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

[nwctwx]

NW @ 11.

[antivenom]

Sulphur has my favorite Cracker Barrel...always stop there for bathroom break, fudge and soda...damn just damn...

[NautiNurse]

KHOU 11 Houston reporter in downtown Galveston reporting large building fire in 'old district'. AP reporting 3 buildings on fire, 1 engulfed in flame in historic district of Galveston.

It's going to be a long night.

[Tall_Texan]

KHOU-TV (Houston - CBS), reporting that at least two buildings on the Strand in Galveston are on fire. The winds are whipping the flames. One is across the street from the 1894 Opera House.
- 20th and Post Office.

Makes you wonder if somebody took the opportunity to commit arson.

[steveegg]

at one time this was a 5, doesn't that water under that pressure have to go somewhere regardless of the what the wind speeds are now?

Yep. The last predictions I saw on the surge was that most of that water either stayed with Rita and will be coming ashore shortly or already came ashore (note the flooding in Galveston during the afternoon for example).

[Eaker]

My post was deleted.

I guess using this guys proper name is not allowed.

[Mo1]

Agnes was before my time.

Ok, I feel old now ..*L*

Actually I was 8 back then ... it's the only real big hurricane I can remember from back then

[raygun]

There was an earthquake?!?!?!?

Woah. "Wait a minute..." (said in perfect Homer Simpson tone)

That happened like a week ago, right? You're just toying with us, right?

"There was NO earthquack at all, it was a misnomer! Lisa assures you, (D'oh!), I assure you fellow citizens of Springfield," said Mayor Homer Simpson. His daughter Lisa, was observed whispering into his ear prior to this statement. It is entirely and utterly unclear whether or not that had anything to do with anything. Just off the press wire, "There was no earthquake right now. Hah. You had me fooled there for a second. A second I tell you at most."

Well, there you have it. And now to more pressing matters concerning Cindy Sheehan..."

[Soul Seeker]

I'm mainly watching for the Drama Queens. At least this time it's mostly laughs. Last hurricane I wanted to do them physical harm.

Of course prayers for everyone there, even the D.Q.'s, but if Shep and co. want to be taken seriously they really shouldn't be auditioning for Best supporting Actor in a Hurricane.

How long of a nap did you want? I suspect you can get in a 45-1hr30min nap before it really hits, though who really knows lol

[Howlin]

Any of you still online?

[freeperfromnj]

Reporter and camera person not that close to the downtown area. Said he can smell the fire from where he is -- no video.

[cliff630]

Am I the only one who would prefer anemometers and
weather vanes serviced by monitors over the affected
area plus cameras watching the storm surges.

It is somewhat disconcerting waiting for a 2x4 to
belt one these "dedicated" news persons.

News reports are useful when they report the fires
and where they are. Constant chatter is just that.

[ruoflaw]

God bless you and the others for looking out for fellow FReepers.

[LikeLight]

This is why any "dodged a bullet" claims are so ill advised. When large cities and communities lose power and emergency services, especially in high wind conditions, all kinds of horrible things happen - fires, looting and general mayhem among them.

[ladyjane]

Insurance covers fires. Not all insurance covers water or hurricane damage.

[oceanview]

this must be from the exploding electrical transformers?

[Txsleuth]

I was watching my local news a few minutes ago---and the news guy was reporting on the fire in Galveston..

and he said he saw one guy being carried away that was burned pretty bad.

[kenth]

Normally I shun MSNBC, but how can I pass that up with a description like that?

[BurbankKarl]

I dont watch FNC...I am watching online...

http://www.galveston.com/maps/map.pdf

[mtbopfuyn]

We have friends from UTMB who evacuated to San Antonio. Closest hotel they could find. Took them 4 hours to get across Houston on Thursday morning early.