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

[RoseyT]

I recall seeing a post that had a list of suggestions for items to have on hand when living without electricity but I can't find it now. Can someone please point me in the right direction? I feel like we're well prepared but I'd like to go over the list real quick. Thanks in advance!

[Guenevere]

NN, I have a doctor's appt. so have to run...
..Please keep me updated, thanks!!!!

Alia, Ditter has been on these threads, the Hurricane Rita thread....

..He says the book is very true to what his grandfather told him.

[SauronOfMordor]

Am I missing something? These people had a weeks notice of this and they didn't bother to fill the tank before leaving?

Being stuck in traffic for a dozen hours will put you on empty

[Zacs Mom]

there was oxygen on the bus - they are saying two explosions occurred before it just became an inferno!

[Pro-Bush]

The guy on fox news looks like algore.

[CindyDawg]

They could have been carrying extra gasoline too.

[Zacs Mom]

has it made the national news yet??

[Cvengr]

Flip side of the coin is that those that closed will be a godsend for those returning after the hurricane passes before supplies are replenished a week or three later.

[Flyer]

He says the book is very true to what his grandfather told him.

She says. . .

[Miss Marple]

Oh, terrible!

[mathluv]

NASA has completely closed down, and has handed the keys to the International Space Station to Russia.

[mware]

I heard them say that people were breaking windows to help get folks off the burning bus when the news crews arrived -

It would be nice if they dropped their damn cameras and helped get people out of the bus.

[RDTF]

someone started a thread:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1489843/posts

[jveritas]

Let the left wings kooks form the largest anti-war protect or whatever tomorrow September 24th. There are few things that will be working very badly against them. Tomorrow all the coverage will be about the hurricane, and they will get very few coverage. Even if they get some coverage they will be viewed by the majority of Americans (more importantly majority of voters) as the left wing traitors that they are not only because they are providing aid and comfort for the enemy but also because they are doing this in time of another potential natural disaster hitting the United States.

PS: This left wing kook Donahue is a sane voice compared to most of the people in the protest tomorrow, I hope that the media carry the speeches of these kooks including loony Cindy Sheehan so America will see the degree of treason, hate, stupidity, and insanity that the Left has reached.

[Zacs Mom]

Actually, I think the report was from one of the Dallas air traffic helicopter who was reporting on the incoming traffic

[LA Woman3]

has it made the national news yet??


Yes. I saw it on the Weather Channel first!

[blam]

Good morning.

Sad about the bus fire, etc.

Is Rita still drifting to the east and where is the projected landfall this morning?

[texpat72]

Yeah, but they look like mountains to us! LOL!

[Zacs Mom]

OMG - the sheriff just said 45 were on board - only about half got off

[RoseyT]

Nothing on ABC yet.