Damage is extensive along the Louisiana Coast. Early reports of structural failure over many areas. Widespread damage from a storm surge. Camaren, Louisiana hit very hard. Beaumont, Texas was hit hard - apartment building down with people trapped. Galveston had extensive wind damage - roofs failed in some areas. Port Arthur - extensive wind damage. Many towns have reported homes destroyed and or damaged. Hundreds of thousands of people without power. Injuries reported in Beaumont and Port Arthur.
Possible apartment collapse in Beaumont - people trapped inside.
Reports of homes and structural failure in Hackberry, Louisiana. Extensive flooding.
Prien, Louisiana - widespread flooding. Trees down and homes damaged.
West Orange, Louisiana. Extensive tree damage. Homes damaged.
Creole, Louisiana. Homes destroyed. Extensive flooding. Extensive tree damage.
Shreveport is reporting widespread tree damage - trees down and power lines down.
Center, Texas - homes damaged - trees down. Power poles reported down. Lufkin, Texas is reporting widespread wind damage with power poles, trees, and signs down. Reports of homes destroyed. Homes with roofs off. People trapped in homes. Roof off of a church in Lufkin, Texas. Reports of flooding as well. Many, Louisiana reporting widespread wind damage to trees and power lines.Nacogdoches, Texas is reporting widespread damage.
New Orleans continue to flood with levees still breaking or near break. Sand boils reported under the levee in DOWNTOWN New Orleans. Bad situation is getting worse in the Big Easy.
Lake Charles Louisiana has been hit VERY hard by hurricane Rita. Major structural damage. Severe flooding in Lake Charles, Louisiana. Storm surge has caused major damage. Water is reported to be flooding homes. Roofs off some buildings. Thousands of trees are down throughout the city. Lake Charles has water in the downtown area. Reports of most roads under water or blocked by trees. Reports of some injuries in Lake Charles.
Numerous tornado warnings for Mississippi and Louisiana. Tornado watches continue this morning.
Severe flooding is likely across much of the path of this hurricane. Tornadoes are also likely later today across Arkansas and eventually into Tennessee. Could be widespread activity.
Lufkin is 125 miles from the coast. Nacodoches is 140 miles inland. If they are reporting extensive structural damage, then Rita has a scope similar to Katrina, in size and in degree.
Prien Louisiana is 16 feet above sea level and well inland.
Once again, the media has pulled the plug too soon.
I hope FEMA isn't getting their cue from the folks who brought us memogate this time.
Like the effects of Katrina on Mississippi, the effects of Rita don't serve their agenda (except with regard to NOLA's levees). If it doesn't matter to the MSM, it never happened.