Hurricane Rita Live Thread, Part V

NHC - NOAA ^ | 22 September 2005 | NHC - NOAA

[NautiNurse]

Extremely dangerous Category Four Hurricane Rita continues to move toward landfall along the northwest Gulf of Mexico shoreline. Mandatory and voluntary evacuations continue across Texas and Louisiana coastal areas. Lake Charles LA is providing evacuations by bus for residents who have no transportation.

Traffic gridlock in the greater Houston area was compounded by gasoline stations without fuel, long lines at those stations still carrying fuel, and record breaking temperatures on the first day of autumn.

Offshore drilling platforms and rigs, as well as oil refineries, petrochemical and natural gas plants are in the path of the storm. Wave heights recorded by buoy have exceeded 38 feet. The refineries threatened by Hurricane Rita are on higher ground than those affected by flooding from Katrina. As a result, speculation abounds regarding future prices for winter heating fuel and gasoline.

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
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:

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)

KPRC-TV/DT Houston - KPRC-TV/DT Houston - http://mfile.akamai.com/12944/live/reflector:38616.asx
KPLC-TV Lake Charles KPLC Streaming
KHOU-TV/DT Houston: mms://beloint.wm.llnwd.net/beloint_khou
WWLTV NOLA

Additional Resources:

FReeper Sign In Thread 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
Coastal TX Evacuation Maps
Beaumont TX evac Routes
Lake Charles/Southwest LA Evacuation Map
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 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

[Brad’s Gramma]

OK. I was told by The Boss not to say a word, but doggone it, you've been a good friend.

You're The Only Freeper who can't post to those threads.

I'm sorry to have to tell you....


:)

[fatima]

Night beautiful.

[Diddle E. Squat]

That's what I was afraid of. Luckily he doesn't have to go that far to get out of the storm surge, which is by far the deadliest risk.

Jpsb, there are shelters in Houston. The Red Cross has just opened 10 more shelters, mainly along I-45 and Hwy 290. More will open. If you can get about as far as you can into Houston and stop the first policeman you see, tell them you live on the bay in the storm surge area and can't stay at home. They will help get you to a shelter. Most of the others who stay behind can stay at their homes, you can't because it is in danger of the surge, so you will be a priority.

If it is too hard to get into Houston, go up I-45 to Beltway 8, then go east a few miles on Beltway 8 or Almeda Genoa to Mykawa Road (it parallels the RR tracks that runs north/south.) If you go north a few miles there is a big police station on Mykawa Rd. several miles south of I-610. Please get out ASAP, you will be able to take shelter in Houston, and not have to mess with the evacuation choke points further up along I-45 and I-10. There is also the police station in downtown Pearland, about a block off of the Hwy 518 (Broadway) and Hwy 35 (Main St.) Can take 518 from League City west to Pearland. Another option would be to take 517 over to Alvin (which is NOT in the storm surge zone.) If the police can't help there, then you can move up 35 to Pearland, and the Mykawa Rd. police station is just a few more miles north of that.

[ekwd]

I believe its "Dangyankees" (one word) and the ng is "mn".

[dfwgator]

Texas lawyers seem to be a much better breed in general than their counterparts elsewhere.

And then there's Jim Adler. True story, recently we were involved in a slight car accident. When my little daughter found out, she got so excited because she thought Jim Adler was going to get us a lot of money.

[steveegg]

Now that's what I call a profile page.

I think I just got enough energy from that belly laugh to last through the 1 am advisory.

[ncountylee]

Except to the live camps.

[IM2MAD]

Only 1) to stop a fleeing felon, 2) to stop someone from causing bodily injury or 3) if they're on your property after dark - if they're in your house, you can shoot them at any time, but just plain old trespassers can only be shot after dark.

Generally, you cannot shoot in the daytime to *prevent* someone from committing a crime against someone else's business property. Under "State Of Emergency", that rule is suspended, along with the nighttime restrictions on trespassers.


So has a "State of Emergency" been declared yet?

[publana]

Not at all. Texas has done an amazing job of evacuating these people. The evacuation was supposed to be done in waves, but everyone ignored the orders and all ran at the same time creating havoc. Even so, everyone is getting out with time to spare. Let the naysayers blow smoke. We know better. ;)

[Lemondropkid31]

"That's because your talking to yourself :)"

Is that why? I may have smelled it because I was thinking about it. I don't know. I talk to myself all the time.

[Lemondropkid31]

"Shhhhhh.......don't let anyone know.

His mom took his phone privileges away. Years ago."

Oh ok. I will keep it quiet. I like secrets :O)

[Rte66]

Definitely better than in a car on the road, IMHO. Sorry, my nerves are starting to fray, after being calm all evening. I thought you were dismissing the danger because we're on the dry side. (Just 110 mph winds and 12" of rain.) It's OK.

[Spktyr]

Don't think it has the sidewise grin, but it's got it's mouth wide open and it has HUGE teeth.

Gotta admit, it's 1) truth in advertising and 2) really darned funny.

[Vintage1]

Anyone know when the next update on tracking comes out?

[glock rocks]

I really think the Okay on your profile should link to your opus :o)

[Brad’s Gramma]

Good. Mum's the word.

[sonsofliberty2000]

Hey, eventually Bush will kill them for the Skull and Bones, so no splitting hairs!

[tcrlaf]

Got the short straw when I was there, and stayed in the OLD barracks....

Best thing I remember about the place was the FOOD! After 11 months of Army Administered chow at the Presidio, I never wanted to see Macaroni with hamburger again!

[Lemondropkid31]

"He's a maniacal madman."

LOL!!! I believe it.

[fatima]

Here's a bump and you might freepmail him with this info.Keeping him in my prayers.