Rita - now a tropical storm soon to be a hurricane

[Gan]

Rita was upgraded from a disturbance to a Tropical Storm today.

Latest projections are that it will enter the Gulf... and its projected anywhere from Lousiana down the Texas coast to Brownsville.

Hot Diggity.

[Apotheosis]

That would suck if it hit NO.

[Gan]

Rest assured, everyone will be watching not only where this thing heads, but the preparedness activity goes along with it.

I hope it doesnt nail NO, things are already a mess down there.

Then again, I hope it doesnt hit Galveston/Houston either. :(

This is something you really dont wish on any particular area, because of what it does... lets just hope it withers away (although that sounds like pipe dreams at this point).

Can you believe that the official Hurricane Season for the Atlantic Basin is from June 1 to November 30? And we're already on R...

[Artha]

Yeah, we're hitting a high point in hurricane activity that's going to last for a decade or two.

[Ravenstorm]

Anyone know what exactly do they do if they run out of letters? Start over with A?

Raven

[Skirmisher]

I do believe that is all they do Raven, yes.

[Keller]

I think they go on to their AA, BB, CCs.

[Ravenstorm]

Hmmm. I didn't find anything that showed what would happen if they ran out of letters. It might never have happened before. I did discover that 5 letters are never used for names: Q U X Y Z and that the names are chosen in advance. There are six lists of names and they cycle through them so the same list re-appears every six years. This year's names are:

Arlene
Bret
Cindy
Dennis
Emily
Franklin
Gert
Harvey
Irene
Jose
Katrina
Lee
Maria
Nate
Ophelia
Philippe
Rita
Stan
Tammy
Vince
Wilma

Only 4 more tropical storms and we're out of names.

Raven

edited to add:

Correction:


One question I've heard a lot recently is "What happens if we run out of hurricane names?" If we're unlucky enough to deplete the year's supply of names we won't, contrary to popular opinion, simply start using names from next year's list. In that case, the National Hurricane Center will turn to the Greek alphabet and we'll have Hurricanes Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta, etc.

[Edited on 9-19-2005 by Ravenstorm]

[peam]

http://encyclopedia.laborlawtalk.com/wiki/images/1/12/Rita4-14a.jpg

[kelood]

http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/tcfaq/B2.html


'lood
"I'm the 10th storm in the northern region of the southern pacific... yeehaw..."

[Parkbandit]

People keep saying "I hope it doesn't hit NO.."

Personally.. as a resident on the Gulf Coast.. if it's going to hit the country.. why NOT hit NO? It's already devistated.. not many people are there.. and the tools to recover are already in place. It would be much easier on the whole country if it DID hit right there.

:shrug:

[Tromp]

Originally posted by Parkbandit
People keep saying "I hope it doesn't hit NO.."

Personally.. as a resident on the Gulf Coast.. if it's going to hit the country.. why NOT hit NO? It's already devistated.. not many people are there.. and the tools to recover are already in place. It would be much easier on the whole country if it DID hit right there.

:shrug:

Why am I not surprised by this line of thinking?

[CrystalTears]

A-yep. That was my thinking too, PB. However the mayor is still trying to get people back into the city. You'd think he'd wait until this storm passed.

[Drew]

When they run out of lettered names they go to the greek alphabet. Hurricane alpha, beta, etc.

[CrystalTears]

Originally posted by Tromp

Originally posted by Parkbandit
People keep saying "I hope it doesn't hit NO.."

Personally.. as a resident on the Gulf Coast.. if it's going to hit the country.. why NOT hit NO? It's already devistated.. not many people are there.. and the tools to recover are already in place. It would be much easier on the whole country if it DID hit right there.

:shrug:

Why am I not surprised by this line of thinking?

Because it makes sense? There are very few people there, they are already set on reforming the city, just would need to wait until after. Realistically it's the safest place to hit that would cause the least amount of casualities/damage.

[Edited on 9/19/2005 by CrystalTears]

[Tromp]

Originally posted by CrystalTears



Why am I not surprised by this line of thinking?

Because it makes sense? There are very few people there, they are already set on reforming the city, just would need to wait until after. Realistically it's the safest place to hit that would cause the least amount of casualities/damage.

[Edited on 9/19/2005 by CrystalTears]

Ok since we're speaking on Hypotheticals, if it were to go the same route as Katrina would it not hit Mississippi and Alabama again as well?

I agree with the response team being on the ready etc. I just think if you were to ask a native of these areas they would seriously have a problem with it. They need a break.

[Wezas]

Originally posted by Parkbandit
People keep saying "I hope it doesn't hit NO.."

Personally.. as a resident on the Gulf Coast.. if it's going to hit the country.. why NOT hit NO? It's already devistated.. not many people are there.. and the tools to recover are already in place. It would be much easier on the whole country if it DID hit right there.

:shrug:

I agree with PB.

