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

[don-o]

There is still time to get this mess sorted out. What has the General said today?

Why aren't gasoline tankers rolling?

[Aggie Mama]

Thank you Maeve. I'm especially worried about my 3 children 8, 4 and 2. Please keep them in your prayers as well. It's going to be a long 12 hours in our utilty room/guest bathroom if we can't get out of town.

[palmer]

The consumer is the least of the problem with the gas gouging process. Are the refineries the ones making the big bucks?

No, refining is the least profitable part of the fuel chain. The consumer demand is not as significant as demand in the supply chain (e.g. independent gas stations, businesses, etc) When they top of their tanks that requires many days of normal supply.

[bwteim]

NOLA has a big band coming towards it now.

http://radar.weather.gov/radar/latest/DS.p19r0/si.klix.shtml

[TheBigB]

I was just thinkin' about you, Xena. Prayers for your safety.

[Xenalyte]

I'm south of you, I-10 and the Beltway, and we're leaving today.

[Lazamataz]

I think we're heading out today.

Thank G-d. Check in when you can. You are welcome to evacuate into my bed but the XenaGuy has to sleep at a hotel. There's only room for one of you.

[TheBigB]

Thank you.

[handy]

Gosh I hope the idiots they are interviewing on Fox that are refusing to leave Galveston island survive this baby. Why would anyone not get out of the way of a freight train like this one...

[WoodstockCat]

Janet,

Is the shear going to push this down to a 3 by landfall?

[Xenalyte]

Tell your son to exit I-10, stay on the feeder until he finds a road going north, and take back roads that go north and west. He fan orient himself by keeping the sun either to his right or behind him.

Plus, eventually he'll find a service station where he can buy a big road map and figure out a long route.

Back roads will take awhile, but they're better than stalling out on 10.

[don-o]

Why would anyone not get out of the way of a freight train like this one...

I dunno. Maybe so they can get on the TeeVee?

[CharlesWayneCT]

FILL UP your freezer with water bottles (drain ever so slightly and squeeze slightly so they don't split open).

Find jugs and fill them with water -- I don't get this fascination with the stores running out of water. If you don't have jugs, go to the store and buy anything that hold liquid, and fill it with water. A couple of large plastic containers would do great, like those 50-gallon trash cans, or rubbermaid stuff.

Your water is on now, use it to make your own supply. Your power is on, use it to freeze stuff. Turn down the temperature on your frig, and fill it with water as well (temperature holds better when your frig is full).

NOBODY should have trouble with water who is listening. Just fill stuff up.

[AliVeritas]

Wow

[Maeve]

I will pray for all of you with all my heart.

[dfwgator]

Fox News is in love with Trump.

I think Trump wants to run for POTUS. Seriously.

[Aggie Mama]

We tried going down Fry to 529 this morning to avoid the traffic on 10 and 290. It is bumper to bumper there and someone just called in on Channel 13 to say that there is no gas on this part of town. We are waiting until later this evening with the hopes that 1)the storm shifts or 2) the counter flow lanes clear up the traffic problems.

[ARealMothersSonForever]

Thank you very much. Going to finish final preps. See y'all later tonite.

[kassie]

KPRT (2 - NBC) are going to do a segment of what each county should expect to experience. The mph winds, rainfall, etc. Coming up shortly.

[mathluv]

BOR does not want to consider market supply and demand. We are not the only country buying oil on the world market.