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

[Spktyr]

There is an interesting and desirable quirk about Texas law - a law-abiding citizen is allowed to use deadly/lethal force in more situations than a police officer is. Which makes sense, when you look at it.

Another comment - we may have Democrats in Texas, but even our Democrats here are adults for the most part. It's the Texas RCF - Reality Correction Field.

[Howlin]

They are fixated on New Orleans.

[sheikdetailfeather]

Yes. I think if it loops around, it will be a huge rain event over Texas and Bastardi said to plan for 7-10 days without power. I am just concerned for all the good people in Texas so that they are prepared.

[mware]

Sink you would not believe the rule in NJ.

If a person comes into your house to rob you. First you have to tell him to leave, then you have to attempt to get away from him by running out of your house before you can use deadly force and even then you have to warn the invader that you are preparing to use deadly force.

[burzum]

One more thing I forgot to add. If you watch the videos of nuclear blasts you will notice that after the point where the fireball is visible, it is moving very fast up into the upper atmosphere. Very soon afterward it sucks up an impressive mushroom cloud. The mushroom cloud is formed by a region of low pressure forming after the hot gases climb into the upper atmosphere. If a nuclear weapon were dropped in the center of an eyewall, it would probably cause it to intensify significantly for a brief period of time (in my estimation).

[Types_with_Fist]

New Orleans is the only story here.

Yeah. I'm seeing that. Well... as far as Wolfy goes anyway.

[eastforker]

Propane does not produce co, only co2 wich is not poisonous but can incapcitate in a small enclosed space due to oxygen deficiancy. People use gas ranges to cook food in millions of homes, the same kind of gas.

[RummyChick]

well, if little ole ladies in NO can do with their pistols and garbage cans then the Big Ole Texans should scare the hell out of the looters.

[Michael Goldsberry]

a law-abiding citizen is allowed to use deadly/lethal force in more situations than a police officer is.

In other words: Don't Mess With Texas.

[backhoe]

they are simpler to use and understand-- you point it, and make a fist. Laugh! World's shortest firearms class.

You got it in one! Of course there's more to it than that- like being able to hit your target with speed and accuracy, but that is the essense of revolver vs. autoloader. And I say that as one who has always used, and carried, autoloaders.

The "old guy" who taught me a lot of what I know about welding, machining, engine assembly, mechanical work in general was also the highest-ranking non-com in the county police force, and he made a very telling point to me years & years ago:

"If you throw all of my pistols ( revolvers ) into a pile on the floor, and all of yours ( automatics ), and I yell 'grab one and start shooting' I bet I can get one of mine to fire faster than you can..."

He had a point- automatics have all sorts of different safeties, but wheel-guns? You grab and fire.

[kjam22]

Howlin... people have heated their homes for 100 years with propane heaters. Cook stoves etc. When it enters the furnace or cook stove... it's just a vapor like natural gas. That's the way it's burned (in vapor form). It's no more dangerous than burning natural gas from that perspective.

[steveegg]

Let's hope she's weak when she gets through 27N 92W. What do you make of the different AF/NOAA interpretations of the eyewall?

[burzum]

The radioactive fallout would be blown far and wide.

And as Donald Rumsfeld would say: that's not particularly helpful.

[Dog]

You have to be Hank Hill...

[Howlin]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1489163/posts?page=2513#2513

[Brad’s Gramma]

Propane Safety BUMP!!

[KMJames]

Yeah, apart from that little radiation issue, I was thinking something along the lines that it may actually intensify the hurricane.

I have never used a nuclear device either, that's why I'm a bit unsure of the effects.

[HonestConservative]

"Judge N. on Fox. Texas homeowners can use deadly force by statute. Police have right on to rely on collective force of neighborhoods to police the neighborhood if the police can't do so."

Heard Michael Grahamn today quoting a Texan saying something like "Better not even see somebody carryin' a toaster funny, we'll shoot first and ask questions later; on second thought forget the questions".

Makes you want to be a Texan.

[Dog]

LOL!

[NautiNurse]

Glad you didn't brush it off as "collateral damage."