Hurricane Rita Live Thread, Part VII

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

[NautiNurse]

Hurricane Rita landfall is anticipated within the next few hours. Strong winds and heavy rains are battering southern Louisiana and southeastern Texas.

MSM news crews are shouting over the howling winds as they foolishly describe blowing rain, swaying trees, and crashing waves through rain splattered camera lenses. It's a hurricane. We know these things already.

An 18 wheeler rig reportedly overturned on an I-10 bridge. The fate of the truck driver is unknown at this time. Reports of widespread power outages in Lake Charles. KPLC-TV Lake Charles local news has remarkably improvised their reporting from a remote location. They are taking calls from residents, NWS, and public utility representatives, and alerting residents to local conditions.

On the flip side, CNN announced to the world that law enforcement officers had evacuated from Port Arthur TX with the rest of the population. Engraved looter invitations would have been more elegant.

Godspeed to all those in the path of this storm.

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 VI
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

[RayChuang88]

If the prices stay "high" you will begin to see people make rational decisions that affect demand a lot- car pooling or parking Yukon's and driving Geo's instead, for example.

That does explain why we'll be seeing these new small cars coming out in 2006:

Honda Fit (known as the Jazz in most of the World):

Toyota Yaris:

Both cars offer impressive amounts of interior space for such a small vehicle, and I expect them to be very popular as commuter cars and as entry-level cars.

[Strategerist]

It was a fairly routine earthquake in Honduras late yesterday afternoon; had nothing to do with the hurricane. Look at the distances given.

[laz]

Praise the Lord for He is so good to spare Houston!!!

The Left in all its hatred thought it could wish the hurricane into Houston. The Left was wrong, as always.

[Howlin]

That's what I've heard.

[Howlin]

What would we EVER do with the MSM?

[Aggie Mama]

We are doing good here. NEVER lost power, although in our subdivision, everything is underground. Lots of big wind gusts and some rain. No flooding and no visible damage outside as of yet.

We truly dodged a bullet last night. My heart goes out to those where the hurricane hit.

Its still gusting to 45-50 mph right now. No rain.

[Howlin]

I am so happy for you!

You sound positivel giddy!

[TomGuy]

[janetjanet998]

take a look at the new models they want ot loop it around LA then back into the gulf next week....remember how ivan reformed after days over land? CLICK

[greene66]

Battered, but still kicking in Nederland.

Just got the generator going. Rough, rough night. The winds just kept going on forever. House was literally shaking and vibrating with each gust. Storm was LOUD, and just kept going on forever! Shingles off roof, with wood showing in spots. Fences down. Trees down everywhere, including my neighbor's oak, and a pine tree across the street. Water in street, but no flooding in homes in my neighborhood (Allen Meadows). Other parts probably not so lucky. Got tons of work to do. At least I seemed to have avoided structural damage to the house. Must have had 100-120+ mph winds go on and on. Still very, very blustery!

[OldFriend]

What!!!!

Expect people to save for emergency expenses!!!!!!!!

That is just too much to ask!!!!!!

Gotta have something to blame on President Bush when the bills for energy arrive.

[CindyDawg]

Praying for you

[ekwd]

I would bet my house that if debris had hit an "Anderson Cooper" it would have happened while he was explaining how the hurricanes wouldn't have happened if only we had elected John ("Did you know I served in Vietnam?") Kerry.

[bwteim]

We need to get on our knees and thank the Media G*ds for their astute observations. I am just getting ready to turn the boob tube on, will get back to you if I hear any inanities...

Wait, on second thought, I will just post gross inanities relating to the current storm. Else, I would be transcribing the rest of my life;)

[L,TOWM]

That's funny. My memory is remarkably fuzzy, with huge gaps in my recall, when it comes when I was still drinking.

[dixie sass]

Lol, and still continues to set a bad example!!!

[pepperdog]

Perry is a D? I feel such a fool, he was so sensible that I thought he was an R. Oh well, he does have big hair. I think he has done a good job of calming and moving population during this trying time. Texans are to be congratulated for their behavior during the evacuation. I know it must have been terrible, but they did it and did it right. No doubt they've learned a lot about evacuating a huge area and will make improvements to the plan. By the way has such a large scale evac ever been done before?

[Aggie Mama]

Thanks be to God! I was so worried about you guys last night!

[bwteim]

The horror.

[jslade]

Well, hurry back; we can't "do" a hurricane without you.

Well, if not having another hurricane this season is the price we have to pay for NOT having Nauti back, we'll pay it. LOL We love ya' Nauti. Do drop in for threads NOT concerning hurricanes.