Posted on 09/23/2005 12:21:53 PM PDT by WestTexasWend
Rita steams toward Gulf Coast; Rains breech New Orleans levy
HOUSTON - A slowly weakening Hurricane Rita steamed toward the Texas and Louisiana coast with 125 mph winds Friday, taking direct aim at the nation's oil-refining industry. As many as 24 people were killed when a bus carrying elderly evacuees caught fire in a traffic jam.
"We're going to get through this," Texas Gov. Rick Perry said. "Say a prayer for Texas."
(snip)
Texas' emergency management coordinator, Jack Colley, predicted Rita would destroy nearly 5,700 homes in the state and cause $8.2 billion in damage.
President Bush headed for his home state as (Rita)closed in.
"We're now facing another big storm," he said. "Our job is to prepare for and assist state and local people to save lives and help these people get back on their feet." He added: "There will be no risk of me getting in the way. What I will do is observe."
(snip)
Two communities that stood to bear the brunt of the storm were Port Arthur, a city of about 58,000 that is home to industries that include oil, shrimping and crawfishing; and Beaumont, a petrochemical, shipbuilding and port city of about 114,000. Beaumont was the site of the 1901 Spindletop oil gusher that gave birth to the modern petroleum industry.
The military sent cargo planes to evacuate thousands of patients and others from Beaumont. Downtown Beaumont was all but deserted, with buildings boarded up and practically nothing moving but windblown plastic bags. On the horizon, covered in gray clouds, refinery torches belched black smoke.
Sherry Gates, whose husband is maintenance director of the Beaumont Hotel, planned to stay behind to protect the place from looters. The hotel, she said, can withstand whatever Rita brings. "This old girl," she said, "will see us out."
(Excerpt) Read more at heraldnet.com ...
Is it just me or does it seem that Rita is going to hit Louisiana more than Texas? Seem like the dry hot air that's around here in Texas that is so good for my sinuses is also good for taking the wind out of the sails of a hurricane. At least this is my impression.
Unfortunately, a little less than half the country would know what to do.
I'd agree...the record-high temps in central and south TX the past couple of weeks may be enough to weaken Rita even more before landfall. And the prayers are helping, too!
I've been praying all week for the friends I left behind in Lake Jackson, Freeport and Clute. It was two of the best years of my life.
Isn't the ACLU going to sue him for requesting prayer?
Thanks for posting the Battleship Texas pic!
Hope the San Jacinto Monument, which is adjacent to The Texas, weathers this as well. They closed their main exhibit area in early Sept. for rennovation, so here's hoping all of the artifacts were already cased up and got whisked off to a safe area. The San Jacinto/Battleship park is one of my favorite places in TX. >>>
http://www.sanjacinto-museum.org/
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