relative's house there in Kingwood instead of going further north out of Houston. Said traffic was unbelievable -- people having picnics along the interstate.

[bwteim]

See http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1489163/posts?page=1502#1502

[DCPatriot]

IMO...just like did during the good old days during the last gasoline shortage...in order to alleviate the long lines at the pumps...the government issued orders designating "odd-even" license plates to fill-up on alternate days.

This same concept could have been instituted during the mandatory evacuation to lighten this terrifying gridlock.

Odd numbered license plates to be on the road exiting the area on Wednesday and Friday, etc..

If there are hundreds of cars trapped on the highway, there will be hell to pay by someone.

[fanfan]

Just started today. Rumors are going around that we'll see $9.00 or more by the weekend.

[RoseyT]

"OMG...we called it "Slug a Bug"...painful game."

Don't forget the "no returns" part so you don't get punched back. Oh and the newest version is "Cruiser Bruiser" (PT Cruiser).

[COEXERJ145]

Stephanie Abrams is cute but I prefer Nicole Mitchell any day. :-)

[Moose4]

Thank you sir! So he's a little ways inland while poor Stephanie's stuck out on Galveston Island. Feh. Chivalry is dead!

(And it's not like she wouldn't have tons of guys coming out there to "rescue" her if needed...)

Wonder if he's going to pack up the truck and blast off up to Port Arthur, Beaumont, or Lake Charles in the next few hours, if the track keeps moving east?

}:-)4

[Arizona Carolyn]

Isn't a lot of that taxes?

[SE Mom]

I read that this morning but I think conditions have changed a bit since then- wonder what he's thinking now...
I understand Hannity had him on yesterday's radio show...think he'll be on today?

[Howlin]

Yes, I know.

[AliVeritas]

How could you ever think such a thing? sarc off.

[Spktyr]

We were the last in line, so we asked if we could have our share and anything else that was left over. (You know, when the blue staters said they didn't want any.)

[EX52D]

I heard that, the marina fuel prices will kill you! Have friend of ours that have to keep a slip due to the size of the boat, so they don't have that choice. I'll keep my 28- footer...

[silentknight]

$9 where? Canada? Didn't catch where you were posting from.

[CharlesWayneCT]

Is there any real storm surge to the west, and if so how far west? It seems that at some point the winds pushing the water backwards would eliminate a storm surge...

[AliVeritas]

That's nutty... brown bag please.