Speaking last year about Dennis compared to Ivan, National Hurricane Center Director Max Mayfield said:
"the distinction between a 3 and a 4 should matter little to those in Dennis' path.
"It's a little bit like the difference between getting run over by an 18-wheeler and a freight train. Neither prospect is good," Mayfield said.
http://www.ohsep.louisiana.gov/newsrelated/DennisPoundsGulfArea.htm
Note, that was a 3 vs a 4, here we are looking at 4 vs 5.
This may be a duplicate. If not...
Bulletin - Immediate Broadcast Requested
Hurricane Local Statement
National Weather Service Lake Charles La
730 Am Cdt Thu Sep 22 2005
...catastrophic Category Five Rita Moving West-northwestward Across
The Central Gulf Of Mexico...
...hurricane And Tropical Storm Watches Are In Effect For Portions
Of The Louisiana And Texas Coast...
...areas Affected...
This Statement Applies To Jefferson And Orange Counties In
Southeast Texas...cameron...calcasieu...jefferson
Davis...acadia...vermilion...lafayette...upper And Lower Saint
Martin...iberia And Saint Mary Parishes In Southwest And South
Central Louisiana.
...watches/warning...
A Hurricane Watch Is In Effect From Port Mansfield Texas To
Intracoastal City Louisiana. A Tropical Storm Watch Is In Effect
From East Of Intracoastal City To Morgan City. A Tropical Storm
Warning Is In Effect East Of Morgan City Louisiana.
An Inland Tropical Storm Watch Is In Effect For Hardin...jefferson
And Orange Counties Of Southeast Texas...and
Calcasieu...cameron...vermilion...and Jeff Davis Parishes Of
Southwest Louisiana.
...storm Information...
At 7 Am Cdt...1200z...the Eye Of Hurricane Rita Was Located Near
Latitude 25.2 North...longitude 88.3 West Or About 490 Miles
Southeast Of Galveston Texas And 440 Miles Southeast Of Cameron
Louisiana.
Rita Is Moving Toward The West-northwest Near 9 Mph And This General
Motion Is Expected To Continue For The Next 24 Hours.
Reports From An Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunter Aircraft Indicate
That Maximum Sustained Winds Remain Near 175 Mph With Higher Gusts.
This Makes Rita A Potentially Catastrophic Category Five Hurricane
On The Saffir-simpson Scale. Some Fluctuations In Intensity Are
Likely During The Next 24 Hours.
Maximum Sustained Winds Are Estimated Near 170 Mph With Higher
Gusts. This Makes Rita A Potentially Catastrophic Category Five
Hurricane On The Saffir-simpson Scale. A Slow Weakening Trend Is
Forecast But Rita Is Expected To Reach The Coast Late Friday Or
Early Saturday As A Major Hurricane...at Least A Category Three.
Hurricane Force Winds Extend Outward Up To 70 Miles From The
Center...and Tropical Storm Force Winds Extend Outward Up To 185
Miles.
...precautionary/preparedness Actions...
Orange And Jefferson County...mandatory Evacuation.
Cameron Parish...evacuation For The Entire Parish.
Calcasieu Parish...an Evacuation Is Mandatory For Persons South Of
Interstate 10...and Recommended For Residents North Of The
Interstate.
Acadia Parish...voluntary Evacuation For Southern Part Of The Parish.
Iberia...voluntary Evacuation South Of Highways 90 And 14.
Jeff Davis...evacuation Of Low-lying Areas South Of I-10.
Lafayette...voluntary Evacuation Of People In Mobile Homes...
Low-lying Areas...and People With Special Medical Conditions That
Require Electricity.
St. Martin...voluntary Evacuation Of Lower St. Martin Parish And
Low-lying Areas In Upper St Martin Parish.
Vermilion Parish...mandatory Evacuation South Of Highway 14 To
Abbeville And People In All Mobile Homes Or Special Medical Needs.
...storm Surge Flood And Storm Tide Impacts...
A Significant And Deadly Storm Surge Will Be Possible Across The
Region. As Rita Advances Across The Northwest Gulf...strengthening
Onshore Winds Will Transport Gulf Waters Northward. A 20 To 25 Foot
Storm Surge Will Occur In The Vicinity Of The Hurricane
...diminishing To 10 To 15 Feet Over Coastal Acadiana. This Will
Bring Gulf Waters As Far North As Interstate 10...including The
Cities Of Lake Charles And Sulphur Louisiana...and Orange And
Beaumont Texas.
...wind Impacts...
Despite Rita Making Landfall Southwest Of The Forecast Area...much
Of The Region Will Experience Extreme Winds And Of Long Duration As
This Large System Tracks Across The Northwest Gulf And Into East
Texas. Winds Will Increase Over The Coastal Waters Tonight To Near
Tropical Storm Force...spreading Inland Along And South Of
Interstate 10 Across Southwest Louisiana And Southeast Texas Through
Friday. Winds Will Continue To Increase Moving Through Friday Night
As Rita Nears...ranging From 40 To 60 Mph...possibly Reaching
Hurricane Force Near 80 Mph Across Extreme Southeast Texas. These
Winds Will Continue Into Saturday...very Gradually Diminishing Late
As The System Makes Landfall And Moves Further North Into East
Central Texas.
With These Strong Winds And The Extended Time Of The
Winds...significant Damage Can Be Expected Across The Region.
Numerous Trees And Power Lines Will Fall...with Widespread And
Extended Power Outages. Some Structures Will Also Fail.
...rainfall...
Extreme Rainfall Will Also Accompany Rita With A Storm Total Of 10
To 15 Inches Across The Region...with Isolated Higher Amounts.
...next Update...
The Next Local Statement On Hurricane Rita Will Be Issued By 1000 Am.