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

[Torie]

The hat needs straps.

[jveritas]

Hey D & G (that is Doom and Gloom). When the heck are you going to stop harping on the issue of President Bush took responsibility on the federal level regarding hurricane katrina. I think he showed great leadership on this issue and people like that. May be cowards like you want to hide from taking any responsibility no matter how small it is. On the other hand great leader like President Bush take responsibility no matter how small it is because in this case the federal response problems were very minor compared to that of the local and state response of the corrupt state of Louisina.

You are making your own wrong stupid analysis as usual and connecting the President taking responsibility for the federal response to Katrina to the $ 250 billion that the stupid politicians in LA are asking for and you are assuming that the President will say OK "here is your check". First D &G the President do not write checks the Congress does. You do not even know the basic function to the government. Second neither this congress nor this President are going to give Louisiana $ 250 billion as your are suggesting because as usual you cannot be right on any analysis or prediction as your record on FR has shown.

[Howlin]

What is the landfall time prediction?

[NautiNurse]

There will be storm surge, significant in some areas. There is concern too for backwater flooding from rivers north of Lake Charles and Beaumont/Port Arthur. Forecasts have also predicted up to 25" of rain over the next several days.

[johnb838]

And we have no say-so about it.

[RummyChick]

He was blown away with his hat. I am lauging so hard I can't type.

[RDTF]

He just slipped and fell. Go inside Shep.

[mystery-ak]

OMG....Shep is down...LOL

[Blogger]

Shep fell! THere goes the hat again.

[spectre]

LOL, Palladin. Shep just slipped and fell...I'll let you know when Geraldo puts on his life vest, since you don't watch him..:)

sw

[hispanarepublicana]

Shep fell on his.....

[johnb838]

Uhhhh... not really, landfall in about 6 hours.

[sigSEGV]

Hey Shep!!! Use your damn hood.

[Mo1]

Did I just see Shep Smith get blown off his feet???

*snicker*

[McLynnan]

Somebody tell that fool it's Sa-BEAN!

I know! I've been screaming at the tv and he isn't listening to me. I'm going to email Fox and tell them to get that idiot out of Texas. Maybe if we wait a bit Rita will airlift him out of here.

[txroadkill]

This is better than JackAss on MTV

[LibertyRocks]

I agree best coverage I've yet to see. IMO, it just goes to show you there is no need for "fancy gadgets" and "showmanship" when it comes to reporting NEWS! Granted, they have the live radar feed, but the rest they are doing with restaurant table boards, markers, and cell phones! The station and hiring managers should be commended - not to mention the reporters themselves.

[freeperfromnj]

He's desperately waiting for that first tree to fall

[Squantos]

We have some, not sure of the numbers . we were expecting 1500 total locally, civic center, VA, Churches etc are all set up. The busses and ambulances etc were all at the airport last night but that's all 50 miles from me......I see anything I'll let ya know updated numbers.

Stay safe !


Oh look Shep is holding on to a telephone pole guy wire for safety.......ZOT !

[mtbopfuyn]

And lost his cap again. Holding onto a sign, like that's gonna help. What! Was that his crew having to run out to get the cap?