My prediction (for what it's worth) is that Rita will pick up power after it moves into the Gulf. Reason is Gulf waters are warmer than the Florida Keys. Rita is now a #3 hurricane. Tomorrow she will be a #4 and pick up speed heading northward. Rita will veer away from Galveston, Texas and more towards New Orleans.
Rita will have 140 mph winds by Thursday. Another direct hit on N.O. is coming. Prophetic Biblical allegories galore.
As soon as troops, assistance, Red Cross, FEMA
et al began trudging into NOLA I had a premonition - almost a vision - that'd she'd be hit again very soon.
OTOH, better to hit what's already broken.. like the 'rinse' phase.... than to tear up something new.