Hurricane Rita thread

  • #281
Buzzm1 said:
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.

Buzz: Even at 55 miles in and 50 ft. above sea level? No, I think that's just for Galveston.
 
  • #282
amandab said:
I'm not sure if you were being sarcastic or not Buss, but this is a good idea.

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

Yup. They probably aren't working either.
 
  • #283
Good. I just found out I'm not essential. So, I don't have to come in. Even though I don't get on the puter much at home I'll check in.

Sorry, I'm babbling so much today.
 
  • #284
kato said:
Buzz: Even at 55 miles in and 50 ft. above sea level? No, I think that's just for Galveston.
By the time Rita reaches you, the winds should be down to 110mph, or so, but there should be lots of rain.
 
  • #285
Buzzm1 said:
By the time Rita reaches you, the winds should be down to 110mph, or so, but there should be lots of rain.

Thanks. A bunch of rain won't bother me. But I'm still glad we don't have to go to work.
 
  • #286
Kato, read this

Houston Mayor calls for evacuations from storm Rita
21 Sep 2005 15:25:06 GMT

Source: Reuters
HOUSTON, Sept 21 (Reuters) - Houston Mayor Bill White on Wednesday called for residents in low-lying, flood-prone areas of the city to evacuate beginning on Thursday in anticipation of Hurricane Rita, which is approaching across the Gulf of Mexico.



Emergency officials said evacuation in those areas would mean as many as 1 million people may attempt to leave.



The hurricane is expected to make landfall in the Galveston area, just to the southeast of Houston, the scene of America's worst hurricane disaster in 1900, when at least 8,000 people died.



"Hurricane Rita on its present course poses a risk to Houston and the whole Houston region," White told reporters.



"We are asking all residents in the greater Houston area that are in the storm surge area for a hurricane of this force and above to begin making their evacuation plans," he said.



Rita is now a Category 4 hurricane and the U.S. Hurricane Center said it could become Category 5, the maximum, as it crosses the Gulf.



White called for residents in low-lying areas on the east side of Houston to leave the city on Thursday. He said schools should close on Thursday and Friday and employers should give their workers those two days off.

more at the link http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N21478331.htm
 
  • #287
Denial is the first stage of death, you know.
 
  • #288
amandab said:
Denial is the first stage of death, you know.
amandab, that should get kato thinking.
 
  • #289
Buzzm1 said:
amandab, that should get kato thinking.

I guess I'm just dumb when it comes to storms. But a storm surge can't reach this far. Just wind and rain.
 
  • #290
kato said:
I guess I'm just dumb when it comes to storms. But a storm surge can't reach this far. Just wind and rain.
Kato, if you read the article that I posted to you it explained a little how the storm surge will effect Houston. There must be some reason that the Mayor of Houston has issued a mandatory evacuation. Check out this map, it has the areas broke down.

evac_hcoem.gif
 
  • #291
kato said:
I guess I'm just dumb when it comes to storms. But a storm surge can't reach this far. Just wind and rain.
kato, best case, maybe you will end up with beach front property.
 
  • #292
Kato,

Here is some more info that might help you make your decision

Feb. 20, 2005, 12:49AM


Is Houston ready for the big storm?

Evacuees' delays may bring deadly consequences

By JOE STINEBAKER
Copyright 2005 Houston Chronicle


[font=verdana,arial,helvetica,ms sans-serif][size=-1]RESOURCES[/size][/font]

[font=verdana, arial, helvetica, ms sans-serif][size=-2]
SPECIAL REPORT
• Are we ready? If the big one hits, what will happen in the Houston-Galveston area?
[/size][/font]Bill King has a vision he can't shake.

He sees long lines of vehicles -- family cars with young children in the back, pickups pulling expensive boats, and buses filled with the sick and the old -- trapped in a major traffic jam on Texas 146 or the Gulf Freeway. Behind them, a massive hurricane churns ashore.

Ahead lie washed-out bridges, flooded roads and thousands of sets of taillights. Their escape has been cut off, and time is running out.

King, Kemah's mayor, is one of many area critics who believe that lackluster evacuation planning and unrealistic expectations by state and local emergency officials could doom thousands of coastal Texans to horrific deaths when a Category 4 or 5 hurricane strikes.

"We have got to have this right, because sooner or later there's going to be a bullet in the chamber," King said. "Sooner or later, we're going to get an event. And if we do not have it right, and if we haven't been out there and practiced (an evacuation) and everybody knows exactly where they're supposed to go and what they're supposed to do, then we're going to kill a bunch of people."

An upcoming report from Gov. Rick Perry's Office of Emergency Management is expected to reject most of King's doubts. The report, according to area and state emergency officials, likely will say that the Houston-Galveston area is largely prepared for a major hurricane, although a few improvements are needed. The report is a result of nearly four months of meetings and reviews of preparedness plans for Texas coastal areas from Mexico to Louisiana.

Perry's homeland security director, Steve McCraw, headed the review. Although McCraw will not reveal his findings before turning them over to Perry, he said he was "impressed" by local evacuation plans and that he believed those plans were "more coordinated than what's been represented" by critics.

