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Locked on 09/23/2005 9:43:13 AM PDT by Admin Moderator, reason:
Part VI: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1490045/posts |
Posted on 09/22/2005 5:44:09 PM PDT by 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
"Problem" at airport...can't "double load" like they had planned...take one more patient out there only...
Beaumont scanner
Ouch
And those on the highway thinking they can drive through a flooded roadway.
Indeed.
Back in that #317, the operative line to me is:
"For sustained wind 110 to 130 mph with gusts 140 mph or more..."
It went very smoothly. Just as an aside, CC called off the mandatory evac of the city this afternoon.
Better git. Braes Bayou is gonna get you, huh?
That wasn't a wobble, it was a hook, and right now the storm is within 4 miles of the 1700 projected track, probably less than 3.
That puts Galveston Bay just west of the major surge effect.
Keep your fingers crossed.
Ok....
The latest GFDL looks like the Computer model tracks are all DIVERGING now, and skewing off in crazy diretions....
Any idea what's up???
Are you hunkered down at home?
Let me just give an observation: for all the chaos, the evac from Harris Co/Galveston is far more organized. More folks taking this seriously. Props to all the good people of SE TX. Perry and GWB appear to be in close coordination. GWB coming down to Houston tomorrow.
I may have to come down from Iowa when this thing passes and help my Texas brethren. Hang in there people. All of us expatriate Texans are praying for y'all!
I see reports of a Houston/Galveston strike again.
I can report no change in pressure, 984mb in Sugar Land.
I hadn't thought of giving my tub a long term test. I'll go do that.
The 24 hour Kroger and Randall's at Post Oak and Bellfort were closed early this morning. I did my final shopping at Food-A-Rama.
(Do you realy make number "To Do" lists?)
I'll do my usual hurricane BULLETIN to those in the affected area:
Before you evacuate, turn off the main power switch to your home. Even if you stay, once the power goes off, turn off the main switch.
You may not be home when the crews get your power up again. If the line to your home has been damaged, you may get a power surge like I experienced after Ivan last year. When the crews turned on our power I was lucky to be home. The lights were awfully bright and then started dimming. I was able to catch the power crew and they found a broken line which was causing 220 power to surge thru every line in my house! Burned the micro vent over the stove, the TV, my sprinkler system controls and several outlets. But, if I hadn't been home, the whole house would've burned.
So. Turn off the main. Even if you don't evacuate...there's no guarantee you'll be there when the power comes on.
I'm watching, actually listening to, a buckmasters archery competition. Wife just came in and asked why they were shooting Bambi.
Bastardi alert over on H&C.
Appreciate your updates and additions from the scanner- thanks.
"It is too early to say that there is no threat to Galveston/Houston/Harris County."
...or Corpus, for that matter if the movement continues west.
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