<marks the day on his calendar>

[DeV]

Originally posted by Tromp
Ok since we're speaking on Hypotheticals, if it were to go the same route as Katrina would it not hit Mississippi and Alabama again as well?
That'd be my thought process also. Though it's already fubar'd in those locations at the present anyway, but mother nature just may be looking for fresh meat. Hopefully not.

[Parkbandit]

Originally posted by Tromp

Originally posted by Parkbandit
People keep saying "I hope it doesn't hit NO.."

Personally.. as a resident on the Gulf Coast.. if it's going to hit the country.. why NOT hit NO? It's already devistated.. not many people are there.. and the tools to recover are already in place. It would be much easier on the whole country if it DID hit right there.

:shrug:

Why am I not surprised by this line of thinking?

Because you know I look at it from a logical standpoint? If we look at it from a non-emotional position.. we have an area already decimated. We have FEMA and other government agencies already in this area. Most people are still evacuated from this area. Most buildings are already destroyed. Most infrastructure is already down.

It only makes sense that this area is best equipped to weather another storm.

But from what I have seen, it looks like Texas is in it's sights.

[Tromp]

Ok PB I'm agreeing with you. <god that was tough to type>

[Parkbandit]

Originally posted by Tromp
Ok PB I'm agreeing with you. <god that was tough to type>

That should be your natural instinct. Don't fight it just to be cool.

Christ, I feel like Microsoft.

:P

[Skirmisher]

Originally posted by CrystalTears
A-yep. That was my thinking too, PB. However the mayor is still trying to get people back into the city. You'd think he'd wait until this storm passed.

The mayor of New Orleans is a fool and should show the smallest bit of respect for himself, the city and the country, relaize he has been a failure, and resign.

[Alfster]

Don't forget Bush. He needs to resign too!!!!!

Right?

I mean, damn. People in his family get drunk!

*edited to stay somewhat on topic

I have to agree with PB on this one.

[Edited on 9-19-2005 by Alfster]

[CrystalTears]

Heh, take the drunk Bush to the appropriate thread! :P

Mayor won't have to worry about resigning as he won't get reelected, neither will the governor. At least I hope not.

[Parkbandit]

Originally posted by Skirmisher
The mayor of New Orleans is a fool and should show the smallest bit of respect for himself, the city and the country, relaize he has been a failure, and resign.

Agreed. The latest: He 'opened' up the city without discussing it with the Admiral in charge of the cleanup. Talk about your fuckups. The guy has a communication problem and this certainly isn't the first time it's been on display.

[Gan]

Mulled over PB's logic on a 2nd strike to NO and it actually makes sense if Rita is to hit a populated area again.

The only downside will be all the wasted efforts of shoring up the levee breaches until more permanent fixes could be implemented.

[Sean of the Thread]

Originally posted by Parkbandit

Originally posted by Skirmisher
The mayor of New Orleans is a fool and should show the smallest bit of respect for himself, the city and the country, relaize he has been a failure, and resign.

Agreed. The latest: He 'opened' up the city without discussing it with the Admiral in charge of the cleanup. Talk about your fuckups. The guy has a communication problem and this certainly isn't the first time it's been on display.

Communication problem = constant use of ebonics.

[Gan]

w00t!

Now they're predicting a direct hit to Galveston/Houston.

Already have preliminary plans to take the family up-state if it's confirmed and and Cat 3 or greater.

Glad my flood insurance is up to date. :(

[AnticorRifling]

I live in a corn field.

[Gan]

You're real name isnt Stu Redman or Nick Andrews is it?

:whistle:


(From Stephen King's The Stand - novel)

[Back]

There HAS to be a less populated, higher elevated, non-levee devestated area for this one to hit that would be 1000x better than hitting NO again. Crackheads!

[CrystalTears]

Like what, Einstein? Houston, Texas?!

What other town is less populated right now than New Orleans? Seriously. Of course if dumbass mayor allows people in, than that's a moot point.

[Edited on 9/19/2005 by CrystalTears]

[Back]

Every square mile along the coast from Florida to Mexico is not nearly as densely populated as New Orleans.

[Wezas]

Update, 12:44pm EST

Florida Keys ordered evacuated ahead of Rita (http://www.cnn.com/2005/WEATHER/09/19/tropical.weather/index.html)

http://i.a.cnn.net/cnn/2005/WEATHER/09/19/tropical.weather/story.rita.mon1015a.jpg

[Wezas]

Originally posted by Backlash
Every square mile along the coast from Florida to Mexico is not nearly as densely populated as New Orleans.

Even now?

[DeV]

Originally posted by CrystalTears
Of course if dumbass mayor allows people in, than that's a moot point.
And if people actually go back at a time like this it won't be easy to see how or why he was elected in the first place.

[Tromp]

Originally posted by Backlash
Crackheads!

Hey that was never proven in court. I was holding it for someone else damnit!

[Back]

Originally posted by Wezas

Originally posted by Backlash
Every square mile along the coast from Florida to Mexico is not nearly as densely populated as New Orleans.

