Hurricane Rita Live Thread, Part VIII

www.freerepublic.com | September 24, 2005

[Howlin]

Hurricane Rita landfall is anticipated within the next few hours. Strong winds and heavy rains are battering southern Louisiana and southeastern Texas.

MSM news crews are shouting over the howling winds as they foolishly describe blowing rain, swaying trees, and crashing waves through rain splattered camera lenses. It's a hurricane. We know these things already.

An 18 wheeler rig reportedly overturned on an I-10 bridge. The fate of the truck driver is unknown at this time. Reports of widespread power outages in Lake Charles. KPLC-TV Lake Charles local news has remarkably improvised their reporting from a remote location. They are taking calls from residents, NWS, and public utility representatives, and alerting residents to local conditions.

On the flip side, CNN announced to the world that law enforcement officers had evacuated from Port Arthur TX with the rest of the population. Engraved looter invitations would have been more elegant.

Godspeed to all those in the path of this storm.

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:

Hurricane Rita Freeper CHECK IN THREAD

FReeper Sign In Thread (LOCKED) 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 VII
Hurricane Rita Live Thread, Part VI
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

[mathluv]

'primarily WHITE Houston'

If you think Houston is primarily WHITE, you have not been in any of the schools. Some of them don't even speak English.

[Sunnyflorida]

Too bad you are not watching FOX. What a hoot. Her-roll-dough, ust told the Mayor of Galveston how much he would like to come to the city again and watch a SUNSET over the water!!! hehehehe what a dope. The mayor had one expression to die for.

Oh here comes Hemmer! this will be fun. What a dope.

Buy these guys a map.

[johnb838]

I need to correct you on something. Houston is NOT a mostly white city. Whites are a minority in Houston. Houston is mostly Hispanic, followed by Whites, then Blacks. Or is it blacks plus hispanics outnumber whites, I forget. But we're not the majority.

[Hislittleone]

I suppose FOX sent down all of their hurricane experts with Geraldo...lol

[onyx]

There's another auction tomorrow. I just HAVE to have this service for twelve silver ware set. Let me find the pattern and I'll FR mail you the link. I think I'm willing to go to $2K. See what you think.

[Sunnyflorida]

Fox has totally lost it. It canceled Beltway Boys! Hemmer will have a cow if they do not fix the Industrial Canal.

[BlessedByLiberty]

That is an excellent observation. I hadn't considered it prior to your question. It might be that they can't find anyone ready to blame President Bush for their woes?

We've mostly seen footage of damage, presser by pols and the usual speculations, complaints and wild assumptions by reporters.

[johnb838]

And here's another possibility. The first thing that happened when Rita drew a bead on Houston was we shipped the rest of the NO Refurgees out to points unknown. So the Bush-Rove-Halliburton Hurricane Machine could have been spun up in order to drive the rest of the refurgees out of Booosh's home state. Did'ja ever consider that? Well did'ja?

[Sunshine55]

Relax, the whole thing was satire, and I didn't write it.

[jeffers]

Fair enough. I'm not proposing any conspiracy here.

But there are indications that this storm may have behaved unusually.

Then there is the fog of early reports.

I don't post point source data as fact, I usually like three unconnected sources to call something "hard", but I have been known to lean forward a little when two sources say the same general thing.

In this case, I suspect that reality falls somewhere smeared across the middle of satisfying all of these bases.

Again, if there was confusion or any other negative benefit from that idea, I apologize.

[Sunnyflorida]

I know. I know. The guy that runs Fox needs to shut this down and go to Heidi or a Jets game. hehehe

[johnb838]

Yeah, we prefer to enjoy a cocktail and watch the sun come UP!

[Txsleuth]

I would saw that is a "good luck" house for you then..if all is well.

I remember one of the reporter on Fox walking amongst the ruins of so many houses in Mississippi...and he stopped at one that had a FOR SALE sign on it..with a SOLD strip across it...he said that the people that bought it, closed on the Friday, before the Monday hurricane...and all that was left was the foundation....jeez..my heart hurt for them.

I AM glad for you...and I love antiques...I can't afford as many as I would like, but I just love getting a "piece" now and then.

[Hislittleone]

FOX can't handle anymore hurricanes...this one is TOO much for them!!!...(I know its not one bit funny..but Shep last night and Geraldo and Furhman tonight...they are turning this into a comedy)

[Sunshine55]

You just made me laugh harder than the blog did :o)

[ArmstedFragg]

Does anyone know what the heck Mark Furhman is doing with Geraldo in Texas?

Looking for Jimmy Hoffa's vault?

[jeffers]

I know that feeling, been at it since 0300.

Trouble is the coffee isn't going to let me sleep for a good while yet.

Enjoy the break and see you later.

[Hislittleone]

LOL!! I am sure Furhman can find it ;)~~

[johnb838]

It has seemed a good luck house. Every thing in the process was going smoothly. Somebody had told me that into every closing a little rain must fall, and then this hurricane came up. Closing was scheduled for NEXT friday fortunately. Looks like it will be a little delayed, but I think all will be well.

It has black and white ceramic tile and is crying out for art-deco.

[johnb838]

I got the best nights sleep last night I've had in a week. I don't know why. I woke up with the wind howling and the rain beating at the windows a couple of times, but the power was still on, and the water was still running, so I'd go back to bed and sleep like a baby. Wish it had rain a little more though.