Hurricane Rita thread

[GonzoReiter]

The director at the time was forced to resign because of this, and they then stated that all donations would go to 9/11 victims and families.

I don't know about their plans for Katrina, though.

Director Bernadine Healy was forced to resign over the 9-11 blood donation scandal, IIRC...and it would appear the Red Cross link provided earlier is another mis-info e-mail campaign very similar to an earlier "is your donation is being misused?" chain. The apparent source of these objections was an ongoing rant on Fox News Channel's O'Reilly Factor.

 

[Shadow205]

I'm sitting here looking at the interstates that are pretty much a grid lock. Is there not any backroads to get out of Texas? I know in FLorida I had me an alternate route mapped out that didn't include any major highways.

Just hearing on CNN that a ton of TSA workers didn't show up today at Houston airport(probably stuck in traffic or evacuated) and that it has caused a nightmare. They said to expect major delays if you have a flight booked and that you will be lucky if you flight even departs in time. The guy said he has never seen anything like the scene at the airport.

 

[Buzz Mills]

HURRICANE RITA DISCUSSION NUMBER 20
NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL
11 AM EDT THU SEP 22 2005

RITA APPEARS TO HAVE REACHED ITS PEAK INTENSITY DURING THE PAST
12 HOURS. HURRICANES TYPICALLY DO NOT MAINTAIN SUCH HIGH INTENSITY
FOR A LONG TIME. INITIAL INTENSITY ESTIMATE IS 145 KNOTS. ALTHOUGH
SOME FLUCTUATIONS IN INTENSITY ARE LIKELY DURING THE NEXT DAY OR
TWO...DUE TO EYEWALL REPLACEMENT CYCLES...AN OVERALL GRADUAL
WEAKENING TREND SHOULD TAKE PLACE. THIS WEAKENING TREND IS BASED ON
LOWER OCEANIC HEAT CONTENT ALONG THE FORECAST TRACK AND INCREASING
SHEAR. NEVERTHERELESS...RITA IS EXPECTED TO MAKE LANDFALL AS A
DANGEROUS HURRICANE OF AT LEAST A CATEGORY THREE INTENSITY.

RITA HAS BEEN MOVING TOWARD THE WEST-NORTHWEST OR 295 DEGREES AT 8
KNOTS. A STRONG HIGH PRESSURE SYSTEM CURRENTLY CENTERED OVER
NORTHERN TEXAS/OKLAHOMA IS EXPECTED TO SHIFT EASTWARD ALLOWING RITA
TO TAKE A MORE NORTHWESTERLY AND NORTHERLY TRACK. THE EASTWARD
SHIFT OF THE HIGH IS FORECAST BY ALL GLOBAL MODELS...RESULTING IN
TRACK GUIDANCE CONSISTENTLY TURNING THE HURRICANE TOWARD THE
NORTHWEST AND NORTH TOWARD THE UPPER-TEXAS OR THE WESTERN LOUISIANA
COASTS. AFTER LANDFALL...STEERING CURRENTS ARE EXPECTED TO WEAKEN
AND THE CYCLONE COULD MEANDER FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS IN THE VICINITY
OF NORTHEASTERN TEXAS...PRODUCING HEAVY RAINS.

BASED ON THE FORECAST TRACK AND WIND RADII...HURRICANE WARNINGS HAVE
BEEN ISSUED AT THIS TIME FROM PORT O'CONNOR TEXAS TO MORGAN CITY
LOUISIANA. TROPICAL STORM WARNINGS ARE IN EFFECT ON EITHER SIDE OF
THE HURRICANE WARNING.

FORECASTER AVILA

FORECAST POSITIONS AND MAX WINDS

INITIAL 22/1500Z 25.4N 88.7W 145 KT
12HR VT 23/0000Z 25.8N 89.9W 140 KT
24HR VT 23/1200Z 26.9N 91.6W 130 KT
36HR VT 24/0000Z 28.2N 93.0W 125 KT
48HR VT 24/1200Z 30.0N 94.5W 100 KT...INLAND
72HR VT 25/1200Z 33.0N 95.0W 45 KT...INLAND
96HR VT 26/1200Z 34.0N 95.0W 30 KT...INLAND
120HR VT 27/1200Z 34.5N 94.5W 25 KT...INLAND

knots to miles conversion
multiply by 1.1507794

 

[PrayersForMaura]

Gosh this is very worrysome

I have read and heard that the levy in NO could break again after they just fixed it and that would be a shame.
The only good thing to come of all the Katrina terror and destruction is that now they have a better sense of the evacuation plan
Unfortunately, though, the highways are jammed now
But at least they are getting hospital patients and the poor and homeless out now!!