Even now?

Well, not after evacuations... but if you have ever been in an airplane before, its pretty obvious that there is quite a bit of room between major cities that are very sparsely populated. Its just seems to me that with New Orleans being a pin-prick on the continent, that there has to be some swath of land where the destruction would be minimal in comparison even with New Orleans as evacuated as it is.

[Asha]

Any of you that are sick of being hit by storms can come sleep on my couch.
It's either sunny or dreary here, no real storms.
But you'll have to wait in the bathroom while I look at porn.
You'd put me off being in the same room.



On a much more serious note..
Good luck to everyone who's affected by all this hell.
Apart from donate, I feel completely unable to help and it makes me sick.

[kelood]

Hitting NO would still be bad for the US economy. They just opened the port of New Orleans last wednesday, and they're still working on getting the 4 oil refineries that are still KOed up and running.

Another hurricane would shut down the mississippi again....

Of course, if it hits texas, gas prices go up as well...



'lood

[Apotheosis]

How big of a hurricane is this?

[Ravenstorm]

I've seen projections of it being category 1 or 2.

Raven

[4a6c1]

hmmmm

this might be bad

[Sean of the Thread]

Originally posted by Backlash
Every square mile along the coast from Florida to Mexico is not nearly as densely populated as New Orleans.

You know us Blacklash.. just a little ole' hick state.

Except for say uhm Pinellas county ...and say Jacksonville..

1 million residents in a 280 square mile peninsula on a peninsula (Pinellas) as opposed to 400k residents in 180 square miles in NO.

If we ever get cat 5'd were in deep shit.


[Edited on 9-19-2005 by Xyelin]

[Gan]

Not that its technically on the coast - but 50 miles from Galveston Island is Houston. If you were to measure the distance from downtown Galveston to downtown Houston that is.

[4a6c1]

Oh my my. Ganalon you just know its gonna flood like crazy here. Call me up and we will go swimming on I-45. haha!

[Gan]

hahaha! dont you know 59 down past sheppard and greenbriar will be a sight like TS Allison made it.

[Back]

Originally posted by Xyelin

Originally posted by Backlash
Every square mile along the coast from Florida to Mexico is not nearly as densely populated as New Orleans.

You know us Blacklash.. just a little ole' hick state.

Except for say uhm Pinellas county ...and say Jacksonville..

1 million residents in a 280 square mile peninsula on a peninsula (Pinellas) as opposed to 400k residents in 180 square miles in NO.

If we ever get cat 5'd were in deep shit.


[Edited on 9-19-2005 by Xyelin]

The point I was trying to make is there are less populated spots along the track that Rita could hit that would be less devastating than suggesting it would be good to hit New Orleans again. Thats all.

Of course there are more populated areas dotted along the coast.

[Hulkein]

Hurricanes are generally wide and hit more than just the empty spaces.....

[Ardwen]

Thats damned rude of them isnt it, all those empty spaces out there and all.


Ardwen

[Ravenstorm]

It's now a category three hurricane and at least some people are predicting a good chance of it becoming a four. Ouch.

Raven

[Gan]

Category 4 as of this morning. Landfall is to be just west of Galveston/Houston. Direct hit is to be in the Palacious/Matagorda Bay area.

Galveston is under mandatory evacuation. Houston will probably go voluntary evacuation. Houston wont get the storm surge except for the low lying areas by Galveston Bay/Pearland/Texas City area. Galveston will probably be completely under water.

Experts are predicting that it will retain Tropical Storm strength all the way up Texas to the Dallas area which means lots of rain and tornados for the people in central Texas.

Since the eye will not be heading directly into Houston I think we're going to stay put and make sure the house, the neighbors, the in-laws, and such have help if they need it.

[Back]

Lock it up tight and good luck.

[Sean of the Thread]

Dude it is way tooooo early to pin point a direct hit.

[HarmNone]

Areas to the east of the eye will be the most severely impacted. That's something to keep in mind as the monster comes closer to landfall. I heard something this morning about the possibility of a catagory 5 force for this one. :(

[Gan]

Originally posted by Xyelin
Dude it is way tooooo early to pin point a direct hit.

6 out of 8 models peg Houston. The 7th pegs Matagorda Bay. The 8th pegs east of Houston.

I'm putting my money on the more experienced folks like Dr. Neil Frank (former director of the nationa weather center/hurricane whatever).

[4a6c1]

:thumbsdown:

[Sean of the Thread]

Originally posted by Ganalon

Originally posted by Xyelin
Dude it is way tooooo early to pin point a direct hit.

6 out of 8 models peg Houston. The 7th pegs Matagorda Bay. The 8th pegs east of Houston.

I'm putting my money on the more experienced folks like Dr. Neil Frank (former director of the nationa weather center/hurricane whatever).

I'm telling ya you never know. Been thru that too many times to tell ya.