But those looking for definitive answers to whether Texas is ready for a major hurricane are likely to be disappointed. Interviews with more than two dozen hurricane and emergency evacuation experts show that no one really knows whether the Southeast Texas coast could be quickly and safely evacuated in the event of a Category 4 or Category 5 hurricane. Key concerns lie in how much time is needed to evacuate, whether Texans would respond quickly enough to recommendations to flee and whether the roads leading to and through Houston could handle the surge in traffic.

In other words, we'll find out when it happens.

In only one area are the experts in agreement, and it's a disconcerting admission. State and local officials have little confidence in their ability to evacuate those without cars, living in group homes or many of the sick and elderly living alone. Plans are in the works, they say, but for now those who are most vulnerable are living on the edge of disaster. Order of evacuation





The first to be evacuated would be residents of western Galveston and southern Harris counties, who would have to begin evacuating at least 33 hours before the storm's outer bands (containing winds of about 40 mph) are expected to come ashore. Next would be residents of eastern Chambers, eastern Galveston and eastern Harris counties (19-20 hours in advance), followed by Brazoria County (15 hours), central Harris County (10 hours), west Chambers County (eight hours) and Liberty County (seven hours).

But persuading residents that they need to leave that far in advance, when skies may still be sunny and clear, could be difficult.

Michael K. Lindell and Carla S. Prater, a husband-and-wife team at Texas A&M University's Hazard Reduction and Recovery Center, designed the study of evacuation times and routes on which many officials rely. They say the evacuation times must be strictly enforced and that delays could be fatal.

"The problem is partly the misconception people have about how long it's going to take because they're relying on their personal experience," Lindell said.

People tend to think in terms of a four- or five-hour drive to San Antonio or Dallas, he said, but they need to multiply that by 10 or 20 times because of the crowds.

Complacency is another problem.

Michael Bass, a city councilman from Clear Lake Shores, told state officials at a hurricane workshop last month that, because it has been more than 43 years since a major hurricane struck the area, many residents are ignorant of the dangers and will wait until the last minute to leave.

"You basically stay because you don't know what the hell you're getting into," he said.

Eliot Jennings, the emergency management coordinator for the city of Galveston, said cooperation is the key.



more at the link



http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/printstory.mpl/metropolitan/3046590

"We can do everything we can, but -- bottom line -- it's the individual out there who has to take the action," he said.

Mike Peacock, a hurricane preparedness officer with the governor's Division of Emergency Management, said the consequences of Texans' complacency would be fatal. "If they're going to wait 12 or 24 hours to leave," he said, "people are going to die."
 
  • #293
NewMom2003 said:
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?


As of now I'm staying. Sending the kiddos to my Mom's up in East TX.....we didn't flood during Allison so same here--not worried about water--just wind
and I have generators to run lights/fans/fridge when we lose power...

I have boards if I need them if a window goes......cannot remember if taping is good...at least it'll keep the glass together better----good luck newmom

Stay Safe!
 
  • #294
kato said:
They are showing local radar and the part of town we live in it shows we could have +74 mph winds.
I hope people are responsible in securing outdoor items. :eek:
 
  • #295
OK My boss was just in here and I think I finally understand now. We are on the 4th floor and he has an outer office while mine is inner so he moved some stuff in here. He said there has never been a storm like this and that we are on the dirty side. So, now I am starting to worry a bit. Conroe which is about 45 - 50 min north of Houston is now an 8 hr. drive. I take 59 South to go home so doubt there will be much traffic heading south.
 
  • #296
NewMom2003 said:
That is so sweet of you. I'm told by a co-worker that there are no rooms in the Dallas/Fort Worth area either.

I just got back from my local Wal-Mart and Kroger and they are both a mad house. Wal-Mart was totally out of water and Kroger is rationing out what little they have. I was able to get pretty much everything on my list except for bread and peanut butter. Both stores were totally out. Surprisingly, I found canned milk. I really thought I would have a hard time getting that.

Prayers for all my fellow Texans. I don't know about y'all, but I'm really getting scared.
I am too. :o
 
  • #297
kato said:
They haven't made mention of us getting off tomorrow. I hope they do because it floods over here and they're putting plywood on our building.
K.....what area of Houston do you work in? You know how fast that water comes up over there. :doh:
 
  • #298
NEW ADVISORY!!!

winds are now 160mph CAT 5
 
  • #299
deandaniellws said:
K.....what area of Houston do you work in? You know how fast that water comes up over there. :doh:

Galleria and it does flood especially with all the construction
 
  • #300
Ok guys, I am so worried about this hurricane. My son is stationed at the coast guard in houston. He cannot leave, he is on the rescue heli's. I am worried sick. He can't even take his apt. belongings or his car anywhere. No where to take it. He can't leave...:( I am worried sick about him. Maybe I shouldn't be, but I am. He's twenty four and single. I am so upset. Worried horribly about him. I can't help it. I am just sitting here crying and can't stop. I am sorry I just needed to talk.
 

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