Thanks for all of the updates, wonderful posters.
We should have a meteorology section!

Ya know what is crazy ... I was driving home with my boyfriend one night and we picked up this little AM station with talk radio. This guy was talking about a way that "they" (I guess atmospheric scientists or meteorologists??) were trying to contain hurricanes with MAGNETS and magnetic force....

There have been so many posts here, forgive me if someone else posted about this already. Has anyone heard of this before?
That seems crazy but hey, why not??
It really seems crazy though.

 

[kato]

Charles Gibson is here up in a chopper and Greta will be here tonight.

 

[BarnGoddess]

The director at the time was forced to resign because of this, and they then stated that all donations would go to 9/11 victims and families.

I don't know about their plans for Katrina, though.

Yes, and Bill O'Reilly blasted them every night about it on his show. As a matter of fact, he has mentioned that he would be watching them now to see if the donations specified for Katrina are properly used.

 

[poco]

Okay, looks like this thing moved a little east ---???

 

[Betsy]

Per MSNBC, Rita has been downgraded to Cat 4...Still extemely dangerous....

 

[Buzz Mills]

Charles Gibson is here up in a chopper and Greta will be here tonight.

Yes, kato, but the key word there is chopper. Charlie and Greta will be leaving on it, well before Rita makes landfall.

 

[Shadow205]

Per MSNBC, Rita has been downgraded to Cat 4...Still extemely dangerous....

As Max Mayfield(Director of National Hurricane Center) says the difference bewtween a cat. 4 & a cat.5 is like being hit by a semi truck instead of a train. While it is good news, a ain't gonna make a lot of difference. It is also going to enter back into warmer waters and will likely to regain strength again. Hopefully it won't or if it does will weaken again beofre landfall.

 

[Buzz Mills]

Hurricane Rita Intermediate Advisory Number 20a
Nws Tpc/national Hurricane Center Miami Fl
1 Pm Cdt Thu Sep 22 2005

...rita Weakens A Little Further...remains An Extremely Dangerous
Hurricane...

A Hurricane Warning Is In Effect From Port O'connor 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 From South Of Port
O'connor To Port Mansfield Texas And For The Southeastern Coast Of
Louisiana East Of Morgan City To The Mouth Of The Mississippi
River. A Tropical Storm Warning Means That Tropical Storm
Conditions Are Expected Within The Warning Area Within The Next 24
Hours.

A Tropical Storm Watch Is In Effect From North Of The Mouth Of The
Mississippi River To The Mouth Of The Pearl River Including
Metropolitan New Orleans And Lake Pontchartrain...from South Of
Port Mansfield To Brownsville Texas...and For The Northeastern
Coast Of Mexico From Rio San Fernando Northward To The Rio Grande.
A Tropical Storm Watch Means That Tropical Storm Conditions Are
Possible Within The Watch Area...generally Within 36 Hours.

For Storm Information Specific To Your Area...including Possible
Inland Watches And Warnings...please Monitor Products Issued
By Your Local Weather Office.

At 1 Pm Cdt...1800z...the Center Of Hurricane Rita Was Located Near
Latitude 25.5 North...longitude 89.2 West Or About 435 Miles...700
Km...southeast Of Galveston Texas And About 430 Miles...695 Km...
Southeast Of Port Arthur Texas.

Rita Is Moving Toward The West-northwest Near 9 Mph...15 Km/hr. A
Gradual Turn To The Northwest Is Expected During The Next 24 To 36
Hours.

Data From A Noaa Reconnaissance Aircraft Indicate That Maximum
Sustained Winds Have Decreased To Near 150 Mph...240 Km/hr... With
Higher Gusts. Rita Is Now A Strong Category Four Hurricane On
The Saffir-simpson Scale. Some Slight Weakening Is Forecast During
The Next 24 Hours But Rita Is Expected To Remain An Extremely
Dangerous Hurricane.

Hurricane Force Winds Extend Outward Up To 85 Miles...140 Km...
From The Center...and Tropical Storm Force Winds Extend Outward Up
To 185 Miles...295 Km.

Latest Minimum Central Pressure Reported By A Noaa Hurricane Hunter
Plane Was 915 Mb...27.01 Inches.