[Back]

Originally posted by JihnasSpirit
:thumbsdown:

You too, Jhina. If you need to evac, I have a cozy little place on the east coast.

[Sean of the Thread]

Originally posted by Backlash

Originally posted by JihnasSpirit
:thumbsdown:

You too, Jhina. If you need to evac, I have a cozy little place on the east coast.

I already claim her.

[Wezas]

Originally posted by JihnasSpirit
:thumbsdown:

[14:47] RedElement12: jesus h christ
[14:47] RedElement12: why is it so hot outside
[14:48] Legend Wezas: where are you?
[14:48] RedElement12: houston
[14:48] Legend Wezas: wait a few days
[14:48] RedElement12: haha. asshole
[14:48] Legend Wezas: =)
[14:48] Legend Wezas: it'll be breezy

[Jazuela]

Just a reminder Ganalon - New Orleans didn't see the actual eye of Katrina, either.

Just because the eye doesn't target your city, doesn't mean you won't find yourself homeless (or dead) when all's said and done. It's good to be optimistic, but add a healthy dose of realistic possibility to the mix, for your own safety and that of your family and friends in the area.

[4a6c1]

I'm going to stay so I can fix any problems that might come up.

BWAHAHA. Wezas is naughty.

And, Xyelin I'm not your type darling, I have working legs and I dont piss myself. You would be disappointed, I'm sure.

[Sean of the Thread]

Originally posted by JihnasSpirit
I'm going to stay so I can fix any problems that might come up.

BWAHAHA. Wezas is naughty.

And, Xyelin I'm not your type darling, I have working legs and I dont piss myself. You would be disappointed, I'm sure.

Nothing a few props and a golden shower couldn't fix.

[4a6c1]

:rofl:

Ok but I get to be the man.

[Wezas]

Originally posted by JihnasSpirit
And, Xyelin I'm not your type darling, I have working legs and I dont piss myself. You would be disappointed, I'm sure.

I feel for any new posters who happens upon this post before the thread it refers to.

[Warriorbird]

Officially Cat 5. Get moving if you haven't already.

[Jenisi]

Run like the wind. Argh. Hopefully not another Katrina.

[Ylena]

My parents (Baytown, 19.5 ft elevation) and my sister (League City, 16.5 ft) are all on their way out of the Houston area.

I was in Baytown for Alicia. We watched a billboard that was mounted on three telephone-pole sized posts sway and snap in the wind. We got to canoe in the street after. That was a Cat 3 with only 5 inches of rain. That was 1983.

You have more subsidence, more development in low lying areas (goodbye, all that crap at Kemah!)... in all sincerity, if I was living there now, I would NOT be riding this one out at home. I'm relieved my family is sensible enough to be getting in a car and getting the hell out of there.

I cannot express strongly enough my concerns for those of you who are considering staying, ESPECIALLY if you're in any of the 100 year floodplain areas. You've got time, you've got resources, go spend a weekend in Dallas or San Antonio. You can replace your stuff. You can't replace you. Just go.

[Alfster]

Times like these I'm almost glad I live in Wisconsin.

Then I look around and realize I'm living in Wisconsin.

[Warriorbird]

I felt much the same... when I lived in Wisconsin.

[HarmNone]

To all of you in the projected path of this storm, please get to a safe place. As those in the New Orleans area and Mississipi learned, these giant storms are not something to stay and watch. We'll be waiting for your posts to let us know where you are and that you're okay. I'll be worrying, as usual. It's what I do best. :scared:

[Jenisi]

Winds up to 165mph and in the top five most powerful storms to come from the Atlantic on record :(

[Drew2]

And I'm still sitting at home (http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp?searchtype=address&country=US&addtohistory =&location=RSZ9uI%2bPCEwYcnaW2wdiEOJ7rXvY9qPSZgDfZ ejiNOYLXLIkTLRP6l%2feaurpScGzMSFzNSt18vuDhdHEQxGbW 6pZ5IOTo2Q54bWFQkq9k1I%3d), debating on when I'll actually get up and go join my mother in Spring (http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp?searchtype=address&country=US&addtohistory =&searchtab=home&address=&city=spring&state=tx&zip code=).

[Edited on 9-21-2005 by Tayre]

[Jenisi]

There is a George Bush Intercontinental airport? UGH.

[Artha]

Probably George Bush number 1.

edit: Because the current one deserves like, an intergalactic spaceport or something. Or maybe just a state full of monuments or something else worthy of the greatest leader in the history of the world, nigh, the universe.

[Edited on 9-21-2005 by Artha]

[4a6c1]

Originally posted by Tayre
And I'm still sitting at home (http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp?searchtype=address&country=US&addtohistory =&location=RSZ9uI%2bPCEwYcnaW2wdiEOJ7rXvY9qPSZgDfZ ejiNOYLXLIkTLRP6l%2feaurpScGzMSFzNSt18vuDhdHEQxGbW 6pZ5IOTo2Q54bWFQkq9k1I%3d), debating on when I'll actually get up and go join my mother in Spring (http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp?searchtype=address&country=US&addtohistory =&searchtab=home&address=&city=spring&state=tx&zip code=).

