Hurricane Rita Live Thread, Part VI

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

How about a ham sammich?

LOL! Sounds great.

2,261 posted on 09/23/2005 5:41:38 PM PDT by glock rocks (Bring back dirndl !!!)

These are the greatest, most under-recognized dogs in "dogdome". I intend to keep it that way, so do not tell anyone except another Freeper, ok?

They are a shorter coat variety of Belgian Shepherds. Very protective of family and farm, not all that interested/friendly with strangers, bot not human aggressive, either.

They weigh about 50 to 55 lbs, are very loyal and affectionate, really want a "job" to do, and do not make good "yard dogs", as they like to be close to those they love and adore. They are way too smart for the usual "dog training classes", and get bored and fool around.

Best trained in 5 minute sessions, for once they "get it", they do indeed "get it". Police are turning to these, because they are healthier, smarter, have a work-ethic that won't quit, and they are much more agile than heavier GSDs (German Shepherd Dogs).

A little 45 lb. bitch took down a 285 lb. man in a "Schutzhund (?) Trial", beating out all the heavier GSDs. Her technique was a flying leap, with an all 4 paw "double punch" at just the right spot on his body to topple him over. None of the bigger dogs beat her.

Now, I have a male and a female. His job, self-defined, is to keep all varmints (crows, deer, rabbits, hawks, eagles, etc) away from the house and garden. He pins the female if she even dares step a toe into the yard when he senses danger.

In the house, it is a diiferent story all together. This is her domain, and she guards the space under our bed, which is where the "air-puppies" might just happen sometime. He has to wait for seconds when treats are being passed out, for she gets the "first-dibs" on house food.

He gets first-dibs on yard food, however. And will chase her back on the porch, where he figures all good wimmen ought ta be...

But, they are first and foremost totally attached to their humans, and do their level best to make sure we stay in-line, behave ourselves, feed them right, and make ourselves available for love-fests.

They are very considerate of making sure we have enough space in the family bed, too. They considerately move so we have just enough kicking and turning room, unlike some much smaller breeds I have known.

They do shed their undercoats a couple ot times a year, which is how Collies are made, according to internet rumors. I feed mine a B.A.R.F. diet, so have no troubles with all the ills most dog owners struggle with... and, unlike the hound group, they never tip-toe past ya to pee in the house when it is raining. They are brave about bad weather.

2,262 posted on 09/23/2005 5:41:47 PM PDT by jacquej

To: silentknight

2,263 posted on 09/23/2005 5:41:57 PM PDT by ARealMothersSonForever (The Land o' Gar (yes I have a gunrack in my truck))

To: proud American in Canada

Checking back in....my thought is that I am SO SICK AND TIRED OF HEARING ABOUT NEW ORLEANSNEWORLEANSNEWORLEANS that I don't give a big, fat, hairy rat's behind whether or not that cesspit is EVER rebuilt. I already see headlines about how the 'poor' are trapped in Houston, a la New Orleans. When I see Blank-O I have wanted to puke for a couple of weeks. The hype and whining is SICKINING. Refugees of NO, GET JOBS, REBUILD FOR YOURSELVES AND STFU.

As for 'major'....well, I love jazz and cajun food, but can get both OUTSIDE of New Orleans too. Louisiana has more than one bijou, so does East Texas. Those places will survive, unnoticed and therefore ignored by the hysteria-mongering media.

I felt grief for the loss...but am now stopped at anger over the STUPIDITY, LAZINESS AND DEMANDING OF MORE, MORE, MORE, MORE, MORE MONEYMONEYMONEYMONEY when New Orleans was neither the worst hit nor the only area devestated by Katrina...but you don't hear the governors of FLORIDA, GEORGIA OR MISSISSIPPI EVERY STINKING DAMNED DAY ON TV, DEMANDING MORE AND MORE AND MORE MONEY FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WHEN IT WAS THEIR OWN CORRUPTION THAT MADE THE MONEY FOR FLOOD CONTROL DISAPPEAR WITHOUT A TRACE, AND THEIR OWN INCOMPETENCE AND LAZINESS THAT CAUSED SO MANY PEOPLE TO REMAIN TRAPPED WHILE THE BUSES INTENDED FOR EMERGENCY EVACUATION LAY, UNMOVED, IN SEVERAL FEET OF WATER.

