Hurricane Rita thread

[Buzz Mills]

Turkey is smelling GREAT, chicken n dumplings are done.....PLENTY of tequila!

The winds are picking up, probably 20mph right now and it's getting cloudy
Since Rita tracked right we are said to expect sustained 70-80mph winds for 12-16 hours....

That damn turkey better be finished by the time the power goes....or I'll be lighting the pit in 70mph winds!

TM, I can smell that turkey from here--smells really good. You'll have enough fod for a week, at least.

 

[GonzoReiter]

Hurricane Rita - Tracking Map

 

[T'sNana]

This is just me...but if my house were totaled or unilivable, I would appreciate a trailer to live in...anything would help instead of crowding into your family member's homes, living in a shelter, living in a hotel, etc. I have lived in a hotel for 1 week and I about went crazy. We had a fire and after a week we were moved into an apartment until our home was cleaned and remodeling done. I sure did appreciate the hotel...but the apartment (nothing fancy 2 bdrm) was great. Of course, nothing like home, but I was very appreciative. They had it furnished and even had dishes, bedding, etc.

When they brought them to Fl. they put the trailers right on the property next to the unlivable house. People lived in them until the houses were fixed which seems like it was June when the blue tarps started coming off.

I don't think they need to worry about people staying too long in those trailers. If HUD gets it act together, they'll help them get homes.

 

[GonzoReiter]

In case someone wants to compare the routes for Rita?Katrina (to date):

 

[mysteriew]

Before land telephones and cell phones came back into service after Katrina- internet came back up. People were able to access the internet, but families didn't know where to look for info on them. Set up an online meeting place for anyone there. Even if they don't have a battery operated laptop, they may know someone who does. After the storm the family can leave a message at the meeting place and the rest of the family will know to look there for a message.

 

[TexMex]

TM, I can smell that turkey from here--smells really good. You'll have enough fod for a week, at least.

That's the plan Buzz....I like to cook so it keeps my mind occupied.

Blowing harder now and clouds turning black :woohoo:

 

[mysteriew]

If I were in Rita's path one of the things I'd do is write contact information all over my kids with a permanant marker - if I had little ones. There are still something line 2,000 kids from Katrina that haven't been reunited with their parents.

This should also be done by adults.
Name, SSN, and a contact number- preferable one outside of the affected area, if possible. Even if you think you are safe from the hurricane, but may have problems with flooding or tornados.

 

[Buzz Mills]

Hurricane Rita - Tracking Map

That's a cool map Gonzo; I borrowed it for my collection.

 

[Buzz Mills]

This could actually be a planned part of the New Orleans Master Rebuilding Plan:

In New Orleans, Rita's rains breached a patched levee, sending water spilling into the hard-hit but largely empty Ninth Ward just days after the neighborhood was pumped dry. The water gushed through gaps at least 100 feet wide and was soon waist-deep in the streets.

However, officials with the Army Corps of Engineers there was no immediate indication the rest of New Orleans was in danger from the flooding.

They wanted to get rid of those slums, and this was a sure way to do it.

 

[Buzz Mills]

Does anyone have a map showing the levee system around New Orleans. Is the Ninth Ward leveed off from everything else???

 

[Beyond Belief]

While I was out this afternoon I rode by our small airport. There sit at least 200 or more trailers that FEMA brought in last summer during the hurricanes. There might be more 200, it was rough counting them doing 45 mph. Anyway, they're here if we need them.

 

[Shadow205]

I am so afraid that there is going to be so many people stuck in their cars when Rita hits. I can't imagine being in a vehicle during a hurricane. Are they going to be able to get off the road? Is the grid lock clearing up at all?

 

[Beyond Belief]

Shadow,

Fox showed photos of I-10 today, there was only one car on the road and a couple left on the side of the road that must have run out of gas. I guess everyone left yesterday.

 

[Buzz Mills]

Does anyone have a map showing the levee system around New Orleans. Is the Ninth Ward leveed off from everything else???

Levee District map
http://www.mvn.usace.army.mil/pao/response/LeveeDistrictMap.asp

http://www.mvn.usace.army.mil/pao/response/amaps.asp

 

[JDB]

I am so afraid that there is going to be so many people stuck in their cars when Rita hits. I can't imagine being in a vehicle during a hurricane. Are they going to be able to get off the road? Is the grid lock clearing up at all?

Shadow25 Go to the CNN website They have a picture of a freeway out of Houston not a car on it.

 

[JDB]

Posted this in the Jury room . Wanted to make sure I covered both threads. Gee I hope it is OK Mods Laffin

For all of us out of Harms way of Rita. It is time to start crossing our fingers and sending messages upstairs for the ones that are about to get this monster.
For you all in harms way. Please Please once you can please check back in. You have friends that care about you here at W/S. Batten down the hatches and please be safe.


