Hurricane Rita Live Thread, Part VI

NHC - NOAA ^ | 23 September 2005 | NHC - NOAA

[NautiNurse]

Dangerous Hurricane Rita is expected to make landfall in the northeast Gulf of Mexico within 24 hours. Tornados have spawned in Louisiana. Water is filling the Ninth Ward of New Orleans again. A bus carrying elderly evacuees was gutted by fire this morning outside Dallas, with multiple fatalities. Television crews have positioned their hurricane reporters throughout the region to attain maximum drama effects. Whoooooa.

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
Jefferson Co TX NWS Weather
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:

Lake Charles Long Range Radar Still image, with loop link
Houston/Galveston Long Range Radar Still image, with loop link
Lake Charles Experimental Radar Outages and Delays May Occur

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)

KHOU-TV/DT Houston
KPRC-TV/DT Houston
KTRK-TV/DT Houston
KTRH-AM Houston
KPLC-TV/DT Lake Charles/Lafayette
KSLA-TV/DT Shreveport

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
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 V
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

[WestCoastGal]

"I heard Steve is heading to the middle east again."

Thanks, I really have missed him.

[Blennos]

Glad we have Demco as opposed to Entergy since they are bankrupt!

Where do you think Demco gets its power from? It's an energy cooperative that buys its power from ... Entergy.

[Nita Nupress]

Well, I certainly won't impose myself on you, but please feel free to freepmail me if you start flooding. The graphics they've shown on local news indicates that most, if not all, of Nederland may get a few feet of water if the storm surge is significant. I can understand why you wouldn't want to evacuate under your circumstances, but don't be too proud to ask for help. Okay? The Nederland officials didn't stay in Nederland for the storm and there's a reason for that.

[SE Mom]

Last year when we got hit by Charley..my dogs would not leave my side beginning about 3 hours before it hit us..stayed glued to me til it passed. They know.

[WFTR]

Local news in Central Fla. says we are to conserve energy because 1/3 of Florida's power plants use natural gas for energy.

Much of America has gone from using coal to generate electricity to using natural gas. The United States has huge supplies of coal. Many of these supplies are located in areas not subject to many natural disasters. When we spill coal, it doesn't form vapor clouds that can flatten buildings when they explode. Spilling coal into a lake won't kill the ducks. However, for ten years or so, they've been telling us how wonderful it is if we'd convert from coal to natural gas. Now that we're losing our supply of natural gas because of a couple of hurricanes, that change of policy doesn't look so good after all. America needs a strong, balanced energy policy, and a return to coal should be a big part of that policy.

Bill

PS. I work for a company that produces natural gas, but I recognize the value of coal to the country.

[fishntex]

I'm told the winds are picking up in Waco and the clouds are 'strange looking.'

I live 3 miles from DFW airport and was seeing clouds on my way home from work today at 5pm. The wind switched from south to north about 7-9 this morning and has increased all day long.

[Dog]

I see you invited someone to dinner...offering Texas Toast when it's going to hurricane there...how dare you....LOL!

[RoseofTexas]

I wonder if Shep is all upset that FOX ordered him to Galveston instead of Port Charles where the REAL action is?!

[Eaker]

Check with my family first before you make that comment!!

My wife is shaped like a rock.

Check her tagline!

;<)

[Txsleuth]

Did you, or any other Dallas/Fort Worth freepers just listen to what a guy told Greg Knapp on KLIF radio???

[wimpycat]

70mph winds isn't so bad. A tree on your roof isn't quite as bad as losing your roof altogether. But still, if the storm stalls, it could still be pretty darn bad. I'm not sure whether it's worse to have 110mph winds for a couple of hours or 70 mph winds for 6, 8 or 10 hours.

[CedarDave]

Oh yes, removing groundwater from compressible sediments is well known as causing subsidence. I can cite any number of locations where it is well documented, including Houston. However, the article is talking about New Orleans and subsidence from oil and gas extraction.

[johnb838]

That's odd, now the crickets have stopped.

[Dog Gone]

Wow, a whole bunch of curfews being announced in the Houston area starting tonight at dusk. Not that any of the bad people will ever get the note...

[backhoe]

mark - I do not want the Big Nurse on my case. Thanks FRiend

[Wneighbor]

It's still hot, dry and just so-so light breezy here in Valley Mills. Wispy clouds up top - nothing that looks like rain.

[mware]

Now Jim you know you have a stand invite to dinner any time.

Hey I bought some caramels and yellow apples yesterday. Want to make some candied apples???

[RikaStrom]

I'm at I45 and West and it's still dry here, but the wind is picking up. Don't think the psycho dog cares for the wind.

[proud American in Canada]

The national gubmint still keeping Fox out, or is it locals now?

It is so aggravating. The Canadian version of the FCC finally approved FNC last year (after a a long time where the politicians could get it, but not the "little people"), and Bell Sympatico just recently picked it up.

But I've got cable, not a satellite dish, and the local (Quebec) cable station doesn't carry it, which is no surprise.

Although I did call them 2 weeks ago and requested it, explaining that their rival now carries it.

[nevergore]

Don't worry, NautiNurse is a medical professional....If she cleans your cache it won't hurt a bit....

NeverGore :^)