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Part VI: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1490045/posts |
Posted on 09/22/2005 5:44:09 PM PDT by 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
I hoping shield is correct about the drier air getting pulled into the storm, but visual indications show her looking more organized. That next Vortex will be important.
"3 particularly ill of them died along the way."
tragic
"Whoa! Just checked the computer models on Phillipe and three show a turn to the southeast! That high over Florida should keep it away but while all eyes are focused on Rita, Phillipe seems to be acting up a little."
Dang it! I wait all year to go on vacation and some stormy Frenchman may show up at my destination!
Stay out in the Atlantic, Frenchie!
Keep us posted as long as you can -- but not at the expense of your personal safety please.
A chunk of packing foam with a hole punched halfway through and a quantity of duct tape ought to solve the sprinkler head problem. Or you can disconnect the sprinkler head . . . probably won't need to water the lawn for the next few days . . .
Brown was almost as bad as Nagin but he had one thing going for him -- he was smart enough to get out of the way and let the grownups take over during Allison.
I didn't want to be an alarmist about it, but it looked to me like he might warrant a little more attention than previously thought.
God bless you and thank you for what you are doing to help
Home Alone Part IV?
ooooh....
And best of all, she's a Florida Gator.
17th?
hmmmm...
how deep does the water look in the 9th?
WOW!!! That is great! Even if it gets to 5 meters, from that model our aunt's house looks to still be on high ground!
Geez, how awful for them.
Exactly what we were saying last night. He appears to be doing a good job, but his history with the X42 makes him questionable.
Speaking of HOT, is Rob Marciano on CNN right now? Darn do wish I had a tv at work.
Simple solution. If it won't unscrew from the underground pipe, cut it off at ground level. It's a simple task to splice it back in place after the storm
Be careful out there! ;-}
You have freepmail, Mother.
I know why you stayed, but I sure wish you hadn't. I will continue prayers for your safety and that of your wife. I can't offer any helpful advice, because I don't live in hurricane country. Be as careful as you can!
I wish some of those bands would drop a little rain in Atlanta. We could use it. There has been zero rainfall here since August 28. I know it's worse in other spots, but it's very strange for here.
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