((((((((((((((((((((HUGS)))))))))))))))))))))))))) ))))))))))
To all of you.

 

[scandi]

I'm thinking this is a heck of a way to learn more about the geography of the Southern United States!

Scandi

 

[Buzz Mills]

I'm thinking this is a heck of a way to learn more about the geography of the Southern United States!

Scandi

We now know more about New Orleans than we ever really wanted to. With respect to the topography of that part of the South, the five most important things I learned are:
1. New Orleans is mostly below sea level.
2. Much of the rest of that coastal area is barely above sea level.
3. They are sometimes in the path of hurricanes.
4. Hurricanes spawn tornados
6. It can be a very dangerous place to live.

 

[Toby]

Have pirogue, will travel.

 

[Buzz Mills]

HURRICANE RITA ADVISORY NUMBER 25
NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL
4 PM CDT FRI SEP 23 2005

...CORE OF DANGEROUS HURRICANE RITA EXPECTED TO MAKE LANDFALL NEAR
DAYBREAK SATURDAY...

AT 4 PM CDT...2100Z...THE HURRICANE WARNING SOUTH OF SARGENT TEXAS
HAS BEEN DOWNGRADED TO TROPICAL STORM WARNING. A HURRICANE WARNING
IS NOW IN EFFECT FROM SARGENT TEXAS TO MORGAN CITY LOUISIANA. A
HURRICANE WARNING MEANS THAT HURRICANE CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED
WITHIN THE WARNING AREA WITHIN THE NEXT 24 HOURS. PREPARATIONS TO
PROTECT LIFE AND PROPERTY SHOULD BE RUSHED TO COMPLETION.

A TROPICAL STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE SOUTHEASTERN
COAST OF LOUISIANA EAST OF MORGAN CITY TO THE MOUTH OF THE PEARL
RIVER INCLUDING METROPOLITAN NEW ORLEANS AND LAKE PONTCHARTRAIN
...AND FROM SOUTH OF SARGENT TO PORT ARKANSAS. A TROPICAL STORM
WARNING MEANS THAT TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED WITHIN
THE WARNING AREA WITHIN THE NEXT 24 HOURS.

FOR STORM INFORMATION SPECIFIC TO YOUR AREA...INCLUDING POSSIBLE
INLAND WATCHES AND WARNINGS...PLEASE MONITOR PRODUCTS ISSUED
BY YOUR LOCAL WEATHER OFFICE.

AT 4 PM CDT...2100Z...THE CENTER OF HURRICANE RITA WAS LOCATED NEAR
LATITUDE 28.2 NORTH...LONGITUDE 92.6 WEST OR ABOUT 155 MILES
EAST-SOUTHEAST OF GALVESTON TEXAS AND ABOUT 140 MILES SOUTHEAST OF
PORT ARTHUR TEXAS.

RITA IS MOVING TOWARD THE NORTHWEST NEAR 12 MPH. ON THIS TRACK...THE
CORE OF HURRICANE RITA WILL MAKE LANDFALL ALONG THE SOUTHWEST
LOUISIANA AND UPPER TEXAS COASTS NEAR DAYBREAK SATURDAY.

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 125 MPH...205 KM/HR...WITH HIGHER
GUSTS. RITA IS A STRONG CATEGORY THREE HURRICANE ON THE
SAFFIR-SIMPSON SCALE. SOME FLUCTUATIONS IN INTENSITY ARE POSSIBLE
BEFORE LANDFALL...BUT RITA IS STILL EXPECTED TO COME ASHORE AS A
DANGEROUS CATEGORY THREE HURRICANE.

HURRICANE FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 85 MILES...140 KM...
FROM THE CENTER...AND TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP
TO 205 MILES...335 KM. HURRICANE FORCE WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO SPREAD
INLAND AS FAR AS 100 MILES NEAR THE PATH OF RITA. AN ELEVATED
STATION AT MARSH ISLAND LOUISIANA RECENTLY REPORTED SUSTAINED WINDS
OF 59 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 78 MPH.

MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE REPORTED BY A NOAA HURRICANE HUNTER
AIRCRAFT WAS 930 MB...27.46 INCHES.

