BTW, Ophelia was a CAT 1, almost a CAT 2.
And I wasn't comparing them; I was making the point that we've been dealing with them for YEARS wthout raping, pillaging, and murdering.
I checked the NHC page for Ophelia and you are right.
Here is the NHC summary for Ophelia:
http://www.erh.noaa.gov/mhx/14Sep2005/14Sep2005.html
It did do significant damage and the eye did go along the coast but it never came ashore and the maximum gusts listed were 93 mph at Cedar Point. Unless there is a miracle, Rita will be as bad as Katrina.
I did not understand that you were talking about raping, pillaging and murdering. I thought you were comparing the preparations for the two.