Hurricane Rita Live Thread, Part VIII

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

The WSJ has it right.

http://www.opinionjournal.com/editorial/feature.html?id=110007314

I live in a coastal area and I pay for flood insurance. It is very expensive and I know if my house gets destroyed I get 250K and that's IT. PERIOD. If you CHOOSE to live by the coast you have two choices buy flood insurance or self-insure. Insurance companies have lots of warts but it is just not acceptable that people not living in flood zones pay for flood insurance through premiums or judgments.

2,001 posted on 09/26/2005 5:35:11 AM PDT by Sunnyflorida

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/09/25/AR2005092500335.html?sub=AR

(go to link for full story)

THE GULF HURRICANES
Rita Spares Cities, Devastates Rural Areas
Loss of Power, Flooding Keep Many From Returning

By Doug Struck and Dana Milbank
Washington Post Staff Writers
Monday, September 26, 2005; Page A01

BEAUMONT, Tex., Sept. 25 -- Hurricane Rita's floodwaters receded Sunday along the Texas-Louisiana coastline, revealing devastated rural communities but lighter-than-expected damage to major population centers and to vital energy facilities in the area.

After the catastrophic impact of Hurricane Katrina, which since it struck in late August has killed more than 1,000, displaced hundreds of thousands and is forecast to cost the federal government alone about $200 billion, Rita's impact was closer to that of other major hurricanes. Most of the more than 3 million people who evacuated in advance of the storm were preparing to return home. Costs were put in the low billions of dollars and only two deaths were attributed to the storm.

Hurricane Katrina brought unprecedented destruction to the Gulf Coast. View the Post's multimedia coverage of the disaster. (Ricky Carioti - The Washington Post)

Still, hundreds of thousands of people were told they could not return to their homes in southeastern Texas and southwestern Louisiana because water, power, sewage and emergency services will not be restored for weeks, authorities said. Police blocked exits off interstate highways leading to Beaumont, which once held 110,000 people but is now largely a ghost town.

Rita hit the United States early Saturday with winds of 120 mph, bringing up to a foot of rain and a 15-foot storm surge. It caused the greatest harm in less-populated areas of Louisiana and Texas, near this city and Port Arthur. About 2 million people overall lost power.

In a speech on Sunday, Ben S. Bernanke, chairman of the White House Council of Economic Advisers, said Rita's "effects appear to be relatively modest" on economic growth. Texas Gov. Rick Perry (R) said the storm was "not anywhere near as bad as we thought it was going to be." Speaking on "Fox News Sunday," he said oil platforms and refineries in the area are "in relatively good shape."

Perry, on CNN's "Late Edition," put the damage in his state at about $8 billion; that would rank Rita far behind Katrina in impact but still among the most damaging storms to hit the United States.
Rita may also lead to changes in government policy. Officials are reviewing urban evacuation plans after suffocating traffic blocked departures from Houston. President Bush suggested that Congress examine whether the military should play a larger role in reacting to domestic disasters.

At the edges of the storm, rainfall and high water worsened problems in New Orleans, where repairs to a temporary levee could not prevent parts of the city from flooding again. The Army Corps of Engineers dropped sandbags to plug the gap as officials tried to pump the latest floodwaters from the city. Coast Guard Vice Adm. Thad W. Allen, who is leading the federal government's Katrina recovery efforts, said it could take until June to rebuild the levees.

In Baton Rouge, La., Bush was given what he called an "optimistic appraisal" of the New Orleans flood-control system. The president, who is expected to travel to the region on Tuesday for the seventh time since Katrina struck, cautioned people in Louisiana and Texas to heed state leaders' advice on when it was safe to return home. New Orleans Mayor C. Ray Nagin said the city will reopen to business owners and residents of the Algiers neighborhood starting Monday.

Houston, spared Rita's full wrath, slowly began to return to life on Sunday, as some of its 2 million residents returned. Perry urged an "orderly migration" back to Houston, after the enormous traffic jams that marred the evacuation of that city before the storm.

Officials attributed Rita's lesser impact to several factors. The storm did not produce the rainfall that had been predicted, and it missed urban areas such as Houston and Galveston, Tex. Also, residents in the stricken areas, with images of Katrina's devastation fresh in their minds, evacuated in large numbers; government agencies at all levels, anxious not to repeat the slow response to Katrina, quickly rescued the stranded and delivered relief supplies using airlifts and trucks.

R. David Paulison, acting director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, said there was "absolutely phenomenal" coordination and preparation. He said many preparations went unneeded. Texas received 3.8 million liters of water, 193 truckloads of ice and 320,000 military meal rations, but "we've had minimal requests for some of those commodities," Paulison said. He said FEMA would move more water and ice to Louisiana.

2,002 posted on 09/26/2005 5:43:52 AM PDT by RDTF

Goodness gracious, what a crybaby.