[Edited on 9-21-2005 by Tayre]

Come now. You might actually make it here by 12. Drive times are really bad.

[Vesi]

Originally posted by Tayre
And I'm still sitting at home (http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp?searchtype=address&country=US&addtohistory =&location=RSZ9uI%2bPCEwYcnaW2wdiEOJ7rXvY9qPSZgDfZ ejiNOYLXLIkTLRP6l%2feaurpScGzMSFzNSt18vuDhdHEQxGbW 6pZ5IOTo2Q54bWFQkq9k1I%3d), debating on when I'll actually get up and go join my mother in Spring (http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp?searchtype=address&country=US&addtohistory =&searchtab=home&address=&city=spring&state=tx&zip code=).

[Edited on 9-21-2005 by Tayre]

I graduated from Spring High School. While I was reading this thread, I was thinking about the days we skipped and went to Galveston with the surfer dudes.

Everyone get the hell out of there!

Vesi

[HarmNone]

I think now would be a wonderful time to head for your mother's, Tayre. I mean, like, NOW! :yes:

[Gan]

We're going to ride it out in southwest Houston. House is prepped, yard is picked up, garage is clean and awaiting 1 of 2 vehicles.

We stocked up on gas, batteries, water, and lots of junkfood yesterday so we avoided the long lines and running around looking for flashlights and batteries today.

I'll keep you guys posted as long as the electricity and the DSL hangs on.

:bye:

[HarmNone]

Ish, Ganalon. I'll light a candle for you and yours. Stay in touch for as long as you can, and please stay safe. Personally, I wish you'd run for the freaking hills! :scared:

[Back]

Good lord... Rita looks to be trying to cover the ENTIRE Gulf of Mexico. Its easily halfway there.

http://www.weather.com/maps/news/atlstorm18/satelliteradar_large.html

[Back]

Ok, I got all into the map thing. These pics come from NOAA’s (http://www.nws.noaa.gov/observations.php) archives. Image search (http://www.goes.noaa.gov/srcheast.html).

I wanted to compare Katrina and Rita at the same approximate lifespan. You know, just to see which may or may not have looked worse than the other. Very very similar.

Katrina, just after 1am, 8/28/05.
http://www.goes-arch.noaa.gov/HUWV052400015.GIF


Rita as of 10pm this evening, 9/22/05.
http://www.goes-arch.noaa.gov/HUWV052642345.GIF

[Warriorbird]

Eerie.

[Jenisi]

Looks like something a bit off to the East is looking to form into something as well.

[Gan]

Path has changed. Houston is opening up inbound lanes of major freeways for outbound traffic.

We're heading out of town. :bye:

[Tromp]

Smartest thing to do Ganalon. Make sure you grab your insurance policy!

[Wezas]

Hope all of you in that area find safe shelter. Last I heard Tayre was thinking about staying it out, hopefully he reconsidered

[Gan]

Tayre should be getting out of town or at least to the northwest side where the winds will only be in the 90-70 mph range.

I've got digital copies as well as all the hard copies of insurance policies, ss#, and all the important stuff going with us.

Shutting off the gas and limiting the electricity to just the fridge and freezer.

[HarmNone]

Glad to hear you're leaving the area, Ganalon. Best of luck to you and yours, and I do hope you can get back home soon.

[Warriorbird]

We're heading out of town.

I'm glad.

[Back]

Good luck and if you bump into Jhina, drag her with you.

[Tromp]

Originally posted by Ganalon
Tayre should be getting out of town or at least to the northwest side where the winds will only be in the 90-70 mph range.

I've got digital copies as well as all the hard copies of insurance policies, ss#, and all the important stuff going with us.

Shutting off the gas and limiting the electricity to just the fridge and freezer.

If your fridge has water connected to it for ice cubes etc make sure you shut that down. Turn off all the water from the main. If I were you I'd ditch whatever is in the fridge and shut the electricity off at the box.

As you can tell I live in Florida.

Oh and lift electronics off the floor. Just curious if you boarded up the windows?

Be Safe and run for Mexico.

[Janarth]

Good luck Ganalon, I'll be pulling for a safe return for ya...

And I too would think shutting off water at the main and electricity at the breaker would be a good idea. Whats 200 bucks in food worth?

[Keller]

A curious mid-western boy wants to know why shutting off all power and water is so essential?

[Androidpk]

Good luck!

[Gan]

Shutting off Gas at the main. Electricity, we're hitting all the breakers except for the one for the fridge. I'm not worried about water because we have a brick home and foundation shift wont be a factor for breaking pipes. If the wind is strong enough to collapse walls and break pipes, water will be the least of the problem.

High water shorting out wall outlets and electrical appliances is why you want to shut of power. With shorting out comes fire and that sucks on top of flooding. We're above the flood plain and far enough inland to avoid storm surge so I'm not concerned about flooding.