I'm really tired of the entire state at this point. Rant over.

2,264 posted on 09/23/2005 5:41:59 PM PDT by cake_crumb (Leftist Credo: "One Wing to Rule Them All and to the Dark Side Bind Them")

I hope you have some zydeco playin' too.

Aaaaaaaaaaaahaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!!

2,265 posted on 09/23/2005 5:42:19 PM PDT by fishntex (Something is actually happening Reg)

To: Nita Nupress

Take care and Gods Speed

2,266 posted on 09/23/2005 5:42:21 PM PDT by Rightly Biased (<>< Like $3 a gallon gas? Thank an enviromentalist.)

Glad to be out of LA for this one. Our hotel room has free Internet so I'm getting all the local scoop from you. @ least she is consistently stuck on stupid.

Press Releases

Date: 9/23/2005

Contact: Denise Bottcher or Roderick Hawkins at 225-342-9037

Governor Blanco's letter to President Bush requesting expedited major disaster declaration

September 22, 2005

The President
The White House
Washington, DC

VIA FACSIMILE: 940/898-5325

Through: Regional Director
FEMA Region VI
800 North Loop 288
Denton, Texas 76209

Dear Mr. President:

Under the provisions of Section 401 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, 42 U.S.C. §§ 5121-5206 (Stafford Act), and implemented by 44 CFR § 206.36, I request that you declare an expedited major disaster for the state of Louisiana as Hurricane Rita, a Category V Hurricane, approaches our coast south of Lake Charles, beginning on September 22, 2005, and continuing. The affected areas include all the coastal parishes including the cities of Lake Charles, Lafayette and New Orleans and the mid state and northern parishes accepting the thousands of citizens forced to evacuate from the impacted areas directly affected by Hurricane Rita. The affected parishes are: Acadia, Allen, Ascension, Assumption, Avoyelles, Beauregard, Bienville, Bossier, Caddo, Calcasieu, Caldwell, Cameron, Catahoula, Claiborne, Concordia, DeSoto, East Baton Rouge, East Carroll, East Feliciana, Evangeline, Franklin, Grant, Iberia, Iberville, Jackson, Jefferson, Jefferson Davis, Lafayette, Lafourche, LaSalle, Lincoln, Livingston, Madison, Morehouse, Natchitoches, Orleans, Ouachita, Plaquemines, Pointe Coupee, Rapides, Red River, Richland, Sabine, St. Bernard, St. Charles, St. Helena, St. James, St. John, St. Landry, St. Martin, St. Mary, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, Tensas, Terrebonne, Union, Vermilion, Vernon, Washington, Webster, West Baton Rouge, West Carroll, West Feliciana and Winn. The Louisiana Shelter Operations Plan, Supplement 1C to the State Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) and Shelter Sectors A, B and C Parishes that are accepting thousands of citizens evacuating from the areas expecting to be flooded as a result of Hurricane Rita are listed in the State Shelter Plan. Therefore, we are requesting assistance for the implementation of the State Evacuation and Sheltering Plan as part of this request.

In response to the situation, I have taken appropriate action under state law and directed the execution of the State Emergency Plan on September 20, 2005, in accordance with Section 401 of the Stafford Act. A State of Emergency has been issued for the state in order to support the evacuations of the coastal areas and the remainder of the state to support the State Evacuation and Sheltering Plan.

Mr. President
Page Two
September 22, 2005

A Preliminary Damage Assessment will be conducted as soon as possible after the landfall of Hurricane Rita. Based on the predictions we have received from the National Weather Service and other sources, I have determined that this incident is of such severity and magnitude that effective response is beyond the capabilities of the state and the affected local governments and that supplementary federal assistance will be necessary. I am specifically requesting: Individual Assistance, including the Individual and Household Program (IHP), Disaster Unemployment Assistance, Crisis Counseling, Public Assistance (Category A-G funding at 100%), Small Business Administration (SBA) disaster loans and Direct Federal Assistance (DFA) funding at 100% for the affected parishes listed above. We are requesting Hazard Mitigation for all parishes, adjusted from 75% to 100% federal cost-share, contingent upon their participation in long term recovery planning efforts and their agreement to create and/or update an all hazard mitigation plan for their jurisdiction before the end of the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program application period.

