Hurricane Rita thread

[kato]

Well, they just sent a memo out about non-essential personnel not coming in. I think at least I hope I'm non-essential. LOL

 

[TexMex]

Thanks Kato. I'm still at work. I'm leaving early and won't be here tomorrow. I had Friday already scheduled off for the Fort Bend County Fair and Parade. No fair and parade this year.

You are close to my area......are ya'll stayin' or leavin'?

 

[poco]

Well, they just sent a memo out about non-essential personnel not coming in. I think at least I hope I'm non-essential. LOL

It's quite obvious to all of us that you are non-essential - you've been on this thing all day!

 

[kato]

Well, live about 6 miles from Sugarland and the Harris Cty./Ft. Bend Cty. line and my BF and I are staying home with our 2 kitties. We do have a closet under our stairs. I just talked to our secretary. She lives in Spring and she said she's leaving tonight or in the morning.

 

[kato]

It's quite obvious to all of us that you are non-essential - you've been on this thing all day!

LOL This is the most free time I've had in awhile. We have been sooooo busy. Guess that's why our stock is so high. Which is a good thing.

 

[Buzz Mills]

Rita could easily be a Category 5 by the time of the next update at 4:00PM CDT. It has been gathering strength rapidly.

HURRICANE RITA TROPICAL CYCLONE UPDATE
NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL
215 PM EDT WED SEP 21 2005

DATA FROM RECONNAISSANCE AIRCRAFT INDICATE THAT RITA HAS INTENSIFIED
A LITTLE MORE AND WINDS HAVE REACHED 150 MPH WINDS WITH A MINIMUM
PRESSURE OF 920 MB. THIS MAKES RITA A STRONG CATEGORY FOUR
HURRICANE.

Category Four Hurricane:
Winds 131-155 mph (114-135 kt or 210-249 km/hr). Storm surge generally 13-18 ft above normal. More extensive curtainwall failures with some complete roof structure failures on small residences. Shrubs, trees, and all signs are blown down. Complete destruction of mobile homes. Extensive damage to doors and windows. Low-lying escape routes may be cut by rising water 3-5 hours before arrival of the center of the hurricane. Major damage to lower floors of structures near the shore. Terrain lower than 10 ft above sea level may be flooded requiring massive evacuation of residential areas as far inland as 6 miles (10 km). Hurricane Charley of 2004 was a Category Four hurricane made landfall in Charlotte County, Florida with winds of 150 mph. Hurricane Dennis of 2005 struck the island of Cuba as a Category Four hurricane.

Category Five Hurricane:
Winds greater than 155 mph (135 kt or 249 km/hr). Storm surge generally greater than 18 ft above normal. Complete roof failure on many residences and industrial buildings. Some complete building failures with small utility buildings blown over or away. All shrubs, trees, and signs blown down. Complete destruction of mobile homes. Severe and extensive window and door damage. Low-lying escape routes are cut by rising water 3-5 hours before arrival of the center of the hurricane. Major damage to lower floors of all structures located less than 15 ft above sea level and within 500 yards of the shoreline. Massive evacuation of residential areas on low ground within 5-10 miles (8-16 km) of the shoreline may be required. Only 3 Category Five Hurricanes have made landfall in the United States since records began: The Labor Day Hurricane of 1935, Hurricane Camille (1969), and Hurricane Andrew in August, 1992. The 1935 Labor Day Hurricane struck the Florida Keys with a minimum pressure of 892 mb--the lowest pressure ever observed in the United States. Hurricane Camille struck the Mississippi Gulf Coast causing a 25-foot storm surge, which inundated Pass Christian. Hurricane Andrew of 1992 made landfall over southern Miami-Dade County, Florida causing 26.5 billion dollars in losses--the costliest hurricane on record. In addition, Hurricane Gilbert of 1988 was a Category Five hurricane at peak intensity and is the strongest Atlantic tropical cyclone on record with a minimum pressure of 888 mb.

 

[NewMom2003]

You are close to my area......are ya'll stayin' or leavin'?

We are staying. I feel pretty safe in our house. There are two large retention ponds in my subdivision so I'm not worried about flooding. We also have a huge walk in closet that is close to the middle of the house. I'm going to clean it out tonight to make room for us just in case. I can also get the phone to reach into there. Kato mentioned on a post above about having a regular phone and not just a cordless. That's good advice. My biggest concern is windows breaking. What are your thoughts about taping windows?

What about you? Are y'all staying?

 

[kato]

OK people. I know some of you may not live here. But should I be worried? I must have somerthing wrong with me cuz I'm not.

 

[amandab]

OK people. I know some of you may not live here. But should I be worried? I must have somerthing wrong with me cuz I'm not.

Kato if I were you I'd be scared to the point of needing new pants!

 

[concernedperson]

OK people. I know some of you may not live here. But should I be worried? I must have somerthing wrong with me cuz I'm not.

I would be as the winds are now 150 miles per hour. Of course the storm surge is just as importent. Do you live in a flood prone area around Houston?

 

[Buzz Mills]

OK people. I know some of you may not live here. But should I be worried? I must have somerthing wrong with me cuz I'm not.

kato, how far above sea level are you?? and how far from the coast???

 

[NewMom2003]

OK people. I know some of you may not live here. But should I be worried? I must have somerthing wrong with me cuz I'm not.

Ok Kato, I know what you mean. We've prepared for major hurricanes before that have fizzled out before getting here, but this one really has me scared.

 

[kato]

I would be as the winds are now 150 miles per hour. Of course the storm surge is just as importent. Do you live in a flood prone area around Houston?

We live not too far from a bayou. All the intersections by our house flood even during a heavy rain.

 

[Shadow205]

OK people. I know some of you may not live here. But should I be worried? I must have somerthing wrong with me cuz I'm not.

Kato, I think that you should be very very worried. It is your decision but if I were you I would not be staying. If the track remains where they have it now, that places you on the north right side of the storm which is the worst place to be. They are predicting it to be a Cat. 5 by the 5:00pm update.

 

[kato]

kato, how far above sea level are you?? and how far from the coast???

50 ft. above sea level and 55 miles from Galveston.

 

[amandab]

We live not too far from a bayou. All the intersections by our house flood even during a heavy rain.

I will pray for you Kato.

 

[kato]

Ok Kato, I know what you mean. We've prepared for major hurricanes before that have fizzled out before getting here, but this one really has me scared.

Yes, you took the words right out of my mouth.

 

[Buzz Mills]

We live not too far from a bayou. All the intersections by our house flood even during a heavy rain.

kato, can we get the names of your next of kin?? With a storm surge, any river, or bayou, is going to raise to the level of the storm surge, as that is where all the surge goes first. Probably looking at 20 feet of storm surge at this time.

 

[kato]

I will pray for you Kato.

Thanks, let's pray for everyone.

 

[amandab]

kato, can we get the names of your next of kin?? With a storm surge, any river, or bayou, is going to raise to the level of the storm surge, as that is where all the surge goes first. Probably looking at 20 feet of storm surge at this time.

I'm not sure if you were being sarcastic or not Buzz, but this is a good idea.

Kato - is everyone you work with still there, too?