Took at look at the roads, will be a while before he leave due to traffic and congestion. I'm waiting on the rest of the major outlets being opened up both ways outbound. If I have any complaint thus far it is TxDot waiting too long to open up both sides of the freeways to outbound traffic. A friend from my area left last night at midnight and has barely made it to the north side of town in 8 hours, thats insane. I'll use this time to finish last minute details on my house and helping the neighbors when they need it.

[Warriorbird]

Just as long as you're out. Hopefully Tayre's already left.

[Parkbandit]

If I lived in a solid brick house.. away from the storm surge and above the flood plain... I would stay. I was planning on toughing it out when Charlie was supposed to come right up Tampa Bay.. which is a worst case senario for Tampa.

[Sean of the Thread]

Originally posted by Parkbandit
If I lived in a solid brick house.. away from the storm surge and above the flood plain... I would stay. I was planning on toughing it out when Charlie was supposed to come right up Tampa Bay.. which is a worst case senario for Tampa.

I was gonna hunker down too.

[Gan]

Update: Houston.

Another shift in Rita as the high pressure system dictating its northward course shifts east. Houston is now projected to be on the west (clean) side of the storm, we're still ready to leave if necessary but its looking like its not worth fighting the mass exodus that is moving north.

I've spent the morning helping both neighbors boarding up windows since I made all my preparations yesterday as they've decided to stick it out unless there's another shift in the storm's path.

I'd prefer to be stuck at home with brick walls around me rather than stuck/stranded on the roadside when the weather hits.

[Sean of the Thread]

That's what I say as long as you are on high ground.

[Revalos]

...And thinking like that is why people still die from things like this that they have time to get out for.

Predicting hurricanes has about the same validity as Hector and Victor predicting fantasy football points. Yeah, sometimes they're right, but most of the time they are off, sometimes even way off.

This shit just happened to Gulfport...I mean JUST FUCKING HAPPENED. Idiots stayed because "this house survived Camille, and we're well away from the flood zone." How short is people's attention span? Sure...your solid house might not get flooded, might not get its roof torn off, might not have an electrical or gas fire with no FD to respond, might not get raided for supplies while you are in it with no police around, might not fill up with carbon monoxide from a generator...I'm sorry, but you idiots who stay because the track changes from one hour to the other are right up there with my idiot friends who stayed in New Orleans.

If there is even a CHANCE that a Cat 5 is coming, FOR FUCKS SAKE get out. This isn't a Cat 1 or 2 where the west side is going to be la de da windy with a bit of rain. IT IS GOING TO BE 90 MPH WINDS KNOCKING TREES ONTO POWER LINES AND HOUSES...tornadoes, propane fires, etc...

So here's the deal. If any of you wises up and gets the hell out, I have a hotel room on the South Side of Dallas, in Duncanville that you can stay in. You'll have to sleep on the floor. but it is a big room at the Hilton Garden Inn. I'm down here directly supporting this new hurricane threat with other people from the federal government, just like I did for Katrina for the last two weeks.

[Brattt8525]

For the news deprived mother of two <they own the remote!> I am 40 minutes south of Dallas I will be ok right?

[Gan]

Just make sure you're place is picked up of loose yard objects. Your greatest risk is wind and hail in the Dallas area. They are projecting Rita to be a cat. 1 Hurricane by the time it wades through south Texas and makes it to the Dallas area. So Tornadoes, high wind, hail, lightning and rain will be all that you'll see.

My parents live about an hour south of Dallas and that is what they are expecting.

[Brattt8525]

Originally posted by Ganalon
Just make sure you're place is picked up of loose yard objects. Your greatest risk is wind and hail in the Dallas area. They are projecting Rita to be a cat. 1 Hurricane by the time it wades through south Texas and makes it to the Dallas area. So Tornadoes, high wind, hail, lightning and rain will be all that you'll see.

My parents live about an hour south of Dallas and that is what they are expecting.

Thanks I guess my horses will spending sometime in their stalls instead of the pasture, better safe then sorry.

[Gan]

Yes, our horses [at my parents place] will be stalled as well, thats the safest place for them from flying debris and hail.

[Edited on 9-22-2005 by Ganalon]

[GSLady17]

Originally posted by Revalos
...And thinking like that is why people still die from things like this that they have time to get out for.


I have to agree with you on this one.

[Letum]

You can't get out of Houston now even if you are so inclined. Getting to Dallas at this point is just shy of impossible. While about 1 million people have been *ordered* to evacuate, far far more are trying. Since the hurricane models can only predict its course accurately for three days in advance, the evacuation started too late for a metropolitan area of 6 million people to be gone by Friday.

This is not to say I advocate gambling against hurricanes. Someone, somewhere along the coast saying "It'll be ok" today will die tomorrow, and all the others will praise their own wisdom at never having left.

