Hurricane Rita Live Thread, Part IV

NHC - NOAA ^ | 22 September 2005 | NHC - NOAA

[NautiNurse]

Extremely dangerous Category 5 Hurricane Rita continues to threaten the Greater Houston Metropolitan area. The forecast track has shifted slightly to the northeast, increasing the risk to Southwest Louisiana, and a significant portion of the oil and gas operations in the Gulf of Mexico. Texas Governor Perry is urging all coastal residents between Beaumont and Corpus Christi to evacuate as soon as possible.

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
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:

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)

KPRC-TV/DT Houston - KPRC-TV/DT Houston - http://mfile.akamai.com/12944/live/reflector:38616.asx
KHOU-TV/DT Houston: mms://beloint.wm.llnwd.net/beloint_khou
WWLTV NOLA

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
Coastal TX Evacuation Maps
Beaumont TX evac Routes
Lake Charles/Southwest LA Evacuation Map
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 III
Hurricane Rita Live Thread, Part II
Hurricane Rita Live Thread, Part I
Tropical Storm Rita
Tropical Depression 18

[Spktyr]

Actually, we're infantry, by and large. Texas military history does include quite a few cavalry units, and we do have a fairly impressive little naval history, but the major battles fought by Texans have been the hard, hard, hard way - infantry and mechanized infantry (later with armor) is our tradition as a state.

Though we do come to the rescue like "the cavalry" does. :)

[steveegg]

I am now waiting for the New Madrid fault to let loose

Now that would be an uber disaster.

I might even feel the effects of that one.

[navysealdad]

Where is the water? People are dying. Nothing to drink and some have not eaten in days.. Where is FEMA?? No hot meals just MRE's what's going on? Where's the military and the national guard? Long lines, shortage of gas WHERE"S FEMA?? What's Bush doing?

This is Shep Smith back to you Gerardo

[sheikdetailfeather]

Thanks for reposting my important post! I feel honored.

[NautiNurse]

Galveston web cam link at top of thread...

[eastforker]

I would agree in a very small enclosed space. If you have a gas range the flame is righ there and it is not vented, ditto with the gas water heater.

[JFC]

http://www.weatherserver.net/hurricanecenter/

[mware]

Thanks NautiNurse.

[Flyer]

I bet if we threw in one of TheMom's Kick-Ass Enchilada meals you would dress like a French maid while setting the cam up!

I doubt that humblegunner loans that outfit.

[RDTF]

It seemed to not get enough attention. Seems this thing is gonna torture Texas relentlessly!

[Jrabbit]

In Texas, I think him rescuing Stevie the Steer would be more appropriate. Or Milly the Filly.....:-)

[WxMan2000]

The last flight reported 913 mb, a circular 18-48 eye, open NE to SE. Pressure down 2 mb in 90 minutes....

[Wneighbor]

The new Walmart down the road from me had no bottled water...even here in Tulsa, people are preparing!

You know, that's just something isn't it? I went to a couple of the biggest stores in Waco today and they didn't have any containers of water bigger than those little 12 oz jobs. Wow. I'm glad I keep stocked up on stuff like that aren't you? I'd hate to be one of the last minute emergency shoppers!

I sure hope Steve finds a job close to Tulsa because I know how you all love it there. I'll add that to my prayers. You know, I didn't really want to leave central Texas when I went to WF. I just couldn't overlook the better opportunity for Myranda in school combined with the good job for me. It was a good move for both of us at the time and I'm still very glad that I took that little adventure. But, I can't begin to tell you how happy I am that that chapter is over! God's just good - ya know?

[NerdDad]

Traffic is still gridlocked. My wife talked to her dad at just before 4 pm CDT. He left Pasadena TX at 4 a.m. He is is Beaumont now. Normally a 4 hr drive that has taken 12. We are talking about a 70 year old man with emphysema. He's been on the road with no nebulizer and no food for 12 hrs. She's a basket case. She started 2 days ago trying to get him on the road.

I figure she will be looking for a chopper pilot to fly from MS to TX by sun down.

[Petronski]

Understanding Propane

Is Propane Dangerous?

Used with care, propane is a safe and convenient fuel. Propane gas is neither toxic nor injurious to you, should you be exposed to it in small quantities. However, should a leak occur, the accumulation of propane gas can become dangerous.

Because propane is heavier than air, it tends to settle in the lowest available place. Very small amounts of propane are required to create a flammable mixture of gas and air. In the limited space of a recreation vehicle, for instance, very little propane is needed to create a hazardous situation.

 

How Important Is Ventilation?

Propane requires a large volume of air to burn properly. In fact, 23.5 cubic feet of air is needed to burn just one cubic foot of propane. With adequate ventilation, an operating burner gives off a number of harmless products such as carbon dioxide and water vapour however, a propane appliance starved of oxygen can quickly produce dangerous amounts of carbon monoxide.

For safety's sake, use your propane appliance only for the purpose for which it was designed. Don't, for example, use a stove as a space heater.

[Dog Gone]

If Rita had hit Matagorda Bay, that would have been me whimpering as the eye came over the western outskirts of Houston. Not my favorite Texas landfall at all!

The winds over Galveston Bay will be more than sufficient to cause flooding in all adjacent low-lying areas, but it's nearly the problem it would be if the surge had accompanied it. It's going to cause damage to the refineries, hopefully fairly minor, and some homes and many mobile homes around the Bay will be in big trouble.

But they certainly won't be in the same sort of trouble that Beaumont will. Maybe they shouldn't have voted for Kerry. Karl Rove is a vindictive dude.

[Michael Goldsberry]

That's right, Sugar Land has a relatively low crime rate.

I don't expect too much action here because everyone knows - We shoot back.

[BurbankKarl]

Or the earthquake near Bakersfield?

[Types_with_Fist]

Yes. Max Mayfield saying the pressure "has dropped a bit" and that he is "surprised" by this. He says to count on a Cat 4 at least. Wolf Blitzer trying to get him to talk about New Orleans.