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

[Spktyr]

Amen to that.

It also makes the Texas general militia the most powerful infantry force in the state, should the governor call for reinforcements from the people for the National Guard. (Yes, he DOES still have that authority here.)

[sheikdetailfeather]

I just hear on the radio (listening to Hannity) that President Bush will not be coming to Texas in advance of the storm now. I think they said he is going to Arizona to oversee things.

[Knitting A Conundrum]

The white clouds that come up are stronger and colder convection...it'll never get back to a five, but it's going to pack a good wallop before it dies...

[steve86]

Probably not in Texas, but some places you'd be arrested just for pointing the gun in jest. The point is their never really is a "jest" if you're dealing with a potentially operational firearm.

[Steve_Seattle]

"By the way, have you thought about what happens if you STOP people from evacuating?"

We'tre beginning to stray from what I actually said. I never said the evacuation was a bad idea or was poorly executed or the local authorities were idiots or I could have done better or any such thing. I was just suggesting possible ways to lessen the massive traffic jams if such an evacuation is ever needed again. And I think local authorities will do the very same thing because I DON'T think they are stupid.

[glock rocks]

My daughter kicking your butt would be funny.

Pictures!

[Txsleuth]

I showed that picture to my husband, and he told me not to get any ideas....

I told him my birthday is coming up and I want a gun like TheMom's!!!

[humblegunner]

Curious... seen any grackles today, or have they taken cover?

There are no more birds at all, they've gone.

It's quite still.

[nomorelurker]

Same in Georgetown. Hot dry and windy. After all of this I hope we get some rain out of this mess.

[uncbob]

Yep you sound like a REAL responsible gun owner gun owner

[cake_crumb]

"So I think some kind of finely tuned evacuation procedure would be appropraite for evacuating a city."

I should have added a sarcasm tag to my post.

[COEXERJ145]

Been windy all day here in Bryan/College Station but not any worse than after a cold front passes.

[eastforker]

No, you don't know Eaker and his family, those of us that do know it was done in a safe manner, back off.

[steve86]

their=there. Sorry for the rushed SPEELING MISTEAKS today.

[jpsb]

Where/when do you expect landfall? Winds getting stronger here, water rising slowly, seas 3 to 5. About max for Galveston bay, bay is shallow.

[umbagi]

Hot, dry & windy.

Hot, dry and dead still here south of Manchaca & Wm. Cannon, and our A/C compressor just quit. Please send any unwanted wind this way, as we continue begging repair services to come out today!

[RedWhiteBlue]

We're ready, too.

[Sender]

Indeed, the fundamental purpose of the Second Amendment is to assure that no 'standing army' can herd us all into the cosmic Superdome.

[Tennessee_Bob]

Imagine the last transmission from a WC-130 being "My God, it's full of stars..."

[Brad’s Gramma]

HAHAHAAAAAAA!!!!

Excellent!!!!!