All during the hurricane the reporters in Lake Charles and the weathermen talking about the storm surge were speculating that Cameron and the areas around it were hit hard by the expected 20' surge. The news chopper out of Houston didn't get up until late Sat. afternoon, because of wind conditions. It made it east surveying the damage to Beaumont and Port Arthur, and showed that sunset shot from P.A. Can't film much after dark. Sunday we started getting in the Cameron video around lunchtime. I would doubt that any Lake Charles media outlets had a chopper, it ain't a large or wealthy market. And even if they had one, did you miss the fact that the LC airport was wiped out? That was reported about 4am on Saturday. Did you forget that we didn't get pictures of the flooding in Arabi and St. Bernard parish(NOLA) until 24 hours after they started flooding to the rooftops?

But don't let the facts get in the way of your selective memory and mythmaking. I'm not going to waste time pulling out posts from the realtime thread, all those things were being reported and are mentioned, it is there if you want to find it. But you won't and don't, because it would refute your whole thesis. There was no media conspiracy to downplay or coverup damage, that's utterly ridiculous.

2,003 posted on 09/26/2005 6:05:57 AM PDT by Diddle E. Squat

Results of Rita in Arkansas:

1 to 5 inches of much needed rain over the state. We received 4 - 5 inches in Central Arkansas near Hot Springs. Lots of tornado warnings throughout the day Saturday kept us nervous and watching the weather from noon until 10pm. So far, three confirmed F2 tornados did some damage in central/north central Arkansas. Some injuries but no deaths, thankfully. Local stations said wind gusts measured 30-45 mph.

Our tornado sirens came on around 7pm Saturday evening. We all piled into the storm cellar for 30-45 minutes. Thankfully nothing occurred. Never heard thunder or saw lightening the entire day, which I thought was strange given the tornadic conditions. Watched the clouds whip past going in two different directions at once at different levels. All in all a day of weather to remember in Arkansas for quite some time.

2,004 posted on 09/26/2005 6:19:24 AM PDT by OB1kNOb (Sometimes I just can't see the forest for all the gumps.)

To: Diddle E. Squat

I have two suggestions for FNC. I am a huge FNC fan. They do a great job on politics, the UN, etc. Some of the Washington reporters, Major Garrett for example, are great. Brit is fantastic. Most of the time I think BOR is pretty good.

They did a good job during the Iraq invasion because they had better generals doing the commentary (for the most part). I think the problem is that they have no sense of geography for the most part and not very much knowledge of physical sciences.

I think the simple remedy is to a) bring in experts as co-hosts during stories with physical sciences and geographical knowledge as a core aspect - don't let stringers with an agenda like Hemmer talk to the Corps; and b) use reporters from the local affiliates.

I don't have too much to say about CNN. Obviously the politics is pure socialism. But they did seem to get more of the facts straight when it comes to the physics and geography of the Ritrina.

2,005 posted on 09/26/2005 6:24:28 AM PDT by Sunnyflorida

To: Diddle E. Squat

Care to explain why the MSM has neglected Mississippi and Alabama after the flooding started in NOLA? Despite the horrific damage in cities such as Gulfport, Biloxi, Waveland, Bay St. Louis, etc.? They do have the resources to cover both stories, you know. Just not the desire.

Nope, no conspiracy there either. Just coincidence.

Some people are apparently so afraid of being perceived as tinfoil hatters that they deny the obvious right in front of their eyes.

2,006 posted on 09/26/2005 6:36:48 AM PDT by laz (They can bus 'em to the polls, but they can't bus 'em out of the path of a Cat 5 hurricane.)

I saw pictures of utter devastation in MS the day after the storm. Saw broadcasts from the reporters stationed in the motels above I-10, who had trouble getting down to the beach area the first day. Did you forget the phoned in report(couldn't use the satellite truck during the storm) from Jim Cantore's crew, where they had to move up to the 3rd floor of the VA hospital they were staying at, and had to help move the patients/residents up because of the storm surge? Forget Anderson Cooper's reports from the Waveland area, walking with a lady who was searching the slab area of her home for anything left? Forget the shots the next day of the casino boat on land at Gulfport? Forget the interview with the poor wandering man with 2 kids who told of how his wife was swept from his hands during the storm? A couple of days later NASA had before and after satellite pictures of the entire NOLA to Mobile coastal area. On the afternoon after the hit a Jackson, MS tv station had overhead video from Ocean Springs to Waveland, that was shown many times.

One can certainly argue that the media put more emphasis on NOLA than MS, but they sure as hell didn't ignore MS and AL. And given that for several days afterwards the destruction was over in MS, while floodwaters continued to rise and a massive evacuation (and hindering of such by the bungling LA state agencies) was ongoing in NOLA, it made sense that NOLA would get more coverage. The politicizing of it by much of the media is indeed disgusting and inexcusable, and probably did slant the coverage to NOLA, but it didn't stop the coverage of MS and AL.

