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

[4everontheRight]

As Celine Dion would say..."Let them touch the beautiful things"

[Lanza]

Just had a police officer come to the door to make sure we were the homeowners. He said many people are reentering the neighborhood, caught in the ordeal of going to Lufkin (which will be getting a bad part of it). He said they would be around, and I told him we were headed to Pasadena.

[cgk]

Red Cross Opens Shelters For Rita Evacuees

Call (713) 313-5480 For Available Shelter Locations

POSTED: 10:29 pm CDT September 22, 2005

UPDATED: 10:50 pm CDT September 22, 2005

HOUSTON -- Shelters were opened by the American Red Cross along evacuation routes Thursday for evacuees fleeing from Hurricane Rita.

Thousands of residents became trapped for up to 14 hours on Houston-area freeways as nearly 2 million people along the Texas and Louisiana coasts were urged to get out of the way of Rita, a 400-mile-wide Category 4 hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico.

Red Cross set up a hot line with information about available shelter locations. Call (713) 313-5480 for details on the closest shelter.

"Normally the Red Cross does not open shelters in an area where we think there could be storm damage, as is about to happen. But in this case, we absolutely felt we had to get people off of the freeways if we could and so that's why we're doing this," said Denise Bishop, with the American Red Cross.

Bishop said they expect TxDOT to post shelter information on highway signs along the evacuation routes to help drivers locate them.

State Shelter Hubs Opened

State emergency officials set up shelter hub sites earlier in the week, where people can go to be placed at a shelter in other parts of Texas. These are the receiving points:

• Lufkin: Lufkin High School, 309 S. Medford, off Loop 287 East
• Nacogdoches: Fredonia Hill Baptist Church, 1711 South St. (Business U-S 59)
• Austin: Delco Center, 4601 Pecan Brook Drive (off U-S 183)
• Huntsville: Mile marker 101 and a half on Interstate 45
• Bryan-College Station: Gateway Center, College Station
• San Antonio: McCreless Mall, 4100 S. New Braunfels Ave. (off I-37)

Those needing information about statewide shelters can call (888) 312-4567.

[flutters]

I'm tellin'


:-)

[sarasota]

I saw that and hope you are correct. That would be a great strategy.

[dirtboy]

I think after this all is done you should be offered a job as reporter for the HC!

I don't think he wants to get half his brain removed in order to qualify for that job...

[Wneighbor]

We really appreciate and NEED the prayers.

Ya'll all got 'em hon. Ya'll are surrounded by prayers, good wishes and if you need help when this is all over we might have to have an FR party at your place to get it done.

[steveegg]

Another fresh tornado warning, this time for Terrebonne Parish in southeast Louisiana until 11:45. At 11:13, radar indicated a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado 17 miles southeast of Chauvin/15 miles southwest of Galliano moving northwest at 55 mph. It's expected to be near Dulac and 7 miles southwest of Chauvin by 11:30.

[NCjim]

Looks like most of the photo is already under water... *g

[Liberty Valance]

I HAAAATTTEE this ad on fox news!!!!!!

Thats what the mute button is for. I look at it from the standpoint of draining move-on.lib, Soros and assorted other lefty orgs assets into the coffers of FoxNews, Brit Hume and Charles Krauthammer. AND it only magnifies the dishonorable tactics of the left. Just remember about the mute button thingy. ;o)

[Colorado Doug]

G'morning. Gotta drag myself off this thread try to get some work done. Take care

[SouthTexas]

Just sign it from "The State of Texas". :)

[Krodg]

Thanks. I feel better now. Looks like daughter is in North Houston and in-laws are in Spring (they have her toddler with them). I think she may have decided to go to her in-laws which may be why I can't reach her...or the new baby has decided to come!

[Republic]

But the real havoc would happen if it stalls over NE Texas for three days as models project...

This is one hellacious storm. When you look at the images of it, it is hard to believe the area it covers.

Now they are talking about tornado watchs, and a warning (rotation) in Orleans Parish towards the lake.

This is almost too much.

[Michael Goldsberry]

Yes, I'm staying here in Sugar Land. (~20 miles SW of Houston)

[spanalot]

"He said it wallowed all over the place. Also it didn't seem to have as much space as the Suburban for the size and was more of a gas hog. I think you've made a good choice with the Suburban. "

We bought one used w/ low miles after having 4 suburbans - big mistake - less room, bulkier, lousier mileage, slower, door locks don't work, worse ride, and radio has terrible reception. We have put 50k on it and I must admit nothing else has failed.

[Lanza]

A part sounds great to me!

[EX52D]

You ALL have mine. :)

[cgk]

placemark.

[SouthTexas]

BUSTED!