To support the evacuation/sheltering effort, I am also requesting: Individual Assistance, including the Individual and Household Program (IHP), Crisis Counseling, and Public Assistance (Category B funding at 100%) for the implementation of the State Shelter Operations Plan - Task Force Parishes: Sector A Parishes: Avoyelles, Catahoula, Concordia, Grant, LaSalle, Natchitoches, Rapides, Sabine, Winn and Vernon. Sector B Parishes: Bossier, Caddo, Claiborne, Union, Lincoln, Morehouse, East Carroll, West Carroll, Richland, Madison, Tensas, Franklin, Ouachita, Jackson, Caldwell, Bienville, DeSoto, Red River, and Webster. Sector C Parishes: Allen, Beauregard, Evangeline, St. Landry, Pointe Coupee, West Feliciana, East Feliciana, East Baton Rouge, Livingston, and St. Helena.

The following information is furnished on the nature and amount of state and local resources that have been or will be used to alleviate the conditions of this disaster:

. Department of Social Services (DSS)/Department of Health and Hospitals (DHH): Has opened (7) Special Need Shelters (SNS) and opened (317) General Population Shelters.
. Louisiana National Guard (LANG) and the Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (OHSEP): Providing generators and support staff for SNS and Public Shelters and field personnel and equipment.
. Louisiana State Police (LSP): Costs to support evacuations.
. Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (DWF): Costs to support evacuations.
. Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD): Costs to support evacuations.

Due to the extraordinary nature of this catastrophic hurricane and based on the anticipated damages in the impacted areas including the Lake Charles Metropolitan region, I am requesting an increase of the federal cost-share from 75% to 100% for Individual Assistance, Public Assistance (All Categories), Direct Federal Assistance, and Hazard Mitigation. I certify that for this major disaster, the state and local governments will assume the applicable non-federal share of costs required by the Stafford Act.

Mr. President
Page Three
September 22, 2005

I request direct federal assistance for work and services to save lives and protect property.

(a) We do not anticipate state and local government resources to be able to accomplish the volume of debris removal anticipated for this disaster.

(b) We are requesting a direct debris removal mission assignment for Hurricane Rita.

In accordance with 44 CFR § 206.208, the state of Louisiana agrees that it will, with respect to direct federal assistance:

1. Provide without cost to the United States all lands, easements and rights-of-ways necessary to accomplish the approved work;

2. Hold and save the United States free from damages due to the requested work, and shall indemnify the Federal Government against any claims arising from such work;

3. Provide reimbursement to Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for the non-federal share of the cost of such work in accordance with the provisions of the FEMA-State Agreement; and

4. Assist the performing federal agency in all support and local jurisdictional matters.

In addition, I anticipate the need for debris removal, which poses an immediate threat to lives, public health, and safety. Pursuant to Sections 403 and 407 of the Stafford Act, 42 U.S.C. §§ 5170b & 5173, the state agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the United States of America for any claims arising from the removal of debris or wreckage for this disaster. The state agrees that debris removal from public and private property will not occur until the landowner signs an unconditional authorization for the removal of debris.

I have designated Colonel Jeff Smith as the State Coordinating Officer for this request. He will work with the Federal Emergency Management Agency in damage assessment and may provide further information or justification on my behalf.

Sincerely,

Kathleen Babineaux Blanco
Governor

jw

Enclosure

ENCLOSURE A TO EXPEDITED REQUEST

Estimated requirements for other Federal agency programs:
. Department of Social Services (DSS): Opening (3) Special Need Shelters (SNS) and establishing (3) on Standby. Costs estimated at $500,000 per week for each in operation.
. Department of Health and Hospitals (DHH): Opening (3) Shelters and establishing (3) on Standby. Costs estimated at $500,000 per week for each in operation.
. LANG and the Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (OHSEP): Providing generators and support staff for SNS and Public Shelters. Costs estimated to range from $250,000-$500,000 to support (6) Shelter generator operations and personnel/equipment support.
. Louisiana State Police (LSP): Costs to support evacuations - $500,000 for a direct landfall.
. Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (WLF): Costs to support evacuations - $500,000 for a direct landfall.
. Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD): Costs to support evacuations - $5,000,000 for a direct landfall.

