Hurricane Rita Live Thread, Part VIII

www.freerepublic.com | September 24, 2005

[Howlin]

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:

Hurricane Rita Freeper CHECK IN THREAD

FReeper Sign In Thread (LOCKED) 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 VII
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

[RGVTx]

I have looked at a map and it's just as I suspected. It's an island which by definition is surrounded by water on all sides. Seems to me one could watch a sunset over the water from any island.

[Colorado Doug]

How much does a trailer cost for a family of four, or eight.

I have a 35 foot 5th wheel I would make Blanco a heck of a deal on.

[Txsleuth]

LOL---I could just picture you, and hoosiermama and cajungirl getting together for a "tea" and discussing antiques...

BTW, I heard a weather "expert" on Fox a little while ago say that he wouldn't be surprised to see a couple more hurricanes this year, and at least one more MAJOR cane into the Gulf of Mexico....yikes.

He also mentioned that the reason there is seemingly more "devastation" now, is because in the former "strong hurricane cycle", back in the 70's, 80's, there wasn't as much home developement on the coast...

and he also said that we would likely be in this "heavy hurricane pattern" for another couple of DECADES....so that doesn't bode well for the coastal communties that HAVEN'T been hit yet...

or the rebuilding of the ones that have...

[CedarDave]

No matter what you think of Geraldo, he is on the scene and doing a good job of reporting. The mayors wife put a good face on it, especially since the family wasn't hurt, but I'm sure it will hit her later.

Again, its the local responders who are on scene and asking for assistance with things like IV hydration packs for police and rescue officers and chain saws. But again, they are not complaining and are saying it is better today than yesterday. No Mayer Nagins in this bunch.

[Colorado Doug]

Seems the federal offer is cheaper, better. But trailor parks, my God, what a mess.

They are only supposed to be temporary.....until when? I can understand why Ascension and Livingston parishes voted no.

That's the stupidest thing I ever heard of. Trailers in a hurricane zone. It would take years to correct such a foolish temporary measure.

[ncountylee]

"Trailers in a hurricane zone."

The 'residents' would have them totaled in 2 months.

[Txsleuth]

I am not as "down" on Geraldo as some...

Sometimes I wish his prose wasn't so "campy", but he works hard at his job, and he has put himself on the "front lines".

I know what you mean about poor Mrs. Ortiz...right now, her husband has so much to do for the city, that he and she don't have time to grieve for what they have lost...but they will.

The guy that was on Fox this morning was whining too much, IMHO...complaining about the feds not getting him generators...which, IMHO, HE should have been responsible for stocking up on BEFORE Rita hit.

But, basically, I agree with you----the officials at all levels have admitted when things went wrong, but haven't complained.

[Sunnyflorida]

It is just unbelievable. FNC is on a crusade to save the Ninth Ward. This Blanco wants to spend billions to build levees. Levees do not work. It is so stupid to think it makes sense to repair the levees. Protect the historic and commercial areas and let the rest alone.

[CedarDave]

MSM entertainment journalist Arthel blasting FEMA on Fox.

[VirginiaMom]

which is why I'm back to TWC again! no amount of anything the Federal Government does is ever going to be enough for some people.

[CedarDave]

Apparently this lady never heard of self-help, complaining that the folks haven't been relocated to proper accommodations. And then goes into why someone was stuck at a service station without gas after leaving a shelter. Jeezs lady...

[Sunnyflorida]

Long Island is an island and you do not see the sunset setting over the water. You see it setting over Manhattan which is an Island. In fact if you watch the sunset in Manhattan (an Island) you see the sunset over New Jersey. To see the sun set over the water you need about 12 miles of open water in the direction of the sun which sets approximately to the west but only twice a year really to the west.

[Colorado Doug]

Boy I'd like to see a picture of that spillway right now! Even at the phenomenal rate that they are dumping water, it would take 265 days to drain all the way, assuming that there is no water entering the lake. (if my ciphering is correct)

Thanks for all the information on this.

[VirginiaMom]

I guess President Bush should've ducked into the nearest telephone booth and donned his super-hero cape.....then he could've taken care of all of this stuff in one fell swoop!

I am sickened by all of the complaining I hear on the tv. And it almost borders on becoming depressed.

[Txsleuth]

Sooooooooo glad you are seeing this...

I don't even know if I can put into words how angry this interview is making me...I got in in the middle, just in time to hear her saying that EVERYONE needs to contact their politicians to complain about FEMA, because people are still in SHELTERS!!!

FGS....what does she expect???

She just swatted away the plight of Rita's victims...it is all about NO...and she is mad because there is RED TAPE!

I have to tell you----if these cities, counties, states are going to be asking for 250 BILLION or more of taxpayers money, there better be red tape!!! I was appalled when FEMA was willy-nilly handing out $2000 debit cards...

I saw the destruction of the coastal areas of Mississippi from Katrina, and the coastal areas of Rita in SW LA, and SE of Texas...these areas were obliterated...NO wasn't.

Dave...now that I have ranted...what was your opinion of Arthel's interview?

[Sunnyflorida]

One way to look at the military lead evacuation of the NOLA civic center is darwinism-interupted.

[SE Mom]

Oh geeeesh Arthel (sp) STFU. What a condescending you-know-what.

[Ellesu]

Kathlen Blanko-Mama Boucher

[BurbankKarl]

4:49 p.m.: Telephone and cellphone outages persisted in parts of Texas and Louisiana, the Associated Press reports. BellSouth said about 560,000 customers were without service. San Antonio-based SBC Communications said on its Web site that its core network in Texas "is fully functional, with the exception of a small central office in Sabine Pass'' near hard-hit Port Arthur. Verizon Wireless said it had problems in localized areas including south Houston, Galveston, Beaumont and Port Arthur.


4:34 p.m.: Some major retailers report that most of their stores forced to close because of the hurricane have reopened. Wal-Mart Stores, which closed 155 facilities Saturday morning, reopened all but 52 by Sunday. Target Corp. has five stores of 32 still closed in the Gulf Coast region, including one in Metarie, La., that hasn't been open since Katrina hit Aug. 29. Home Depot Inc. said five of the 46 stores -- 41 in the Houston market -- that were shuttered Saturday morning remained closed.

[RGVTx]

Then it must be my imagination when I watch the sunset over the water from Padre Island with less than 12 miles of bay to the west.