Posted on 09/24/2005 9:58:36 AM PDT by 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
That story about the FEMA ice trucks is no joke.
I used to live in Gloucester, Massachusetts and my friends have been in constant touch because they are so outraged that the trucks are there. It's the most shocking waste of government money anyone could imagine. The trucks are running their refrigeration engines around the clock and making downtown traffic next to impossible. Gloucester, for those who don't recognize the name, is the old-fashioned seaport made famous by "The Perfect Storm" and the Gorton's of Gloucester seafood company. I used to live on a hill overlooking the downtown area and the acoustics from concerts held along the waterfront were so clear that I used to think my neighbors were playing a loud radio. I shudder to think what that racket would sound like if I were still living there (of course, I wouldn't have been in the Katrina/Rita warzone, but that's another story...).
You might not be able to see the entire coverage because it's a paid-subscription site now, but you can visit this link to at least check out the headlines:
http://www.gloucestertimes.com/
This story is not only true, but it's pretty damned appalling. Unfortunately, it's going to take more than a few cranky e-mails from a distant seaport to stir up the national outrage this situation truly warrants. Sigh...
Boniville? that was a big one
Not that I know of....and I bet when/if she does, Entertainment Tonight will probably pay for it...and have an "exlusive" like they did for Mary Kay LaTourneau...
I don't think I was around for the "underpants thread"...and if it was more fun than the RB thread..then it must have been good!!
I figured somewhere between 25 and 50%. Between the levee board stories, the school borad stories, the mortuary stories, and the cop stories, that seems like a ballpark figure.
But I have yet to see Bush get hosed.
Not for a million bucks, and certainly not for a quarter trill.
I think if Blanco sits down to the table with him, she'll walk away naked, if she walks away at all.
Bonneville was indeed a big one...but a little before mmy time...
man, who cares...that area will never be rebuilt...just a park or something.
Good grief.
Gov. Blanco is actually BRAGGING to Geraldo about "the effective evacuation" of New Orleans before Katrina. LOL! Bragging that there were no traffic jams out of N.O....a snide dig at Houston.
She just said "It was a magnificent sight to behold"! I think she must be hitting the sauce. Even she can't believe what she's saying.
(fingers crossed)
No, another poster jogged the old memory, it was Grand Teton. If you haven't seen them, search up the pics. Really opens your eyes to the power of just plain old water.
If I remember right, there was this big bulldozer...
Fuhrman? Is he looking for the muddy glove?
She actually stated LA evacuated 2Mil withouth the traffic and other problems TX had.
Is she Stuck on Stupid or is the drinking water tasting funny. Even Geraldo was a little dumbfounded at her remarks.
Umm, no traffic jams out of NO? I read it took 10hrs to go 100miles the day the storm was headed and they were worried people would be stuck on the roads when the storm hit. What a liar.
Recall Blanco!!
So is Western Louisiana Republican, what is Geraldo talking about Democrats doing a good job?
Thanks .. I didn't catch all of what she said .. just the end part
Blanco is a real piece of work
I am back; have you all been behaving??
Did not. :-)
Yes ma'am. All little spats were settled by posters acting like ladies and gentlemen. We're glad you are back!
It sounds beautiful Onyx...and will be worth every cent you pay for it.....Don't let it belong to anyone else...Keep strong....nod that head. (My friend's husband hates it when we go to auctions together)
I don't know about that...I seem to remember that the people that DID evacuate also had long lines going out of NO....because some freepers were questioning whether they would be off the bridges before Katrina hit...
Blanco is a moron...and since when did this become a "contest" anyway?
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