To: Alexis the Bengal Kitty
1,436 posted on
09/19/2005 5:14:17 PM PDT by
Sally'sConcerns
(Rita, if you have to visit Texas, the King Ranch area is nice this time of year!)
To: rodguy911
Long local hurricane statement:
Statement as of 8:00 PM EDT on September 19, 2005
... Local effects of Rita in the Florida Keys will most likely be
worse than those of hurricane Georges in 1998... All hospitals in the Keys are closed. The Monroe
County emergency management information hotline is available at
1-800-955-5504.
... Storm surge flood and storm tide impacts...
a storm surge of 6 to 9 feet is expected Tuesday. This will inundate
most roads and large sections of the overseas Highway. A storm surge
of this magnitude has the ability to scour the approaches to bridges
on the overseas Highway. This may leave portions of the overseas
Highway impassable. Astronomical tides have been about 1 foot above
normal in recent days due to the full moon. Therefore... a storm tide
slightly higher than 6 to 9 feet is possible should storm passage
coincide with high tide. High tides at Whale Harbor Channel are at
and 1118 am and 1129 PM on Tuesday. High tides at Key West Harbor
are at 230 PM on Tuesday... and 1208 am early Wednesday.
Remember... the total storm tide equals the storm surge plus the
astronomical tide.
... Wind impacts...
residents of the Florida Keys can expect roof and moderate
structural damage to homes and businesses. Mobile homes are not
safe. Many will be damaged... hundreds may be destroyed. Large trees
and power poles will be toppled. Sustained tropical storm force
winds of 39 to 73 mph will begin early Tuesday morning over the
Upper Keys... and by Tuesday mid morning over the middle and Lower
Keys. Category two hurricane force winds of 96 to 110 mph are a
distinct possibility... especially in the Lower Keys... Tuesday
afternoon into Tuesday night.
... Marine impacts...
Jewfish Creek and Snake Creek bridges are locked in the down
position. Considerable damage is likely to piers Tuesday afternoon
and Tuesday night. Marinas will be flooded. Small craft in
unprotected anchorages will be torn from moorings. By Tuesday... seas
will build to 15 to 20 feet beyond the reef... with seas of 25 to 30
feet near the center of Tropical Storm Rita.
... Tornado impact...
isolated tornados will be possible over the Florida Keys beginning
Tuesday morning.
... Rainfall impacts...
a Flood Watch has been issued for all of the Florida Keys for late
tonight and Tuesday. Rainfall amounts from 6 to 10 inches are
expected with locally higher amounts possible. Most streets will be
impassable from water and debris.
... Probability of hurricane/tropical storm conditions...
the maximum probability of tropical storm force winds in the Florida
Keys is 90 percent at Marathon and 89 percent at Key West. The
probability of hurricane force winds is 38 percent at Marathon and
40 percent at Key West.
... Next update...
the next local statement concerning the impacts of Tropical Storm
Rita on the Florida Keys will be issued at 1130 PM EDT... or sooner
if new information becomes available. For additional information you
may visit the National Weather Service Key West web site at
www.Weather.Gov/keywest.
1,439 posted on
09/19/2005 5:20:39 PM PDT by
NautiNurse
(The task before us is enormous, but so is the heart of America.)
To: Sally'sConcerns
Wow, read Houston's perfect storm, almost like New Orleans in devastation. I can't remember a time when two major cities have been hit hard like this in same season if Houston/Galveston takes a hit along with one we have already had in New Orleans.
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