Coastal Storm Surge Flooding Of 15 To 20 Feet Above Normal Tide
Levels...along 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 Foot Above Normal Along The
Mississippi And Louisiana Coasts In The Areas Affected By Katrina.
Tides In Those Areas Will Increase Up To 3 To 4 Feet And Be
Accompanied By Large Waves...and Residents There Could Experience
Some Coastal Flooding.

Rainfall Accumulations Of 8 To 12 Inches With Isolated Maximum 15
Inch Total Are Possible Along The Path Of Rita Particularly Over
Southeast Texas And Western Louisiana. In Addition...rainfall
Amounts Of 3 To 5 Inches Are Possible Over Southeastern Louisiana
Including New Orleans. Based On The Forecast Track...rainfall
Totals In Excess Of 25 Inches Are Possible After Rita Moves Inland.

Repeating The 1 Pm Cdt Position...25.5 N... 89.2 W. Movement
Toward...west-northwest Near 9 Mph. Maximum Sustained Winds...150
Mph. Minimum Central Pressure...915 Mb.

The Next Advisory Will Be Issued By The National Hurricane Center At
4 Pm Cdt.

Forecaster Avila

 

[Shadow205]

Hurricane Rita Intermediate Advisory Number 20a
Nws Tpc/national Hurricane Center Miami Fl
1 Pm Cdt Thu Sep 22 2005

...rita Weakens A Little Further...remains An Extremely Dangerous
Hurricane...

A Hurricane Warning Is In Effect From Port O'connor 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 From South Of Port
O'connor To Port Mansfield Texas And For The Southeastern Coast Of
Louisiana East Of Morgan City To The Mouth Of The Mississippi
River. A Tropical Storm Warning Means That Tropical Storm
Conditions Are Expected Within The Warning Area Within The Next 24
Hours.

A Tropical Storm Watch Is In Effect From North Of The Mouth Of The
Mississippi River To The Mouth Of The Pearl River Including
Metropolitan New Orleans And Lake Pontchartrain...from South Of
Port Mansfield To Brownsville Texas...and For The Northeastern
Coast Of Mexico From Rio San Fernando Northward To The Rio Grande.
A Tropical Storm Watch Means That Tropical Storm Conditions Are
Possible Within The Watch Area...generally Within 36 Hours.

For Storm Information Specific To Your Area...including Possible
Inland Watches And Warnings...please Monitor Products Issued
By Your Local Weather Office.

At 1 Pm Cdt...1800z...the Center Of Hurricane Rita Was Located Near
Latitude 25.5 North...longitude 89.2 West Or About 435 Miles...700
Km...southeast Of Galveston Texas And About 430 Miles...695 Km...
Southeast Of Port Arthur Texas.

Rita Is Moving Toward The West-northwest Near 9 Mph...15 Km/hr. A
Gradual Turn To The Northwest Is Expected During The Next 24 To 36
Hours.

Data From A Noaa Reconnaissance Aircraft Indicate That Maximum
Sustained Winds Have Decreased To Near 150 Mph...240 Km/hr... With
Higher Gusts. Rita Is Now A Strong Category Four Hurricane On
The Saffir-simpson Scale. Some Slight Weakening Is Forecast During
The Next 24 Hours But Rita Is Expected To Remain An Extremely
Dangerous Hurricane.

Hurricane Force Winds Extend Outward Up To 85 Miles...140 Km...
From The Center...and Tropical Storm Force Winds Extend Outward Up
To 185 Miles...295 Km.

Latest Minimum Central Pressure Reported By A Noaa Hurricane Hunter
Plane Was 915 Mb...27.01 Inches.

Coastal Storm Surge Flooding Of 15 To 20 Feet Above Normal Tide
Levels...along 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 Foot Above Normal Along The
Mississippi And Louisiana Coasts In The Areas Affected By Katrina.
Tides In Those Areas Will Increase Up To 3 To 4 Feet And Be
Accompanied By Large Waves...and Residents There Could Experience
Some Coastal Flooding.

Rainfall Accumulations Of 8 To 12 Inches With Isolated Maximum 15
Inch Total Are Possible Along The Path Of Rita Particularly Over
Southeast Texas And Western Louisiana. In Addition...rainfall
Amounts Of 3 To 5 Inches Are Possible Over Southeastern Louisiana
Including New Orleans. Based On The Forecast Track...rainfall
Totals In Excess Of 25 Inches Are Possible After Rita Moves Inland.

Repeating The 1 Pm Cdt Position...25.5 N... 89.2 W. Movement
Toward...west-northwest Near 9 Mph. Maximum Sustained Winds...150
Mph. Minimum Central Pressure...915 Mb.