Totals: ___$ 130,000,000___________

Estimated Requirements for assistance under the Stafford Act:

Coordination
Technical and advisory assistance
Debris removal $30,000,000 (est.*)
Emergency protective measures $25,000,000 (est*)
Individuals and Households Program (IHP) $75,000,000 (est*)
Distribution of emergency supplies
Other (specify)

Totals: $130,000,000
Grand Total: $130,000,000

(*) Based on Hurricane Isidore, Lili, Ivan and Katrina (FEMA 1435, 1437, 1548, 1603)

Note: Estimates are to reflect total eligible costs before any cost sharing.

The copy of the letter is available on the Internet at http://www.gov.state.la.us/Talkingpointskatrina/Pres%20Bush%2009.23.05%20FEMA.pdf

-30-

2,267 posted on 09/23/2005 5:42:36 PM PDT by Ellesu (www.thedeadpelican.com)

To: proud American in Canada

Take care, MamaTexan.

Thanks, Hon!

You do the same!

(Hmmm. Which is worse, facing a hurricane or living with a bunch of flaming socialists?)

2,268 posted on 09/23/2005 5:43:00 PM PDT by MamaTexan (~ I am NOT a 'legal entity'....... nor am I a 'person' as created by law ~)

Are any of yall having problems with FR getting really slow?

No. It's running fine here (Metroplex).

2,269 posted on 09/23/2005 5:43:16 PM PDT by PAR35

I've had surges, but I've not lost my computer. I'm very thankful for that.

2,270 posted on 09/23/2005 5:43:24 PM PDT by WFTR (Liberty isn't for cowards)

KPLC - sitting around a table with their Sharpies...Lake Charles 75% without power

2,271 posted on 09/23/2005 5:43:31 PM PDT by BurbankKarl

Don't worry about us Texans, if there is any flooding you'll wake to see us all in our bass boats fish'n instead of loot'n. You can't miss us, we'll be the ones with a beer in one hand, a fishing pole in the other, a Copenhagen ball cap on over our mullets with a cooler between our feet and George Strait play'n on the Radio.

2,272 posted on 09/23/2005 5:43:44 PM PDT by txroadkill

KPLC back on for now at least... They are reporting at least 5 transformers down in Lake Charles at this point.

2,273 posted on 09/23/2005 5:44:16 PM PDT by LibertyRocks

Karl, where are you watching?

2,274 posted on 09/23/2005 5:44:24 PM PDT by onyx ((Vicksburg, MS) North is a direction. South is a way of life.)

I have been kidding around, I know. Just trying to add a bit of humor at the expense of the network twits.

I'll drink to that.

But truthfully, I am a Texan to the core, even though I am not now there. I wish all of you God's light and protection. Stay strong, we are with you.

I'll drink to that, too!

2,275 posted on 09/23/2005 5:44:28 PM PDT by monkfan (SW Houston [Westbury])

That only works if the media publicizes it.

Texas cops shooting "desperate poor people" toting computers and TVs on the streets? I think they'll publicize it. Especially if the local officials back up the cops. I don't know anything about her, but that mayor of Galveston looks like she'd shoot a few looters herself.

2,276 posted on 09/23/2005 5:44:40 PM PDT by wimpycat (Hyperbole is the opiate of the activist wacko.)

Works for me! Thanks!

2,277 posted on 09/23/2005 5:44:58 PM PDT by WFTR (Liberty isn't for cowards)

2,278 posted on 09/23/2005 5:45:30 PM PDT by SouthTexas (Refugio County)

Clouds looked normal again by sunset

2,279 posted on 09/23/2005 5:45:36 PM PDT by ValerieUSA

Any good prospects at your current location?

2,280 posted on 09/23/2005 5:45:38 PM PDT by NautiNurse (The task before us is enormous, but so is the heart of America.)

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