Thanks for the info comparing a Cat 5 to a tornado. This Midwesterner now has a better comprehension of what is going to hit. Prayers for all.
Let's just hope since Rita has been sustained for so long, that she will get some contrabands and die down some. I also worry about the tornado action that comes with her.
Note this, an F3 that is 75 MILES WIDE!!!
I grew up on the coast of NC, saw a number of hurricanes, but I think the worst was a Cat 2. I don't want to see a Cat 4 or 5. My wife is from Iowa, she knows tornados and is facinated by weather.
Go to Pictures at www.1900storm.com. This was a Cat 4. Ever see a F3 do that kind of damage? Wind speed is just part of the problem. The force of the wind provides a lot more pressure on structures when it is full of water.