2,007 posted on 09/26/2005 6:50:27 AM PDT by Diddle E. Squat

To: Diddle E. Squat

On CNN.com's front page:

-Cameron Parish under as much as 15 feet of water
-Up to 90 percent of homes destroyed in Cameron
-Several buildings smashed in Lake Charles
-Nearly 1 million without power in hurricanes' wake

2,008 posted on 09/26/2005 7:05:11 AM PDT by RDTF

Could someone please tell me what area that photo is from? Thanks!!

2,009 posted on 09/26/2005 7:07:04 AM PDT by RoseyT (Lufkin)

To: Nita Nupress

It looks like you've gotten good advice on the battery situation. I'm anxiously awaiting further updates from you. I could hardly believe the video I saw of the storm as it was hitting Hardin County.

Have you been able to travel at all from your current location? I'm worried about all the structures in that area, including your home. The storm was still packing a whallop when it reached Jasper.

2,010 posted on 09/26/2005 7:07:32 AM PDT by Dog Gone

Holly Beach, LA ... Directly south of Lake Charles, if I'm not mistaken.

2,011 posted on 09/26/2005 7:11:22 AM PDT by ArmyBratsMom

Did you just see the woman on FNC demanding a bus to get her out of some place in Texas?!?

Phew.

2,012 posted on 09/26/2005 7:12:06 AM PDT by Sunnyflorida

To: ArmyBratsMom

Thanks. That's where my cousin's beach house was. Not concerned about that loss, really, as it wasn't their main residence, but she's going to be heartbroken. I just hope and pray people didn't stay in that area.

I've been out of touch since Saturday morning and that picture has left me with weak knees and shaking hands.

2,013 posted on 09/26/2005 7:16:27 AM PDT by RoseyT (Lufkin)

2,014 posted on 09/26/2005 7:19:15 AM PDT by RDTF

Don't forget the HUD money that has been pouring into NOLA and LA for years.

2,015 posted on 09/26/2005 7:19:59 AM PDT by hoosiermama ( Blanco, Landrieu, Nagin & Witt.. good name for a flood control business...Motto:"We got dikes!")

To: Sunnyflorida

Kind of the broken dirt look with sod overhanging.

That's scary. I notice the flow is down to 46,600 this morning.

2,016 posted on 09/26/2005 7:22:56 AM PDT by Colorado Doug (Diversity is divisive. E. Pluribus Unum)

My sister has a VERY large collection of Red COIN.....At least 12 pieces in all the goblets an every (some duplicates) accessory except one. The small toothpick holder. If you ever see one, let me know. I'd love to find it for her.

2,017 posted on 09/26/2005 7:23:09 AM PDT by hoosiermama ( Blanco, Landrieu, Nagin & Witt.. good name for a flood control business...Motto:"We got dikes!")

I'm so sorry to hear about your cousin's beach house. I just can't imagine how devastating this must be for the people of SW Louisiana and East Texas. I hope you and yours were able to weather the storm safely in Lufkin.

I have family all over SE Texas ... we have tons of friends who live in Galveston, and my parents rode out the storm in Deer Park, just southeast of Houston. They were fortunate ... unlike their neighbors to the east. It's heartbreaking.

2,018 posted on 09/26/2005 7:26:55 AM PDT by ArmyBratsMom

As I said yesterday, HELICOPTERS ARE NOT BEING WASTED TRANSPORTING MSM. They are being used to RESCUE PEOPLE.

2,019 posted on 09/26/2005 7:29:10 AM PDT by UCANSEE2 (I jez calls it az I see it.)

To: Diddle E. Squat

I saw all of that, too. The bulk of it was during all of Monday, August 29, right after Katrina hit. I remember the interview with the man who tried to hold onto his wife's hand but lost her to the flood waters. I remember seeing the matchsticks that were left of homes in Gulfport, Biloxi, etc. All of the reports you mention, I believe they were all on that Monday, before NOLA started flooding.

But as soon as flooding started in NOLA the next day, the emphasis shifted. Naturally, the new events in NOLA had to be covered, but despite sporadic reports for the next two weeks on Mississippi, and even less of Alabama, we were treated to almost wall-to-wall NOLA. And it was done to serve as a backdrop to the Bush bashing. What continued reports of Mississippi I did see were on TWC, because they have no political agenda and just showed what they came across. MSM focused almost entirely on NOLA and Bush bashing.

I just guess we'll have to politely agree to disagree on the media's motives for that.

2,020 posted on 09/26/2005 7:31:21 AM PDT by laz (They can bus 'em to the polls, but they can't bus 'em out of the path of a Cat 5 hurricane.)

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