The Next Advisory Will Be Issued By The National Hurricane Center At
4 Pm Cdt.

Forecaster Avila

Buzz,

I can't find Port O'Conner on the map. Where is it in comparison to Galveston?

 

[deanws]

Some of the lawmakers are suggesting the drug benefit for seniors be delayed to help offset the cost of Katrina. (A pet peeve of mine regarding the senior's drug benefit is that President Bush saw fit to allow the drug manufacturers to charge full price for all of the drugs that will be covered, rather than negotiating a lower price, such as they pay in Canada, and in Europe; that is a huge windfall for the drugmakers). The lawmakers also are suggesting that some of the fat be cut, out of the Energy Bill that Congress passed recently, to help offset the Katrina/Rita costs. We should all be worried about who is going to be saddled with all of the costs. It's scary.

I am in the path of Rita..but still DO NOT want the seniors drug program messed with. It makes me cry to think some of our mature citizens are going without their meds they so desperately need...due to the horrendous costs. So much sadness. I have a soft spot for the old and the very young. They are a valuable part of our glorious past and the hope for our country's future.:twocents:

 

[deanws]

Buzz,

I can't find Port O'Conner on the map. Where is it in comparison to Galveston?

http://www.ih2000.net/ira/bmt-wth.htm Scroll down to the bottom of the site and you will get a detailed path. Wait for it to fully load..it takes a minute. I love this site because it is like those books....maps for dummies...lol If it does make landfall there...it is better for us...however, we will still be pretty much wiped out. :doh:

 

[Details]

I am in the path of Rita..but still DO NOT want the seniors drug program messed with. It makes me cry to think some of our mature citizens are going without their meds they so desperately need...due to the horrendous costs. So much sadness. I have a soft spot for the old and the very young. They are a valuable part of our glorious past and the hope for our country's future.:twocents:

Nah, let's mess with it. Keep everything the same, except that instead of paying full retail, we negociate discounts with the drug providers - require them to give us the same price they give Canada, for instance.

Same story every time - when budget cuts loom, the most emotional, most fragile programs are mentioned first (not all the pork), and that is used to make whatever cuts are really made seem OK by comparison.

 

[Buzz Mills]

Nah, let's mess with it. Keep everything the same, except that instead of paying full retail, we negociate discounts with the drug providers - require them to give us the same price they give Canada, for instance.

Same story every time - when budget cuts loom, the most emotional, most fragile programs are mentioned first (not all the pork), and that is used to make whatever cuts are really made seem OK by comparison.

Since it was President Bush who allowed the drug manufacturers to charge top dollar for their drugs, we would almost think he favored big business. That was a giant ripoff of all Americans when that was allowed. So it costs the government (us) more money to run the drug benefit program for seniors. At the same time, they are doing everything they can to prevent us from buying our drugs in Canada. How's that for protectionism for the drug companies.

 

[TexMex]

I'm hunkering down with you. I just got home from trying to buy some milk and the grocery stores in this part of town are already closed. All the gas stations are closed or have lines a mile long with people fighting. It seems our whole townhouse complex will be staying.

Stay safe kato........not much gas here(Brazoria Co) either---glad I filled up two days ago...keeping that truck full and doing any running around in my son's truck...
somebody told me they went to a Kroger and bought charcoal and beer and cat litter and waited in line 45 minutes to check out--lines from the checkout stand back down the aisles about 3/4 length......all restaurants seem to be closing early...........next weather update at 3pm so we will know more soon but as of now they say it'll hit btwn Bolivar and High Island...that'll be better for Houston

 

[deanws]

Since it was President Bush who allowed the drug manufacturers to charge top dollar for their drugs, we would almost think he favored big business. That was a giant ripoff of all Americans when that was allowed. So it costs the government (us) more money to run the drug benefit program for seniors. At the same time, they are doing everything they can to prevent us from buying our drugs in Canada. How's that for protectionism for the drug companies.

:furious:<censored to comply with WS's TOS regulations>

 

[mic730]

Big drug makers make loads and loads of profit but they also heavily invest in making new drugs. We need that too!
How about we take a tax increase to pay for these Hurricaines? All of us - across the board. I would be willing to do that and prefer it much more than to cutting seniors gettting their prescription drug benefits delayed.

 

[Beyond Belief]

Reporting on the weather channel.

Large waves, I think he said 34 ft in the gulf. They will come ashore before the hurricane.
This is very serious. Please check the weather forecasts for your area to see if you will be affected along the gulf, including Florida.