Hurricane Rita Live Thread, Part VI

NHC - NOAA ^ | 23 September 2005 | NHC - NOAA

[NautiNurse]

Dangerous Hurricane Rita is expected to make landfall in the northeast Gulf of Mexico within 24 hours. Tornados have spawned in Louisiana. Water is filling the Ninth Ward of New Orleans again. A bus carrying elderly evacuees was gutted by fire this morning outside Dallas, with multiple fatalities. Television crews have positioned their hurricane reporters throughout the region to attain maximum drama effects. Whoooooa.

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
Jefferson Co TX NWS Weather
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:

Lake Charles Long Range Radar Still image, with loop link
Houston/Galveston Long Range Radar Still image, with loop link
Lake Charles Experimental Radar Outages and Delays May Occur

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)

KHOU-TV/DT Houston
KPRC-TV/DT Houston
KTRK-TV/DT Houston
KTRH-AM Houston
KPLC-TV/DT Lake Charles/Lafayette
KSLA-TV/DT Shreveport

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
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 V
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

[Miss Marple]

Maybe she will. And maybe the ditch will fill in a flash flood.

Got to leave for a bit. I will check back in in a couple of hours.

[ncountylee]

FYI, my buddy down the street just told me that Sugar Land will be shutting off the water service tonight.

... Time to go fill that bathtub...

Have bleach handy.

[Spktyr]

TXCN: West Galveston Island starting to flood.

[fanfan]

Dan Rather got his start with a hurricane in Texas. Maybe he wants to go full circle.

You mean this one might finish him off? Then something good will have come from Rita.

[John Jamieson]

Set a couple of those heavy duty 3 mil 55 gallon garbage bags in the tub and fill them. Cleaner water.

[MamaTexan]

I've thrashed myself for that selfishness, though

You really shouldn't, you know!

There's nothing wrong with a momentary flash of self-pity now and again.:)

[cake_crumb]

"Shep said Pres. Bush CANCELLED his plans to come to TX. in advance of the storm."

I'm getting irritated with the media again. President Bush CANCELLED the plan to go to the control center in Texas due to a S&R op ongoing in the vicinity; he didn't want him and his entourage interfering with it's success This is prudent and responsible behavior and I expect no less of him.

I sense another round of "Bush is a coward" accusations about to come from the DNC.

[greene66]

I'm just on old-fashioned dial-up.

As for my grandmother, after her 8-day hospital stay in Houston this past week, she got her immediate ailments tended to. But, she's still very, very weak, and I've been doing my best to build up her stamina, feeding her, and getting her to walk again. We left the hospital in Houston on Wednesday, right when things were getting a bit crazy.

Well, I guess I'd better go check on her now, actually. I'll try to check back later, if I still have electricity and internet access.

[AliVeritas]

Probably asking for pay for those cops who left.

[VirginiaMom]

Why is it those politicians put the money before their citizens in every damn interview? If the entire situation wasn't so depressing, it would almost be a comedy. They make me ill.

Anyone else care for a Tums....or a shot of Pepto? I'm buying!

[Brad’s Gramma]

Maybe Sheehan will stand out in the ditch again.....

I see no reason why she shouldn't! :)

[Wneighbor]

Maybe Sheehan will stand out in the ditch again.....

I was out of state for the whole month of August. I would like to see that witch show up in my neighborhood again.

However, it's been pointed out to me by neighbors that if'n I'd o' been here last month I mighta ended up in jail this time.

[Zacs Mom]

I'm glad you posted..........if things get really bad in your area, we will know to at least let the authorities know you are there - maybe you could Freep mail an exact location to the Mod so they'll have it if needed

[SouthTexas]

Oil and gasoline prices are both DOWN today.

[mystery-ak]

I wish you and your gramma would get in the car and get out of Port Arthur....please leave now..

[Spktyr]

Call 311 or your local city government. They will send you an ambulance and get you out.

Do it NOW. You're sitting on top of ground zero for this thing.

[conservative in nyc]

Map of Dulac, Houma and the Terrebone Parish area.



Dulac is at 3 feet above sea level. Houma 10-15 feet tops in most places. This is not good.

[Fritzy]

Good news on the Police connection... where are you..?

[Wneighbor]

Maybe she will. And maybe the ditch will fill in a flash flood.

The Middle Bosque flash floods at times. She'd be close enough that it could look like an accident.

[NautiNurse]

Sonny Purdeue, just announced that Georgia will close schools statewide on Monday and Tuesday in order to conserve gas.

Very interesting info. Not sure I agree with the decision. That will put a crimp into parent's work schedules next week.