[SpunGirl]

I don't know if he's posted this and I'm not shifting through posts to find out, but I talked to Tayre (Drew) for about an hour last night while he was on the freeway in traffic, evacuating from Houston. If you pray, light candles, whatever, please just think of him. His mom and sister were a few hours ahead of him and it was just Drew and his cat Gizmo in the car. I haven't been able to get ahold of him today due to busy Verizon circuits. So yeah... just hope he arrives safely and that his house isn't totally pwnd when this is over.

-K

[HarmNone]

I've had a candle lit for Tayre and the others since yesterday. These hurricanes are scaring the living shit out of me! :scared:

[4a6c1]

The current drive time is an hour per mile on 45 though I've heard they are opening up both lanes for northbound traffic soon.

[Drew2]

Hey Guys. I'm fine, made it here safely at about 3:40 this morning. I was sleeping off and on most of the day, and just figured out the people we're staying with have wireless so I got out my mother's laptop.

I'm not completely out of harms way, but I'm much better off than where I live. Here's to hoping I have a house to go back to on Monday!

[HarmNone]

It's great to know you're okay, Tayre! Just lie low and stay safe, hon. Hopefully, all will be well and your place won't be hurt by the storm. The candle will continue to burn until this nightmare is over for all of you.

[Gan]

I have a cat named Gizmo too. I posted a pic of her somewhere in a pet folder a while back. That almost scares me more than the hurricane. :baa:

[Drew2]

So my best friend has been missing for about 6 hours now. His parents made it to where I'm staying, and neither of us have heard from him since 6:30pm. Last we knew, he was turning around and making his way here. His cell phone was dying, and he was probably nearly out of gas.

I've never felt so helpless and been so worried over someone in my entire life. This sucks so much.

[Terminator X]

I am extremely hopeful that things will be okay for you, Tayre.

[Gan]

I hope your friend is found and gets to safety. We're down to about 12 hours before the rain bands hit Houston according to the latest.

The routes of evacuation have turned into a huge cluster fuck at this point. My house and my 3 neighbors houses now look like fort knox and we've got enough supplies to last through everything short of a tornado striking directly our structures.

We have seen many people start to head back towards their homes after sitting in traffic for more than 8 hours and not make it more than 10 miles from their starting point. I really feel sorry for the people who have children or the elderly stuck on the roadside in the 100 degree heat and unable to get out of it because of gridlock. Cars have run out of gas or overheated from being unable to move fast enough to compensate for running the A/C, its wild. All stores and gas depots along the major routes are picked dry and efforts to bring in more fuel and supplies are hindered by the traffic snarles.

No evidence of looting either from what I've been able to see on the local news or from being outside helping neighbors and friends fortify their houses. Thus far folks are behaving, we'll see what happens after the storm hits.

Ganalon, hunkered down and ready for the weather.

[SpunGirl]

Tayre looted cat treats from a Wal-Mart last night. :lol2:

Seriously hun, I'm sure Brandon is fine somewhere... he'll get in touch with you guys at the earliest opportunity.

-K

[Kembal]

I'm riding it out as well. I'm out in Alief (probably pretty close to Ganalon) on the west side of Houston. Since the models are predicting a strike at Galveston or north of it, this side of town will not be as bad. (A Freeport strike would be devestating, on the other hand, but the probability for that is decreasing at the moment.)

I won't be riding it out at home. My company's offices are 5 minutes away, and I volunteered to be part of the hold down team. (It's my father's company. He left this week on a business trip, before we knew for sure it was heading this way.) It's a concrete and steel reinforced building, with very few windows. We've got two small generators, 50 or 60 gallons of bottled water, and all the other supplies needed.

Got a few loose objects left in the front yard, going to put them away in an hour or so.

No rain sighted yet. Incredibly still outside...and yeah, it's a ghost town.

-Rishi a.k.a. Kembal

[Sean of the Thread]

We always throw all the loose objects into the pool here. Although I did see a St Pete Times paper machine fly about 150 feet thru the air once so......

[HarmNone]

Hopefully, your friend will find his way to you, or a way to call and let you know he's okay, Tayre. I understand they're trying to get gasoline to the vehicles that are stranded. I do understand how you feel, though. My dearest friend is in Lake Charles, and I haven't heard from her. I'm presuming she's gone to her daughter's house in Virginia, but I'll feel better when I know for sure. :(

For those of you riding it out, best of luck! If you can't get out, there's little else you can do but hunker down. Stay safe, and let us know how you're doing when you can.

[4a6c1]

All you can do is stare at the TV and hope they mention the train of cars crawling on their way to Dallas and that someone you care for isnt one of the people who has run out of gas (because theres not any left anywhere) or fainted from heat exhaustion. And then hope they make it to wherever they are going before the winds start to come. Its a really helpless situation because its obvious to everyone the evacuation plans are failing. Even for the people who left days and days ago.

