Hurricane Rita Live Thread, Part V

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

[NautiNurse]

Extremely dangerous Category Four Hurricane Rita continues to move toward landfall along the northwest Gulf of Mexico shoreline. Mandatory and voluntary evacuations continue across Texas and Louisiana coastal areas. Lake Charles LA is providing evacuations by bus for residents who have no transportation.

Traffic gridlock in the greater Houston area was compounded by gasoline stations without fuel, long lines at those stations still carrying fuel, and record breaking temperatures on the first day of autumn.

Offshore drilling platforms and rigs, as well as oil refineries, petrochemical and natural gas plants are in the path of the storm. Wave heights recorded by buoy have exceeded 38 feet. The refineries threatened by Hurricane Rita are on higher ground than those affected by flooding from Katrina. As a result, speculation abounds regarding future prices for winter heating fuel and gasoline.

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
KPLC-TV Lake Charles KPLC Streaming
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 IV
Hurricane Rita Live Thread, Part III
Hurricane Rita Live Thread, Part II
Hurricane Rita Live Thread, Part I
Tropical Storm Rita
Tropical Depression 18

[PAR35]

I just wish you had at least one, tall cool mountain down there.

Most folks would call 8700' a mountain. And nearby McKittrick Canyon is cool even on a summar afternoon.

[Spktyr]

No, you may also carry it in a case, or in any other non-threatening manner that you so choose - you are still not allowed to brandish a firearm.

So long as you are carrying it in a peaceable fashion, it is legal.

[texpat72]

Davis Mountains, elevation 5000-6000 ft

[Centurion2000]

"Yes, that's right, you *can* legally walk down a Texas city street with a slung rifle that is loaded,"

Is the rifle/shotgun required to be slung?

Nope, Texas has no longarm legal restictions on open carry whatsoever excepting certain functional locations (schools, courts) and the actions of private property owners.

In practice however, walking around downtown with rifles will get you closely watched by the cops.

[Spktyr]

Hm. Got a point there.

Think we could get some of uninhabited Colorado? We do need a ski resort inside Texas.

[Torie]

One thing I have to say about Texans, they tend to not like outsiders criticizing their act. Their pride puts the Spartans to shame. As a Californian, I am used to and don't mind folks criticizing ours. And so it goes.

[Spktyr]

290 Northwest at Spring Cypress is now *clear* per Transtar and TXCN.

[jpsb]

Thankyou for the info, but I can't leave, there are friends here depending on me, can't leave them. I think that is one reason why I came back, I had a 40 gal gas tank in the bed of my pickup, something just told me to go back home. More then one was very happy to see me return. My people are either here or stuck on the road, can't do much for those stuck on the road, but I damn sure can help those here. All the stores closed two days ago! Water was shut off this am, nobody (except me) stocked up on food or water or fuel. Tomorrow am I will be doing breakfast for folks that might not eat for several days, I will make them pay for it, my cooking ain't cheap, but they will have a good meal in thier bellies when things get bad. I just can't leave. Also Rita is tracking more east, might not be that bad here.

[Centurion2000]

Think we could get some of uninhabited Colorado? We do need a ski resort inside Texas.

Vail Co is inside that border. Close enough.

[CobaltBlue]

Which way are they moving?

The ones I am talking about go outward from the storm -- they're the precursors of the storm bands.

Very high up. The clouds lower down don't count, they could even be going in an opposite direction.

That's a freaky thing to see.

[toldyou]

"I saw on TWT an interview of a grandaughter and her grandmother she removed from a nursing home sitting on I-45. The grandmother said she feels that she is going to die. Surely this isn't the same person. :/ Odds are doubtful, but I keep wondering since I heard that report."

How sad. I think that some of these elderly are just too weak to withstand this type of emergency.

[John Jamieson]

Early maps of Texas do include part of Colorado.

[Spktyr]

What we do to idiots who criticize us for no apparent reason (we're willing to take constructive criticism) also makes the Spartans look like pikers.

[texpat72]

I still don't recognize the name. Is it a town?

[Torie]

It is actually wobbling west and then north, but if you draw a line, it is headed to Galveston, in a due northwest direction. But the weather gods say a high pressure system in Oklahoma moving east, will push the storm east tomorrow. There is still quite a bit of uncertainty, as shown by the odds map. This storm is not as locked into a path as Katrina apparently was.

[Lemondropkid31]

They are moving north. I saw them next to the moon

[Colorado Doug]

If you are having car problems on Dallas highways (overheating, no gas, flat tire, etc.), call Courtesy Patrol at 214-320-4444 and they will try to route a Courtesy Patrol truck to you.

I love it! In New Orleans, you would just get your car stripped . . . by the cops but Dallas is running a Courtesy Patrol . . . On second thought, it must be racist or something.

[Spktyr]

I'll take that, they can keep the rest. We really do need a ski resort here. :)

[CobaltBlue]

That's a good shot! Is there a link for a loop?

[Torie]

LOL. I just watch the pics on the tube, silly me.