COASTAL STORM SURGE FLOODING OF 15 FEET ABOVE NORMAL TIDE LEVELS...
LOCALLY UP TO 20 FEET AT HEAD OF BAYS AND NEARBY RIVERS...WITH
LARGE AND DANGEROUS BATTERING WAVES...CAN BE EXPECTED NEAR AND TO
THE EAST OF WHERE THE CENTER MAKES LANDFALL. TIDES ARE CURRENTLY
RUNNING ABOUT 2 FEET ABOVE NORMAL ALONG THE LOUISIANA...MISSISSIPPI
AND ALABAMA COASTS IN THE AREAS AFFECTED BY KATRINA. TIDES IN THOSE
AREAS WILL INCREASE TO 4 TO 6 FEET AND BE ACCOMPANIED BY LARGE
WAVES...AND RESIDENTS THERE COULD EXPERIENCE COASTAL FLOODING.
LARGE SWELLS GENERATED BY RITA WILL LIKELY AFFECT MOST PORTIONS OF
THE GULF COAST.

RITA IS EXPECTED TO PRODUCE RAINFALL ACCUMULATIONS OF 8 TO 12
INCHES...WITH ISOLATED MAXIMUM AMOUNTS OF 20 INCHES OVER
SOUTHEASTERN TEXAS AND SOUTHWESTERN LOUISIANA AS IT MOVES INLAND.
RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF 3 TO 5 INCHES ARE POSSIBLE OVER SOUTHEASTERN
LOUISIANA INCLUDING METROPOLITAN NEW ORLEANS WITH ISOLATED HEAVIER
AMOUNTS POSSIBLE. SINCE RITA IS FORECAST TO SLOW DOWN SIGNIFICANTLY
AFTER MAKING LANDFALL...TOTAL ACCUMULATIONS LOCALLY IN EXCESS OF 25
INCHES ARE POSSIBLE OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL DAYS ACROSS EASTERN TEXAS
INTO WESTERN LOUISIANA.

ISOLATED TORNADOES ARE POSSIBLE TODAY OVER PORTIONS OF SOUTHEASTERN
TEXAS...SOUTHERN LOUISIANA INCLUDING SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI AND
ALABAMA.

REPEATING THE 4 PM CDT POSITION...28.2 N... 92.6 W. MOVEMENT
TOWARD...NORTHWEST NEAR 12 MPH. MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...125 MPH.
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE... 930 MB.

INTERMEDIATE ADVISORIES WILL BE ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL HURRICANE
CENTER AT 6 PM CDT AND 8 PM CDT FOLLOWED BY THE NEXT COMPLETE
ADVISORY AT 10 PM CDT.

FORECASTER AVILA


Hurricane Rita Projected Path
http://tinyurl.com/dpgwx

Hurricane Rita Projected 5 Day Cone
http://tinyurl.com/7mrr3

Hurricane Rita Strike Probabilities (Scroll Down)
http://tinyurl.com/dsfp5

Hurricane Rita Satellite Imagery (Patience Required)
http://tinyurl.com/6fmsy

Hurricane Rita Tropical Winds Forecast (in % of highest wind speed)
http://tinyurl.com/b9vap

Rita Hurricane Winds Probability
http://tinyurl.com/blayb

Rita Tropical Winds Probability
http://tinyurl.com/b2k6f

Hurricane Rita Position
http://tinyurl.com/7ju9l

Hurricane Rita Tracking Map
http://www.frozzbozz.net/images/rita_tracker.gif

The above links will update automatically, so if someone wants to include them in their future posts, they will be valid for that time.

Category Three Hurricane:
Winds 111-130 mph (96-113 kt or 178-209 km/hr). Storm surge generally 9-12 ft above normal. Some structural damage to small residences and utility buildings with a minor amount of curtainwall failures. Damage to shrubbery and trees with foliage blown off trees and large trees blown down. Mobile homes and poorly constructed signs are destroyed. Low-lying escape routes are cut by rising water 3-5 hours before arrival of the center of the hurricane. Flooding near the coast destroys smaller structures with larger structures damaged by battering from floating debris. Terrain continuously lower than 5 ft above mean sea level may be flooded inland 8 miles (13 km) or more. Evacuation of low-lying residences with several blocks of the shoreline may be required. Hurricanes Jeanne and Ivan of 2004 were Category Three hurricanes when they made landfall in Florida and in Alabama, respectively.

KATRINA
Wind Speed at Landfall, 140mph-----Maiximum Wind Speed, 175mph
HURRICANE FORCE WINDS EXTEND 105 MILES FROM THE CENTER...
TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 230 MILES.
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...923 MB. (at landfall) 902 MB (at its lowest)

RITA
Wind Speed Presently, 125mph-----Maiximum Wind Speed, 175mph
HURRICANE FORCE WINDS EXTEND 85 MILES FROM THE CENTER
TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 205 MILES.
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...930 MB (presently), 897 MB (at its lowest)
This is the 3rd lowest pressure on record-- Gilbert 888 MB, 1935 LABOR DAY 892 MB

The record low central pressure ever, for a hurricane IN the U.S., is 892 MB (the 1935 Labor Day Hurricane).