[Gan]

Bus of 20 elderly died from the Bellaire area (small town inside Houston) it caught fire this morning on I-45. They say the elderly were from a nursing home. The bus driver tried to pull out as many as possible but when the explosions started going off it prevented him from getting more :( . This fire also shut down all northbound traffic on I-45 while they were getting it under control.

Lets face it, you just cant possibly evacuate a city of 4 million people in a few days and make it orderly.

I'll be thinking about all the folks on the road today as the rain bands start to hit at lunch time. We expect peak intensity late tonight/early Saturday morning.

I need to find a smiley (emoticon) that represents hunkering down.

[Back]

At this point it seems better to try to ride out the storm at home than hit the road. What a mess.

[4a6c1]

Its been seeming that way since Wednesday to me when they hadnt opened up the contraflow lanes yet.

[Drew2]

My friend called us this morning from Dallas. I spent almost 3 hours looking for him all around the main roads we had last heard from him. Finally my mother called me and told me that he had called his own mother and he was fine.

I wish he was here, but I'm glad he's safe somewhere.

[HarmNone]

Glad you heard from him, Tayre. I know that had to mean a lot. :)

[Warriorbird]

Good luck, guys. Roads are reputedly clear on CNN, but I doubt that means much.

[Gan]

Houston: Update

4pm and we've seen darkening skies and an increase in the wind. No rain yet, went walking around the block and saw lots of evidence of neighbors still here squaring away their houses.

The route heading southwest on 59 heading towards Victoria is clear in case an escape route is necessary but I dont think it will be needed.

I'm really really glad we chose to stay put.

[4a6c1]

fyi. 45 in Spring and Woodlands is clear. Not sure how far up it goes.

[Drew2]

It goes up near Conroe. I drove all the way past Shanondoa(sp?) when I was looking for Brandon this morning. No traffic at all.

I wouldn't be surprised if it was clear through Conroe by now.

[Edited on 9-23-2005 by Tayre]

[ElanthianSiren]

Talking to a friend of mine in NW houston. He still has power as of now, couldn't evacuate. This is kind of surreal and weird, cracking jokes with a cat 4 looming.

We're watching 11news live coverage.

-M

[4a6c1]

Yup

Still got power.

Just doing last minute stuff like bringing in the plants and taping windows up all OCD style. Making things elevated in case we take water.

And waiting for Rita. And drinking. HURRICANE PARTAY.

:-X

[Gan]

Southwest Houston: Update

Almost 10pm CST. A little sprinkling of rain, wind gusts to 30 mph. Still have power (obviously since I'm on the internet), still have water, and damn glad I'm at home.

[Revalos]

I'm still standing by my statement that it was idiotic to stay, regardless of the outcome.

Each time this happens, people get stupider and stupider when it comes to dangerous storms, and start to think they're invincible.

Not that I'm talking from any experience or anything, like having 2 friends die at a hurricane party in an apartment complex in Florida.

You evacuate before the order, when you can see that a storm could hit. You have a plan and a place to go. You have supplies ready. Don't wait for the idiots to get out there, compounded with the fearmongering media scaring even more people than usual.

Yes, I saw the burned bus outside of Dallas with my own eyes (about 2 miles from my hotel). Would they still be alive if they had stayed in Houston? Probably. But that's because no one plans evacuations on their own anymore, they wait until the last minute.

[Gan]

Update: Houston southwest.

Lots of small limbs down and leaves. Power outages in sporadic places where wind blown trees got into the power lines. I've had less than 1 inch of rain in my area. Power and water had no interruptions in my area. Galveston has some wind damage and a little high water but nothing overly destructive and that could not be cleaned up in less than a day.

Houston dodged a major bullett as Rita took that last northward cut.

[Warriorbird]

That's great!

[DeV]

It's still good that people evacuated when they were ordered to and voluntarily to boot. Thankfully, lives were spared... this time around.

Better safe than sorry.

[4a6c1]

Checking in to say hi.

We're ok. I have power outages in 3 locations, it looks like Livingston is going to flood and I'm having trouble contacting my Lake Charles plant but things could be worse. Hope everyone else is ok. Yes. We pretty much dodged the bullet in Houston. See you all when I'm done UNPWNING things.

<3h8

[HarmNone]

I'm glad all of you dodged the bullet, so to speak. This storm could have been much more deadly than it turned out. Now, if I can just get word from my friend in Lake Charles, I'll be golden. :)

[Brattt8525]

The wind here at my place is really strong, and the sky has looked a bit distrubing but no rain as of yet. Rumblings are going on so I am guessing rain will hit here soon.

[Setras]

Yeps, everything is fine here in Huntsville. Theres been plenty of rain and a little wind, nothing bad at all really. I've heard of power outtages in town but not out where I live, haven't even lost cable, which is surprising since it usually goes out if you change channels too fast. Only thing we really need here is gas and food.. which there is none of in this town.

[Kembal]

Storm was a non-event here for me. I'm not even sure we got more than a inch of rain.

Gotta check on my friend in Beaumont though.